How Many Feet Is a Hockey Rink? Rink Size Guide

A standard NHL hockey rink is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide.

That means the playing surface has approximately:

200 × 85 = 17,000 square feet

So, when someone asks how many feet is a hockey rink, the most common answer is:

Length: 200 feet
Width: 85 feet
Area: 17,000 square feet

The exact dimensions can vary depending on the league and country. International hockey rinks are generally wider than NHL rinks.

Hockey Rink Type	Length	Width	Approx. Area
NHL	200 ft	85 ft	17,000 sq ft
International/Olympic	About 197 ft	About 98 ft	About 19,306 sq ft

Standard NHL Hockey Rink Dimensions

The standard professional hockey rink used in the NHL measures 200 feet from end to end and 85 feet across.

The rectangular playing surface is surrounded by boards and protective glass.

The basic dimensions are:

Measurement	NHL Size
Length	200 feet
Width	85 feet
Length in yards	66.67 yards
Width in yards	28.33 yards
Area	17,000 sq ft
Perimeter	570 feet

The rink’s 200-foot length makes it significantly longer than its 85-foot width. This creates the familiar elongated rectangular shape used for NHL games.

How Long Is a Hockey Rink?

A standard NHL hockey rink is 200 feet long.

The 200-foot measurement runs from one end of the ice surface to the opposite end.

In other units, 200 feet equals:

66.67 yards
2,400 inches
60.96 meters

This length provides enough space for players to build speed while allowing the rink to be divided into different zones.

The center red line separates the two halves of the rink, while blue lines divide the playing surface into offensive, defensive, and neutral zones.

How Long Is an International Hockey Rink?

International hockey rinks can have different dimensions from NHL rinks.

A commonly used international rink size is approximately 197 feet long, which corresponds to about 60 meters.

The difference in length is relatively small, but international rinks are generally noticeably wider.

How Wide Is a Hockey Rink?

A standard NHL hockey rink is 85 feet wide.

The width is measured across the ice from one side of the rink to the other.

In other units, 85 feet equals:

28.33 yards
1,020 inches
25.91 meters

The 85-foot width gives NHL players a relatively compact playing area compared with wider international rinks.

Why Is the Width Important?

Rink width affects how much room players have to:

Carry the puck
Pass
Create scoring opportunities
Defend
Position themselves
Move around opponents

A wider rink can provide more lateral space and influence how teams use the ice.

How Many Square Feet Is a Hockey Rink?

To calculate the area of a rectangular hockey rink, multiply its length by its width.

For a standard NHL rink:

Area = Length × Width

Area = 200 × 85

Area = 17,000 square feet

Therefore, the nominal rectangular area of an NHL hockey rink is 17,000 square feet.

This is the basic rectangular area calculation. The actual ice surface has rounded corners rather than four perfectly square corners, so the exact geometric ice area is somewhat different from simply multiplying 200 by 85.

Hockey Rink Area in Other Units

The approximate 17,000-square-foot figure can also be converted into other area units.

Unit	Approximate Area
Square feet	17,000 sq ft
Square yards	1,888.89 sq yd
Square meters	1,579.35 sq m
Acres	0.39 acres

The square-foot figure is useful for general comparisons, while facility planners may use more precise measurements based on the actual rink design.

NHL Rink vs. International Hockey Rink

One of the biggest differences between hockey rinks is their width.

An NHL rink is approximately 200 × 85 feet, while an international rink is commonly around 197 × 98 feet.

Feature	NHL Rink	International Rink
Length	200 ft	About 197 ft
Width	85 ft	About 98 ft
Width difference	—	About 13 ft wider
Approx. rectangular area	17,000 sq ft	About 19,306 sq ft
Length in meters	60.96 m	About 60 m
Width in meters	25.91 m	About 30 m

The international rink is therefore slightly shorter but substantially wider.

That extra width provides more lateral space for players and can affect skating lanes, passing opportunities, defensive positioning, and overall game strategy.

Key Measurements on a Hockey Rink

The rink is not simply an empty 200-by-85-foot rectangle. Several important markings divide the ice into specific areas.

Center Ice

The center of the rink contains the center faceoff circle and center red line.

This area is used for the opening faceoff and faceoffs after goals.

Blue Lines

Two blue lines divide the rink into three main zones:

Defensive zone
Neutral zone
Offensive zone

These lines are important for determining offside plays.

Goal Lines

Each end of the rink has a goal line located near the boards.

The goals sit within the playing area at opposite ends.

Faceoff Circles

Faceoff circles are marked in several locations throughout the rink.

These markings identify where certain faceoffs take place during a game.

Goal Crease

The goal crease is the marked area immediately in front of each goal.

It identifies the area around the net and helps officials determine certain plays involving the goaltender.

What Does a Hockey Rink Look Like Compared With Other Sports Fields?

Comparing a hockey rink with familiar sports facilities can make its dimensions easier to visualize.

A standard NHL rink is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide.

Sports Surface	Approximate Length	Approximate Width
NHL hockey rink	200 ft	85 ft
Basketball court	94 ft	50 ft
Tennis court, doubles	78 ft	36 ft
Soccer field	Varies	Varies
American football field	360 ft including end zones	160 ft

An NHL rink is therefore much longer than a basketball or tennis court, but considerably smaller than an American football field.

The comparison also shows why hockey can feel fast-paced: players have a large surface to cover while traveling at high skating speeds.

How Much Ice Is on a Hockey Rink?

The amount of ice can be considered in terms of surface area and thickness.

The surface area of an NHL rink is approximately 17,000 square feet when using its nominal rectangular dimensions.

However, the actual ice surface has rounded corners, so the precise area is lower than the simple 200 × 85 calculation.

The ice itself is also built in layers rather than being an extremely thick solid block of ice. Arenas carefully maintain the playing surface so it remains suitable for skating and puck movement.

Why Hockey Rink Dimensions Matter

Rink dimensions affect both gameplay and facility design.

Gameplay

The size of the ice surface influences:

Skating distance
Passing lanes
Player spacing
Defensive coverage
Offensive strategies
Puck movement

A narrower rink can create a different style of play from a wider rink.

Arena Construction

The rink is only part of the space required for a hockey facility.

An arena also needs room for:

Player benches
Penalty boxes
Locker rooms
Spectator seating
Concession areas
Walkways
Protective barriers
Mechanical and refrigeration equipment

Therefore, an arena cannot be planned by assuming that 17,000 square feet is the total space required for the building.

Hockey Rink Perimeter

If you treat an NHL rink as a simple 200-by-85-foot rectangle, you can calculate its perimeter using:

Perimeter = 2 × (Length + Width)

For an NHL rink:

Perimeter = 2 × (200 + 85)

Perimeter = 570 feet

So the rectangular approximation has a perimeter of 570 feet.

Because actual rink corners are rounded, the exact perimeter of the boards is different from this simple rectangular calculation.

Hockey Rink Dimensions in Meters

People outside the United States and Canada may commonly encounter hockey rink measurements in meters.

The standard NHL dimensions convert approximately to:

Measurement	Feet	Meters
Length	200 ft	60.96 m
Width	85 ft	25.91 m
Approx. rectangular area	17,000 sq ft	1,579 sq m

The familiar NHL dimensions are therefore approximately 61 meters long by 26 meters wide.

Common Mistakes When Measuring a Hockey Rink

Mistake 1: Assuming Every Hockey Rink Is the Same Size

Not every hockey rink has identical dimensions.

Professional, international, collegiate, youth, and recreational facilities may use different specifications.

Mistake 2: Confusing Length With Width

For a standard NHL rink:

Length = 200 feet
Width = 85 feet

The 200-foot measurement is the longer dimension.

Mistake 3: Assuming 200 × 85 Is the Exact Ice Area

Multiplying 200 by 85 gives 17,000 square feet, but this is a rectangular approximation.

Hockey rinks have rounded corners, so the actual ice area is somewhat smaller.

Mistake 4: Confusing the Rink With the Arena

The rink is the ice playing surface. The arena is the entire facility surrounding it.

A hockey arena therefore occupies considerably more space than the ice surface alone.

FAQs

How many feet is a hockey rink?

A standard NHL hockey rink is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide.

How many feet long is an NHL hockey rink?

An NHL hockey rink is 200 feet long.

How many feet wide is an NHL hockey rink?

An NHL hockey rink is 85 feet wide.

How many square feet is an NHL hockey rink?

Using its nominal rectangular dimensions, a standard NHL rink is approximately 17,000 square feet.

Is an international hockey rink bigger than an NHL rink?

International hockey rinks are generally wider than NHL rinks. A commonly used international size is about 197 feet long and 98 feet wide.

How many yards long is a hockey rink?

A 200-foot NHL rink is approximately 66.67 yards long because 200 ÷ 3 = 66.67.

How many meters is a 200-foot hockey rink?

Two hundred feet equals approximately 60.96 meters.

How big is a hockey rink compared with a football field?

An NHL rink is approximately 200 feet long and 85 feet wide, while an American football field is 360 feet long including the end zones and 160 feet wide. A football field therefore covers much more area.

Why are international hockey rinks wider?

The wider playing surface provides more lateral space for skating, passing, positioning, and tactical movement. This can contribute to differences in playing style between competitions.

Conclusion