Basketball
Basketball uniform rules: FIBA 2026 and NFHS
International basketball follows FIBA, and US high school basketball follows NFHS. They differ on number sizes and legal numbers, so check which one your league uses.
- Governing bodies
- FIBA and NFHS
- Documents
- FIBA Official Rules 2026; NFHS uniforms guide
- Edition
- FIBA v1.1, valid 1 Oct 2026
- Applies to
- FIBA competitions; US high school (NFHS)
- Last checked
- 6 October 2026
About the source
The short answer
FIBA's 2026 rules require basketball shirts and shorts in the same dominant colour, sleeves ending above the elbow, and plain contrasting numbers at least 16 cm high on the back and 8 cm on the front. US high school (NFHS) rules differ: white home jerseys, dark visitors, back numbers at least 6 inches, digits 0 to 5 only.
Rules change: always check your own league's current rules.
This page summarises the governing document named in each row, in our own words. It is not the official text and it is not legal advice. Leagues, unions, boards and school associations can add to or change these rules, and they publish new editions.
Rules table
The rules, row by row
Each row has the clause, the edition and a link to the source. Last checked .
FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026
These rows come from Article 4.3 and 4.4 (v1.1, valid from 1 October 2026).
| Rule | What it says | Who sets it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirts | Shirts must be the same dominant colour, front and back, as the shorts. Sleeves, if any, must end above the elbow and long sleeves are not permitted. Shirts are tucked into the shorts; all-in-ones are allowed. | FIBA | FIBA OBR 2026Article 4.3.1 v1.1, approved 23 April 2026, valid from 1 October 2026 Last checked |
| Shorts | Shorts must be the same dominant colour, front and back, as the shirts and must end above the knee. | FIBA | FIBA OBR 2026Article 4.3.1 v1.1, approved 23 April 2026, valid from 1 October 2026 Last checked |
| Socks | Socks must be the same dominant colour for every team member. | FIBA | FIBA OBR 2026Article 4.3.1 v1.1, approved 23 April 2026, valid from 1 October 2026 Last checked |
| Shirt numbers | Shirts carry plain numbers on the front and back in a colour that contrasts with the shirt. Back numbers are at least 16 cm high, front numbers at least 8 cm, and the numbers are at least 2 cm wide. | FIBA | FIBA OBR 2026Article 4.3.2 v1.1, approved 23 April 2026, valid from 1 October 2026 Last checked |
| Which numbers | Teams may use 0, 00 and 1 to 99, and no two players on a team may wear the same number. | FIBA | FIBA OBR 2026Article 4.3.2 v1.1, approved 23 April 2026, valid from 1 October 2026 Last checked |
| Space around numbers | Any advertising or logo must be at least 4 cm away from the numbers. | FIBA | FIBA OBR 2026Article 4.3.2 v1.1, approved 23 April 2026, valid from 1 October 2026 Last checked |
| Two sets of shirts | A team must have at least two sets of shirts. The home team wears light shirts, preferably white, and the visitors wear dark shirts. Teams may swap colours if both agree. | FIBA | FIBA OBR 2026Article 4.3.3 v1.1, approved 23 April 2026, valid from 1 October 2026 Last checked |
| Undershirts, headbands and tape | Compression undershirts and undershorts, headgear, wristbands, headbands and taping must all be the same solid colour across the team. Wristbands and headbands may be up to 10 cm wide. | FIBA | FIBA OBR 2026Article 4.4.2 v1.1, approved 23 April 2026, valid from 1 October 2026 Last checked |
NFHS (US high school basketball)
These rows come from the NFHS illustrated guide to basketball uniforms. Check them against the 2026-27 NFHS rules book and your state association.
| Rule | What it says | Who sets it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey colour | The torso of the jersey must be a single solid colour with no designs in the fabric. Home is white and visitors wear a dark colour that clearly contrasts with white. | NFHS (state associations apply it) | NFHS uniforms guideFront view, A Undated NFHS guide; the current rules book is the 2026-27 edition Last checked |
| Number size | The front number is at least 4 inches high and the back number at least 6 inches high. Each number must be at least 3/4 inch wide, excluding any border. | NFHS | NFHS uniforms guideFront view B; back view B Undated NFHS guide; the current rules book is the 2026-27 edition Last checked |
| Legal numbers | Legal numbers are 0, 00 and the numbers that use only the digits 0 to 5, from 1 up to 55. A roster may not contain both 0 and 00. | NFHS | NFHS uniforms guideFront view, B.3 Undated NFHS guide; the current rules book is the 2026-27 edition Last checked |
| Number style and colour | Numbers are plain Arabic numerals in the same style and colour front and back. No more than three colours are allowed, for example a solid contrasting colour with up to two 1/4-inch borders. | NFHS | NFHS uniforms guideFront view, B.2 and B.4 Undated NFHS guide; the current rules book is the 2026-27 edition Last checked |
| Lettering near numbers | No letter of a school name or other identifying lettering may be closer than one inch to any part of a number. | NFHS | NFHS uniforms guideFront view, C.4 Undated NFHS guide; the current rules book is the 2026-27 edition Last checked |
| Trim and side inserts | Armhole trim may not exceed one inch. Side inserts may be any colour or design, up to 4 inches wide in total, and must be the same width on every team jersey. | NFHS | NFHS uniforms guideFront view E; side view Undated NFHS guide; the current rules book is the 2026-27 edition Last checked |
| Manufacturer's logo | One manufacturer's logo is allowed anywhere on the jersey, up to 2 1/4 square inches and no more than 2 1/4 inches in any dimension, as long as it does not interfere with seeing the number. | NFHS | NFHS uniforms guideSide view, note 1 Undated NFHS guide; the current rules book is the 2026-27 edition Last checked |
FIBA also covers shoes, protective equipment and personal logos on the body. We have left those out because they are not about the uniform itself. The NFHS guide notes that some items apply by state association adoption.
Rules change: always check your own league's current rules.
Ordering
What this means when ordering kit
Practical notes for a basketball order. Rules vary by league, so send your league's kit rules with your brief. The kit order checklist turns these notes into a printable page.
- Send your roster numbers firstFIBA allows 0, 00 and 1 to 99. NFHS restricts numbers to the digits 0 to 5. Share the roster with the brief so a number that is illegal in your league is caught before printing.
- Do not reuse artwork between rule setsFIBA wants back numbers at least 16 cm and front numbers at least 8 cm. NFHS wants at least 6 inches and 4 inches. Our dye-sublimation prints names and numbers into the design, or they can be heat transferred if your roster may change. Tell us which rule set applies.
- Match shorts to the shirt colourwayFIBA wants shirts and shorts in the same dominant colour. Confirm shorts and shirt colours together at quote stage so the set matches.
- Order for home and awayBoth rule sets expect a light or white home jersey and a dark visitor jersey. We make reversible and single-side jerseys, so ask your league whether reversibles are accepted before you choose.
- Leave space around the numbersUnder FIBA, logos sit at least 4 cm from the numbers. Under NFHS, lettering sits at least one inch away. Give us sponsor and team-name placements so nothing crowds a number.
FAQ
Basketball kit rules: common questions
See also the custom basketball uniforms page or ask for a quote.
How big do basketball jersey numbers have to be?
Under the FIBA 2026 rules, back numbers must be at least 16 cm high, front numbers at least 8 cm high, and all numbers at least 2 cm wide. Under NFHS rules for US high schools, the front number is at least 4 inches and the back number at least 6 inches high. Your league decides which applies.
Which numbers are legal in basketball?
FIBA allows 0, 00 and 1 to 99. NFHS limits numbers to those using only the digits 0 to 5 (0, 00, 1 to 5, 10 to 15, and so on up to 55), and a roster may not contain both 0 and 00.
What colours should home and away basketball jerseys be?
Both FIBA and NFHS put the home team in a light colour (white for NFHS, light and preferably white for FIBA) and visitors in a dark colour. FIBA teams may swap if both agree. Each team needs at least two sets of shirts under FIBA.
Do the shorts have to match the jersey?
Under FIBA, shirts and shorts must be the same dominant colour, and socks must be the same dominant colour across the team. The NFHS guide we cite covers the jersey only, so check your state association for shorts.
Can I put a sponsor logo near the number?
Under FIBA, any advertising or logo must be at least 4 cm away from the numbers. The NFHS guide allows one manufacturer's logo of limited size anywhere on the jersey provided it does not interfere with the number. Ask your league about sponsor logos.
Sources
Primary sources
The documents behind this page, all read directly from the publisher. Accessed 2026-10-06. Links open in a new tab.
- FIBA (International Basketball Federation): Official Basketball Rules 2026, Article 4: Teams v1.1, approved 23 April 2026, valid from 1 October 2026. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- FIBA: Official Basketball Rules 2026 to take effect October 1 Confirms the 2026 rules take effect worldwide on 1 October 2026. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations): NFHS Basketball Uniforms (illustrated guide) Undated NFHS guide; the current rules book is the 2026-27 edition. Accessed 2026-10-06.
- NFHS: Basketball rules page Shows the current rules edition (2026-27). The full rules book is sold by NFHS, so we cite the free uniforms guide for the rows above. Accessed 2026-10-06.
Published by Nyxlete. Summaries are our own words and are not the official text.
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