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 calculate PER (Player Efficiency Rating) Player Efficiency Rating (PER).
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.
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. You might also find our True Shooting Percentage Calculator (TS%) useful.