A FIBA court is 28 metres by 15 metres.

The ruleset used on this page

This page uses the FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2024 v1.0a, especially Articles 2, 11, 16, 23, 26, 28, 30, 33.10 and 43, plus the separate 2024 Basketball Equipment document. FIBA's resource hub still labels that edition current on 26 August 2026.

FIBA has published Official Basketball Rules 2026 v1.1, but they become valid on 1 October 2026. The 2026 Article 2 keeps the measurements explained here. It changes the line-colour specification: the current 2024 rule requires all court lines to be the same contrasting colour; from 1 October 2026, coordinated groups of markings may use different colours, subject to the matching requirements in 2026 Article 2.5.

The primary scope is FIBA full-court 5-on-5 basketball. FIBA 3x3, mini-basketball, wheelchair basketball, domestic federations, school play and local leagues may use separate rules or approved adaptations.

Measure from the edge the rule names

A measurement can be wrong by a full line width if “to the line” is treated casually. FIBA Article 2 and its diagrams specify an inner edge, outer edge, furthest edge or a point beneath the exact centre of the basket.

• Court length and width: inner edge of each boundary line.
• 3-point arc: 6.75 m to the outer edge of the arc.
• Free-throw line: its furthest edge is 5.80 m from the inner edge of the endline.
• Centre circle: 1.80 m radius to the outer edge.
• No-charge semi-circle: 1.30 m radius to the outer edge.

For construction, certification or repainting, use the governing body's scaled diagram and tolerances rather than converting a summary paragraph into a floor plan.

Court, floor and clear space are different

FIBA Article 2.1 makes the playable court a 28 m by 15 m rectangle. Article 2.2 then requires a further boundary lane, free from obstructions, at least 2 m wide around it. The complete floor is therefore at least 32 m by 19 m.

The extra space is not playable court. A player who steps across the boundary has not gained another two metres of live-ball space. The distinction matters when a venue advertises its total floor size rather than its inbounds dimensions.

The sidelines and endlines are out

Under FIBA Articles 2.5.1 and 23, the boundary lines are not part of the court. A player is out of bounds when any part of the body contacts the floor, or an object other than a player, above, on or outside a boundary line. The ball is out when it touches an out-of-bounds player or person, the floor or an object above, on or outside the boundary, a backboard support, the back of a backboard or an object above the court.

Crossing the imaginary vertical plane above a sideline does not by itself make the ball out. An airborne player keeps the status of the last place touched on the floor under Article 11. A player may therefore jump from inbounds and save the ball over the line, provided neither player nor ball then touches something out before release.

Midcourt belongs to the backcourt

FIBA Article 2.5.2 says the centre line extends 0.15 m beyond each sideline and is part of the backcourt. That is why merely putting one foot across it does not necessarily complete an advance.

During a dribble from backcourt to frontcourt, Article 28.1.2 requires the ball and both feet of the dribbler to be completely in contact with the frontcourt. Different tests apply when a loose ball, a pass, a defender or a referee touches the frontcourt. Once the team has live-ball control in the frontcourt, Article 30 governs an illegal return to the backcourt.

The arc is 6.75 m; the line is a two

FIBA Article 2.5.4 measures the arc 6.75 m from the point directly beneath the centre of the basket to the outer edge of the line. Near each corner, straight lines run from the endline with their outer edges 0.90 m from the inner edge of the sidelines. The arc joins those straight segments.

The 3-point line is expressly excluded from the 3-point goal area. Article 16 awards three points only when the ball is released from the 3-point area. A foot touching the line makes the attempt a two; a shooter who last touched behind the line may release while airborne and land inside because Article 11 preserves the take-off location until the shooter touches the floor again.

The FIBA “restricted area” is the lane

FIBA uses restricted area for the rectangular lane, not for the no-charge arc. Its side lines have outer edges 2.45 m from the midpoint of the endline, producing a 4.90 m outside-to-outside width. They end at the outer edge of the extended free-throw line. Those side lines and the free-throw line are part of the restricted area; the endline is not.

The free-throw line is 3.60 m long, parallel to the endline, with its furthest edge 5.80 m from the inner edge of the endline. Article 26 counts an offensive player in the opponents' restricted area for more than three consecutive seconds only while that player's team controls a live ball in the frontcourt and the game clock is running. Both feet must be placed outside the area to re-establish outside position, subject to the rule's allowances for leaving or completing a shot movement.

Different players may move at different moments

Under FIBA Article 43, the shooter takes a position behind the free-throw line and inside the semi-circle, must release within five seconds, and may not touch the line or enter the restricted area until the ball enters the basket or touches the ring.

Players in marked rebound places may not enter the restricted area, neutral zone or leave their place until the ball has left the shooter's hands. Players not occupying rebound places remain behind the free-throw line extended and behind the 3-point line until the free throw ends. The markings therefore create separate restrictions; “everyone can move on release” is not an accurate FIBA summary.

The semi-circle answers only part of a block-charge call

FIBA Article 2.5.7 gives the no-charge semi-circle a 1.30 m radius to the outer edge, joined to short parallel lines. The line itself is part of the area. A defender with one or both feet touching it is therefore treated as being in the area for this rule.

Article 33.10 is narrower than “no charges under the basket.” It applies on a penetration when an airborne offensive player controls the ball, attempts a shot or pass, and contacts a defender who has a foot in the no-charge area. The contact is not called a team-control foul unless the offensive player illegally uses the hands, arms, legs or body. Other illegal contact, rebounding plays and players without the ball still require the ordinary contact rules.

Four short marks identify restart locations

FIBA Article 2.5.6 requires four throw-in lines, two on each sideline. Each is 0.15 m long outside the court, with its outer edge 8.325 m from the inner edge of the nearest endline.

These marks do not create a new inbounds boundary. They identify prescribed throw-in locations. The 2024 edition added the table-side marks for situations including a frontcourt advance after an eligible late-game timeout; Article 17 supplies the administration and Article 29 supplies the associated shot-clock treatment.

The familiar 10-foot rim has metric tolerances

The FIBA 2024 Basketball Equipment document sets the top of the ring at 3,050 mm above the floor, with a maximum tolerance of ±6 mm. The ring's inside diameter is 450–459 mm. A regulation backboard is 1,800 mm wide by 1,050 mm high, with the stated positive tolerances in the equipment specification.

That document also separates Level 1 elite FIBA competition requirements from Level 2 requirements. Material, support, padding, lighting and approval obligations can differ by level even though the playing-rule diagram is the same.

NBA, WNBA and NCAA markings are not interchangeable

• NBA 2025-26: the official court diagram is 94 ft by 50 ft with a 16 ft lane. Rule 1 uses a 23 ft 9 in arc, straight corner segments 3 ft from the sidelines (22 ft from the basket centre on the diagram), and a 4 ft Restricted Area.
• WNBA 2026: the official diagram is also 94 ft by 50 ft with a 16 ft lane, but Rule 1 uses a 22 ft 1¾ in arc and 22 ft corner distance. Its Restricted Area has a 4 ft radius.
• NCAA women's 2025-26 and 2026-27: Rule 1 specifies 94 ft by 50 ft, a 12 ft lane, a 22 ft 1¾ in arc and a 21 ft 7⅞ in corner measurement. Its current restricted area is defined directly under the basket; the rulebook recommends removing old 3 ft or 4 ft arcs when a women's-only court is refinished.

Terminology itself changes: FIBA's restricted area is the rectangular lane, while the NBA and WNBA use Restricted Area for the block-charge arc. Always identify both the organization and edition before comparing a measurement or a foul rule.

How to resolve a line question

1. Name the competition. Do not begin with a generic “basketball court.”
2. Confirm the effective edition. Published future rules are not yet controlling.
3. Identify the exact marking. Boundary, centre line, 3-point line, lane, free-throw line, rebound place, no-charge area or throw-in line.
4. Check which edge is measured. Inner, outer and furthest edges are not interchangeable.
5. Determine whether the line belongs to either area. FIBA assigns different status to different lines.
6. Freeze the relevant moment. Floor contact, release, first touch and establishment of frontcourt status are judged at different times.
7. Apply the attached rule. The marking alone does not decide the restart, score or foul.

A shooter clips the arc and lands inside

Situation: under FIBA 2024, a shooter has one foot behind the 3-point line and the toe of the other foot touching the line at take-off. The player releases while airborne and lands inside.

Ruling: two points if made. The decisive fact is the toe on the line at the last floor contact. Landing inside after release would not by itself change a legal three-point attempt, but the line contact already made this one a two.

An airborne save crosses the sideline plane

Situation: under FIBA 2024, a player jumps from inbounds, catches a ball above the out-of-bounds area and passes it back before landing.

Ruling: play continues if neither the ball nor player touches an out-of-bounds person, floor or object. The vertical plane is not the test. If the player's foot had last touched the sideline before the jump, the player would already have out-of-bounds status.

A dribbler straddles midcourt

Situation: under FIBA 2024, the dribbler has one foot in the frontcourt, one foot touching the centre line and continues bouncing the ball in the frontcourt.

Ruling: the dribble has not yet completed the backcourt-to-frontcourt advance. Article 28.1.2 requires both feet and the ball to be completely in the frontcourt; the centre line remains backcourt.

A defender's heel touches the no-charge line

Situation: under FIBA 2024, an airborne ball-handler penetrates, attempts a lay-up and makes torso contact with a defender whose heel touches the semi-circle line.

Ruling: the defender is in the no-charge area because the line belongs to it. The contact is not a team-control foul under Article 33.10 unless the attacker illegally uses the hands, arms, legs or body. Change the play to a rebound collision or a non-airborne attacker and the semi-circle provision may no longer decide it.

The marking points to a rule; it is not the penalty

• Out of bounds: the last-touch rule normally awards the opponents a throw-in nearest the infraction, subject to the rulebook's location exceptions.
• Foot on the 3-point line: a made attempt counts two, not three; touching the line is not a separate violation.
• Three seconds: a violation gives the opponents a throw-in nearest the infraction, except directly behind the backboard.
• Free-throw line or lane infringement: Article 43 varies the outcome according to who violated, whether the free throw was successful and whether more penalties remain.
• No-charge area: the mark modifies a defined contact ruling; it does not automatically produce “play on” or legalize all contact.

Establish the active lines before play

A shared gym may display FIBA, NBA-style, NCAA, school, youth or other-sport lines at once. Colour alone is not enough unless the competition has designated it. The organizer and officials should identify the court diagram and active markings before the game; players cannot safely infer the governing code from the longest visible arc.

If a required line is missing, displaced or ambiguous, the rulebook, competition regulations and venue approval process control how the game may proceed. This page does not invent a universal tolerance for an incorrectly marked local floor.

Six claims that cause wrong calls

• “Every regulation court is 94 by 50.” FIBA's full court is 28 m by 15 m.
• “A line belongs to the area it surrounds.” Not always: the FIBA 3-point line is outside the 3-point area, but the no-charge line is inside its area.
• “The ball is out when it breaks the sideline plane.” FIBA Article 23 requires contact with something out of bounds.
• “One foot over midcourt establishes frontcourt.” The FIBA dribbler test requires the ball and both feet completely in frontcourt.
• “Restricted area always means the arc.” FIBA uses that term for the lane; NBA and WNBA usage differs.
• “The no-charge semi-circle prevents every charge.” Its protection has defined play, player and contact conditions.

Governing-body sources and effective versions

• FIBA Resource Hub — current 2024 documents and 2026 documents effective 1 October 2026
• FIBA — Official Basketball Rules 2024 v1.0a, valid 1 October 2024: Articles 2, 11, 16, 23, 26, 28, 30, 33.10 and 43
• FIBA — Official Basketball Rules 2024: Basketball Equipment, Sections 1.1–1.2 and 11
• FIBA — Official Basketball Rules 2026 v1.1, Article 2; valid from 1 October 2026
• NBA — 2025-26 Official Rules, court diagram and Rule No. 1
• WNBA — 2026 Official Rule Book, court diagram and Rule No. 1
• NCAA — 2025-26 and 2026-27 Women's Basketball Rules Book, Rule 1 Sections 2 and 6–8

Checked 26 August 2026 against the FIBA edition then in force and the separately published future FIBA edition. Competition-specific regulations, approved venue adaptations and national federation rules may supplement the FIBA baseline; this page does not treat 3x3, mini-basketball or local court practice as full-court FIBA rules.