Basketball Half Court Dimensions: Every Level, Every Marking, One Complete Guide

A standard NBA basketball half court measures 47 feet long by 50 feet wide. High school half courts run 42 feet long by 50 feet wide.

NCAA half courts align with the NBA at 47 by 50 feet. Basketball half court dimensions shift by level of play and so does the three-point line, key width, and other interior markings.

Basketball Half Court Dimensions by Level of Play

This is where most people get turned around. The overall footprint of a half court doesn't shift dramatically from level to level  but the internal measurements do, and those details matter if you're building, marking, or designing a court from scratch.

NBA Half Court Measurements

The NBA runs on a full court of 94 feet by 50 feet. Split that down the middle and the half court lands at 47 feet long by 50 feet wide.

The three-point arc sits at 22 feet in the corners and extends to 23 feet 9 inches at the top of the arc. The key the painted lane area is 16 feet wide and 19 feet long.

The free throw line is positioned 15 feet from the face of the backboard. A restricted area, a 4-foot arc directly beneath the basket, is also painted on NBA courts to determine charging versus blocking calls.

NCAA Half Court Measurements

NCAA courts share the same full-court footprint as the NBA: 94 feet by 50 feet, which makes the half court 47 feet by 50 feet as well.

The distinction is the three-point line. Men's NCAA places it at 22 feet 1¾ inches from the center of the basket. Women's NCAA brings it in closer at 20 feet 9 inches. The key width mirrors the NBA at 16 feet.

High School Half Court Measurements

High school courts run shorter. A standard full court measures 84 feet by 50 feet, putting the half court at 42 feet long by 50 feet wide five feet shorter than NBA or NCAA.

The three-point line sits at 19 feet 9 inches from the center of the basket. The key narrows as well, dropping to 12 feet wide rather than the 16-foot standard seen at higher levels. That more compact playing area has a real effect on spacing and shot selection at the prep level.

FIBA Half Court Measurements

FIBA courts measure 91.86 feet by 49.21 feet or 28 meters by 15 meters in metric. The resulting half court comes to roughly 45.93 feet by 49.21 feet.

The three-point arc matches NCAA men's at 22 feet 1¾ inches. One notable structural difference: FIBA uses a trapezoid-shaped key instead of the rectangular lane used in NBA and NCAA play.

Half Court Dimensions at a Glance

Level	Half Court Length	Half Court Width	3-Point Line	Key Width
NBA	47 ft	50 ft	22 ft (corner) / 23 ft 9 in (arc)	16 ft
NCAA Men's	47 ft	50 ft	22 ft 1¾ in	16 ft
NCAA Women's	47 ft	50 ft	20 ft 9 in	16 ft
High School	42 ft	50 ft	19 ft 9 in	12 ft
FIBA	~45.93 ft	~49.21 ft	22 ft 1¾ in	16 ft (trapezoid)

Court Markings That Make a Half Court Functional

The overall footprint is just the foundation. What actually makes a half court usable is the line work inside it.

The Paint Area (Key/Lane)

The key also called the lane or the paint is the rectangular zone positioned directly in front of the basket. At the NBA and NCAA level it stretches 16 feet wide.

At the high school level it narrows to 12 feet. In both cases, the key runs from the baseline to the free throw line, a consistent 19 feet at most levels.

Key width is a detail that often goes unacknowledged, but it has a direct impact on the game. A

tighter key compresses the post area and shifts how defenders set up in the lane.

The Free Throw Line

The free throw line is the one dimension that stays constant across every level: 15 feet from the face of the backboard, according to Wikipedia's basketball court specifications.

It's also sometimes cited as 19 feet from the baseline both figures describe the same line, just measured from opposite reference points.

The free throw circle carries a 6-foot radius and is centered on the free throw line. The hash marks flanking the key indicate where players position themselves during free throw attempts.

The Three-Point Arc

The three-point line varies more than any other marking across levels. It's measured from the center of the basket not the backboard and at the NBA level it isn't a perfect arc.

It runs 22 feet in the corners before extending to 23 feet 9 inches at the top, which is why corner threes are technically shorter shots.

At lower levels, the arc is more uniform and closer to the basket. That geometry is part of why corner threes feel less significant in high school play.

The Restricted Area

The restricted area is a 4-foot arc painted directly under the basket. Its purpose is to prevent defenders from positioning themselves beneath the rim to draw charging fouls.

It's a standard marking in NBA and NCAA play. Most recreational and backyard courts leave this one out, which is a reasonable call.

The Midcourt Arc

On a half court, only the far half of the center circle appears the arc that runs along the midcourt line. The full circle carries a 6-foot radius.

In recreational half-court games, this arc typically functions as either the court boundary or the check-ball reset line depending on informal house rules.

Backyard and Recreational Half Court Sizing

Most residential properties can't accommodate a regulation 47-by-50-foot half court. That's the straightforward reality. But a backyard court doesn't need to be regulation-sized to be genuinely useful.

According to data from Statista, nearly 30 million Americans played basketball at least once in 2023 a 33% rise since 2016 reflecting how much the game has grown beyond organized programs and into driveways and private courts.

The Practical Minimum for Real Play

The smallest size most players find workable is roughly 20 feet by 25 feet enough for a hoop, a free throw line, and some shooting range. At that scale, there's no three-point line and movement is tightly restricted.

A more functional minimum for 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 is 30 feet by 30 feet. That gives enough room to drive to the basket, pull up for mid-range shots, and run basic half-court sets without everything feeling cramped.

Standard Sizes for Residential Courts

Courts most commonly built for home use include:

• 30 ft × 30 ft — Compact and driveway-friendly; fits one hoop and a free throw line
• 30 ft × 50 ft — Regulation width, shortened length; accommodates a partial three-point arc
• 47 ft × 50 ft — Full regulation half court; requires significant space but plays like the real thing

The 30×50 layout is the most popular residential build. It preserves the full regulation width which matters for spacing and natural movement while shortening the length to something most properties can realistically accommodate.

Which Markings Actually Matter for a Backyard Court

For a home half court, the most useful lines to paint are:

• Free throw line — 15 feet from the face of the backboard
• Three-point arc — scaled to whichever level you're playing at
• Key/paint area — helps establish post positioning and lane rules
• Top-of-key arc — useful as a court boundary in informal games

Restricted area markings and lane hash marks are optional on recreational courts. They add accuracy but don't meaningfully affect casual play.

Rim and Backboard Standards

These measurements don't change with court size and they shouldn't. Whether it's a backyard hoop or an NBA floor, the rim sits at exactly 10 feet from the playing surface.

The regulation backboard is 72 inches wide by 42 inches tall. The inner rectangle the target box used for bank shots is 24 inches wide by 18 inches tall. The interior diameter of the basket ring is 18 inches.

These specs hold across NBA, NCAA, FIBA, and high school play. A rim that isn't set to precisely 10 feet will gradually distort a player's shooting mechanics something players who've trained on adjustable hoops set at the wrong height tend to figure out the hard way.

Final Takeaway

An NBA and NCAA half court is 47 by 50 feet. High school runs 42 by 50 feet. For backyard use, 30 by 50 feet is the most practical build that still preserves a real playing experience.

The three-point line and key width are the two dimensions that shift most across levels everything else stays close to consistent.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the dimensions of an NBA half court?

An NBA half court is 47 feet long by 50 feet wide. It includes a 16-foot key, a free throw line 15 feet from the backboard, and a three-point arc ranging from 22 feet at the corners to 23 feet 9 inches at the top.

Are high school half court dimensions the same as NBA?

No. A high school half court is 42 feet long by 50 feet wide five feet shorter than an NBA half court. The key is also narrower at 12 feet, and the three-point line sits closer at 19 feet 9 inches.

What is the minimum size for a backyard half court?

A functional backyard half court starts at around 30 feet by 30 feet for casual play. For a more complete experience with a partial three-point arc, 30 feet by 50 feet is the most widely recommended configuration.

Is the free throw line distance the same on all half courts?

Yes. The free throw line is 15 feet from the face of the backboard at every level NBA, NCAA, high school, and FIBA. The line itself is 2 inches wide.

Does a half court need a center circle?

Only the arc portion of the center circle appears on a half court, sitting at the midcourt boundary with a 6-foot radius. On recreational courts, it commonly serves as the check-ball or reset line in informal half-court games.