How Much Concrete for a Basketball Court?

How much concrete for a basketball court depends on the court size and slab thickness. A popular backyard half court of about 30 x 30 feet at 4 inches thick needs roughly 11 cubic yards before waste. A full high school-size court is roughly 84 x 50 feet and needs around 52 yards at 4 inches. Many builders pour 4 to 5 inches over a compacted gravel base, and the hoop footing is calculated separately.

Concrete calculator →

Common court sizes

Court	Size	Area
Small key court	About 20 x 20 ft	400 sq ft
Backyard half court	About 30 x 30 ft	900 sq ft
Large half court	About 42 x 50 ft	2,100 sq ft
High school full court	About 84 x 50 ft	4,200 sq ft
NBA or college full court	About 94 x 50 ft	4,700 sq ft

Cubic yards by thickness

Court	4 inches	5 inches	6 inches
20 x 20 ft	About 4.9 yd	About 6.2 yd	About 7.4 yd
30 x 30 ft	About 11.1 yd	About 13.9 yd	About 16.7 yd
42 x 50 ft	About 25.9 yd	About 32.4 yd	About 38.9 yd
84 x 50 ft	About 51.9 yd	About 64.8 yd	About 77.8 yd
94 x 50 ft	About 58 yd	About 72.5 yd	About 87 yd

Add about 5 to 10 percent for waste and uneven base. Run custom sizes through the concrete calculator.

The formula

Length x width x thickness in feet ÷ 27 = cubic yards. A 30 x 30 court at 4 inches: 900 x 0.333 = 300 cubic feet ÷ 27 = 11.1 yards.

Base and reinforcement

Gravel base: commonly about 4 inches of compacted crushed stone, more on clay. See gravel base under a concrete slab.
Reinforcement: rebar, wire mesh, or fibers, depending on soil and the builder’s preference.
Slope: a slight slope, often around 1 percent, helps drainage without affecting play much.

Joints

Large slabs need control joints to manage cracking. Many court builders saw-cut joints in a grid. Some prefer fewer joints for play quality and use more reinforcement, but cracks are more likely without proper spacing. See control joint spacing.

The hoop footing

In-ground hoops usually need a separate footing, often a hole several feet deep and around 18 to 24 inches wide, per the hoop maker’s instructions. A 2 x 2 x 4 foot footing uses about 0.6 cubic yards.

Finish and surface

A light broom or smooth float finish is common. Many owners add an acrylic sport court coating or interlocking tiles for color, lines, and grip. Coatings typically require the slab to cure first, often about 28 days.

Concrete vs asphalt courts

Concrete lasts long with little maintenance but costs more upfront. Asphalt is cheaper and slightly softer. Compare with our asphalt half court tonnage guide and asphalt court thickness.

Bottom line

A 30 x 30 backyard half court at 4 inches needs about 11 cubic yards of concrete, and a high school full court about 52 yards, before waste. Pour over a compacted base, plan joints, add the hoop footing, and order 5 to 10 percent extra.

Questions people ask

How many yards of concrete for a half court?

About 11 cubic yards for a 30 x 30 foot court at 4 inches, before waste.

How thick should a concrete basketball court be?

Commonly 4 to 5 inches over a compacted gravel base.

How much concrete for a full basketball court?

Around 52 yards for an 84 x 50 foot court at 4 inches.

Does a basketball court need control joints?

Large slabs generally need joints to control cracking.

Is concrete or asphalt better for a basketball court?

Concrete lasts longer with less upkeep; asphalt costs less upfront.

As an Amazon Associate, AsphaltTons.com earns from qualifying purchases. Product links below are sponsored.