Section 3: Playing Area
The Field
The NFL playing field is a rectangle with the following dimensions:
- Overall length: 120 yards (109.7 m) — 100-yard playing field plus two 10-yard end zones
- Width: 53 1/3 yards (48.8 m)
- Surface: Natural grass or approved artificial turf (the NFL has encouraged a transition toward natural grass for player safety; as of 2025, most stadiums use natural grass or hybrid surfaces)
Field Markings
- Yard lines: Marked every 5 yards across the width of the field, numbered every 10 yards from each goal line to the 50-yard line
- Hash marks: Short lines at 1-yard intervals between the yard lines, positioned 70 feet 9 inches from each sideline. All plays begin on or between the hash marks.
- Goal line: The front edge of the goal line is the boundary of the end zone. A ball that breaks the plane of the goal line while in a player's possession is a touchdown.
- End line: The back boundary of each end zone, 10 yards behind the goal line
Goal Posts
- Positioned at the center of the end line (back of the end zone)
- Crossbar height: 10 feet (3.05 m) above the ground
- Uprights: 18 feet 6 inches (5.64 m) apart, extending at least 30 feet above the crossbar
- A ribbon attached to the top of each upright to assist officials in judging field goal attempts
Team Areas
Each team occupies one sideline. The team area extends from the 32-yard line to the 32-yard line (a solid white border marks this area). Coaches, substitutes, and team personnel must remain within the designated team area during play except when entering the field for substitution.