How to Calculate Standing Reach – The Complete Guide for Dunking
If you want to dunk a basketball, knowing your standing reach is just as important as knowing your vertical jump. Many players focus entirely on how high they can jump and overlook the number that actually decides how much jump they need in the first place.
What Is Standing Reach?
Standing reach is the highest point you can touch with one arm fully extended overhead while your feet stay flat on the ground — no jumping, no tiptoes. It's the baseline every dunk calculation is built from.
How to Measure It Correctly
- Find a wall or door frame with a flat, unobstructed surface at least a foot above your expected reach.
- Stand flat-footed against the wall, feet together, and keep your heels down the entire time.
- Extend one arm straight up and mark the highest point your fingertips touch with chalk or a pencil.
- Measure from the floor to the mark using a tape measure for the most accurate number.
- Repeat twice more and take the average — small posture differences can shift the number by an inch or two.
Why This Number Matters So Much
Standing reach typically runs 1.3× your height, but it varies a lot based on wingspan and torso length. Two players of identical height can need completely different vertical jumps to dunk simply because one has a longer reach.
Common Measurement Mistakes
- Rising onto your toes while marking the wall
- Leaning or angling your shoulder instead of reaching straight up
- Measuring in shoes with thick soles, which inflates your height reading
Once you have an accurate standing reach, plug it into the Dunk Calculator along with your rim height and desired clearance to get your exact required vertical jump.