What this calculator does
Vertical leap needed to dunk works out minimum vertical jump required to dunk a basketball, from your standing reach and rim height. Enter your own figures above and the answer updates as you type: nothing is fixed in the code, so the result reflects exactly the numbers you supply.
The formula this calculator evaluates is printed under the tool and explained below, so you can check the working by hand or reuse it in a spreadsheet.
The formula
FormulaVertical leap needed = rim height − standing reach + clearance to palm the ball
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Rim height (ft) | A number, measured in ft. Starts at 10. |
| Standing reach (ft) | A number, measured in ft. Starts at 8. |
| Clearance needed to palm/dunk the ball (ft) | A number, measured in ft. Starts at 0.5. |
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How the answer changes with rim height
Every other input is held at the calculator’s starting values while rim height varies. Select any row to load that scenario into the calculator.