Insights · Court dimensions
Handball Court Dimensions
A handball court is 40 m long and 20 m wide (IHF Rules of the Game, Rule 1:1), with goals 3 m wide and 2 m high, a goal-area line 6 m from the goal, a broken free-throw line at 9 m and a 7 m line. The IHF says there should be a safety zone at least 1 m wide along the sidelines and 2 m behind the goal lines — a 44 × 22 m floor.
Key dimensions at a glance
| Element | Figure | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Court | 40 × 20 m | Rule 1:1 |
| Goal (inside) | 3 m wide × 2 m high | Rule 1:2 |
| Goalposts | 8 cm square | Rule 1:2 |
| Line width / goal line between posts | 5 cm / 8 cm | Rule 1:3 |
| Goal-area line | 6 m from the goal line | Rule 1:4 |
| Free-throw line (broken) | 9 m — 3 m outside the goal-area line | Rule 1:5 |
| 7 m line | 1 m long, 7 m from the goal line | Rule 1:6 |
| Goalkeeper’s restraining line | 15 cm long, 4 m from the goal line | Rule 1:7 |
| Throw-off area | 4 m diameter circle | Rule 1:9 |
| Substitution line | to 4.5 m from the centre line | Rule 1:10 |
| Safety zone (recommended) | 1 m sides · 2 m behind goal lines | Rule 1:1 |
Distances are measured from the rear edge of the goal line.
How the court is marked
The goal-area line is a 3 m straight line 6 m in front of the goal, joined to the goal line by two quarter circles of 6 m radius centred on the inside rear corners of the goalposts. The free-throw line follows the same shape 3 m further out, drawn as a broken line of 15 cm segments and 15 cm gaps. The 7 m line is 1 m long; the goalkeeper’s restraining line, 15 cm long, is 4 m from the goal line. All distances run from the rear edge of the goal line, and lines are 5 cm wide except the goal line between the posts, which is 8 cm.
Floor and hall size
With the recommended safety zone the court needs a floor of 44 × 22 m (our arithmetic). That is wording to note: the Rules say the safety zone should be provided, rather than must. The Rules set no clear height; in a multi-use hall the height is usually set by volleyball or badminton, and handball governs the floor length.
A 44 × 22 m floor also holds a basketball court with its 2 m run-off (32 × 19 m) and a volleyball court with a 3 m free zone (24 × 15 m), which is why handball is often the sizing sport for a school or community hall.
Figures that circulate but are wrong
- “The safety zone is mandatory.” The Rules say it should be provided.
- “The 9 m line is solid.” It is a broken line.
- “All lines are 5 cm.” The goal line between the posts is 8 cm.
What this means for a hall
Size the floor for the longest court the hall must hold, set the height for the highest-playing sport, and resolve overlapping line markings and goal storage before the floor is specified.
See Indoor Multi-Sport Hall Design and Planning an Indoor Sports Hall.
Sources
Figures checked against these documents on 2 Oct 2026. Where a figure is our own arithmetic from official values, the text says so.
RelatedIndoor Multi-Sport Hall Design · All court & ground dimensions · Basketball Court Dimensions · Volleyball Court Dimensions · Planning an Indoor Sports Hall