Wouldn’t it be amazing to have your own basketball court? For the 26 million Americans who play basketball every year, having their own court to work on their slam dunks daily is a dream come true. But, not everyone needs an NBA regulation court to enjoy the game.
There are a few ways to determine what the right size court is for your property. First, understanding the common basketball court regulations will help you choose the right court for your needs. Whether your new court is indoor or outdoor, the same decisions must be planned.
This guide explains basketball court dimensions, the regulation sizes, and basketball court surfaces. Your home court is custom for your personal needs, so read on to find your best design version.
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Different Basketball Court Regulations
Measurements for basketball courts vary in length and width for the various leagues and professional organizations. Your home court can follow the regulation sizes or be custom for the space you have. Just like the local hoop at the park down the block may not meet any of the official measurements, it doesn’t stop a lot of fun from taking place on it!
For competition-level playing on indoor courts, the basketball equipment regulations and court sizes must meet the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) or the National High School Federation rules. For all levels of basketball, the free-throw line is marked 15 feet from the backboard but residential courts don’t need to meet the same stipulations.
When choosing your design for your residential court, knowing that high school, college, and professional league courts follow similar layouts is helpful. Here is how the differences are broken down:
Professional NBA Court Dimensions
National Basketball Association has the biggest court size regulations. At this level of talent, the large size adds more territory to cover and competition to the game. The overall court size is 94 feet long by 50 feet wide. The half-court line holds a six-foot radius tip-off circle.
NBA courts’ key, also known as “the paint,” is 16 feet wide by 19 feet long, from baseline to foul line. The arched three-point line peaks at 23 feet, 9 inches from the basket center. It is 2-inches wide and runs three feet from the sidelines.
NBA courts include a 4-foot, semi-circle restricted area that is marked with a line with a two-inch width.
Professional WNBA Court Dimensions
Women’s professional basketball follows the same court length and width regulations as the men’s league. WNBA regulations don’t include a restricted area under the basket. Professional women’s basketballs are also one-inch smaller than men’s balls, with a circumference of 28.5 inches.
Also, the women’s court has a slightly smaller three-point line arc, being marked at 22 feet and 13.25 inches from the basket center.
International Basketball (FIBA) Court Dimensions
Regulation sizes for international basketball are slightly smaller than NBA and WNBA courts. The overall court size is 91 feet, 10 inches long and 49 feet, 2.5 inches wide. The smaller size affects the three-point line.
FIBA’s three-point line arc measures over three inches smaller than the NBA at 20 feet, 6 inches. The key is also different on a FIBA court, growing wider towards the basket in a trapezoid shape. The ‘paint’ is 12 feet wide at the free-throw line and 19 feet, 8.25 inches wide at the baseline.
NCAA Basketball Court Dimensions
Both men and women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball leagues use the 94-foot long, 50-foot long court size for their basketball court regulations. Both have a 12-foot center circle and the free-throw line is marked 15 feet from the backboard.
NCAA differs from the professional leagues regarding the key. The key on both men’s and women’s NCAA courts is set at 15 feet long and 12 feet wide. Men’s courts include the restricted area under the basket while women’s regulations don’t.
The three-point line also varies for NCAA courts. Men’s games have this arc peak at 20 feet, nine inches from the center basket. Women’s rules mark it at one foot shorter at 19 feet, 9 inches.
High School Basketball Dimensions
Basketball courts in high schools across the country may vary due to their age but the official regulation sizes are much smaller than professional and college-level courts. High school courts are 84 feet long and 50 feet wide. The other lines follow most of the women’s regulations in the NCAA.
These lines include a key that is 15 feet long and 12 feet wide and a three-point arc that peaks at 19 feet, 9 inches. High school and backyard basketball court are not required to have a restricted area under the basket.
The Right Court for You
Determining the size of your backyard basketball court will depend on the space available and the level of basketball you intend to play on it. Smaller spaces may benefit from a half-court and are still as much fun! Adding a backyard basketball court will increase your property value by over 10 percent!
Regardless of the overall size of your court, there are plenty of options to consider to make your basketball dreams come true. The backboard size and material can customize the look of your home court. Glass is professional-level quality and looks sleek, while you can paint a solid backboard to suit your home’s aesthetics.
Choosing the playing surface is a also great way to customize your court. Backyard basketball court surfaces come in cement, grids, sport tiles, and rubber crumb. There are plenty of options to suit your needs and playing style.
Backyard Basketball is for Everyone
If adding a sports court to your property is in the cards, knowing the different basketball court regulations is important to choose the right style for your life. If you’ve got a budding NBA or WNBA star in your life, painting the three-point line and key to the right regulations may make all the difference to their practice. Or, maybe your basketball game is more of the pickup style or playing “HORSE” with the grandkids.
Use this guide to help determine which basketball court is right for you. If you’ve found this information helpful, be sure to check out our other home improvement articles for more tips on remodeling and home enhancement.