Dunk Calculator
Calculate the exact vertical jump needed to dunk on a regulation or custom basketball hoop.
Player Measurements
Hoop & Target Settings
Standard dunking requires your fingertips to be at least 6 inches above the rim to clear the basketball.
Required Jump Targets
How High Do You Actually Need to Jump to Dunk?
Stop obsessing over your raw height. In basketball, your standing reach matters way more. A shorter player with a massive wingspan has a huge mechanical advantage over a taller guy with short arms.
A regulation basketball hoop across the NBA, FIBA, and high school is exactly 10 feet (120 inches) off the ground. But just grazing the metal won’t cut it. To cleanly flush a standard size 7 basketball without blocking your own shot against the iron, your fingertips must clear the rim by at least 6 inches. Your true target is 126 inches. Simply subtract your standing reach from 126 to find the exact vertical leap you need.
Can a 5’9″ player actually pull this off? Absolutely, but with an average reach, it takes an elite 40-inch vertical jump. Also, keep in mind that a running approach will always generate a higher leap than a flat-footed standing jump.