Basketball Shooting Percentage Calculator
Calculate basketball FG%, 2PT%, 3PT%, FT%, and eFG% from makes and attempts. Find the makes needed to reach a target percentage.
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Practical context, assumptions, examples, and next steps for using the result well.Understanding basketball shooting percentages
Basketball shooting percentage starts with simple arithmetic: made shots divided by attempted shots. The useful question is which shot line you are measuring. FG% combines two-pointers and three-pointers, 3PT% isolates long-range attempts, FT% covers free throws, and eFG% gives made threes the extra value they deserve. This calculator keeps those lines together so a coach, player, or scorekeeper can check the full shooting profile without rebuilding the box score by hand.
The same box score can tell a few different stories. A guard who goes 6-for-16 may look inefficient until you notice that five makes were threes. A post player who goes 7-for-10 may have a cleaner FG% because most attempts came at the rim. Neither number is wrong. You just need the right percentage for the question in front of you.
Main shooting percentages
Box scores usually show several shooting lines because one percentage cannot explain every kind of attempt. Use these as separate lenses, then compare them together.
Field goal percentage (FG%)
- Uses all made and attempted field goals.
- Counts two-pointers and three-pointers as one make each.
- Works well for a quick make-rate check, especially for players who take many shots near the rim.
- Can underrate high-volume three-point shooters because it does not credit the extra point on made threes.
Three-point percentage (3P%)
- Uses only shots attempted behind the three-point line.
- Needs enough attempts before it says much; one hot or cold game can move the number a lot.
- Reads best beside attempt volume. A 40% shooter on one attempt per game is a different player than a 38% shooter on eight.
- Helps separate spacing value from raw FG%, especially for guards and wings.
Free throw percentage (FT%)
- Uses only free throws made and attempted.
- Belongs outside FG% and eFG% because free throws are not field goal attempts.
- Is easy to track in practice because every attempt starts from the same spot.
- Can swing late-game decisions when coaches choose whether to foul or protect a lead.
Effective field goal percentage (eFG%)
Effective field goal percentage answers a common basketball problem: a made three is worth more than a made two, but regular field goal percentage treats them the same. eFG% fixes that by adding half a make for every made three-pointer.
eFG% = (FGM + 0.5 x 3PM) / FGA x 100
Suppose a player shoots 8-for-18 from the field and makes three three-pointers. Their regular FG% is 44.4%. Their eFG% is (8 + 0.5 x 3) / 18 x 100, which is 52.8%. The player did not make more shots, but the made threes created more scoring value.
Rough eFG% ranges
- Below 45%: low efficiency or a very difficult shot diet.
- 45% to 49%: workable, but usually below team target.
- 50% to 54%: solid field-goal efficiency.
- 55% to 59%: strong efficiency across a real sample.
- 60% or better: excellent, often with many rim shots or threes.
Benchmarks and sample size
A shooting percentage only means something when you know the role, level, and sample behind it. A center finishing dump-offs at the rim should usually beat a guard taking pull-up threes. A bench player with 12 attempts has not proved the same thing as a starter with 400 attempts.
Useful rough targets
- FG% in the high 40s is usually solid.
- 3P% in the high 30s is strong on real volume.
- FT% around 80% is a good free throw benchmark.
- eFG% in the mid-50s or better is efficient.
Context to keep
- Shot location matters more than a blended percentage.
- Attempt volume changes how much you can trust the rate.
- Role matters; creators take harder shots than finishers.
- Practice numbers and game numbers should stay separate.
Improving your shooting percentages
The quickest way to improve the number is not always to shoot more. Sometimes it is to stop mixing everything into one bucket. Track the shots you actually take: corner threes, above-the-break threes, layups, floaters, midrange pull-ups, free throws, or whatever fits your role. The weak spot is easier to see once the shot types are separated.
Better practice tracking
- Log makes and attempts, not just the final percentage.
- Separate game-speed reps from casual warm-up shots.
- Use the same drill setup when comparing sessions.
- Track fatigue if the drill happens after conditioning.
- Review shot quality before blaming the math.
For teams, the same idea applies to shot selection. A player may improve FG% by replacing long twos with rim attempts or open threes. Another player may need a steadier free throw routine. The calculator will not diagnose the fix on its own, but it gives you a clean baseline for deciding what to test next.
Using this calculator well
Start with a clean box-score line. Field goals made already include made two-pointers and made three-pointers, so do not add 3PM to FGM a second time. If a player goes 8-for-18 from the field and makes 3 threes, the regular field goal percentage is 44.4%. The eFG% calculation is (8 + 0.5 x 3) / 18, or 52.8%, because the made threes are worth an extra point each.
Enter 3PM even when you do not have a full three-point line. That is enough for eFG%. To derive 2PT%, the calculator also needs 3PA, because two-point attempts are FGA minus 3PA. If the three-point attempt total is missing, leave it blank rather than guessing.
The target fields answer a narrow practice question: how many straight makes would it take to reach a chosen percentage? That is a best-case streak, not a forecast. It is useful for setting a drill target after a cold start, but it should not be read as a promise that the next shots will all fall.
Sample size matters. A 4-for-5 start looks great, and a 1-for-6 stretch looks rough, but both can swing after a few more attempts. For player development, compare similar drills across several sessions. For games, compare similar roles and shot diets before using the percentage to judge shot quality.
Keep the context beside the number. A corner-three workout, a contested pull-up set, and a season box-score total are different samples even if they all produce a shooting percentage. Write down the date, drill, opponent, or time period so the next calculation is a fair comparison.
Checking the answer
Check the totals before trusting the percentage. Made shots cannot exceed attempts. Three-point makes cannot exceed total field goals made, and three-point attempts cannot exceed total field goal attempts. Free throws use their own made and attempted line.
If two people get different answers, compare the inputs before debating the formula. One person may be using only game attempts, while another is mixing in practice shots. Someone may also be entering a rounded percentage instead of made and attempted counts.
Use the right percentage for the decision. Raw FG% is fine for a quick make-rate check, but it can underrate a player who takes many threes. eFG% is better for field-goal efficiency. True shooting percentage is better when points and free throws need to be part of the same scoring-efficiency read.
Round after the calculation, not before it. A box score line of 7-for-15 is 46.7%, and rounding that to 47% is harmless for a recap. For a season log or player comparison, keep the made and attempted counts so the next update starts from the real totals.
Treat the calculator as a math check, not a scouting report. It can show whether the shot line is efficient. It cannot see defender pressure, late-clock heaves, role, fatigue, or whether the player is taking the shots the offense actually wants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate shooting percentage in basketball?
Divide made shots by attempted shots, then multiply by 100. For example, 8 makes on 20 attempts is 40.0%. Use field goal makes and attempts for FG%, three-point makes and attempts for 3P%, and free throw makes and attempts for FT%.
What is effective field goal percentage (eFG%)?
Effective field goal percentage adjusts field goal percentage for made threes. The formula is (FGM + 0.5 x 3PM) / FGA x 100. A made three is still counted inside FGM, and the extra 0.5 gives it the added value of being worth three points instead of two.
What is a good shooting percentage in basketball?
It depends on role, level, shot mix, and sample size. In NBA-style box-score terms, a field goal percentage in the high 40s is solid, a three-point percentage in the high 30s is strong, a free throw percentage around 80% is good, and an eFG% in the mid-50s or better is efficient. Rim finishers often post higher FG%, while guards may have lower raw FG% but stronger 3P%, eFG%, or true shooting results.
How can I improve my shooting percentage?
Start by separating shot types instead of chasing one blended number. Track catch-and-shoot threes, pull-ups, layups, midrange shots, and free throws on their own. Then work on the areas that actually show up in games: repeatable footwork, cleaner shot selection, game-speed reps, and free throw routine. A better percentage usually comes from better shots as much as better mechanics.
Why can eFG% be higher than regular field goal percentage?
Effective field goal percentage gives extra credit for made three-pointers because they are worth three points instead of two. A player who shoots many threes can have an eFG% above their regular field goal percentage even if the raw make rate looks ordinary.
What inputs do I need for eFG% and 2PT%?
For eFG%, enter field goals made, field goal attempts, and three-pointers made. To show 2PT%, enter both three-point makes and three-point attempts so the calculator can subtract the three-point line from the total field goal line.
How many shot attempts do I need before trusting the percentage?
A small sample can swing wildly. Ten makes in twenty attempts looks great, but one cold stretch changes it fast. For practice tracking, look at several sessions. For games, compare the percentage with shot type, defender pressure, minutes played, and role before drawing a firm conclusion.
