If you play basketball, whether as a competitive sport or at the local park for fun, you have probably jumped up and tried to touch the bottom of the net. Excluding hoops for children, basketball rims are all the same height for high school, collegiate and professional play. However, the net height can vary slightly.
Rim
The upper edge of the metal hoop ring is parallel to and 10 feet above the playing floor. The metal ring itself cannot be more than 5/8 inches in diameter. The edges of the ring must be equidistant from the backboard and the interior diameter of the ring is 18 inches. The interior edge of the rim closest to the backboard sits 6 inches from the front plane of the backboard.
Net
The net on a basketball hoop is white-cord, 12-mesh net that hangs 15 to 18 inches below the rim. With the ring set at 10 feet above the playing floor, the net is between 8 feet 9 inches and 8 feet 6 inches above the playing floor. Measure the height of your hand when you hold your arms straight up in the air. Subtract this height from the height of the net and you will know about how high you have to jump to touch the net.
Portable Hoops
Portable basketball hoops that you find in driveways and backyards are often built to similar standards as regular hoops. In this case, the net hangs about the same height, 8.5 to 8.75 feet off the ground. However, portable hoops are often adjustable so you can lower the basket if needed. If you drop the basket, take this into consideration when determining the height of the net.
Other Considerations
The specifications above are dictated by the various basketball governing organizations, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association, and the National Basketball Association. If you are playing at a local playground, the hoop may not be maintained as well. The rim may be bent from players grabbing it and dunking the ball. This results in the net be an inch or so closer to the ground.
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