Football Field Dimensions: How long and wide is a football field? (2024)

Football Field Dimensions: How long and wide is a football field? (1)

Here’s a primer on how the dimensions play out at every level, from high school football to the NCAA and on up to the NFL.

There are two constants, across the level of competition: 120 yards (360 feet) of length and 53 1/3 yards (160 feet) of width. The playing field is100 yards long, with a 10-yard-deep end zone on each side.In total, a football field covers 57,600 square feet, or the equivalent of 1.32 acres.Hash marks measure each of the 100 yards, with a yard line at every five yards and the field number marking every 10 yards (on both sides, near the sidelines).

Those hash marks were first seen on professional football fields as a result of the first rule changes in 1933, marking one of the first major deviations from college fields.

Each play starts on the nearest hash marks to the end of the previous play — if said play ended outside the hash marks, including on the sideline. Thus, with less space between sets of hash marks and more space between the hashes and the sidelines, there is much more real estate for ball carriers to turn and maneuver around defenders.

The width, similarly, is the same for high school, college and NFL fields. The only variable that changes by level is the distance between the two sets of hash marks. For high school football, the hash marks are 53 feet, 4 inches apart. That separation decreases to 40 feet in college and shrinks to 18 feet, 6 inches in the NFL.

When it comes to the goal posts, the crossbar is 10 feet high and the posts on either side are another 20 feet tall, bringing the total height to 30 feet. In both NCAA and NFL play, the goal posts are 18.5 feet apart, while high school goal posts are 23 feet, 4 inches apart.

For over 40 years after those initial rule changes took effect, the goal posts were situated on the goal lines. Finally, in 1974 after scores of — and which resulted in — collisions, the goal posts were moved to the back of the end zones (in Canada, goal posts still sit on the goal lines).

Some changes to the field and its dimensions have been minor and have gone relatively unnoticed, while others have been more revolutionary. Each change, regardless of magnitude, has been part of the sport’s continual effort to enhance player safety, improve the gameand maximize the fan experience.

Football Field Dimensions: How long and wide is a football field? (2024)

FAQs

How wide is a NFL football field? ›

Rule one, section one of the National Football League rulebook addresses all things related to the playing field. So let's start with page one and get the basics out of the way: The field, end zones included, is a rectangle that measures 360 feet long by 160 feet wide.

Is college football field wider than NFL? ›

The width of the field.

Yes, in a literal sense, pro and college fields are the same width (53 1/3 yards). But in a strategic sense, they're wildly different. Hashmarks dictate where the ball is spotted. In the NFL, they're 18 feet, 6 inches apart.

Are all football fields the same size? ›

Standard pitch measurements. Not all pitches are the same size, though the preferred size for many professional teams' stadiums is 105 by 68 metres (115 yd × 74 yd) with an area of 7,140 square metres (76,900 sq ft; 1.76 acres; 0.714 ha).

Is high school football field same size as NFL? ›

In American football, the standard field dimensions are 120 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide. The last 10 yards of length on either end of the field are considered “end zones” in which a player scores. These dimensions are consistent for football played at the high school, college, and professional (NFL) levels.

How wide is a full size football? ›

The dimensions must fall between being 100-130 yards (90-120m) long and 50-100 yards (45-90m) wide. Size 5 footballs are the standard sized match football used across the game at both amateur and professional levels of the game from the age of 14 and upwards.

Why are college footballs smaller than NFL? ›

The NFL and NCAA do not use the exact same specifications for their footballs, meaning the balls used in college football can be slightly smaller. The balls used in college football also have white stripes on either end, while NFL footballs have no stripes.

What is the smallest NFL football stadium? ›

Here we list the five smallest current NFL stadiums by capacity.
  • Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Dolphins – 65,236. ...
  • Ford Field, Detroit Lions – 65,000. ...
  • Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas Raiders – 65,000. ...
  • State Farm Stadium, Arizona Cardinals – 63,400. ...
  • Soldier Field, Chicago Bears – 61,500.
Oct 24, 2022

Which NFL field is the biggest? ›

What is the Largest NFL Stadium? MetLife Stadium is the largest NFL stadium in the league, with a capacity of 82,500.

Are college football fields wider than high school? ›

On a college football field, they are 40 feet apart; in high school, they are 53 feet and 4 inches apart. These distances typically affect the placement of the ball.

Are All NFL fields the same width? ›

There are two constants, across the level of competition: 120 yards (360 feet) of length and 53 1/3 yards (160 feet) of width. The playing field is 100 yards long, with a 10-yard-deep end zone on each side. In total, a football field covers 57,600 square feet, or the equivalent of 1.32 acres.

Who has the biggest football pitch? ›

Located in Pyongyang, North Korea, the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium is the biggest football stadium in the world. The venue has a seating capacity of 150,000.

Why is HS football so big in Texas? ›

What makes Texas high school football so much bigger? The decades-long rivalries, the “bigger is better" mantra and the love of the game play a part. Texas football rivalries span the state and are long-lasting. El Campo and Bay City is one of the state's longest-running rivalries.

Why do college footballs have stripes? ›

At most levels of play (but not, notably, the NFL), white stripes are painted on each end of the ball, halfway around the circumference, to improve nighttime visibility and also to differentiate the college football from the pro football.

How long is a college football field? ›

When the "football field" is used as unit of measurement, it is usually understood to mean 100 yards (91.44 m), although technically the full length of the official field, including the end zones, is 120 yards (109.7 m).

What size is an actual football? ›

This international match ball measures 27-28 inches in circumference according to the standard football sizes. It weighs between 14-16 ounces. This size is appropriate for everyone aged 12 and above. All the football leagues and tournaments all over the world use Size 5 football balls.

What is the exact size of football? ›

The size of a football is roughly 22 cm (8.66 inches) in diameter for a regulation size 5 ball. Rules state that a size 5 ball must be 68 to 70 cm (27 to 28 in) in circumference. Averaging that to 69 cm (27 in) and then dividing by π gives a diameter of about 22 cm (8.7 in).

What is the biggest football size? ›

Size 5 footballs are the largest on the market, and they're used for all professional competitions. They're considerably bigger than Size 3 and Size 4 balls, and they're used for official matches and training sessions.

What is the most disliked college football team? ›

College football's 10 most-hated teams of all time, ranked
  1. Miami (1986) (Photo: CBS Sports)
  2. USC (2005) (Photo: Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos, Getty) ...
  3. Florida State (2014) (Photo: USA TODAY Sports) ...
  4. Auburn (2010) (Photo: Icon Sportswire, Getty) ...
  5. Florida (1996) ...
  6. Notre Dame (1993) ...
  7. Oklahoma (2017) ...
  8. Ohio State (2002) ...
Aug 10, 2022

Do NFL kickers use different balls? ›

That's unlike the consistency of the NFL, where every team gets the same ball. In 1999, the NFL switched to special "K-balls" for special teams plays because there was a growing concern that kickers and punters were manipulating regular balls to make them fly higher and straighter.

How do football players put on so much size when they go to college? ›

It was common for the athletes to gain 10, 15 and up to 20 pounds in their first year under a rigorous regimen of weightlifting and diet. Others gained 25, 35 and 40 pounds in a season. In roughly 100 cases, players packed on as much 80 pounds in a single year.

What is the oldest NFL stadium still standing? ›

Soldier Field in Chicago, home of the Chicago Bears is the oldest stadium in the league having opened in 1924. The stadium that has been used the longest by an NFL team is Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers since 1957.

What is the cheapest NFL stadium? ›

What's the cheapest NFL stadium? The cheapest NFL stadium belongs to Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. Opened on Sept. 29, 1957, the initial construction cost for the “Frozen Tundra” was $960,000.

Do any NFL stadiums have real grass? ›

There are 30 total NFL fields across the country, 16 of which have real grass, while the remaining 14 have turf.

What is the largest city in the US without a NFL team? ›

San Antonio has a population of 1.5 million people. It's the largest city in America without an NFL franchise. Despite having a small media market, the San Antonio Spurs proved that Alamo City has what it takes to host a professional sports team.

What city has the biggest NFL stadium? ›

So, which is the biggest NFL stadium? MetLife Stadium in New Jersey takes the top spot with an officially listed capacity of 82,500 seats.

Is there a difference between NFL and college footballs? ›

The main distinction between official college footballs and those used in the NFL and other pro leagues is two 1-inch half-stripes located 3 to 3.25 inches from either end of the ball. Our pro regulation footballs are made with the same materials and dimensions as the balls used by pro teams all across the continent.

Are high school footballs smaller than NFL balls? ›

High School and College

These footballs measure slightly smaller than an official NFL-sized football. Depending on the player's hand size, either of these balls works well for ages 14 and up.

Why are NFL footballs bigger than college? ›

Why does college football use a smaller football than the NFL? College balls can be larger or smaller than the NFL ball. The NCAA rulebook mandates the length of the ball be in the range of 10 7/8 inches to 11 7/16 inches. The NFL tolerance is tighter, 11 to 11 1/4 inches.

Is the Canadian football field wider? ›

The Canadian field of play is 110 by 65 yards (100.6 by 59.44 m), compared to 100 by 53+1⁄3 yards (91.44 by 48.77 m) in American football. Since 1986, Canadian end zones are 20 yards (18.288 m) deep while the American end zones are 10 yards (9.144 m) deep.

What is the width of a high school football field? ›

The dimensions of a football field are important to all football players and coaches. The football field's length is 360 feet (120 yards), and the width is 160 feet (53.3 yards).

Are all fields the same size? ›

For example, the measurements for a football field must be 100 yards (120 counting the end zones), or 360 feet long, and 53 ⅓ yards, or 160 feet wide. This doesn't change, and every football field you find with an official NFL team or college football team will be the same size.

Who has the smallest pitch in football? ›

Football Pitch Sizes and Dimensions for Adult, Underage and Small Sided Games. Brighton & Hove Albions AMEX stadium has the largest pitch in the Premier league, measuring in at 105m long and 65 m wide, while Molineux, home of Wolverhampton Wanderers is the smallest at just 100m long and 64m wide.

What is the oldest football pitch? ›

First opened in 1804, Hallam F.C. have played at the ground since 1860. Sandygate has been recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the "Oldest Football Ground in the World".

What is the most famous football stadium? ›

Wembley Stadium

Why is a football field 53.5 yards wide? ›

The football field is measured 53.3 yards wide. The reason for the 53.3 yards wide is because it's 160 feet converted into yards. To convert the initial measurement of 160 feet into yards, you must divide by 3. 160 divided by 3 equals 53.3 yards wide.

Is a football field 52 yards wide? ›

A football field is 53 yards wide and 100 yards long.

Is a NFL field wider than a high school field? ›

In summary, a football field's dimensions are 120 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide. This playing field is the same across the board, from high school to the pros.

Are football fields really 100 yards? ›

The rectangular field of play used for American football games measures 100 yards (91.44 m) long between the goal lines, and 160 feet (48.8 m) (53.3 yards) wide. The field may be made of grass or artificial turf.

Why do they call a football a pigskin? ›

Football fans often perpetuate the idea that footballs used to be made of pigskin, which is how they got their nickname, but it turns out this isn't the case. In fact, “pigskins” were originally made out of animal bladders—sometimes the bladder of a pig, which is thought to be how the moniker “pigskin” came about.

Do American football fields vary in size? ›

A football field's dimensions can vary depending on the level of play (college football, high school football, NFL). Most fields will share the same length and width, but the main difference is the distance in between the center hash marks.

Are college football stadiums bigger than NFL stadiums? ›

Why are College Football Stadiums usually bigger than NFL Stadiums? Several college football stadiums have a much larger crowd capacity in comparison to those used in the NFL. The Michigan Stadium, home of the University of Michigan Wolverines, can seat up to 107,601 fans in attendance.

What is FIFA field size? ›

i. FIFA recommendations for field dimensions in professional football are 105 metres in length and 68 metres in width.

How wide are Premier League fields? ›

What Size is a Premier League Football Pitch? Premier League clubs must have football pitch measurements that fall within the FA's range of 90m-120m in length and 45m to 90m in width.

Why is a football field 100 yards? ›

By 1912, the rule makers decided to add 10-yard-deep end zones to either end of the field, which would have made for a 130-yard-long field in toto. The problem was a number of colleges had built stadiums that wouldn't accommodate that length, so the distance between the goal lines was shortened to 100 yards.

What is the biggest field in the NFL? ›

MetLife Stadium is the largest NFL stadium in the league, with a capacity of 82,500.

Are NFL footballs smaller than high school? ›

Big Game's competitive pro footballs are in line with the dimensions set by all North American pro leagues – approximately 11 to 11.25 inches in length, with a circumference of roughly 28 inches on the long side of the ball and 21 inches on the short side, and a slightly wider nose than collegiate or high school ...

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