Last Updated: December 9, 2022

American Football Field Dimensions & Goal Post Size – Quick Guide

Jade Lewis

Contents

Although the dimensions of a football field are the same from high school through to the NFL, every stadium is different [1]. Throughout America, the atmosphere inside each arena or the architecture tends to be unique. But every field shares common attributes.

Key Takeaways

The standard football field dimensions are 120 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide. The dimensions are the same for football played at high school, college, and pro levels.
The football goal crossbar is 10 ft. high, with an additional 20 ft. high, for a total height of 30 ft while the goalpost width is different for NFL and NCAA goalposts, and high school goalposts.

How Long Is a Football Pitch?

Football Fields are 360’ (109.75 m) long. Measured in yards (each yard is 3 feet), a football playing field is 100 yards with a 10-yard deep end-zone at each end of the field.

How Wide Is a Football Field?

Football fields have an overall width of 53.3 yards (160’ | 48.8 m). The width of the field is divided by hash marks indicating each individual yard line and is placed in line with the goalposts.

What Are the Dimensions of an American Football Field?

The standard football field dimensions are 120 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide. The last 10 yards’ length on either end of the field is called the end zones in which a player scores. These dimensions are consistent for football played at high school, college, and pro levels.

Are College and NFL Fields the Same Size?

The total width of a football field is 53 1/3 yards or 160 ft. wide across all level systems. So the college football field dimensions are the same size as the NFL field (120 yards and 53 1/3 yards wide). The primary difference among levels of play is the gap between the two sets of hash marks.

High school – 53 ft., 4 inches
College – 40 feet
NFL – 18 feet 6 inches

All play starts on or between the hash marks, depending on where the previous play ended. For instance, if the previous play ended along the right sideline, the ball will be placed on the right hash mark.

GoalPost Dimensions

The football goal crossbar is 10 ft. high, with an additional 20 ft. high, for a total height of 30 ft.

NFL and NCAA goalposts are 18 feet 5 inches wide. It rises at the back of the end length of the football pitch (the end zone).
High school goalposts are 23 feet 4 inches wide. The goalposts serve as a guide for the kicker to enable him to sail the ball high between the goalpost’s two vertical bars, an act that is called “splitting the uprights.”

What Are the Marks on the American Football Field?

In the discourse of football field dimensions, you will see a lot of white lines all over the field. Every line has a special meaning to ensure that the game is played according to the rules and to facilitate navigation:

End lines: the lines at each end of the field
Sidelines: the lines along each side of the field
Goal lines: the goal lines are 10 yards inside and parallel to each end line
Field of play: this is the area dimensions bounded by sidelines and goal lines
50-yard line: The field is bifurcated by the 50-yard line measurements and is located in the middle of the field
end zone: this is the two opposite areas bounded by the sidelines, end lines, and goal lines
Yard lines: these are the components of the dimensions that run parallel to the goal lines at intervals of 5 yards and are marked across the field from sideline to sideline. These lines stop 8” short of the 6 ft. solid border in the NFL
Hash marks: this marks each yard line 70 feet and 9 inches from the sidelines in the NFL. College and high school football pitch dimensions have hash marks 60 ft. from the sidelines. Two sets of hash marks run parallel to each other down the length of the field and are about 18 1/2 feet apart.
Player benches: This is an additional constituent of field dimensions that comprise the white line that lies outside the border of the field, 6 feet from the sidelines. It is an additional broken white line that designates the areas in which the coaches and alternate players may stand.

The team convenes in the bench area during the game, watching teammates play or rest on the benches, just as it’s done in basketball. It is also the area where medics and trainers assess injured players. This all happens outside the main dimensions of the field.

American Football Field FAQs

Why is a football field 100 yards?

When the end zones of football fields were incorporated into the sport in 1912 and affected how long a football pitch is, there were too many grounds that did not have room if they were adjusted to the existing 110-yard field of play, so the field of play was reduced to 100 yards.
The Canadian football field dimensions are 110 yards from the goal line to the goal line, with a 20-yard end zone, and unlike football; goal posts are on the goal line.
Don’t forget to bring with you your binoculars to the game.

What is an American football stadium?

A stadium is an entire structure or arena in which American football is played. It is quite different from a basketball court. Whether it be professional or school level, this includes the field, the stands, and so on. Stadiums come in various shapes and sizes, but the most vital aspect is that they give room for a 100-yard-long football field.
NFL team and college team stadia dimensions come in two main variants: domed structures and outdoor stadia. Domed structures are designed so that players and fans don’t have to suffer from inclement weather, as they’ll always have a roof over their heads. Both stadium types generally seat between 50,000 to 100,000 screaming fans.

What kind of surface is football field?

There are two types of surfaces used in all football pitch sizes (American or Canadian) – natural grass and artificial turf. Each type has its pros and cons:
– Natural surface: This comprises natural grass, similar to your lawn or a baseball outfield. It’s green, soft and luxuriant, but often needs to be mowed, watered, or replaced.
– Artificial surface: artificial turf comprise surfaces that are made of nylon fibers that look like short blades of grass; other artificial surfaces have tightly woven fibers that give a feel of a cushioned carpet. Artificial surface are easy and cheaper to maintain than natural grass.

Done with the article? See the list of NFL football equipment and footballs used in NFL.

Jade Lewis

“Beautiful Jade,” as she is fondly called, is the gifted hands behind all the amazing articles we have on Gamedayr. She is a content writer, sports journalist, and has a knack for visual designs. Her favourite NFL team: Green Bay Packers.