🏀 Dunk Calculator
Can you dunk? Enter your standing reach and vertical jump — we'll give you your max touch and a verdict against the 10-foot rim.
Reach will be estimated as height × 1.33 and labeled a rough estimate.
Reach will be estimated as height × 1.33 and labeled a rough estimate.
How it works
Max touch = standing reach + vertical jump. That's it — no fancy model. We compare your touch to the 10-foot rim (120″ / 304.8 cm):
| Touch | Verdict |
|---|---|
| 126″+ (320.04 cm+) | You can dunk — 6″ clearance above the rim |
| 120″–126″ | Rim grazer — touching the rim, not dunking yet |
| Under 120″ | Short of the rim — we show by how much, and the vertical you need |
Worked examples
- Reach 7'8" (92") + 28" vertical = 10'0" max touch — rim level, 6″ short of dunking.
- Reach 8'0" (96") + 32" vertical = 10'8" max touch — 2″ over the dunk mark: you can dunk.
- Metric: reach 235 cm reach + 70 cm vertical = 305 cm touch — level with the 304.8 cm rim — right at rim level.
The 6-inch margin is the clearance a real dunk needs above the rim — touching the rim isn't dunking.
FAQ
How does the dunk calculator work?
Your max touch is simple addition: standing reach + vertical jump. That touch is compared against the regulation 10-foot rim (120 inches / 304.8 cm). Reach 126 inches (the rim plus a 6-inch clearance margin) and you can dunk; land between 120 and 126 inches and you're a rim grazer; below 120 inches you're short of the rim.
What vertical jump do I need to dunk?
Subtract your standing reach from 126 inches. With a 92-inch reach you need a 34-inch vertical (126 - 92 = 34). With an 88-inch reach you need a 38-inch vertical. In metric: subtract your reach in centimeters from 320.04 cm.
What do the verdicts mean?
"You can dunk" means your max touch is at least 126 inches (320.04 cm) - 6 inches above the rim, enough to actually get the ball down. "Rim grazer" (120-126 inches) means you can touch the rim but don't have the clearance to dunk yet. "Short of the rim" tells you exactly how many inches you're missing, plus the vertical you'd need.
How do I measure my standing reach?
Stand flat-footed next to a wall, reach straight up with one hand, and mark the highest point your fingertips touch. Measure from the floor to the mark. No wall handy? A rough estimate is your height times 1.33 - but it's labeled a rough estimate in the results because arm length varies a lot.
How do I measure my vertical jump?
Mark your standing reach on a wall, then jump and mark the highest point you touch. The difference is your vertical. Take your best of three tries, and measure in shoes - that's how you'll actually be jumping.
What is a good vertical jump?
Typical recreational players jump around 20-28 inches; 30+ inches is very good and starts to make dunking realistic for average-height players. But reach matters as much as jump - a taller player with a modest vertical can out-touch a shorter player with a bigger one.
What touch do I need in centimeters?
The rim sits at 304.8 cm. The dunk mark with the 6-inch (15.24 cm) clearance margin is 320.04 cm. Example: a 235 cm reach plus a 70 cm vertical gives a 305 cm touch - right at rim level.
Is the rim always 10 feet high?
Regulation basketball rims are 10 feet (120 inches / 304.8 cm) - NBA, FIBA, NCAA, and high school. Some youth leagues use lower rims. If you play on a lower rim, the math is the same: you need rim height plus 6 inches of clearance to dunk.
Free tool by NRTechStudio