How long is the key on a basketball court?

The top of the key in basketball refers to the top most point of the arch above the free throw line.

Different leagues have some different rules concerning the key, with the highest level of play – the NBA and WNBA – having among the largest key/paint areas and longest 3-point lines. So, what are the dimensions of the key across the many basketball leagues and levels?

Size of The Key

Here are the dimensions of the key, as they vary depending on the league/level:

NBA and WNBA: 16 feet (4.9 meters) width by 19 ft (5.8 m) length

FIBA: 16.08 ft (4.9 m) width by 15 ft (4.6 m) length

College and High School Basketball: 12 ft (3.7 m) width by 15 ft (4.6 m) length

Free Throw Line Height:

Free Throw Line Length: 15 ft (4.6 m) away from the baseline
Free Throw Circle Radius: 6 ft (1.8 m)

Free Throw Line Width:

NBA: 19 feet (5.8 m)
College and High School Basketball: 12 ft (3.7 m)

Another common question that people ask – how far is a top of the key 3 pointer?

NBA: 23.75 ft (7.2 m)
WNBA, College, and International Basketball: 22.15 ft (6.8 m)
High School Basketball: 19.75 ft (6.0 m)

Many basketball fans know the importance of the corner 3-pointer, which is much closer than the top of the key 3-pointer in the NBA: 22 ft (6.7 m). Also in the NBA, the lane lines are required to be two 6-inch (15 cm) long hash marks, and they are situated 3 ft (0.9 m) from the free throw line.

Real World Example of The Importance of The Key

I remember all those times I would bring the basketball past half court and stare down my defender, as I thought about pulling up for a 3-pointer at the top of the key. As the point guard, I knew I had to make the possession happen for our offense. The defensive players were usually worried about the player they were guarding, so I knew I could get a one-on-one matchup with my defender most times.

Usually at the beginning of the game, I would be the shooter from the top of the arc. Then, as the game progressed, I was able to get to the hoop and get strong shot attempts near the basket. As I entered the key, the rim was in my sight, and so were my teammates.

We knew we had the defense right where we wanted them. I either went from being the ball handler to the passer, or I continued to be the dribbler. When I passed to the post player, it would lead to easy two-pointer attempts. If the opponents packed in near the baseline, then I would find the open three-point shooter. If not, I could finish at the bucket for 2 points.

FAQ’s

Why Is It Called The Top of The Key?

In 1936, the first iteration of the key was a narrow rectangular shape on the basketball court. The semicircle looked larger in comparison, and therefore, the court looked like it had a keyhole on each side.

Other Names for The Key:

NBA: “Free throw lane”
“Foul lane”
“The lane”
“The paint”
“16-foot lane”
FIBA: “restricted area”

However, the NBA has referred to the “restricted area” as the area designated by a semicircle underneath the basket where offensive fouls cannot be taken. This “restricted area arc” is found 4 ft (1.2 m) from the hoop for the NBA and NCAA.

For FIBA, it is known as the “no-charge semicircle” 4.1 ft (1.2 m) from the basket. This semicircle is a recent innovation that originated in the NBA for the 1997-98 season as well as in NCAA men’s basketball for the 2010-2011 season.

How Many Seconds Are You Allowed to Be in The Key/Paint?

The quick answer to this question is three – the maximum number of seconds allowed is three seconds, but it differs based on the league. There are multiple 3-second violations:

3-Second Violation on Offense: the “Three Seconds Rule”

The typical three-second violation is the one for the offense in which an offensive player spends three consecutive seconds in the key. According to the official NBA rulebook, “The 3-second count shall not begin until the ball is in control in the offensive team’s frontcourt. No violation can occur if the ball is batted away by an opponent.”

What is the penalty for this violation?
- Turnover / change of possession. The opposing team receives the ball out of bounds at the free throw line extended.
Which leagues is it in?

Defensive 3-Second Violation

Also known as illegal defense, this violation is called when a defender spends three consecutive seconds in the paint. According to the NBA, the defensive three-second count is suspended by several situations, including when the offensive player is shooting or when the defender is actively guarding an opponent.

What is the penalty for this violation?
- The offensive team attempts one technical free throw, and the offensive team then receives the ball out of bounds at the free throw line extended nearest the point of interruption.
Which leagues is it in?

The playing area of a basketball court in the UK is 91.8ft (28m) in length and 49.21ft (15m) wide. Indoor courts should be 22.96ft (7m) in height.

Sport England's requirements are split into four levels of play: International, Premier (national competition), Club (regional competition) and Community (schools/recreational). This allows courts to be more flexible with sizes. The dimensions of a basketball court in these cases also include a minimum length and width: 85.3ft (26m) x 45.93ft (14m).

Court aspect	Dimensions
Length (International)	28m
Width (International)	15m
Height (International)	7m
Length (other levels)	26-28m
Width (other levels)	14-15m
Height (other levels)	7m

How long is a basketball court?

The length of a basketball court is 28m. These measurements can be reduced to 26m for Premier, Club and Community courts where only smaller spaces are available.

How wide is a basketball court?

The width of an International-standard basketball court in the UK is usually 15m. The court lines can be reduced by no more than 1m (14m) if required for lower levels of play.

What is the total area of a basketball court?

The total area of a professional basketball court is 420m². The minimum area allowed under Basketball England's guidance is 364m². These measurements apply to both indoor and outdoor courts.

The addition of 2.05m run-offs and 2m for teams and officials on the sideline increases the total area to 677.31m².

Basketball court dimensions in feet

A basketball court is 91.86ft long and 49.21ft wide. The total playing area for a court is 4520.43 ft² and 7290.5ft² if run-offs and sidelines are required.

Court aspect	Dimensions
Length	91.86ft
Width	49.21ft
Height	22.96ft
Playing area	4520.43ft²
Playing area (including run-offs and sidelines)	7290.5ft²

Basketball court dimensions in yards

A basketball court is 30.62 yards long, and 16.4 yards wide. The total playing area for a court is 502.31yds² and 810yds² if run-offs and sidelines are required.

Court aspect	Dimensions
Length	30.62yds
Width	16.4yds
Playing area	502.31yds²
Playing area (including run-offs and sidelines)	810yds²

Basketball court markings

Regulation line markings must be 50mm width in a contrasting colour to the playing surface.

Sidelines

The outer edge of the court is denoted by the sidelines, which run the length of the court. On a full-sized court they measure 28m.

Baseline and endline

The terms baseline and endline both refer to the ends of the court running behind the goals. Typically they measure 15m.

The use of the different terms depends on the direction a team is playing. Endline is the term for the end of the court which a team is defending, baseline is the for the attacking end.

Mid court

This is the halfway mark on the court and is used to denote the offensive playing area during a game.

On a full-sized court, the mid court line would be 14m from each endline.

Centre circle

Used for the opening tip off, the centre circle has a 3.6m diameter.

Three point line

The three point lines are the arcs that mark a range boundary from each hoop. Scoring from outside this line is worth three points. The distance of the line will vary depending on the level of game, but is typically 6.75m from the basket.

Free throw line

The free throw line, marked 4.6m from the backboard, is the mark at which a player must stand when shooting free throws.

Free throw circle

The free throw circle is the same size as the centre circle (3.6m in diameter). Shooters must stay inside this circle when taking a free throw. The circle is also used for jump balls.

Free throw lane lines/key

Lane lines run from the free throw line to the baseline, to form the 'key'. The shape and width can vary depending on the level of the game, but FIBA (International Basketball Federation) regulation changes in 2010 set it as a 4.9m by 5.8m rectangle.

Some also include space markings to keep opposing players from obstructing the free throw shooter.

Basketball court lines in feet and yards

Court marking	Dimensions (ft)
Sidelines	91.86ft
Baseline and endline	49.21ft
Mid court	45.93ft
Centre circle	11.81ft diameter
Three point line	22.14ft from the basket
Free throw line	11.81ft, 15.09ft from the backboard
Free throw circle	11.81ft diameter
Free throw lane lines/key	16ft x 19ft

Court marking	Dimensions (yds)
Sidelines	30.62yds
Baseline and endline	16.4yds
Mid court	15.31yds
Centre circle	3.93yds diameter
Three point line	7.38yds from the basket
Free throw line	3.93yds, 5.03yds from the backboard
Free throw circle	3.93yds diameter
Free throw lane lines/key	5.33yds x 6.33yds

Basketball goal dimensions

A number of basketball goal systems are available: wall hinged, ceiling mounted or free-standing practice goals.

Backboards

Backboard dimensions are 1.8m x 1.22m, with a minimum thickness of 19mm. Backboards can be made of either timber or transparent material and must be fitted with padding at all levels above U16.

Backboard line markings should be 50mm in width and either black or white, depending on the material of the board. The inner rectangle should measure 0.45m x 0.59m.