Half Court Basketball for Backyards

Line Marking Australia builds half court basketball pads in backyards across Australia. A true half court is 14 m by 15 m, but most home half courts are smaller to suit the block. We size the concrete pad, pour it, surface it and mark the key and three-point line. Half courts up to about 165 m² start from about $10,000.

The first question almost everyone asks is "how big does the pad need to be?" The honest answer is: it depends on your yard, who's playing and whether you want a three-point line.

This page is all about getting the size right before you spend money on concrete. Once the pad is poured, it's very hard to make it bigger.

What size is a half court basketball court?

A regulation half court basketball court is 14 m long and 15 m wide, which is exactly half of the 28 m by 15 m FIBA full court used in Australia. That's about 210 m² before run-off. Most backyard half courts are smaller and still fit a full key, a hoop and room to shoot.

Unless you're training for representative basketball, a regulation half court is rarely needed at home. A shorter, narrower pad that keeps the key and some three-point shooting usually gives the best use of the space.

What size concrete pad do I need for half court basketball?

The concrete pad for half court basketball should cover the lines you want to play plus run-off on every side, and extend behind the hoop far enough to hold its footing. For most families, a pad that fits the full key and a short three-point arc is the sweet spot between cost and playability.

Work out your pad in this order:

1. Decide on the lines. Key only, key plus a short arc, or the full three-point line.
2. Add the hoop zone. The post sits behind the baseline, so the pad runs past the backboard.
3. Add run-off. Leave space at the sides and the top so players don't hit fences or garden beds.
4. Check the fall. The pad needs a gentle slope to shed water, usually away from the house.
5. Check access. A concrete truck or pump has to reach the pad.

We mark the pad out with string lines or paint on site so you can stand on it and picture the court before we dig.

What are common backyard half court sizes?

Common backyard half court sizes range from a compact shooting pad around the hoop up to a large half court of about 165 m², with the full 14 m by 15 m regulation half court for big blocks. The right size for you depends on yard space, the age of the players and your budget.

Common size we build	Lines that fit	Best for
Compact shooting pad	Hoop and free-throw shooting	Small yards, younger children
Key court	Full key and free-throw line	Narrow suburban blocks
Large half court, up to about 165 m²	Key plus most of the three-point arc	Families with teenagers
Regulation half court, 14 m × 15 m	Full half-court markings	Acreage, large blocks, serious players

A smaller pad also leaves room for lawn, a pool or a garden, which matters when it comes to resale.

How much space do I need around a half court?

A backyard half court needs clear space around the playing lines so players can stop safely. Fences, walls, garden edges, taps and pool fences should sit back from the lines, and the hoop post should be padded and set behind the baseline. More run-off makes the court safer and lets you shoot from wider angles.

If space is tight, ball-stop netting along one side or a feature wall at the back, like the painted wall on one of our tiled backyard half courts in Victoria, keeps balls out of neighbours' yards.

How much does a backyard half court cost?

A backyard half court basketball court in Australia starts from about $10,000 for a pad of up to about 165 m², including the concrete slab (published Australian builder pricing, 2026). A regulation 14 m by 15 m half court is bigger, so it costs more. Earthworks, access, surface and extras are itemised in your quote.

The biggest cost drivers for half courts:

• Pad size and slab design
• Slope, soil type and drainage on your block
• Concrete truck or pump access
• Surface: painted concrete, acrylic or modular tiles
• In-ground hoop, netting, lighting and fencing

For a bigger build, compare this with a full court on our basketball court construction page.

Where should the hoop and key go?

On a backyard half court, the hoop should face away from windows and neighbours where possible, with the key running back from it towards open space. Morning and late-afternoon sun matters too: a north-south line keeps the sun out of the shooter's eyes. We set the hoop footing during the slab pour.

Once the surface is down, our line markers set out the key, free-throw line, restricted area and three-point arc with proper measurements, the same way we mark school and club courts. See basketball court line marking.

Can a half court be used for other sports?

Yes. A backyard half court can carry extra lines in a second colour, such as four square, a pickleball-width practice area or a netball goal ring. Keep the basketball lines as the clearest set and add the others lightly, so the court stays easy to read and doesn't look cluttered.

If you want several sports properly, look at our backyard sports courts page, which covers multi-sport layouts.

Do I need council approval for a half court?

A backyard half court often doesn't need council approval, but some do. Lighting, fences over about 2 m, retaining walls, larger earthworks, changes to stormwater and heritage or flood overlays can all trigger a permit. Line Marking Australia checks your council's requirements before we confirm the final price and start date.

How long does a half court take to build?

A backyard half court usually takes one to three weeks on site after any approvals. The dig and slab pour take a few days, the concrete then cures, and the surface, lines and hoop follow. Rain delays concrete and acrylic work, so we keep you updated if the weather changes the plan.

How we keep every half court build compliant

Every half court basketball build follows set compliance steps, whatever the size. We check council rules, locate underground services before digging, work under Work Health and Safety laws, control dust and runoff and use builders who hold the licence your state requires, with public liability insurance. The slab is built to AS 3600.

• Council requirements checked for lighting, fencing, retaining walls, earthworks, drainage and overlays
• Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) search before excavation
• Safe Work Method Statements for excavation and mobile plant
• Silica dust controls when cutting concrete: water suppression or on-tool vacuum extraction
• Sediment and stormwater controls during the build
• Concrete slab to AS 3600 with a slip-resistant textured finish

What do you need from me to quote a half court?

To quote a backyard half court, we need the space you have, what's on the ground now and how you'd like to use the court. With those details, photos and a rough measurement, we can suggest the right pad size and give you an itemised price after a short site visit.

• New pad, resurfacing an existing slab, or extending a driveway
• Rough length and width of the space, and any fixed obstacles
• Current surface: lawn, pavers, old concrete or garden beds
• Slope and where water goes after rain
• Access for machinery and a concrete truck
• Surface choice: painted concrete, acrylic or tiles
• Lines wanted: key, three-point arc, other sports
• Hoop, netting, fencing, lighting and power
• Approvals, plans or photos, timing and budget