What is Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%)?
Effective Field Goal Percentage (eFG%) is a basketball statistic that adjusts a player's or team's shooting percentage to account for the added value of three-point field goals. Because a successful three-pointer is worth 50% more than a two-pointer, eFG% gives three-point makes a 1.5x weighting compared to two-point makes. It provides a more accurate picture of shooting efficiency than traditional FG%. See also our True Shooting Percentage Calculator (TS%).
How do I calculate effective field goal percentage?
The eFG% formula is: eFG% = (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) / FGA × 100. Add half the number of three-pointers made to total field goals made, then divide by total field goal attempts. For example, if a player made 8 field goals (including 3 three-pointers) on 15 attempts: eFG% = (8 + 0.5 × 3) / 15 × 100 = 63.33%.
Why does the eFG% formula use a 0.5 multiplier for three-pointers?
The 0.5 multiplier reflects the extra scoring value of a three-point shot. A made three-pointer produces 1.5 points per field goal attempt compared to 1.0 for a two-pointer. By adding 0.5 × 3PM to the numerator, the formula effectively credits three-point shooters for the additional point they generate, making shooting comparisons fairer across different shot types.
What is a good effective field goal percentage in basketball?
In the NBA, an eFG% above 55% is generally considered excellent, while 50–55% is above average and 45–50% is around league average. Elite shooters and high-volume three-point specialists often exceed 58–60%. Values below 45% typically indicate below-average shooting efficiency. These benchmarks can vary by position and playing style. You might also find our Assist-to-Turnover Ratio Calculator useful.
Why is eFG% better than traditional field goal percentage?
Traditional FG% treats all made field goals equally, regardless of whether they were worth two or three points. This means a player who only takes three-pointers and converts at 40% looks worse than a two-point-only shooter at 40%, even though the three-point shooter is actually more efficient. eFG% corrects for this by weighting three-pointers appropriately, giving a truer measure of shooting value.
How does eFG% relate to True Shooting Percentage (TS%)?
Both eFG% and True Shooting Percentage (TS%) are advanced shooting metrics, but TS% goes one step further by also incorporating free throws. The TS% formula is: TS% = Points / (2 × (FGA + 0.44 × FTA)). eFG% focuses solely on field goal shooting, making it useful for comparing shooting efficiency from the field, while TS% gives a complete picture of all scoring opportunities.
Can eFG% be used for team performance, not just individual players?
Yes, eFG% is widely used to evaluate team shooting performance as well as individual players. Teams with higher eFG% tend to be more offensively efficient and are generally more successful in the NBA and other leagues. It can be calculated for a single game or across an entire season by summing FGM, 3PM, and FGA over the desired period.
What happens if my 3-pointers made is greater than my total field goals made?
Three-pointers made must always be less than or equal to total field goals made, since three-pointers are a subset of all field goals. If you enter a 3PM value higher than FGM, the calculator will flag the input as invalid. Similarly, field goals made cannot exceed field goal attempts.