What is the width of NFL goal posts in feet?

The width of NFL goal posts is 18.5 feet, or 18 feet 6 inches.

That measurement describes the distance between the inside edges of the two vertical uprights. The crossbar is 10 feet above the ground, and the uprights extend 35 feet above it in the modern NFL design. Together, these dimensions create the familiar fork-shaped target used for field goals and extra-point attempts.

The goal posts are positioned on the end line, at the back of the end zone, rather than on the goal line. That placement is a relatively modern safety and gameplay feature: the NFL moved them from the goal line to the end line in 1974 to reduce collisions and clear more space near the scoring area.

The number is commonly written as 18.5 feet because six inches equals half a foot. College football also uses 18 feet 6 inches between the uprights, while high-school goal posts are generally wider, at 23 feet 4 inches. The hash marks in the NFL are also 18 feet 6 inches apart, matching the goal-post width.