A full-size basketball court measures 28 m x 15 m (91.86 x 49.21 ft) under FIBA rules, while an NBA court is slightly larger at 28.65 x 15.24 m (94 x 50 ft). The rim sits 3.05 m (10 ft) above the floor on both. The three-point line is 6.75 m from the basket for FIBA (6.60 m in the corners) and 7.24 m for the NBA, and the free-throw line is 4.6 m from the backboard. Those numbers are the foundation of every accurate basketball court measurement, and everything else on the floor — the full dimensions of a basketball court — is set out relative to them. The free-throw line distance is 15 feet (4.6m) from the backboard, and these dimensions of a basketball game are identical whether you play under FIBA or NBA basketball rules.
Whether you are planning a school multi-sport court, a society half court, or a competition-grade indoor hall, getting the court size right is the difference between a court that plays true and one that frustrates every shooter. This guide gives you the exact official figures, a clear basketball court diagram in words, the full dimensions and markings, the total space you need around the playing area, how it compares to other courts, and what it takes to build one in India with the right surface. The same court size is used at every serious level of basketball, from high school courts to international competitions.
Official basketball court dimensions and measurements
Basketball is governed worldwide by FIBA (the International Basketball Federation), whose dimensions apply to school, college basketball, state, national and Olympic play across India and most of the world, both indoor and outdoor. The NBA, the professional basketball league in the United States, uses imperial measurements that are slightly larger. For almost every court built in India, the FIBA specification is the one to follow.
Full-size basketball court measurements (FIBA)
A regulation FIBA basketball court is 28 metres long and 15 metres wide (15 meters), measured to the inner edge of the boundary lines. That works out to a playing area of 91.86 x 49.21 feet, or roughly 420 square metres. The court is a true rectangle, symmetrical about the halfway line, so each half — the basis of any half court game — mirrors the other. This same width of the court and length applies to professional basketball, college basketball and high school courts that follow FIBA rules — a full-sized court from one end of the court to the other. FIBA courts are the international-standard reference for the dimensions of a basketball court.
FIBA vs NBA court measurements
The headline difference is size and three-point distance. An NBA court is 28.65 x 15.24 m (94 x 50 ft) — about 65 cm longer (28.7 m) and 24 cm wider than FIBA. The NBA three-point line is also pushed out to 7.24 m, against FIBA's 6.75 m at the top and 6.6 m in the corners. When comparing NBA and FIBA, the NBA court is the larger of the two. The basket height, backboard size and free-throw line distance are identical on both. The WNBA uses the same court size as the NBA, with its own three-point distance. You can cross-check the professional figures on the NBA official rules for court dimensions. Unless you are specifically building an NBA court to that exact specification, use the FIBA figures.
Basketball court measurements table
| Element | FIBA (metric) | FIBA (imperial) | NBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court length | 28 m | 91.86 ft | 28.65 m (94 ft) |
| Court width | 15 m | 49.21 ft | 15.24 m (50 ft) |
| Playing area | 420 m² | 4,520 ft² | 436.6 m² |
| Rim (basket) height | 3.05 m | 10 ft | 3.05 m (10 ft) |
| Three-point line (top) | 6.75 m | 22.15 ft | 7.24 m (23.75 ft) |
| Three-point line (corner) | 6.60 m | 21.65 ft | 6.70 m (22 ft) |
| Free-throw line from backboard | 4.6 m | 15.09 ft | 4.6 m (15 ft) |
| Backboard size (W x H) | 1.80 x 1.05 m | 5.91 x 3.44 ft | 1.80 x 1.05 m |
| Centre circle diameter | 3.6 m | 11.81 ft | 3.66 m (12 ft) |
| Restricted-area (no-charge) arc | 1.25 m | 4.10 ft | 1.22 m (4 ft) |
For the full official rulebook, see FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, which publishes the binding equipment and court specifications used in Indian competition. Domestically, play is administered by the Basketball Federation of India, which adopts FIBA dimensions for national events.
Detailed court layout and markings
Every line on a basketball court has a purpose, and the spacing between the court lines is fixed. Getting the court markings accurate is as important as getting the outer rectangle right — a misplaced free throw line or three-point arc changes how the game is played. A correct basketball court diagram shows the boundary lines, the centre line and circle, the key, the free throw line and circle, the three-point arc, and the hash marks along the lane. These line markings are the same on every full basketball court size, indoors or out.
Boundary lines and the centre line
The two longer boundaries are the sidelines and the two shorter ones are the baselines, also called the end line or endline. The centre line divides the 28 m court into two equal 14 m halves. At its midpoint sits the centre circle, 3.6 m in diameter, where the game starts with a jump ball. Every boundary line is 5 cm wide and is part of the area it bounds — a ball on the line is on the line, not out.
The key, lane and free-throw line
At each end is the restricted area, commonly called the key, the lane or "the paint" — the rectangle running from the baseline to the free throw line. The free throw line is 4.6 m from the backboard (5.80 m from the baseline) and is 3.6 m long, the same width as the free throw circle (a semicircle) drawn on top of it. Under modern FIBA rules the key is a rectangle, 4.9 m wide at the baseline. Players line up in the free throw lane along the painted lane lines, with hash marks marking their positions, during free throws. The old "foul line" is simply another name for the free throw line, and a foul that sends a player to it is a personal foul. The foul line distance — the distance of the line from the backboard — is the same 4.6 m at every level.
Three-point line
The three-point line is the arc beyond which a made basket scores three points. For FIBA the line distance is 6.75 m from the centre of the basket (the center of the basket) at the top of the three-point arc, flattening to 6.60 m in the two corners where the sideline limits the distance. The NBA arc is further out at 7.24 m. Inside the arc, baskets score two points.
Restricted-area arc and other markings
Directly under each basket is the restricted-area arc (the "no-charge" semicircle), 1.25 m radius under FIBA rules, measured from the point on the floor below the centre of the basket. A defender standing inside this arc cannot draw a charging foul. Two short hash marks (the two hash marks of the lower defensive box) on the baseline help officials judge this area. Together with the centre circle, the free throw circle and the team-bench and substitution markings, these complete a regulation set of court markings.
Net, goal, backboard and clearance specifications
The basket assembly is standardised so that a shot behaves the same on any court. The rim is 3.05 m (10 ft) above the floor, has an internal diameter of 45 cm, and carries a white cord net 40-45 cm long that checks the ball briefly as it passes through.
Backboard and rim
The backboard dimensions are 1.80 m wide x 1.05 m high, with a 59 x 45 cm inner rectangle marked around the rim to aid bank shots. The rim is mounted 15 cm in front of the backboard's lower edge and 1.20 m inside the baseline, so the basketball goal overhangs the playing court. On competition courts the structure is a fixed or hydraulic unit with adequate padding on the backboard base and any low edges.
Required total space and clearances
The 28 x 15 m figure is the playing area only. For competition, FIBA requires a clear, obstruction-free zone of at least 2 m around the entire court, which takes the recommended built footprint to about 32 x 19 m. Above the floor you need a minimum ceiling clearance of 7 m for indoor halls so high-arc shots and rebounds are unobstructed. Recreational and school courts can use tighter run-offs of 1-2 m, but never less than 1 m behind each baseline for player safety.
How a basketball court compares to other courts
Basketball is one of the larger court sports, which matters when you are deciding what will fit on a given plot or rooftop. The table below puts the playing areas side by side.
| Court | Playing area | Footprint vs basketball |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball (FIBA) | 28 x 15 m | Reference |
| Tennis (singles + doubles) | 23.77 x 10.97 m | Slightly shorter, narrower |
| Volleyball | 18 x 9 m | Much smaller |
| Badminton (doubles) | 13.4 x 6.1 m | Far smaller |
| Futsal | 40 x 20 m | Larger |
A basketball court has a footprint close to a tennis court, which is why multi-sport school courts are often sized to a basketball outline and then overlaid with markings for volleyball or badminton in different colours. If you are weighing one build against another, our surface selection guide walks through how court type and budget drive the right system.
Surface and construction for basketball courts in India
Dimensions decide the layout; the surface decides how the court plays and how long it lasts. In India, two systems dominate quality outdoor and indoor basketball courts: acrylic and polyurethane (PU). Both are laid over a properly engineered base.
Acrylic basketball court surface
An acrylic system is a multi-layer cushioned coating applied over a concrete or asphalt base. It gives consistent ball bounce, good grip, strong UV and weather resistance, and a wide colour range — ideal for outdoor school, society and club courts. It is the most popular of the outdoor surfaces in India for value and durability. Explore the build-up in our basketball court acrylic surface system, which is engineered for Indian sun and monsoon cycles.
PU (polyurethane) basketball court surface
A PU basketball court is a seamless, slightly cushioned synthetic surface prized for joint-friendly resilience and a premium, uniform feel underfoot. It suits indoor halls, academies and higher-specification courts where player comfort and a professional finish matter most. See our PU basketball court system for the layered specification and finish options.
Base preparation
No surface performs well over a poor base. A basketball court base is built up from a compacted sub-grade, an aggregate sub-base, and a reinforced concrete or dense asphalt slab laid to a fine tolerance with a slight 0.5-1% fall for drainage on outdoor courts. The slab is cured fully before any coating goes down. Skimping on the base is the single most common cause of cracking and uneven bounce.
Indoor versus outdoor basketball courts
The dimensions are identical indoors and outdoors — only the build-up and finish change.
Indoor courts
Indoor competition courts traditionally use a sprung wooden floor — the polished wood (maple) playing surface seen at the highest level of basketball — or a high-grade synthetic PU surface. Indoor courts need the full 7 m ceiling clearance, controlled lighting without glare, and a climate that protects a timber playing surface from humidity. Indoor PU systems are a popular, lower-maintenance alternative to polished wood for Indian academies.
Outdoor courts
Outdoor courts use weatherproof acrylic over concrete because it tolerates direct sun, rain and temperature swings without lifting. The outdoor playing surface is laid with drainage falls so water runs off quickly. Acrylic is the default outdoor surface for the vast majority of school, residential and municipal courts built across India, and the same court size and court markings apply for both indoor and outdoor play.
Cost of building a basketball court in India
As a 2026 guide, a full-size outdoor basketball court with an acrylic surface over a new concrete base typically costs between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 30 lakh, depending on site condition, base depth, number of acrylic coats and fencing. The surface coating alone, applied over an existing sound slab, usually runs Rs 90 to Rs 220 per square foot for acrylic and more for premium PU systems. A practical half-court for a school or society costs proportionally less. Civil work (base, levelling, drainage) is often the largest single line item, which is why an accurate site survey matters before any quote.
Plan your basketball court with ChampCourts
Getting a basketball court measurement right on paper is step one; building it to last in Indian conditions is where ChampCourts comes in. We design, supply and install acrylic and PU basketball court surfaces across India over a correctly engineered base, with accurate FIBA marking and a finish built to handle sun, rain and heavy play.
Talk to our court specialists for a free site assessment and estimate. Call ChampCourts on +91 92587 75187 and we will help you choose the right surface, size and layout for your space and budget.
FAQs about basketball court measurement
What is the standard basketball court measurement?
A standard FIBA basketball court measures 28 m x 15 m (91.86 x 49.21 ft), measured to the inner edge of the boundary lines. An NBA court is slightly larger at 28.65 x 15.24 m (94 x 50 ft). For courts built in India, the FIBA dimensions apply to almost all school, college and competition play.
How high is a basketball rim?
The basketball rim sits 3.05 m (10 ft) above the floor, measured to the top of the rim, on both FIBA and NBA courts. The rim has an internal diameter of 45 cm and is mounted 1.20 m inside the baseline, with the backboard (1.80 x 1.05 m) behind it.
How far is the three-point line in basketball?
Under FIBA rules the three-point line is 6.75 m from the centre of the basket at the top of the arc and 6.60 m in the corners. The NBA three-point line is further out at 7.24 m. A basket scored from beyond this arc is worth three points; inside it counts two.
How far is the free-throw line from the basket?
The free-throw line is 4.6 m from the face of the backboard, which places it 5.80 m from the baseline. The line is 3.6 m long and forms the top of the key, with a semicircle of the same width drawn on it.
How much total space is needed for a basketball court?
Beyond the 28 x 15 m playing area, a competition court needs at least 2 m of clear run-off all around, giving a built footprint of about 32 x 19 m. Indoor halls also require a minimum ceiling clearance of 7 m. Recreational and school courts can use tighter 1-2 m run-offs.
What is the best surface for a basketball court in India?
For outdoor courts, a weatherproof acrylic surface over a concrete base is the most popular choice in India for its grip, UV resistance and durability. For indoor halls and academies, a cushioned PU (polyurethane) surface offers a premium, joint-friendly feel. ChampCourts supplies and installs both.
How much does it cost to build a basketball court in India?
As a 2026 estimate, a full-size outdoor acrylic basketball court over a new base costs roughly Rs 12 lakh to Rs 30 lakh, depending on site conditions and specification. The acrylic coating over an existing sound slab runs about Rs 90 to Rs 220 per square foot. Contact ChampCourts on +91 92587 75187 for an accurate, site-specific quote.
Is a basketball court bigger than a tennis court?
A FIBA basketball court (28 x 15 m) is slightly larger than a tennis court (23.77 x 10.97 m including doubles alleys) — longer and noticeably wider. This is why multi-sport school courts are often laid out to a basketball outline first, then overlaid with markings for other sports.