Backyard basketball court dimensions start with the pad, not the lines. Here are seven pad sizes, the lines that fit on each, and what each one costs to build.
| Pad size | Sq ft | Lines that fit | New court cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' x 30' | 600 | Hoop, 12 ft lane, and the free-throw line | $9,000 to $12,600 |
| 30' x 30' | 900 | Lane, free-throw line, and the free-throw circle | $13,500 to $18,900 |
| 30' x 40' | 1,200 | Lane and free-throw circle, three-point arc clipped at the sides | $18,000 to $25,200 |
| 40' x 50' | 2,000 | Full high school three-point arc | $30,000 to $42,000 |
| 50' x 42' | 2,100 | Regulation high school half court | $31,500 to $44,100 |
| 50' x 47' | 2,350 | Regulation NBA and college half court | $35,250 to $49,350 |
| 50' x 50' | 2,500 | Half court plus run-off, the pad builders price | $37,500 to $52,500 |
The cost column runs from a basic pad with surfacing and lines up to the high end of an ASBA-specification pad. It covers concrete, surfacing, and lines. A hoop system is not included. The rates are $10.50 to $13.00 per square foot for the pad and $4.50 per square foot for surfacing and lines, so the pad size sets the price. For your own length and width, the sport court cost calculator runs the same math.
Two measurements decide what you can paint. Depth is set by the free-throw line, which sits 15 feet from the face of the backboard, and the backboard itself sits 4 feet inside the baseline. That needs about 19 feet of depth before any run-off. Width is set by the three-point arc: a high school arc is 19 feet 9 inches from the rim, so a full arc with both corners needs about 40 feet of width. Below 40 feet wide the arc gets clipped at the sides, which is the main trade-off on a smaller pad.
The 12 foot lane is the easy part. It fits on a 20 foot wide pad with 4 feet to spare on each side.
| Element | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Rim height | 10' |
| Backboard width | 6' |
| Backboard set in from the baseline | 4' |
| Free-throw line from the backboard | 15' |
| Lane (key) width, high school and college | 12' |
| Free-throw circle | 6' radius |
| Three-point line, high school | 19' 9" |
| Three-point line, NCAA | 22' 1 3/4" |
| Three-point line, NBA | 23' 9" (22' in the corners) |
Measure the flat area you are willing to give up, then subtract run-off on every side you want to chase a ball into. Whatever is left is the pad. Fit the lines to it in this order: hoop, lane, free-throw line, then as much of the arc as the width allows. A regulation half court is the right target only if you have 50 feet of width and want true corner threes.
For the full picture on lines and levels of play, see basketball court dimensions and half court basketball dimensions. For an itemized price, see basketball court construction cost or the half court basketball cost breakdown.
Price your own court in 3 minutesWhatever the yard allows. The pads in this guide run from 20 by 30 feet (600 sq ft) up to a 50 by 50 foot, 2,500 sq ft half-court pad. A regulation half court is 50 by 47 feet for NBA and college lines, or 50 by 42 feet for high school.
About 19 feet of depth for the lane and free-throw line, and about 40 feet of width for a full high school three-point arc. A regulation half court needs 50 feet of width.
A 20 by 30 foot pad holds a hoop, the 12 foot lane, and the free-throw line 15 feet from the backboard. Anything narrower gives up the lane.
$13,500 to $18,900 for a 30 by 30 foot pad, and $37,500 to $52,500 for a 2,500 sq ft half court. That is concrete, surfacing, and lines, with no hoop system.