How wide is the 3 point line?
Daniel Moore
Published Jan 21, 2026
The NBA has a 22-foot 3-point line in the corners and a 23-foot, 9-inch line elsewhere. The WNBA and the international game plays with a 20-foot, 6-inch line. The NCAA men's game has a 20-foot, 9-inch line while the NCAA women and high schools have a 19-foot, 9-inch line.
How far is the average 3 point line?
The distance from the basket to the three-point line varies by competition level: in the National Basketball Association (NBA) the arc is 23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) from the center of the basket; in FIBA, the WNBA, the NCAA (all divisions), and the NAIA, the arc is 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in).
How far is the 3 point line from the basket in college?
College basketball's 3-point line in the DI men's game moves back this season for the first time since 2008. In case you missed the news, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved moving it back to 22 feet, 1¾ inches in June. That's the same distance used in international basketball.
Where is the 3 point line measured from?
Answer has 5 votes. The line is measured from the CENTER of the basket using a plumb bob. In the U.S., college and high school rules for both men and women specify a distance of 19 feet, 9 inches (6.02 m) from the basket.
Is the 3 point line the same distance?
At most levels of basketball, the three-point line is an arc, so three-point shots are the same distance no matter where you are on the court. The NBA three-point line, however, is basically a three-part structure with two straight lines and an arc in the middle.
15 related questions foundIs the NBA rim 12 feet?
The rims have always been 10-feet high since James Naismith posted 13 rules for a game he called “Basket Ball” in a Springfield, Mass., YMCA gym in 1891.
How wide is an NBA lane?
“The key” (sometimes called “the lane”) for an NBA/Professional court is 16 feet wide. Regulation courts have the backboard extending out 4 feet over the baseline into the key. A 6 foot arc (half circle) extends from the foul line away from the basket to complete the key.
How wide is NBA backboard?
The backboard shall be a rectangle measuring 6' horizontally and 3 ½' vertically. The front surface shall be flat and transparent. A transparent backboard shall be marked with a 2” white rectangle centered behind the This rectangle shall have outside dimensions of 24” horizontally and 18” vertically.
How far back is the 3 point line in high school?
3 Point Line or Arc:
19.75 ft (6.01 m): High School.
How high does a 3 point shot go?
According to Stats LLC, Curry's average 3-point shot reaches a maximum height of 16.23 feet. The NBA average is 15.77 feet. This added height gives Curry an advantageous angle at the basket. The higher the arc, the better angle the ball has to travel through the rim.
Why did the NBA shorten the 3 point line?
For a three-year period between 1994 and 1997, the league reduced its 3-point line distance from 23-feet and nine inches to 22-feet in an attempt to combat the decreased scoring.
Is 72 inch backboard too big for driveway?
Backboards range in size from 44" to 72". If you have a one car driveway, go with a 54" backboard. If you have enough space, strongly consider a 60" or , ideally, a 72" backboard, which is regulation size for high school, college and the pros. Larger backboards provide more shot options from different angles.
Is a 54 inch backboard big enough?
Backboard sizes vary in width from 48” wide all the way up to 72”, but for the sake of regular game play we recommend choosing backboard no smaller than 54” wide. Anything narrower than this measurement won't allow the player to perform bank shots at all!
How wide is a basketball hoop?
The top of the hoop is 10 feet (305 cm) above the ground. Regulation backboards are 6 feet (183 cm) wide by 3.5 feet (107 cm) tall. All basketball rims (hoops) are 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter.
How far does backboard overhang court?
The backboard protrudes four feet out from the baseline, and the rim of the basket hangs 10 feet off the ground. Subtracting the four feet overhang from the 19-foot length of the key, we get the familiar 15-foot distance from the foul line to the front of the backboard.
How do you measure a 3 point line in basketball?
Three Point lines differ as follows: NBA Basketball Courts – the 3 point arc is 22 feet to the center of the rim on the sides with a straight line extending out 16 feet 9 inches from the baseline. Past those points the line extends out 23 feet 9 inches from the center of the rim.
How wide are basketball court lines?
The official National Basketball Association (NBA) court size is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. International NBA court dimensions will be slightly smaller. The half-court line will be in the center of the yard and measure 47 feet.
Can a 6 foot man dunk?
To summarize, with a height of about 6 feet, you can dunk a basketball very quickly. But people of shorter height can still fully afford to dunk. Although that means you will have to go through more intense muscle training and vertical jumps. With effort and luck, you will likely dunk.
Can you touch the 3-point line?
The shooter may not be touching the floor on or inside the three-point field goal line. The shooter may contact the three-point field goal line, or land in the two-point field goal area, after the ball is released.
Is the corner 3-point shot shorter?
Almost invariably these shots are described as the “shorter corner 3.” And it's true, the line is 22 feet from the basket in the corner, while it extends to 23 feet, 9 inches around the rest of the arc. However, that extra distance is not the primary determining factor in the increased accuracy of the shot.
Is a corner 3 easier?
Twenty-two feet from the center of the rim, the corner 3 is considered the easiest 3-point shot in the NBA, but it doesn't come without its challenges — mainly space, time to shoot, and being defended by more than just who's on the court.
Can you fit 2 basketballs in a rim at the same time?
That means the diameter of two WNBA balls is exactly 18 inches, the same diameter as the hoop. The circumference of two WNBA balls, however, is 57 inches, and the hoop's circumference is only 56.5 inches. This makes it mathematically impossible to fit both balls at once.