How Many Times Around A Basketball Court Is A Mile?

Many people wonder, “How many times around a basketball court is a mile?” The quick answer is that it takes about 17 to 20 laps around a standard basketball court to walk one mile. This number changes a little based on the exact size of the court you are using. To find the precise number for your court, you need to know its basketball court dimensions and do a little math. This guide will help you figure out how many laps around basketball court for a mile you need to walk.

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Deciphering Court Sizes

To know how many laps make a mile, we first need to know the basketball court length width distance. Basketball courts come in different sizes. The size depends on who plays on the court. Big courts are for pro players. Smaller ones are for schools.

Standard Basketball Court Dimensions

Let’s look at the common sizes for courts. This helps us find the perimeter of a basketball court for each type.

• NBA and NCAA Courts (Pro and College):
  • Length: 94 feet
  • Width: 50 feet
  • These are the biggest courts you will find.
• High School Courts:
  • Length: 84 feet
  • Width: 50 feet
  • These courts are a bit shorter than pro courts.
• Junior High School Courts:
  • Length: 74 feet
  • Width: 42 feet
  • These courts are smaller for younger players.

Knowing these numbers is the first step. It helps us calculate the distance of basketball court perimeter.

What is the Perimeter?

The perimeter is the total distance around the edge of any shape. For a basketball court, it’s like walking along all four sides of the court. We add up the length of all sides.

Calculating the Perimeter of a Basketball Court

To find the perimeter of a basketball court, we use a simple math rule. A court has two long sides (length) and two short sides (width).

The rule is: Perimeter = (2 × Length) + (2 × Width).

Let’s see this in action for different courts.

• NBA/NCAA Court (94 feet by 50 feet):

  • Perimeter = (2 × 94 feet) + (2 × 50 feet)
  • Perimeter = 188 feet + 100 feet
  • Perimeter = 288 feet
  • So, one trip around an NBA court is 288 feet.

• High School Court (84 feet by 50 feet):

  • Perimeter = (2 × 84 feet) + (2 × 50 feet)
  • Perimeter = 168 feet + 100 feet
  • Perimeter = 268 feet
  • One lap around a high school court is 268 feet.

• Junior High Court (74 feet by 42 feet):

  • Perimeter = (2 × 74 feet) + (2 × 42 feet)
  • Perimeter = 148 feet + 84 feet
  • Perimeter = 232 feet
  • One lap around a junior high court is 232 feet.

This table shows the perimeter for each court type:

Miles to Feet Conversion

Before we can find out how many laps around basketball court for a mile, we need to know how many feet are in a mile.

One mile is equal to 5,280 feet. This is a fixed number. We will use it in all our calculations.

Figuring Out Your Laps

Now we have all the numbers we need. We know the perimeter of different courts. We know how many feet are in a mile. We can now do the court laps to mile conversion. This will tell us how many times around a court for a mile.

Step-by-Step Calculation: Calculating a Mile on a Basketball Court

To find the number of laps, we simply divide the total feet in a mile by the perimeter of one lap.

Number of Laps = Total Feet in a Mile / Perimeter of One Lap

Let’s do the math for each court type. This will show the mile equivalent basketball court for your walks.

• For an NBA/NCAA Court (Perimeter = 288 feet):

  • Number of Laps = 5,280 feet / 288 feet per lap
  • Number of Laps ≈ 18.33 laps
  • So, on a pro court, you need to walk about 18 and a third laps to cover a mile.

• For a High School Court (Perimeter = 268 feet):

  • Number of Laps = 5,280 feet / 268 feet per lap
  • Number of Laps ≈ 19.70 laps
  • On a high school court, you need to walk about 19 and three-quarter laps to cover a mile.

• For a Junior High Court (Perimeter = 232 feet):

  • Number of Laps = 5,280 feet / 232 feet per lap
  • Number of Laps ≈ 22.76 laps
  • On a junior high court, you need to walk about 22 and three-quarter laps to cover a mile.

Here is a table summarizing the laps needed for one mile:

So, a quick way to think about walking a mile on a basketball court is this:

• For big courts, think around 18-19 laps.
• For smaller courts, think around 20-23 laps.

It’s helpful to round up to the next full lap. This makes sure you go at least a mile. For example, on an NBA court, you would walk 19 laps to be sure you hit the mile mark.

More Than Just Straight Lines

When you walk on a basketball court, you are not really walking perfectly straight lines. Then you make sharp turns at each corner. The actual path you take can change the distance slightly.

The Real Path You Take

Think about how you walk the perimeter of a basketball court.

• Inside the Lines: Are you walking exactly on the lines? Or are you walking a bit inside or outside the lines? Most people walk just inside the lines. This means their path is a tiny bit shorter than the very edge.
• Turning Corners: When you turn a corner, you usually do not make a sharp 90-degree turn. You tend to round the corner a little. This rounding makes your path slightly shorter than if you made a perfect square turn. Imagine cutting the corner a little bit.

These small changes usually make the actual distance you walk a little less than the exact calculated perimeter. But the difference is very small. For general fitness, the calculated laps are close enough.

If you want super exact numbers, you might need a measuring wheel. Or you could use a GPS tracker on your phone. But for calculating a mile on a basketball court for exercise, the standard math works great. It gives you a good estimate.

Great Reasons to Walk Here

Why would someone choose to walk around a basketball court to get their steps in? There are many good reasons. Walking a mile on a basketball court offers many benefits.

Benefits for Your Health and Routine

• Indoor Walking: Most basketball courts are indoors. This means you can walk no matter the weather. It can be raining, snowing, too hot, or too cold outside. You can still get your walk in. This makes it easy to stick to a routine.
• Flat Surface: Basketball courts have very flat and even surfaces. This is good for your joints. There are no hills, bumps, or potholes like outside roads or trails. This reduces the risk of tripping or injury.
• Safe Place: Indoor courts are usually safe. You do not have to worry about traffic or other outdoor dangers. This can make your walk more relaxing.
• Easy to Track: It is simple to track your distance on a court. Once you know how many laps around basketball court for a mile you need, you just count. You can easily set goals, like walking 2 miles or 3 miles. You just multiply the laps.
• No Special Gear: You do not need any special gear. Just comfortable shoes are enough.
• Focus on Fitness: You can focus on your steps and pace. You don’t need to watch for cars or uneven ground. This helps you get a good workout.

Simple Ways to Track

Knowing the number of court laps to mile conversion is good. Now, how do you keep track of your laps while you walk?

Making Tracking Easy

• Counting in Your Head: This is the simplest way. Just count each lap as you complete it. You can count “1, 2, 3…” each time you cross the baseline or a certain line.
• Clicker Counter: Small hand-held clicker counters are great. You click it once for each lap. They are cheap and easy to use.
• Fitness Trackers: Smartwatches or fitness bands can track your steps and distance. Some might even have a “track indoor walk” mode. But they might not be perfect for court laps. They guess distance based on steps. They may not know the exact distance of basketball court perimeter. You might still want to count laps manually and compare.
• Phone Apps: Many phone apps can track your movement. Some GPS apps work indoors. But indoor GPS can be less accurate.
• Marking Laps: If you are with a friend, one of you can stand still and mark each completed lap. You could use small stones or count on your fingers.
• Set a Playlist: You could create a music playlist where each song is roughly the length of a few laps. Or, pick a certain number of songs for each mile.

What About Other Distances?

Once you know how many laps around basketball court for a mile, you can easily figure out other distances.

Your Fitness Journey Continues

• Half a Mile: To walk half a mile, you simply divide the laps for a mile by two.
  • On an NBA court (18.33 laps for a mile): 18.33 / 2 ≈ 9.17 laps for half a mile.
• Two Miles: To walk two miles, you multiply the laps for a mile by two.
  • On an NBA court (18.33 laps for a mile): 18.33 × 2 ≈ 36.66 laps for two miles.
• Setting Goals: This simple math lets you set any distance goal you want. Do you want to walk 3 miles? Multiply the laps for one mile by three. This makes calculating a mile on a basketball court and beyond very easy.

By knowing your court’s size and doing a little math, you have a perfect indoor track. You can meet your fitness goals easily. Walking a mile on a basketball court is a great way to stay active.

Key Takeaways

We have seen that basketball court dimensions are key to finding out how many laps make a mile. The perimeter of a basketball court varies by size. A mile is 5,280 feet. By dividing 5,280 by the court’s perimeter, you get the number of laps around basketball court for a mile. This is your mile equivalent basketball court.

• For an NBA or college court (94×50 feet), it’s about 18 to 19 laps for a mile.
• For a high school court (84×50 feet), it’s about 19 to 20 laps for a mile.
• For a junior high court (74×42 feet), it’s about 22 to 23 laps for a mile.

Using a basketball court for walking a mile on a basketball court is a great way to exercise. It is safe, flat, and free from weather worries. Now you know exactly how many times around a court for a mile you need to go!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is walking on a basketball court good exercise?

A1: Yes, walking on a basketball court is good exercise. It offers a flat, even, and safe surface. This makes it easy on your joints. You can walk no matter the weather outside.

Q2: Do I count the full court or just one half?

A2: You count the full court. A “lap” means going all the way around the outer lines of the entire court.

Q3: Does the three-point line or free-throw line matter for counting laps?

A3: No, those lines do not matter for counting laps for a mile. You just walk around the very outer edge of the court. The perimeter of a basketball court is based on the court’s total length and width.

Q4: What if my court is not a standard size?

A4: If your court is not a standard size, you can measure its length and width yourself. Then, use the same math. Add two times the length and two times the width to get the distance of basketball court perimeter. Then divide 5,280 by that number. This will tell you how many times around a court for a mile.

Q5: Can I run a mile on a basketball court too?

A5: Yes, you can run a mile too. The number of laps needed is the same for running as it is for walking. The distance does not change. Just be careful turning corners quickly if you are running fast.