Half Court Basketball Dimensions for a Backyard (With Diagram)
Updated
Half court basketball dimensions for high school play are 50 feet wide by 42 feet deep. That's half of the 84 × 50 ft court that NFHS, the group that writes high school rules, lists as ideal. Most backyard half courts are smaller, and that's fine.
This guide gives every key measurement, common backyard sizes, and a simple way to check your yard. For layouts that also fit pickleball and a net game, see backyard courts.
Regulation half court: 50 × 42 feet
NFHS Rule 1-1 sets 84 × 50 ft as the ideal high school court. A court can be no bigger than 94 × 50 ft. Half of 84 is 42, so a high school half court is 50 ft wide and 42 ft deep.
Sources: the official NFHS court diagram (opens in new tab) and the NFHS Rule 1 text (via Draper (opens in new tab)).
Leave at least 3 feet of open space around the lines
NFHS Rule 1-2-1 calls for at least 3 feet, and preferably 10 feet, of open space outside the boundaries. That space keeps players out of fences, walls, and planters.
| Layout | Total size | Square feet |
|---|---|---|
| Half court lines only | 50 × 42 ft | 2,100 |
| With 3 ft on every side | 56 × 48 ft | 2,688 |
| With 10 ft on every side | 70 × 62 ft | 4,340 |
Total sizes add the runout to all four sides. That's simple math from the NFHS numbers.
Common backyard half court sizes
Few yards have room for 70 × 62 feet. Home courts are usually smaller, and none of these are rulebook sizes.
Plan on 30 × 30 feet for half-court games
HomeGuide (opens in new tab) calls a 30 × 30 ft half court the typical backyard court. It says that size has room for 3-on-3 games and 3-point shots. Angi (opens in new tab) also lists 30 × 30 as a compact half court for home use.
A 30 × 30 pad fits the full lane and free-throw circle. Only the top of the high school arc fits. The sides of the arc run off the pad about 18 feet out from the baseline.
Use 20 × 20 feet for a shooting pad
A 20 × 20 ft pad fits the 12-ft lane with 4 feet on each side. The free-throw line sits 19 feet from the baseline, so there's just 1 foot behind it. It's great for shooting practice and tight for games.
Check what fits at each size
| Pad size | Full lane (12 × 19 ft) | Free-throw circle (to about 25 ft) | High school 3-point arc |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 × 20 ft | Yes, with 1 ft behind the line | No | No |
| 30 × 30 ft | Yes | Yes | Top only |
| 50 × 42 ft | Yes | Yes | Yes, with corners |
This is math from the NFHS measurements below. Leave extra room behind any line you want to shoot from.
Key, free-throw line, and 3-point arc measurements
These are the NFHS high school numbers, which most backyard courts copy.
| Line or part | NFHS measurement | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Lane (key) width | 12 ft, to the outside of the lines | 1-5-1 |
| Free-throw line | Far edge 15 ft from the backboard face (19 ft from the baseline) | 1-6 |
| Free-throw circle | 6-ft radius to the outside edge | 1-6 |
| 3-point arc | 19 ft 9 in from the center of the basket to the outside edge | 1-4-1 |
| Arc's straight lines | 63 in long, from the baseline | 1-4-1 |
| Backboard face | 4 ft inside the baseline | 1-8-1 |
| Rim height | 10 ft to the top edge | 1-11-1 |
| Rim size | 18 in inside diameter | 1-10-1 |
| Center circle | 6-ft radius | 1-3-1 |
| Line width | 2 in | 1-2-1, 1-4-1, 1-6 |
Sources: NFHS court diagram (opens in new tab) and NFHS Rule 1 (via Draper (opens in new tab)).
Measure the free-throw line from the backboard
The free-throw line is measured from the backboard, not the rim. Its far edge is 15 feet from the backboard face. Since the backboard sits 4 feet in, that puts the line 19 feet from the baseline.
The center of the rim sits 15 inches in front of the backboard: a 6-inch gap plus half of the 18-inch rim. So the line is about 13 ft 9 in from the center of the rim.
Measure the arc from the center of the basket
The arc is measured from the spot on the floor right under the center of the basket. That spot is 63 inches (5 ft 3 in) from the baseline: 4 feet to the backboard plus 15 inches to the rim's center.
The math that follows:
- Top of the arc: 5 ft 3 in plus 19 ft 9 in puts it 25 feet from the baseline.
- Width of the arc: 19 ft 9 in on each side of the basket makes it 39 ft 6 in wide.
- Room at the sides: On a 50-ft court, that leaves 5 ft 3 in between the arc and each sideline.
Compare high school and NBA lines
| Measurement | High school (NFHS) | NBA |
|---|---|---|
| Full court | 84 × 50 ft (ideal) | 94 × 50 ft |
| Half court | 42 × 50 ft | 47 × 50 ft |
| Lane width | 12 ft | 16 ft |
| Free-throw line from backboard face | 15 ft | 15 ft |
| 3-point arc | 19 ft 9 in | 23 ft 9 in (22 ft in the corners) |
| Rim height | 10 ft | 10 ft |
NBA figures come from the NBA rulebook, Rule 1 (opens in new tab) and its court diagram. Half courts are half the length, as simple math.
College games sit in between. The NCAA moved its 3-point line to 22 ft 1¾ in for men's Division I in 2019-20 (opens in new tab) and for women's basketball in 2021-22 (opens in new tab).
Hoop placement and overhang
Where the hoop goes decides where everything else goes. Set it first.
Put the backboard 4 feet inside the baseline
On an NFHS court, the backboard face sits 4 feet inside the baseline, centered between the sidelines (Rule 1-8-1). The rim's top edge is 10 feet up. For new backboards, NFHS recommends a 6 × 3½ ft rectangle (Rule 1-7-1).
Use the overhang to place the pole
On an in-ground hoop, the overhang is the distance from the pole to the backboard face. Subtract 4 feet from the overhang. The answer is how far behind the baseline the pole sits.
A 4-ft overhang puts the pole on the baseline. A shorter overhang puts the pole on the court. Check the overhang in the hoop's specs before the footing is poured.
Pad anything close to the court
In gyms, NFHS says support systems should sit at least 8 feet behind the backboard face, at 7 feet high or more (Rule 1-9-3). If your pole sits closer than that, pad it. HomeGuide lists pole padding as an upgrade that protects players.
Adding pickleball lines to a half court
Many backyard courts here pair a hoop with pickleball lines. It works, but know the numbers first.
Know the pickleball space rule
A pickleball court is 20 × 44 ft. The USA Pickleball rulebook (opens in new tab) sets a 30 × 60 ft minimum playing surface (Rule 3.A.3).
A 50 × 42 ft half court can hold pickleball lines turned sideways. The 44-ft court runs across the 50-ft width, leaving 3 feet at each end. That's fine for casual games, but it's short of the 30 × 60 rulebook minimum.
Build a longer pad for both sports
For a full pickleball surface plus a hoop, plan a 30 × 60 ft pad with the hoop at one end. Our basketball and pickleball combo court guide shows that layout, and pickleball court dimensions covers the pickleball lines.
Measure your yard
You need a 100-foot tape, four stakes, string, and a helper.
Stake out the size you want
- Pick the flattest open area.
- Drive a stake at one corner.
- Measure the width along one side and set the second stake.
- Measure the depth from each stake, at a right angle, and set the last two.
- Run string around all four stakes to see the footprint.
Check that the corners are square
Measure both diagonals. For a 30 × 30 layout, each should be about 42 ft 5 in. For 50 × 42, each should be about 65 ft 4 in. If the two match, your corners are square.
Check the slope and what's overhead
Courts are built with a slight slope so rain runs off. HomeGuide (opens in new tab) suggests 0.83% to 1% in one direction. Across 30 feet, that's about 3 to 3.6 inches. A yard that drops much more may need grading.
Look up, too. Note trees, roof lines, and power lines near the hoop.
Send your measurements for a free answer
Ask about your court and send your measurements and a few photos. We can help you plan what fits: a shooting pad, a 30 × 30 half court, or a full 50 × 42. You can also see options for backyard courts, or check national prices in our basketball court cost guide.
FAQ
How big is a half basketball court?
A high school half court is 50 ft wide and 42 ft deep, half of the NFHS ideal 84 × 50 ft court. An NBA half court is 47 × 50 ft. HomeGuide calls 30 × 30 ft the typical backyard half court.
What is the smallest half court worth building?
It depends on how you'll play. A 20 × 20 ft pad fits the lane and free-throw line for shooting. HomeGuide says 30 × 30 ft is big enough for 3-on-3 games.
How far is the free-throw line from the hoop?
The far edge of the free-throw line is 15 feet from the backboard face (NFHS Rule 1-6). That's 19 feet from the baseline and about 13 ft 9 in from the center of the rim.
How much space do I need behind the hoop?
The backboard face sits 4 feet inside the baseline. NFHS calls for at least 3 feet, and preferably 10 feet, of open space past the baseline. So plan at least 7 feet from the backboard face to the nearest wall or fence, and 14 feet if you can.
Can I fit a 3-point line in my backyard?
The full high school arc is 39 ft 6 in wide and reaches 25 feet from the baseline. You need a pad at least that big, plus room to stand behind the line. On a 30-ft-wide pad, only the top of the arc fits.