Basketball is one of those sports every kid has tried to play at least once in their lifetime, but they soon realized that professional sports, especially basketball, weren’t for them. While playing basketball may be incredibly difficult, knowing the measurements isn’t.
A regulation basketball court measures 94 feet long and 50 feet wide.
In this guide, I’ll talk about the different measurements of basketball courts based on age group, as well as talk about the various markings on a regulation court.
Basketball Court Dimensions
In the United States, basketball is ranked number one on the list of the most popular indoor sports. In 2018, over 24 million Americans admitted to playing basketball.
The typical 2-team basketball format consists of 5 active players on each team. The goal of the game is to score more baskets or points on the opposing team’s net. The team who has the higher score after four 12-minute quarters is deemed the winner.
Basketball court sizes vary between leagues and age groups. For instance, NBA-regulation courts measures 94 feet long and 50 feet wide, whereas high school players play on 84 × 50-foot courts.
The chart below will describe the different basketball court sizes based on league and/or age group.
| League/Age Group | Length | Width | Total Playing Area |
| NBA | 94 ft. | 50 ft. | 4,700 sq. ft. |
| WNBA | 94 ft. | 50 ft. | 4,700 sq. ft. |
| NCAA | 94 ft. | 50 ft. | 4,700 sq. ft. |
| High School (USA) | 84 ft. | 50 ft. | 4,200 sq. ft. |
| Junior High School (USA) | 74 ft. | 42 ft. | 3,108 sq. ft. |
| International Basketball Federation (FIBA) | 91.86 ft. | 49.21 ft. | 4,520.43 sq. ft. |
Basketball Court Markings
If you take a look at an NBA-regulation basketball court from above, you’ll find all sorts of different markings on all parts of the court. If you plan on constructing a basketball court that is as true to NBA rules as possible, you should take note of the following markings.
Center Circle—The start of a game is held at the center of the center circle. This is where the referee tosses the ball up for the tip off, and the player who wins the tip-off starts the offensive play. The center circle measures 12 feet in diameter.
Midcourt/Division Line—The line that runs through the center circle and connects the sidelines. This line measures 50 feet across.
Sidelines—The lines found on the side of the basketball court denoting the 50-foot-wide playing area of the court. Each sideline measures 50 feet long.
Baselines—The lines found on the opposite ends of the basketball court, where each team’s baskets are located. The joining of the sidelines and baselines marks the 94 × 50-foot playing area. Each baseline measures 50 feet long.
Lane/Paint—The rectangular box is located in front of each basket to show where a player shoots free throws and other plays stand and wait. This box measures 16 × 19 feet.
Free Throw Line—The free-throw shooter must have both feet behind this line when shooting free throws. This line is placed 19 feet away from the baseline.
Restricted Arc—This arc denotes where a defending player can stand to take charge from the attacking team. The arc measures 4 feet in an arc from the basket.
3-Point Line—The line that marks where a player will score 3 points for their team after scoring a successful bucket. The distance from the 3-point line to the basket is 22 feet to the side and 23.75 feet in an arc from the basket.
Inbound Lines—There are 2 lines on each side of the court that show where a team can inbound the ball following a timeout. Each of the 4 lines measures 3 feet long.
Markings Chart
| Marking | Measurement | Notes |
| Center Circle | 12 feet wide | Located at the center of the court |
| Midcourt/Division Line | 50 feet | Connects the sidelines at their center points |
| Sidelines | 94 feet | Denotes the ends of the basketball court’s sides |
| Baselines | 50 feet | Connects the ends of the sidelines to create the 94 × 50-foot playing area |
| Lane/Paint | 16 × 19 feet | Centered on each team’s basket |
| Free Throw Line | 16 feet | Placed 19 feet away from the baseline and 15 feet away from the backboard |
| Restricted Arc | 4-foot arc | Relative to the basket |
| 3-Point Line | 22 feet 23.75 feet | 22 feet from each side of the basket 23.75 feet in an arc from the basket |
| Inbound Lines | 3 feet | Marked on both sides of the court and are parallel to the apex of the 3-Point Line |
Note: Every line used to denote the various lines and shapes on a basketball court measures 2 inches wide.
How Tall Is a Basketball Hoop?
The height of a basketball hoop is 10 feet tall. This applies to all major and minor leagues, including the NBA, NCAA, and junior high school. The hoop is located at the bottom of the backboard, which measures 72 inches wide and 42 inches tall, with the standard basketball rim measuring 18 inches in diameter.
How Long Is a Basketball Game?
Basketball is played in four 12-minute quarters, with teams switching sides of the court after the halftime period. However, a game of regulated basketball can last more than three times (roughly 2.5 hours) due to all of the timeouts, ad breaks, and fall calls.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Basketball Court?
In the United States, constructing a regulation-size basketball court (94 × 50 feet) costs $35,000 on average. Depending on how true-to-the-game the court is, you might end up paying more than twice as much.
However, you can save some money if you build a basketball court outdoors. You can swap out the wooden flooring for concrete, and labor costs can be considerably lower. However, outdoor courts aren’t suitable during rainstorms.
You can save even more money if you construct a half-court basketball court in your backyard. Half-courts measure 47 × 50 feet long and have the same markings as a regulation court, except that they are drawn on just one side. So, you could end up saving roughly half the cost it would take to build a conventional court.
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