eFG% Calculator - Effective Field Goal Percentage
Enter the number of two-point field goals made, three-point field goals made, and total field goal attempts to get the effective field goal percentage. eFG% adjusts for the extra value of three-pointers so you can compare shooters fairly, regardless of shot mix. Results update instantly as you type, with a full breakdown of individual shooting lines and an efficiency rating against NBA benchmarks.
What is Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%)?
Effective Field Goal Percentage is a shooting efficiency metric that corrects a well-known flaw in standard field goal percentage: a three-pointer is worth 50% more points than a two-pointer, yet both count as one make. eFG% fixes this by crediting each three-pointer as 1.5 makes instead of 1, so you can directly compare a player who attacks the rim constantly with one who lives behind the arc. The result is a single number that tells you how efficiently a player or team converts field goal attempts into points, regardless of shot mix.
eFG% vs Standard FG%: why the difference matters
Two players can shoot identical 45% from the field yet have very different offensive value. If Player A takes all two-pointers, those 45% makes produce 0.90 points per attempt. If Player B converts the same 45% on three-pointers only, they produce 1.35 points per attempt, 50% more per shot. Standard FG% treats them identically; eFG% shows Player B at 67.5%, correctly rating them as far more efficient. This gap widens in the modern game, where coaches actively encourage corner threes (one of the highest-value shots in basketball) over contested mid-range attempts.
eFG% vs True Shooting % (TS%): which should you use?
eFG% and True Shooting % measure efficiency at different levels. eFG% covers only field goal attempts, making it ideal for evaluating pure shooting on field goal shots or comparing shooters when free-throw volume is similar. TS% extends the formula further by incorporating free throws (using a 0.44 multiplier on free-throw attempts to estimate the shooting possessions they consume), giving a fuller picture of a player who draws contact and converts at the line. Use eFG% for shot-quality analysis; use TS% when comparing players with markedly different free-throw rates.
How to interpret your result
The NBA league-average eFG% typically sits between 53% and 55% in recent seasons, driven upward by the ongoing shift toward three-point shooting. Centers and power forwards who score close to the basket routinely post 60%+ eFG% on two-point attempts; three-point specialists add value by converting at 40%+ from deep (40% on threes equals the scoring output of 60% on twos). A result below 46% usually signals poor shot selection, specifically too many long two-point attempts, or making a low percentage of shots across all zones. The interactive chart on this page lets you explore how shifting your three-point attempt rate would change your eFG% while keeping your per-type shooting percentages constant.
eFG% Benchmarks (NBA context)
| eFG% | Rating | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 60%+ | Excellent | Elite rim finishers, high-volume corner 3 specialists |
| 55-59% | Very Good | All-star calibre efficiency, efficient three-point shooting |
| 50-54% | Above Average | Solid contributor; above the league mean |
| 46-49% | League Average | Typical NBA rotation player |
| 42-45% | Below Average | Shot selection may need improvement |
| Below 42% | Poor | Inefficient; high volume of contested or long-two attempts |
General NBA benchmarks based on historical league averages. Centers tend to score higher due to high-percentage two-point attempts near the rim; perimeter players compensate by converting three-pointers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good eFG% in basketball?
In the NBA, anything above 55% is considered very good and above 60% is elite. The league average typically falls in the 53-55% range. For college and recreational basketball the benchmarks are similar in structure but raw percentages can vary. As a rule of thumb, above 50% is above average, 46-50% is roughly average, and below 42% signals poor shooting efficiency.
What is the eFG% formula?
eFG% = (Field Goals Made + 0.5 x Three-Point Field Goals Made) / Field Goal Attempts. You can also write this as: (2-point makes + 1.5 x 3-point makes) / total attempts, since the 0.5 multiplier on all makes and the extra 1.0 on three-point makes is equivalent. Multiply the result by 100 to express it as a percentage.
Why is there a 0.5 multiplier on three-pointers?
A three-pointer scores 50% more points than a two-pointer (3 vs 2). To make one makes equal to 1.5 two-point equivalent makes, the formula adds half a bonus make for each three-pointer scored. That one adjustment is all it takes to put shooters with different shot mixes on the same scale.
Can eFG% exceed 100%?
In theory, yes. A player who attempted only three-pointers and converted every single one would have an eFG% of 150%. In practice this never happens at meaningful shot volumes, but it is a documented edge case noted on Wikipedia. Standard FG% is capped at 100% by definition; eFG% is not.
Does eFG% account for free throws?
No, eFG% is calculated from field goal attempts only and ignores free throws entirely. If you want to factor in free-throw efficiency, use True Shooting % (TS%) instead, which uses the formula: TS% = Points / (2 x (FGA + 0.44 x FTA)). This calculator computes TS% for you when you enter free-throw data.
How is eFG% used in NBA team analysis?
At the team level, eFG% is one of the "Four Factors" identified by analyst Dean Oliver as the key drivers of winning: shooting efficiency (eFG%), turnovers, offensive rebounding, and free-throw rate. Teams with a higher eFG% than their opponent win the vast majority of games, making it one of the most predictive single-game statistics available.