Field Goal Percentage Calculator

Shooting efficiency separates good scorers from good shot-takers. Field Goal Percentage (FG%) is the number that tells you the difference. Use our Field Goal Percentage Calculator below to get an instant result, then read on for the formula, a worked example, position benchmarks, and the shooting habits that actually move the needle on this stat.

What Is Field Goal Percentage?

Field Goal Percentage (FG%) measures how many of a player’s shot attempts actually go in. It is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted, expressed as a percentage. Coaches, scouts, and fans rely on it as the baseline measure of scoring efficiency at every level of play, from youth leagues to the NBA and WNBA.

Any shot taken during live play counts toward this stat, whether it is a two-pointer or a three-pointer. Free throws are never included. For a full breakdown of what qualifies as a scoring attempt during regulation play, see our guide on what counts as a field goal in basketball.

Field Goal Percentage Formula

The calculation is simple:

FG% = (Field Goals Made ÷ Field Goals Attempted) × 100

Field Goals Made (FGM) is the number of successful shots. Field Goals Attempted (FGA) is the total number of shots taken, made or missed, not counting free throws.

How to Calculate FG% Manually

1. Track the shots. Record total Field Goals Made (FGM) and Field Goals Attempted (FGA). Leave free throws out of both numbers.
2. Divide. FGM ÷ FGA gives you a decimal between 0.000 and 1.000.
3. Convert to a percentage. Multiply the decimal by 100 and round to two decimal places.

How to Use the Field Goal Percentage Calculator

Our calculator is built to give you an instant, accurate read on shooting performance without any manual math. Here is how it works:

1. Enter Field Goals Made. Type the number of successful shots into the “Field Goals Made (FGM)” field.
2. Enter Field Goals Attempted. Type the total number of shots taken into the “Field Goals Attempted (FGA)” field. Attempts must always be equal to or greater than made.
3. Click Calculate. Hit the orange “Calculate” button and your results appear immediately in the results column.
4. Review your shooting analysis. Check your final FG%, a performance badge rating, the calculation steps, and a live 20-shot visualization chart.
5. Reset stats. Click “Reset” to clear everything and run a new shooting assessment.

Step-by-Step Example

Say a guard takes 20 shots in a game and makes 8 of them.

• Field Goals Made (FGM): 8
• Field Goals Attempted (FGA): 20
• Step 1 (Divide): 8 ÷ 20 = 0.40
• Step 2 (Multiply): 0.40 × 100 = 40.00%

That guard finished the game with a 40.00% Field Goal Percentage, meaning 4 out of every 10 shots dropped.

Why FG% Matters

FG% is the clearest snapshot of scoring efficiency available without pulling advanced analytics. A player who takes 20 shots a game but only converts 35% of them is burning possessions that a more efficient teammate could have used. A player converting at 50% or higher is squeezing more points out of fewer chances, which matters more the longer a basketball game runs and the fewer total possessions each team gets.

That said, standard FG% has a blind spot: it treats a made three-pointer exactly the same as a made layup, even though one is worth 50% more. That is why serious analysts also track Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) and True Shooting Percentage (TS%), both of which adjust for shot value and free throws.

League Average Field Goal Percentage

Average shooting percentages shift depending on position, shot location, and level of competition. At the NBA level, league-wide averages generally sit in the 45% to 47% range. Here is a general guide by position:

Position Group	Average FG% Range	Primary Reason
Guards (Point / Shooting)	40% – 45%	Take more outside jump shots and contested three-pointers.
Forwards (Small / Power)	45% – 50%	Mix of mid-range, slash-to-basket, and perimeter shots.
Centers / Bigs	52% – 60%+	Take the majority of shots inside the paint, including layups and dunks.

Centers post the highest percentages because so much of their shot diet comes from point-blank range. A well-timed dunk or a putback layup is about as high-percentage as a shot gets, which is exactly why bigs who finish strong at the rim tend to lead the league in this category.

FG% vs. eFG% vs. True Shooting Percentage

Standard FG% is a good starting point, but two related metrics fill in what it misses:

• Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) adjusts for the extra value of a three-pointer. The formula is eFG% = (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) ÷ FGA, giving three-point makes 1.5 times the weight of a two-point make.
• True Shooting Percentage (TS%) goes a step further and folds in free throws, using the formula TS% = Points ÷ (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA)). It is considered the most complete single-number measure of scoring efficiency.

Neither metric replaces FG%. They build on it, which is why box scores still lead with the raw field goal number before showing the adjusted versions.

Common Mistakes When Calculating FG%

Watch for these errors when tracking stats by hand or checking someone else’s numbers:

• Including free throws. Free-throw attempts are never counted as field goals. Keep them entirely separate.
• Mixing up FGM and FGA. Made shots (the smaller number) go in the numerator. Attempted shots (the larger number) go in the denominator. A result over 100% means the numbers were entered backward.
• Excluding blocked shots. A blocked attempt still counts as a Field Goal Attempt and a miss, unless the referee calls a shooting foul on the play.

Tips to Improve Your Shooting Percentage

1. Improve shot selection. Prioritize open, high-value looks inside your range and avoid heavily contested or forced late-clock attempts.
2. Refine your shooting form. Keep your elbow aligned, maintain a balanced base, and follow through smoothly on every release.
3. Practice at game speed. Train catch-and-shoot reps, off-the-dribble moves, and pressure situations that mirror live play rather than only shooting in isolation.
4. Build conditioning. Fatigue breaks down shooting mechanics fast. Better cardiovascular endurance keeps your form consistent into the fourth quarter.
5. Create easy looks off ball movement. Players who generate assists for teammates, and who play off good passing, tend to see cleaner shot attempts than isolation-heavy scorers. Our guide on what an assist is in basketball breaks down how ball movement translates into higher-percentage shots for everyone on the floor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Does Field Goal Percentage include free throws?

No. Free throws are taken from the free-throw line during a stoppage of play and are tracked separately as Free Throw Percentage (FT%). They never count toward FGM or FGA.

What is a good Field Goal Percentage in basketball?

Generally, anything above 45% is considered good for guards, while forwards and centers typically average 50% or higher because they take more shots close to the basket.

What is the difference between FG% and eFG%?

FG% treats every made shot the same regardless of value. eFG% gives extra weight to three-point makes since they are worth 50% more than a two-point basket.

Do three-point attempts count in Field Goal Percentage?

Yes. Any shot attempted during live play other than a free throw counts as a field goal attempt, including layups, mid-range jumpers, and three-pointers.

Can a player have over 100% Field Goal Percentage?

No. The mathematical maximum is 100%, which would require making every single shot attempted. Even the most efficient shooters in league history stay well below that mark.