Basketball Court Dimensions & Lines: Complete Guide 2026

Are you building a new basketball court according to NCAA, FIBA and NBA? If yes, we will tell you the correct basketball court dimensions. Different levels such as professional and community courts have their own unique measurement standards.

Hence, as a player, coach, sports club or court planner, you must be aware of basketball court size and its markings. That’s exactly I have explained in this article for you.

Dimensions of a Basketball Court

A basketball court has a simple rectangular shape. You will see the same layout in most places. Following are the dimensions of the basketball court in feet.

Basketball Court Size in Meter

A basketball court is generally measured in meters for international games. Sport England divides courts into four levels. These include: International, Club (regional), Premier (national) and Community (schools or recreational). However, the smallest allowed dimensions are 85.3 ft (26 m) long and 45.93 ft (14 m) wide.

Standard Basketball Court Size

The official court sizes for NCAA, NBA, high school and FIBA games are slightly different. That means, you will find each organization’s court a little bigger or smaller.

FIBA Basketball Court Measurements

FIBA stands for Fédération Internationale de Basketball. It is the international organization which governs basketball around the world. FIBA sets the official rules and court sizes for international competitions such as the world cup and other tournaments.

Below table show you FIBA standard basketball court dimensions for different levels of play.

NCAA Basketball Court Dimensions

NCAA abbreviated as National Collegiate Athletic Association. It is an agency who manages college sports in the United States.

NBA Basketball Court Dimensions

In North America, the NBA (National Basketball Association) is the professional basketball league. It is also one of the most popular leagues worldwide. This organization decides the dimensions and layout for professional basketball courts.

Olympic Basketball Court Size

When you compare them, you will find Olympic basketball courts smaller than NBA and NCAA courts. Below table will show you olympic court size in different units.

High School Basketball Court Dimensions

High school basketball courts are smaller as compared to professional and college courts. However, middle school basketball court dimensions are not as big as high school courts.

Dimensions of a Half-Court Basketball Court

In a half-court setup, you can play on one half of the full court. Mostly, you will see these courts in schools, parks, gyms and narrow locations where a full court is difficult to design. For its size, you can plan 50 ft × 52 ft size, which is approximately 2100 sq ft.

But, you have to make sure your half-court is no less than 47 ft × 50 ft size. Because this is the minimum size for a half basketball court.

Dimensions of the Key on a Basketball Court

The key of the basketball court is also known as free-throw lane or shaded area. It is the painted space under the basket. In the NBA, this area is about 16 ft wide. But, the FIBA key currently uses a rectangle shape which is 4.8 m wide and 5.8 m long.

Before that, FIBA used a trapezoid-shaped key. Its dimensions were 3.7 m wide at the free-throw line and 6 m wide at the baseline. The NBA and U.S. college courts always follow a rectangular key design.

How Wide is a Basketball Court?

Most full basketball courts use a standard width of about 49.2 feet (15 metres or 16.4 yards). This width gives you enough space to move, pass, defend and practice the sport. It also keeps the game fair and easy to play.

Well, this width is a little smaller than an NBA court, which is around 50 feet wide. You can measure these dimensions from the inside edges of the boundary lines on the basketball court.

What is the Height of a Basketball Hoop?

You will see the same hoop height in the NBA and in all major basketball leagues. Usually, the basketball basket height is set at a standard height of 10 feet. It is 3.05 in meters. This height will be the same for adults and older players.

Basketball Backboard Size

A basketball backboard is a flat and vertical board which you can set behind the hoop. With basketboard, you can aim and make bank shots. Because, it gives you a clear target behind the hoop and returns the ball after a shot.

Its standard size used in professional and olympic games is 1.83 meters (6 feet) wide and 1.07 meters (3.5 feet) tall. Furthermore, you will see a white rectangle painted in the center of the backboard. Generally, it is 0.61 meters wide and 0.46 meters tall (24 × 18 inches).

Basketball Court Size UK

• Standard court length is 28 meters (about 91.86 feet / 30.62 yards).
• Standard court width is 15 meters (49.21 feet or 16.4 yards).
• Minimum height clearance: 7 meters (22.96 feet)
• Minimum length for lower levels (national, regional & school) is 26 meters.
• Minimum width for lower levels: 14 meters
• Total playing area of a professional court: 420 square meters (4520 sq ft)
• Minimum area for smaller courts: 364 square meters
• Overall area (run-offs & sidelines): 677 square meters (7290 sq ft)

Mini Basketball Court Size

If we talk about mini basketball court size, it is a smaller court made for limited space or younger players. Common measurements include:

• Length: 5 to 9 meters (Approx.16.4 to 29.5 feet)
• Width: 4 to 7 meters (13.1 to 23 feet)

Moreover, you will see some mini basketball courts in the following dimensions.

• 5 m × 9 m (16.4 ft × 29.5 ft): Great for small spaces and youth training.
• 7 m × 10 m (23 ft × 32.8 ft): A medium-sized court with more room for gameplay.

Outdoor Basketball Court Size

A standard outdoor basketball court also follows FIBA rules. That’s why they are 28 m long and 15 m wide. You have to make sure it has a flat/hard surface and a small run-off area for safety. Additionally, 3×3 outdoor basketball courts are smaller than full-size courts. Their dimensions are roughly 15 meters long and 11 meters wide.

Basketball Court Markings or Basketball Court Lines

You can see many lines and markings on the floor of the basketball court. Actually, these lines are marked with a robotic field painter to guide you where you can shoot, pass or defend.

• Sidelines & Baselines

Sidelines and baselines (endlines) are the boundary markings which define the edges of a basketball court. On a full size court, you can paint 91.86ft (28m) long sidelines. The baselines are usually 15 meters (49.21 feet) wide and painted behind each basket.

• Centre Circle (Jump Circle)

The round line you will see in the middle of the field is called the centre circle. It has a diameter of 3.6 meters or 11.8 feet. The radius of the circle is 1.8 meters ( 5.9 feet) to the outer edge.

• No Charge Arc

The no-charge arc or restricted area arc is a curved line near the basket. This line is helpful for you to understand where you can and cannot draw a charging foul. On FIBA courts, you have to set it with a radius of 1.25 meters (4.1 feet) from the center of the hoop. But for the NBA, the arc has a radius of 4 feet (1.22 meters).

• Mid Court

You may notice a line at the center of the basketball court. It is called the mid court line or division line. This line is located exactly halfway between the two baselines. From each baseline, you can paint it 14 (5 ft) meters long. 

• Free Throw Line

The line which is marked in front of the basket is known as the free throw line. You can paint this line 4.6 meters from the backboard. It marks the location where players must stand for free throws.

• 3 Point Line

You will also find a curved line around the basket called the 3-point line. You may think, how to paint a 3 point line? So, you can draw a 3 point line at a distance of 6.75 m from the basket center point. For accurate markings, you can use a marking machine.

• The Key/Free Throw Lane

The free-throw lane is the rectangular area under the basket. According to FIBA rules, you can mark it 4.9 meter wide and 5.8 meter long.

Basketball Court Paint

You can use basketball court paint to mark all the lines and boundaries on a surface. But, you have to make sure the paint is durable, weather-resistant and bright-colored. So, you can see the lines clearly. You can mark the court with different types of marking paints such as acrylic, water based or oil based paints.

How To Paint Basketball Court Lines?

How to mark basketball court lines? First of all, you need to clean and dry the court surface. Then, draw an accurate layout (lines & boundaries) with the chalk or pencil. Now, you can apply high quality paint with a painting robot or rollers.

For more accuracy, you can use marking tape to achieve edges and curves. Before you remove the tape, you must allow the paint to dry completely.

Basketball court paint for concrete: The high-quality acrylic latex paint is the best option for you to mark a surface made with concrete. For extra grip, you can mix it with silica sand and apply it with a sport field line marking machine.

Paint for driveway basketball court: To mark driveway basketball court, you should use 100% acrylic latex paint. You can add acrylic sealer or a non-slip material to make it durable.

Outdoor basketball court painting: You need durable paint for outdoor basketball courts. because the court is exposed to sun and heavy use. You can use latex paints with additives and a sealer.

Answers To Common Questions

What is the Diameter of a Basketball Hoop?

Basketball rim size is mostly 18 inches or 45.72 cm. You have to follow this diameter for all leagues such as FIBA, NBA, NCAA and school games. You have to mount it 10 feet (3.05 meters) above the playing surface.

How To Paint Basketball Court Lines on Asphalt?

You need to measure and mark the lines with chalk or tape. After that, you should use durable acrylic or latex paint to apply the base and lines. Now, finish with a clear sealer to make the markings long-lasting and weather-resistant.

What If Basketball Courts Were as Big as Soccer Fields?

In such a case, you would run much more to cover the court. Players would pass over longer distances and may take harder shots from far away. In short, it can totally change the game speed, players position, strategy and style.

What is the Capacity of a Basketball Court?

In a basketball court, 10 players (5 per team) can play the game on the court at a time. In terms of audience capacity in a court, a standard NBA court can hold roughly 800 to 1600 people shoulder-to-shoulder.

Final Note

If you want the best experience on a basketball court, you should focus on accuracy and quality. Always use durable paint for lines, and maintain the surface regularly.

When you pay attention to these details, you can keep your court ready to deliver quality play for many years. For more guidance, you can also talk to our team.