Different basketball court types including custom painted, plastic suspended
modular tiles and concrete pads for backyard or driveway outdoor use at your home
Where can I put my basketball court?
Driveway Many people use their existing driveway as their basketball court. This is cheap and
convenient. You will usually sacrifice some playing area in one way or another unless you are building
your driveway with your basketball court in mind. Most driveways are not wide enough to accommodate a
three-point (
view basketball
court dimensions). You should make sure that you push your basketball hoop back enough to get in a
free-throw line in (15 feet from the front of the backboard -
visit the court dimension page)
because this is where most shots are taken from.
In-door For those of you with enough cash to build your own in-door court, I'd recommend going ahead
and putting in a hardwood floor. Also, when laying out the building make sure to accommodate for large buffers
around the edge of the playing area. You could also consider gym style hanging backboards. This will eliminate
the concern of a pole placement and make your court more safe.
Dedicated Backyard Slab For more about installing your own dedicated backyard court
click here.
If you'd like to hire a professional court building company to install your basketball court
click here
for more information.
What Kind of Court Surfacing Should I Use?
Paint Stencil The most popular solution is a do it yourself court key stencil for driveway use.
For more about the DIY stencil options visit
this page.
Basically, you lay the stencil down on your driveway and paint over it. Some include three point lines
and others do not. Make sure you know the area it will cover (
visit the court dimension page).
Paint Striping Many people will have a professional come out to stripe the basketball court for them. They will usually tape
everything off with masking tape (makes crisp lines) and use a die (not paint) to ensure durability. This service can cost anywhere
between $500.00 and $2,000.00 depending on the company, how large the court is and if you need custom work like logos done.
Paint Surfacing You can find these companies by looking for tennis court builders. They will usually not advertise themselves
as basketball court companies. They will completely cover your court with paint and can even apply several layers with rubber beads
for cushioning. This service directly competes with the
modular tile court surfacing companies.
Modular Tile Court Surfacing This is the most popular surfacing right now. It basically consists of
plastic tiles that snap together. It is supposed to add cushioning and withstand the elements/play more
readily than paint. For more information on modular suspended tiles, refer to our
professional court
builder's page or the
DIY court building page.