Free Throw Percentage Calculator

This calculator works out your free throw percentage: the number of successful free throws divided by the total attempts, shown as a percentage. You enter the free throws made and the free throws attempted, and you get your shooting percentage instantly. The result is the standard stat used in basketball to measure free throw accuracy.

Formula

Free throw percentage (FT%) is calculated with this simple formula:

FT% = (Free Throws Made ÷ Free Throws Attempted) × 100

Where:

• Free Throws Made – the number of successful free throws (no unit, just a count).
• Free Throws Attempted – the total number of free throws taken, including misses (no unit, just a count).
• FT% – the result, expressed as a percentage (%).

For example, if a player makes 7 out of 10 free throws, the calculation is (7 ÷ 10) × 100 = 70%. The formula is identical at every level of basketball, from youth leagues to the NBA.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator above (7 made, 10 attempted):

1. Divide made by attempted: 7 ÷ 10 = 0.7
2. Multiply by 100 to get a percentage: 0.7 × 100 = 70%

The calculator shows 70.0%, matching the manual calculation. If you round to one decimal place, a player who makes 15 out of 22 attempts would have (15 ÷ 22) × 100 = 68.18%, which rounds to 68.2%.

When to Use This Calculator

Use this calculator whenever you need a quick, accurate free throw percentage for a single game, a season, or a career. It is especially useful for:

• Tracking your own progress during a basketball season.
• Comparing players on a team or across leagues.
• Filling in stat sheets or updating a league table.
• Checking a player’s performance after a game.

The formula is the same everywhere, so you can use it for any level of play. It is also the basis for more advanced stats like effective free throw rate, but the basic percentage is what most people need.

How to Read the Result

The result is a percentage between 0% and 100%. A higher percentage means better free throw shooting. Here is a general guide to what different ranges typically indicate:

• Below 50% – well below average; often seen in young or developing players.
• 50–70% – average for many recreational leagues and some professional big men.
• 70–80% – above average; solid for guards and wings.
• 80–90% – excellent; typical of elite shooters.
• 90% and above – exceptional; rare even among professionals.

Remember that a single game sample can be misleading. A player who goes 0-for-2 has 0%, but that doesn’t mean they are a bad shooter. Always consider the number of attempts when interpreting the percentage.

Common Mistakes and Limitations

The most common mistake is mixing up made and attempted. For example, entering 10 made and 7 attempted would give a result over 100%, which is impossible. The attempted number must always be equal to or greater than the made number.

Another mistake is using field goal attempts instead of free throw attempts. Free throws are taken from the free throw line, not during live play, so they are counted separately.

Rounding can also cause small discrepancies. If you round the percentage to one decimal place, the result is accurate enough for most purposes. For official stats, leagues usually round to one decimal place as well.

Finally, the formula does not account for the situation (e.g., pressure, fatigue, game score). It is a pure accuracy measure, not a predictor of future performance. A player’s free throw percentage can vary from game to game due to many factors.

Alternatives and Related Stats

While free throw percentage is the standard, there are related stats that give more context:

• Free throw attempts per game – shows how often a player gets to the line.
• Free throw rate (FTr) – free throw attempts divided by field goal attempts, measuring how often a player draws fouls.
• True shooting percentage (TS%) – accounts for free throws, field goals, and three-pointers to measure overall scoring efficiency.
• Effective field goal percentage (eFG%) – adjusts for the extra value of three-pointers but does not include free throws.

If you want to compare two players fairly, look at free throw percentage alongside attempts per game. A player who shoots 80% on 2 attempts per game is less valuable than one who shoots 75% on 8 attempts per game.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good free throw percentage?

In the NBA, the league average is around 77–78%. In college basketball, it is usually around 70–72%. For recreational play, anything above 70% is considered good. However, “good� depends on the level and the player’s role. Centers often have lower percentages than guards, but they are still valuable if they draw fouls.

Can free throw percentage be over 100%?

No, it cannot. Since you cannot make more free throws than you attempt, the maximum is 100%. If you enter a made number greater than attempted, the calculator will show a result above 100%, which is mathematically possible but physically impossible. Always double-check your inputs.

How do I calculate free throw percentage for a season?

Add up all free throws made during the season and all free throws attempted, then divide the total made by the total attempted and multiply by 100. For example, if a player makes 150 out of 200 attempts over a season, the percentage is (150 ÷ 200) × 100 = 75%.

Does the calculator work for a single game?

Yes, it works for any number of attempts, from 0 to any positive number. For a single game, just enter the made and attempted numbers for that game. For a career, enter the totals. The formula is the same regardless of the sample size.

Why is my free throw percentage different from what the scoreboard shows?

Scoreboards sometimes update slowly or show a different stat (like field goal percentage). Also, some scoreboards round to the nearest whole number, while others show one decimal place. The calculator uses the exact formula, so it is accurate as long as your inputs are correct.

What if I attempt zero free throws?

If you attempt zero free throws, the percentage is undefined because you cannot divide by zero. The calculator will show an error or a blank result. In basketball stats, a player with zero attempts is often listed as having no percentage, not 0%.

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in made | Free throws made | - | 7 | 0
in att | Free throws attempted | - | 10 | 0
out pct | Free throw percentage | % | (made / att) * 100 | 1