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Effective Field Goal Percentage Calculator

Adjust a basketball field goal percentage for the extra point a three-pointer is worth.

Level: Grades 6–7

  • Common Core standard 6.EE.A.2.cEvaluate expressions at specific values of their variables. Include expressions that arise from formulas used in real-world problems. Perform arithmetic operations, including those involving whole-number exponents, in the conventional order when there are no parentheses to specify a particular order (Order of Operations).
  • Common Core standard 6.RP.A.3.cFind a percent of a quantity as a rate per 100 (e.g., 30% of a quantity means 30/100 times the quantity); solve problems involving finding the whole, given a part and the percent.
Printable worksheet

Effective Field Goal Percentage Calculator

Inputs

All made shots from the field, twos and threes together.

Result

Effective field goal percentage (eFG%)

52.5%

9 of 20 from the field with 3 threes is an effective field goal percentage of 52.5%, against a plain 45.0%.

Field goal percentage (FG%)
45%
Points from field goals
21
Points per field goal attempt
1.05

See the step-by-step solution ↓

Step-by-step solution

  1. Give each made three an extra half shot of credit, because it is worth 1.5 times a two

    9+0.5×3=10.5

  2. Divide by field goal attempts to see how often shots paid off

    10.520=0.525

  3. Write it as a percentage so it is easy to compare

    0.525×100=52.5%

  4. For comparison, plain field goal percentage counts every make the same

    920×100=45%

Test yourself

20 quick questions built from this calculator's formula: work out results, predict what happens when an input changes, and work backward from an answer. Every answer comes with the working.

What this calculator does

See how well a basketball player really shoots, with three-pointers given the extra credit they earn. Effective field goal percentage (eFG%) is the usual shooting percentage with one fix. A made three is worth 3 points, not 2, so it gets 1.5 times the credit of a made two. That puts a stretch shooter who makes 40% of threes on the same scale as a post player who makes 60% of twos. Both produce 1.2 points per shot.

A field goal is any shot taken during play, not a free throw. Enter field goals made, how many of them were threes, and field goal attempts. The calculator returns eFG% and the plain field goal percentage for comparison. It also shows the points the shots produced and the points per field goal attempt.

Where it's used

Why this math matters outside the classroom:

  • Shooter comparisons. A player making 9 of 20 shots with 3 threes has an eFG% of (9 + 1.5) ÷ 20, which is 52.5%.
  • Twos versus threes. A 40% three-point shooter and a 60% two-point shooter both produce 1.2 points per shot, the same 60% eFG.
  • Scouting reports. Coaches track each player's eFG% by shot zone to decide which shots the offense should hunt for.
  • Math class data. Students collect shooting stats from a class game and compare plain and adjusted percentages for each player.

Grade level and standards: Grades 6–7; Common Core State Standards for Mathematics 6.EE.A.2.c, 6.RP.A.3.c. © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.

How to use it

  1. Enter all field goals made, twos and threes together.
  2. Enter how many of those makes were three-pointers.
  3. Enter field goal attempts, then compare eFG% with the plain FG% shown under it.

What the inputs mean

Field goals made (FGM)
Total made shots from the field. Three-pointers are part of this number, not added on top of it.
Three-pointers made (3PM)
Made three-pointers only. They must be no more than total field goals made.

Formula and method

eFG% = (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) ÷ FGA × 100
points per shot = 2 × eFG (as a decimal)

FGM is field goals made, 3PM is three-pointers made and FGA is field goal attempts. eFG is the same figure as a decimal, such as 0.525. Each made field goal earns one unit of credit, and each made three earns an extra half, because 3 points is 1.5 times 2 points. Dividing by attempts gives the rate.

So eFG% is the percentage a player would need on twos alone to score the same points from the field. Doubling it gives points per field goal attempt: 52.5% is 1.05 points per shot. Free throws are not part of eFG%. For those, use true shooting percentage.

Worked example

A forward makes 9 of 20 shots from the field, and 3 of the makes are three-pointers.

  1. Add an extra half credit for each made three, since it is worth more: 9 + 0.5 × 3 = 10.5.
  2. Divide by attempts to get the success rate: 10.5 ÷ 20 = 0.525.
  3. Turn it into a percentage: 0.525 × 100 = 52.5%.
  4. For comparison, count every make the same for plain field goal percentage: 9 ÷ 20 × 100 = 45%.

Result: The forward's effective field goal percentage is 52.5%, compared with a plain 45%. The 21 points from the field work out to 1.05 per shot.

Understanding the result

In recent professional seasons, league-wide eFG% has been in the mid-50s. So about 54% is typical, 57% or more is very good and under 50% is poor. Teams that shoot many threes often have a modest FG% but a strong eFG%.

The gap between eFG% and FG% shows how much of a player's scoring comes from threes. A center who never shoots threes has identical numbers. A perimeter shooter can be 10 points higher on eFG%.

Assumptions and limitations

  • Stats are whole numbers. Three-pointers made can't be more than field goals made, which can't be more than attempts.
  • Every made two is worth 2 points and every made three 3 points.
  • eFG% ignores free throws, turnovers and shot difficulty.
  • Small samples swing wildly: a player who makes 2 of 2 threes has an eFG% of 150%.

Frequently asked questions

Can effective field goal percentage be over 100%?

Yes, in a small sample. Making every three-point attempt gives 1.5 credits per shot, which is 150%. Over a season no player comes close.

Should I use eFG% or true shooting percentage?

Use eFG% to judge shooting from the field, for example to compare two jump shooters. Use true shooting when you want total scoring efficiency, because it also counts free throws.

How is team eFG% calculated?

The same way, with the team's totals for field goals made, threes made and field goal attempts. It is one of the common team efficiency measures in basketball analysis.

Sources

How this calculator is checked

Method: Professional basketball definition: (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) ÷ FGA, as published in the professional league's statistics glossary. The calculation is covered by automated tests with known reference values and edge cases. Last updated 2026-10-18. Found a problem? Tell us.

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