Effective Field Goal Percentage Calculator

Enter your field goals made, 3-pointers made, and total field goal attempts to calculate eFG% and full shooting efficiency metrics.

Created by Luis GonzalezLast updated: May 9, 2026

How to Use This Calculator

1
Enter Field Goals Made
Input the total number of successful field goals, including both 2-pointers and 3-pointers, for the player or team.
2
Specify 3-Pointers Made
Enter the number of successful 3-point field goals. This value must be less than or equal to the total field goals made.
3
Input Field Goal Attempts
Provide the total number of field goal attempts taken, encompassing all 2-point and 3-point shots.
4
View Effective Field Goal Percentage
The calculator will display the eFG%, standard FG%, 3P Boost, and other efficiency metrics for your entered stats.

Example Calculation

A basketball player scored 8 total field goals, with 3 of them being 3-pointers, out of 16 total field goal attempts in a game.

Field Goals Made

3-Pointers Made

Field Goal Attempts

Results

59.4%

Tips

Prioritize eFG% Over Standard FG%

Always use eFG% when evaluating shooting efficiency, as it better reflects the value of 3-point shots. A player with 50% FG% but many 3s is more efficient than a player with 50% FG% and no 3s.

Analyze 3P Boost for Impact

Look at the '3P Boost' output. A boost above 5 percentage points indicates a significant positive impact from 3-point shooting, a hallmark of modern offensive efficiency.

Contextualize with Points Per Attempt

Compare eFG% with 'Points Per Attempt'. An elite NBA scorer typically aims for over 1.2 points per attempt, showing high efficiency in converting shots into points.

The Effective Field Goal Percentage Calculator evaluates a basketball player's or team's true shooting efficiency by factoring in the added value of 3-point shots. This crucial metric, often abbreviated as eFG%, is indispensable for coaches, analysts, and fans looking beyond traditional statistics to understand offensive output. It highlights how many points are generated per shot attempt, making it a superior gauge compared to standard field goal percentage. For example, an eFG% of 59.4% is considered elite in professional basketball, indicating highly efficient scoring.

Why Effective Field Goal Percentage Matters for Team Success

In modern basketball, the 3-point shot has transformed offensive strategies, making shooting efficiency a paramount factor in team success. Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) directly addresses this by valuing 3-pointers correctly, providing a more accurate picture of how efficiently a player or team converts shot attempts into points. Teams with a high eFG% are generally more successful because they maximize their scoring opportunities. This metric helps identify truly efficient scorers who might be overlooked by traditional field goal percentage, and it informs coaching decisions on shot selection and offensive schemes.

Decoding the Effective Field Goal Percentage Formula

Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) adjusts the standard field goal percentage by giving 3-point shots 1.5 times the weight of 2-point shots. This accounts for the higher scoring value of a successful shot from beyond the arc. The formula ensures that players who shoot a higher volume of 3-pointers are accurately rewarded for their efficiency.

The core formula is:

eFG% = (Field Goals Made + 0.5 × 3-Pointers Made) / Field Goal Attempts × 100

Here, Field Goals Made is the total number of successful shots, 3-Pointers Made specifically counts successful shots from beyond the arc, and Field Goal Attempts is the total number of shots taken. The 0.5 factor is what gives the extra half-point value to each 3-pointer.

💡 To evaluate a player's overall offensive contribution beyond just shooting, consider using advanced metrics. Our Assists per Game Calculator can help assess playmaking impact.

Calculating a Player's True Shooting Efficiency

Imagine a basketball player who had a strong offensive outing. They made 8 total field goals out of 16 attempts. Of those 8 made field goals, 3 were from beyond the 3-point line. Let's calculate their Effective Field Goal Percentage.

Identify Field Goals Made (FG Made): The player made 8 field goals.
Identify 3-Pointers Made (3P Made): The player made 3 three-point shots.
Identify Field Goal Attempts (FGA): The player attempted 16 field goals.
Apply the eFG% Formula: eFG% = (8 + 0.5 × 3) / 16 × 100 eFG% = (8 + 1.5) / 16 × 100 eFG% = 9.5 / 16 × 100 eFG% = 0.59375 × 100 eFG% = 59.4%

This player's Effective Field Goal Percentage is 59.4%. This is significantly higher than their standard field goal percentage of 50% (8/16), demonstrating the value of their 3-point shooting.

💡 If you're also interested in how a player's physical attributes contribute to their performance, our Arrow Speed FPS Calculator (though for archery) can conceptually illustrate how initial velocity impacts trajectory, much like a player's shot release.

Industry Benchmarks for Effective Field Goal Percentage

Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) is a widely adopted metric in professional basketball, with clear benchmarks indicating different levels of shooting efficiency. In the NBA, an eFG% above 56% is generally considered elite, often achieved by star players and highly efficient offensive teams. For instance, top shooters like Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant consistently post eFG% figures in this range or higher. An eFG% between 52% and 55% is typically regarded as above average, representing solid scoring efficiency for a starting player. The league average eFG% usually hovers around 53-54% in recent seasons (e.g., 54.5% in 2023-2024), while anything below 48% is considered below average and a clear area for improvement. These benchmarks help scouts, coaches, and general managers assess player value and team offensive schemes.

Expert Interpretation of eFG% in Basketball Analytics

Basketball analysts and coaches rely heavily on Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) to dissect offensive performance and pinpoint areas for strategic adjustment. For an expert, eFG% isn't just a number; it's a diagnostic tool. They look for how eFG% changes in different game situations—for example, a player's eFG% when guarded versus open, or in clutch moments versus early in the game. A high eFG% coupled with a low turnover rate indicates a truly efficient offensive player. Furthermore, analysts use eFG% to compare players across eras, understanding that the increased volume and efficiency of 3-point shooting in the 2020s has shifted what constitutes an elite scorer. They might use it to justify strategic decisions, like emphasizing 3-point attempts over contested mid-range shots, even if the raw field goal percentage might look similar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) in basketball?

Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) is a basketball statistic that adjusts for the fact that a 3-point field goal is worth more than a 2-point field goal. It provides a more accurate measure of shooting efficiency by giving 3-pointers 1.5 times the weight of 2-pointers. This metric helps to fairly compare players and teams with different shot distributions, especially in today's 3-point heavy offenses.

Why is eFG% considered a better measure of shooting efficiency than standard FG%?

Standard field goal percentage (FG%) treats all made shots equally, whether they are 2-pointers or 3-pointers, which misrepresents their actual scoring value. eFG% corrects this by awarding 1.5 'made shots' for every 3-pointer made, reflecting the extra point gained. For example, a player shooting 50% from the field with half their makes being 3-pointers is significantly more efficient than a player shooting 50% with all 2-pointers.

How does the '3P Boost' metric relate to eFG%?

The '3P Boost' quantifies the additional efficiency gained solely from a player's 3-point shooting, calculated as the difference between their Effective Field Goal Percentage and their Standard Field Goal Percentage. A higher 3P Boost indicates that a player's ability to make 3-pointers significantly elevates their overall shooting efficiency compared to a player who primarily scores 2-pointers. This highlights the strategic value of long-range shooting.

What are typical eFG% benchmarks in professional basketball?

In the NBA, an elite eFG% is typically above 56%, often achieved by top-tier scorers and efficient offenses. An eFG% between 52-55% is considered above average, while 48-51% is generally league-average. Anything below 48% often signals below-average shooting efficiency. For example, in the 2023-2024 NBA season, the league average eFG% was around 54.5%.