Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) Calculator

Calculate effective field goal percentage (eFG%) for any player, lineup, team, game, or season. Adjusts for the extra value of three-pointers to give a truer picture of shooting efficiency.

eFG% Calculator

Results

Effective FG% (eFG%) 63.3%

eFG = (8 + 0.5 × 3) ÷ 15 = 0.633

Quick interpretation

This is an elite eFG% for most levels of basketball.

Show traditional FG% comparison

FG% = 8 ÷ 15 = 53.3%. eFG% is higher because it rewards made 3-pointers.

How to Calculate Effective Field Goal Percentage

Effective field goal percentage (eFG%) is an advanced shooting metric that improves on traditional field goal percentage by giving extra credit for three-pointers, which are worth 1.5 times as many points as two-pointers.

eFG% formula

\[ \text{eFG\%} = \frac{\text{FGM} + 0.5 \times \text{3PM}}{\text{FGA}} \]

  • FGM = total field goals made (2s + 3s)
  • 3PM = three-pointers made
  • FGA = total field goal attempts

Step-by-step using this calculator

  1. Enter Field Goals Made (FGM) – all made shots from the field.
  2. Enter 3-Point Field Goals Made (3PM) – made shots from beyond the arc.
  3. Enter Field Goal Attempts (FGA) – all shot attempts from the field.
  4. Click “Calculate eFG%” to see:
    • eFG% as a percentage
    • The exact formula calculation
    • A quick interpretation (poor, average, good, elite)
    • Traditional FG% for comparison

Example calculation

Suppose a player has the following stat line:

  • FGM = 8
  • 3PM = 3
  • FGA = 15

Plug into the formula:

\[ \text{eFG\%} = \frac{8 + 0.5 \times 3}{15} = \frac{8 + 1.5}{15} = \frac{9.5}{15} \approx 0.633 \Rightarrow 63.3\% \]

The player’s traditional FG% is \( 8 / 15 \approx 53.3\% \), but their eFG% is 63.3% because three of those makes were worth three points each.

What Is a Good eFG%?

Exact benchmarks depend on league and era, but as a rough guide for modern basketball:

  • Below 45% – inefficient shooting
  • 45–50% – below average
  • 50–55% – around average
  • 55–60% – very good
  • Above 60% – elite efficiency

Bigs who take mostly shots at the rim often post very high eFG%, while high-volume perimeter scorers may have lower eFG% but create more offense overall.

eFG% vs. FG% vs. TS%

Traditional Field Goal Percentage (FG%)

FG% treats all made field goals the same, whether they are worth 2 or 3 points:

\[ \text{FG\%} = \frac{\text{FGM}}{\text{FGA}} \]

This ignores the fact that a made three-pointer is more valuable than a made two-pointer.

Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%)

eFG% fixes this by weighting made threes by 1.5. It is ideal when you want to compare shooting efficiency from the floor, especially between players who take different mixes of 2s and 3s.

True Shooting Percentage (TS%)

True shooting percentage goes one step further and includes free throws:

\[ \text{TS\%} = \frac{\text{Points}}{2 \times (\text{FGA} + 0.44 \times \text{FTA})} \]

Use TS% to evaluate overall scoring efficiency (field goals + free throws), and eFG% to focus specifically on shot selection and shot-making from the floor.

Coaching & Analytics Tips

  • Lineup analysis: Compute eFG% for different lineups to see which combinations generate the most efficient shots.
  • Shot profile: A rising eFG% often means more shots at the rim and from three, and fewer long mid-range jumpers.
  • Small samples: eFG% can swing wildly in a single game. It becomes more reliable over larger samples (e.g., 200+ attempts).
  • Context matters: A slightly lower eFG% on high volume or tough defensive attention can still be very valuable to a team.

Effective Field Goal Percentage FAQ