Basketball is a sport played by people of all ages.
Many kids will start playing at around 7-8 years old and many continue to play in senior leagues at local gyms. Basketball is a sport loved by many and often played at area parks.
It is a cheap sport to get started in as it only takes a basketball and one can head to a local park where there is a good chance there will be a court with two hoops.
Are all basketball courts the same size?
In the NBA every court is the same size at 94 feet by 50 feet which is the same size used at the collegiate level. However, once you get to the high school level and below the court will vary in size. At your local park, the size of the court will vary depending on the amount of space and the overall budget.
The size at these levels is often dependent on when the gym was built and how much space is available. Many high school gyms were built up to 50-60 years ago and the total amount of space will vary.
Below, we will dive into the following topics related to basketball court size.
- NBA Basketball Court Dimensions
- NCAA Basketball Court Dimensions
- High School Basketball Court Dimensions
- Youth Basketball Court Dimensions
NBA Basketball Court Dimensions
The NBA plays on a court that is 94 feet by 50 feet. This has been the size of the court since the beginning of the NBA in 1949. The 3 point line has varied in distance from hoop and has been changed multiple times, but was not added until the 1979 season.
The 3 point arch was first used in the NBA in 1979, which was Larry Bird and Magic Johnson’s rookie year.
Overall, the size of the court keeps the game fast paced in today’s NBA game. The 3 point shot is a rather common shot in today’s game due to the shooting ability of the players and a player like Steph Curry who has helped revolutionize the game with shooting 3 points from well beyond the 3 point arch.
Analytics has also played a role in understanding why the 3 point shot is a better shot than the 18-20 foot jumper that is only worth two points.
With the athletic ability of today’s NBA playing continuing to increase and the overall size of the players increasing, one might think that eventually they would maybe widen the court.
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NCAA Basketball Court Dimensions
The NCAA plays on a court that is 94 feet by 50 feet, which is the same as the NBA. The 3 point line ranges from between 19 and 20 feet, which is about 2 feet shorter than the NBA. The 3 point line did not universally begin in college basketball until 1986.
The dimension of the court makes sense when compared to the NBA as the athletes are similar size and are often preparing to one day play in the NBA. Eventually, we could see the 3 point line matching the distance of the NBA 3 point line.
The defense is often more intense at the college level compared to the NBA as the season is shorter and the playoff system is a one and done. The games are often more intense compared to the NBA games.
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High School Basketball Court Dimensions
The length and width of a high school basketball court will vary. Most frequently the court will be around 84 feet in length by 50 feet in width. However, some high school teams play on college and even professional courts.
Teams will often play games on various size courts throughout the year. Many NBA teams host high school games throughout the seasons. This is why you will see multiple 3 point lines found on different courts throughout the United States.
Oftentimes when teams reach the high school basketball playoffs, the more advanced rounds will be played at a college arena. For example, in the state of Ohio, the state championship games and the final four are played at the Ohio State University Arena.
The 3 point line is the shortest of the three (NBA, NCAA and High School) and was not widely adopted until the 1987 season.
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Middle School Basketball Court Dimensions
There is no standard length, but the most common size is the high school size of 84 feet by 50 feet. However, at times you might find a court as short a 74 feet and as narrow as 42 feet.
The number one factor is the age of the facility. For those built more recently, they typically have a full size high school basketball court, while the older facilities are often smaller gyms with smaller courts.
The 3 point line will be the same distance as the high school game.
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Youth Basketball Court Dimensions
Many youth travel leagues and AAu will play on high school or college size courts. When kids are just beginning the game you might find really small courts all the way up to high school range. At the youngest levels, they might even use a hoop that is less than 10 feet in height and make adjustments to the foul line.
The key for the youngest players is to have a court that allows the kids to experience some success, this is one reason for shorter hoop height. The fundamentals are taught at the youngest levels and the key is to get kids dribbling, understanding the basic rules and having fun.
Basketball Court Dimensions: Quick Reference Chart
| Level | Length | Width | Basket Height | Foul Line |
| Youth | 50′-84′ | 42′-50′ | 7′-10′ | 15′ |
| MIddle School | 72′-84′ | 42′-50′ | 10′ | 15′ |
| High School | 84′ | 50′ | 10′ | 15′ |
| College | 94′ | 50′ | 10′ | 15′ |
| Professional | 94′ | 50′ | 10′ | 15′ |
Final Thoughts: Basketball Court Size and Dimensions
You will see that the size of the court does not vary greatly from one level to the next. A sport like soccer has a complete progression for the 8u level up to 13u and then to high school and the professional level. A sport like football is most often played on the same size field from the youth level to the professional level.
The main key is to find a quality size for the youngest players to have fun and experience some success. Everyone that loves basketball wants to see the game grow. The bottom line is that the game is fun when players can make basketball, so adjust accordingly and help grow the game!