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Football goal posts have a crossbar 10 ft above the ground at every level of play, but the width between the uprights changes with the level. NFL and NCAA goal posts are 18 ft 6 in wide inside the uprights, while high school (NFHS) goal posts are 23 ft 4 in wide. The uprights rise 35 ft above the crossbar in the NFL, and at least 10 ft above the crossbar in high school, with 20 ft recommended by NFHS.
Whether you are replacing a damaged goal post, building a new field, or checking that an existing set is legal for the games you host, the same handful of numbers come up again and again. They come from the rulebooks of the NFL, the NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
| Level | Crossbar height | Inside width between uprights | Upright height above crossbar | Color |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL | 10 ft | 18 ft 6 in | 35 ft | Yellow or gold (required) |
| NCAA (college) | 10 ft | 18 ft 6 in | Check current NCAA rulebook | Yellow or gold (required) |
| NFHS (high school) | 10 ft | 23 ft 4 in | 10 ft minimum, 20 ft recommended | Yellow or gold (recommended) |
| Youth and flag football | 10 ft | Often 23 ft 4 in (high school width) | Varies by league | Varies by league |
Two points stand out. The crossbar height never changes, and the width is the main difference between professional or college posts and high school posts. Everything else in this guide builds on those two facts.
Goal post width is measured on the inside, from the inner face of one upright to the inner face of the other. The NFL and NCAA both use an inside width of 18 ft 6 in. High school football under NFHS rules uses a wider target of 23 ft 4 in.
The wider high school goal is intentional. High school kickers are still developing, and a wider opening gives more field goal and extra point attempts a fair chance. College and professional kickers face the narrower 18 ft 6 in target.
Because the two widths differ by several feet, a goal post built for one level is not automatically legal for the other. A field that hosts both high school and college games needs either two sets of posts or a goal post designed to convert between the two widths. Ask about this before you order if your field is shared.
When you compare products, confirm that the listed width is the inside dimension. That is how the rulebooks define it, and it is the number an official will check.
The crossbar sits 10 ft above the ground at all levels: NFL, NCAA and NFHS high school. This is the one dimension that does not change as players move up, so a kicker who learns to clear a 10 ft bar in youth football is clearing the same bar in college.
Because the crossbar height is measured from the ground, the playing surface matters. A crowned natural grass field or a synthetic turf installation with a thick infill can change the effective height at the end line. Measure after the surface is finished, not before.
Upright height is normally stated as the distance the uprights extend above the crossbar, not the total height of the structure. In the NFL, the uprights extend 35 ft above the crossbar. Under NFHS rules the uprights must extend at least 10 ft above the crossbar, and NFHS recommends 20 ft.
The NCAA upright height is not part of the fact sheet this guide is based on, so check the current NCAA football rulebook for that value rather than assuming it matches the NFL or NFHS.
Taller uprights exist for the officials, not the kicker. On a high, deep kick, the officials under the posts need a long vertical reference to judge whether the ball passed inside or outside the upright. That is why the NFL uses 35 ft uprights and why NFHS recommends 20 ft rather than the 10 ft minimum.
Manufacturer spec sheets sometimes list total height and sometimes list height above the crossbar. Before comparing two products, make sure both are using the same reference point.
High school is the level most facility managers, athletic directors and booster clubs deal with, so it is worth pulling the NFHS requirements together in one place.
Most schools buying new posts choose the recommended 20 ft uprights rather than the 10 ft minimum. The taller uprights make officiating easier, and they look like the goal posts players see on television. They also cost more to ship and install, and they catch more wind, so confirm that the footing and the surrounding area can handle them.
High school fields often host youth, junior varsity and flag football as well. Since youth and flag programs commonly use the high school width, a 23 ft 4 in post usually serves all of those programs without modification.
Goal posts stand on the end line, which is the back edge of each end zone. The end zone is 10 yd deep, so the goal post is 10 yd behind the goal line. The crossbar is centered on the field over the end line.
Modern goal posts use a gooseneck design, also called a single-post offset design. A single vertical support post rises from the ground several feet behind the end line, curves forward, and carries the crossbar out over the end line. The offset places the base about 6 ft behind the end line, so the support post is out of the field of play and players running through the back of the end zone are less likely to hit it.
Older H-frame designs with two support posts on the end line are rarely installed on new fields. If your field still has one, replacing it with a gooseneck post is one of the most common upgrades facility managers make.
Goal post support pipes commonly range from 4 in to 6 5/8 in in diameter. The uprights are commonly 4 in. Larger support pipe diameters are generally used on taller posts, where the structure needs more stiffness against wind. Pipe diameter also determines which padding will fit, so record it before ordering pads.
The NFL and NCAA require goal posts to be yellow or gold. NFHS recommends yellow or gold but does not require it. Yellow is the standard finish across the industry, and it is the safe choice for any field that might host a college or professional event.
A wind flag, sometimes called a ribbon, is attached to the top of each upright. Kickers and coaches use it to read wind direction and strength before a kick. NFHS specifies a flag 4 in x 42 in. Flags wear out quickly in sun and wind, so keep spares on hand and replace them at the start of each season.
The base of every goal post must be padded. Padding is commonly 6 ft high, and the NCAA requires padding to 6 ft. The pad wraps the gooseneck support post from the ground up, covering the portion of the post that a player could run into while chasing a ball through the back of the end zone.
| Level | Base padding | Wind flag | Post color | Inside width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NFL | Required; commonly 6 ft high | Attached to top of each upright | Yellow or gold, required | 18 ft 6 in |
| NCAA | Required to 6 ft | Attached to top of each upright | Yellow or gold, required | 18 ft 6 in |
| NFHS | Required; commonly 6 ft high | 4 in x 42 in at top of each upright | Yellow or gold, recommended | 23 ft 4 in |
Goal post pads are sized to the diameter of the support post, so a pad made for a 4 in post will not close properly around a 6 5/8 in post. Measure the pipe, not the old pad, before ordering a replacement. Pads are also where schools usually put logos and sponsor graphics, so plan artwork around the 6 ft height.
Padding is a safety item, not a decoration. Inspect it before each season for torn covers, compressed foam and loose closures, and replace it when it no longer covers the post fully.
Many multi-sport fields use a combination goal post that mounts football uprights above a soccer goal. The soccer goal uses the standard 8 ft x 24 ft opening, and the football uprights above it are set at 23 ft 4 in for high school or 18 ft 6 in for college.
Combination goals save space and money on fields that host both sports, but they come with trade-offs. The soccer goal sits on the end line of the football field, which means it also needs padding and needs to be checked against the same clearances as a standard goal post. Because the football uprights are fixed to the soccer frame, the width cannot be changed later, so decide on high school or college width before you order.
If your soccer program plays under rules with a different goal size than 8 ft x 24 ft, a combination goal may not be the right choice. Check the soccer rulebook your program follows before committing.
Youth tackle and flag football leagues often use goal posts at the high school width of 23 ft 4 in with the standard 10 ft crossbar. Some leagues play on shared high school fields and simply use whatever is installed. Other leagues set their own rules, and a few flag programs do not kick at all.
If you are buying for a youth or flag program, the practical answer is to match the field you play on most. When a league publishes its own goal post dimensions, those govern. When it does not, the high school width is the common default.
Use this checklist when verifying an existing post or planning a new installation.
Goal posts take up more room than the crossbar suggests. The base of a gooseneck post sits about 6 ft behind the end line, so you need clear ground behind each end zone for the support post, its footing, and the 6 ft of padding that wraps it. Fences, track curbs, bleachers and drainage structures placed close to the end line are the most common conflicts, so check those first.
Height is the second concern. In the NFL the uprights rise 35 ft above a crossbar that is already 10 ft off the ground, and even a high school post with the recommended 20 ft uprights is a tall structure. Look up before you dig: overhead power lines, light poles, netting systems and nearby roof edges all need to clear the tops of the uprights, and the wind flags at the top need room to move freely.
The end zone itself is 10 yd deep, and the goal post stands at its back edge. Players will run through that space at full speed, which is the reason the offset base and the padding exist. Keep the end zone and the area immediately behind the end line free of anything else.
If your field converts between sports, plan the combination goal footprint around the 8 ft x 24 ft soccer opening with football uprights above it. The soccer goal is wider than the 18 ft 6 in college uprights and slightly wider than the 23 ft 4 in high school uprights, so lay out the soccer width first and center the uprights on it.
Finally, think about which width you may need later. A school that hopes to host college games or a college that shares its stadium with a high school should plan for both 18 ft 6 in and 23 ft 4 in from the start, either with convertible posts or with a second set and the footings to support them.
Start with the level of play, because that sets the width. Then choose upright height. For high school, decide between the 10 ft minimum and the recommended 20 ft. For college and professional fields, follow the rulebook for your level.
Next, match construction to your climate and site. Windy, open sites benefit from a larger support pipe within the common 4 in to 6 5/8 in range. Confirm the finish is yellow or gold if there is any chance of hosting NCAA or NFL events.
Order base padding and wind flags at the same time as the post so the diameters and mounting hardware match. Padding to 6 ft is the common standard and the NCAA requirement. For NFHS fields, the wind flag should be 4 in x 42 in.
Installation details such as footing depth, concrete volume and anchor hardware depend on the specific product and soil conditions. Those values are not part of the rulebook dimensions covered here, so follow the manufacturer's installation instructions and local building requirements.
The dimensions in this guide reflect the NFL Official Playing Rules, the NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations, and the NFHS Football Rules Book. Combination goal soccer dimensions follow the standard 8 ft x 24 ft soccer goal opening used in NFHS and NCAA soccer. Youth and flag football dimensions vary by league and are set by each league's own rules. Always confirm current-season rules with the governing body for your competition before purchasing or installing equipment.
JoySport Store carries goal posts and padding for every level. Browse professional goal posts and padding for college and pro-width posts with matching pads, see football field goal posts and padding for high school and multi-sport options, or explore the full football equipment collection for flags, pads and field accessories.
NFL and NCAA goal posts are 18 ft 6 in wide between the uprights. High school (NFHS) goal posts are 23 ft 4 in wide. Width is measured on the inside faces of the uprights.
The crossbar is 10 ft above the ground at all levels, including NFL, NCAA and NFHS high school.
NFL uprights extend 35 ft above the crossbar. NFHS high school uprights must extend at least 10 ft above the crossbar, with 20 ft recommended. Check the current NCAA rulebook for college upright height.
High school goal posts have a 10 ft crossbar, an inside width of 23 ft 4 in, and uprights at least 10 ft above the crossbar (20 ft recommended by NFHS). Yellow or gold color is recommended, and a 4 in x 42 in wind flag goes on top of each upright.
Goal posts sit on the end line at the back of each 10 yd end zone. Gooseneck posts place the base about 6 ft behind the end line so the support post is out of the field of play.
The base of the goal post must be padded. Padding is commonly 6 ft high, and the NCAA requires padding to 6 ft.
Combination goals use the 8 ft x 24 ft soccer opening with football uprights above it set at 23 ft 4 in for high school or 18 ft 6 in for college.
