Dunk calculator
Can you dunk? Enter your height and vertical to see how close you are to the rim, and how many inches you need.
Enter your vertical to see your result.
- Standing reach
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- Highest touch off one foot
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- Vertical to touch rim
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- Vertical to dunk
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Vertical needed to dunk by height
Using an average standing reach of 1.33 times height on a 10-foot rim. Your arms may add or subtract a few inches, so measure your reach for an exact number.
| Height | Est. reach | To touch rim | One-hand dunk | Two-hand dunk | Windmill or 360 | Eastbay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5'4" | 7'1" | 35" | 41" | 43" | 47" | 49" |
| 5'5" | 7'2" | 34" | 40" | 42" | 46" | 48" |
| 5'6" | 7'4" | 32" | 38" | 40" | 44" | 46" |
| 5'7" | 7'5" | 31" | 37" | 39" | 43" | 45" |
| 5'8" | 7'6" | 30" | 36" | 38" | 42" | 44" |
| 5'9" | 7'8" | 28" | 34" | 36" | 40" | 42" |
| 5'10" | 7'9" | 27" | 33" | 35" | 39" | 41" |
| 5'11" (me) | 7'10" | 26" | 32" | 34" | 38" | 40" |
| 6'0" | 8'0" | 24" | 30" | 32" | 36" | 38" |
| 6'1" | 8'1" | 23" | 29" | 31" | 35" | 37" |
| 6'2" | 8'2" | 22" | 28" | 30" | 34" | 36" |
| 6'3" | 8'4" | 20" | 26" | 28" | 32" | 34" |
| 6'4" | 8'5" | 19" | 25" | 27" | 31" | 33" |
| 6'5" | 8'6" | 18" | 24" | 26" | 30" | 32" |
| 6'6" | 8'8" | 16" | 22" | 24" | 28" | 30" |
For reference: I'm 5'11.375" with a measured 7'10" standing reach, so I need about 32 inches for a one-hand dunk.
Dunk questions
How high do you need to jump to dunk?
Take 126 inches (the 10-foot rim plus about 6 inches to get the ball over it) and subtract your standing reach. Someone with a 7'10" standing reach needs about a 32-inch running vertical to dunk.
Can someone shorter than 6 feet tall dunk?
Yes. I'm 5'11" with a 7'10" standing reach, and I can dunk, including windmills, 360s, eastbays and Jrich. At that height you need roughly a 32-inch running vertical for a one-hand dunk.
What vertical do I need to dunk at 6 feet?
About 30 inches, assuming an average standing reach of around 8 feet. Long arms lower that number; short arms raise it.
What vertical do I need to dunk at 5'10"?
About 33 inches with an average standing reach of 7'9". Measure your actual reach, since arm length can swing it by 2 to 3 inches either way.
Can I dunk on a 9-foot rim?
Switch the rim height above to 9 ft. You need 12 fewer inches of vertical than on a regulation rim, which makes lowered rims a good way to practice the motion while you build your jump.
How do I measure my standing reach?
Stand flat-footed, sideways to a wall, and reach straight up with the arm closest to the wall. Mark the highest point your fingertips touch and measure from the floor.
How do I measure my vertical jump?
Take a running approach, jump, and touch the highest point you can on a wall, net, or backboard. Subtract your standing reach from that touch height. That's your running vertical.
How accurate is the dunk calculator?
If you enter a measured standing reach, the math is exact. If you leave reach blank, it estimates reach as 1.33 times your height, which is close for most people but can be off by a few inches.
How high do you need to jump to do an Eastbay?
An Eastbay needs roughly 14 inches of clearance above the rim to get the ball between your legs and back up. Take 134 inches minus your standing reach. At 5'11" with a 7'10" reach, that's about a 40-inch vertical.
Should I dunk off one foot or two?
Whichever one you jump higher off. Most people have a clear favorite: quick, springy athletes (high jumpers included) usually get more off one foot, while stronger, heavier athletes often get more off two. Measure both with the takeoff toggle and train the one that gets you closer.
Trying to get to the rim?
I'm doing the same thing after two knee surgeries. One email a week: what I trained, what worked, and how close I'm getting.