In short, an average basketball hoop weighs around 130 pounds (59 kilos) dry weight, which means the weight of the hoop when its base is not filled with sand nor water. On average, you can expect to add 400 pounds (180 kilos) of sand or 245 pounds (110 kilos) of water to that number to get a “real world” example.

Obviously, this depends dramatically on the size and construction of your portable basketball hoop so I’ll include a bunch of examples later in this article. As a general rule, you can expect your basketball hoop, filled with sand, to weigh about 550 pounds or 375 pounds filled with water.

I’m assuming you’re wondering how much does a basketball hoop weigh because you’re trying to figure out how big of a basketball hoop you need to be secure enough for kids or yourself, and occasional dunking.

In general, a portable basketball hoop with a base capacity of 35 gallons and more is suitable for older teenagers and grown men. Anything less than that and you risk crashing it down on you, your loved ones, or even your vehicle.

These are a few examples of popular basketball hoop models and how much they weigh:

• 54 pounds without water or sand – Lifetime 90023 (44’’ backboard, 31-gallon base)
• 56 pounds without water or sand – Lifetime 1269 (44’’ backboard, 27-gallon base)
• 78 pounds without water or sand – Lifetime 90491 (48” backboard, 31-gallon base)
• 83 pounds without water or sand – Spalding NBA Portable Basketball System (48″ backboard, 37-gallon base)
• 100 pounds without water or sand – Silverback NXT Portable Basketball Hoop (52’’ backboard, 35-gallon base)
• 107 pounds without water or sand – Lifetime 71524 (54’’ backboard, 35-gallon base)
• 110 pounds without water or sand – Spalding Pro Slam NBA Basketball System (54’’ backboard, 37-gallon base)
• 113 pounds without water or sand – Spalding NBA Hercules Pro Glide Advanced Lift (52’’ backboard, 39-gallon base)
• 130 pounds without water or sand – Spalding Ultimate Hybrid Jr (44’’ backboard, 30+ gallon base)
• 145 pounds without water or sand – Spalding Ultimate Hybrid Jr (48’’ backboard, 30+ gallon base)
• 154 pounds without water or sand – Spalding NBA Hybrid (54’’ backboard, 40+ gallon base)
• 155 pounds without water or sand – Silverback NXT (50’’ backboard, 25-gallon base)
• 161 pounds without water or sand – Spalding NBA (54’’ backboard, 40-gallon base)
• 190 pounds without water or sand – Spalding Pro-Tek Basketball System (54’’ backboard, 40-gallon base)
• 202 pounds without water or sand – Spalding NBA Hybrid (60’’ backboard, 40+ gallon base)
• 240 pounds without water or sand – Spalding NBA (60’’ backboard, 40-gallon base)
• 348 pounds without water or sand – Spalding NBA Beast (60’’ backboard, 50+ gallon base)

Water and sand weight

Water weighs eight pounds per gallon, and an average basketball hoop has a 35-gallon base capacity. Just water will add nearly 250 pounds to the weight of your hoop.

Maybe you want to secure it even more so you’ll add sand instead of water. Sand weighs over 13 pounds per gallon, which means you’re likely to add 150 pounds of weight on average, even if you don’t fill it fully.

How the backboard material affects weight

In search of a portable basketball hoop, we’ll often notice how backboards differ in a material. Backboards are build of molded plastic, acrylic, polycarbonate and glass, and that’s going to influence the weight of the basketball hoop.

The hoops suitable for children usually feature molded plastic backboards as kids play with smaller basketballs and thus the backboard doesn’t suffer too much. These are the lightest backboards out there.

Acrylic is far more enduring and heavier than molded plastic. It allows for a more competitive game and provides a solid rebound feel. With a density of 1.19 grams per cubic centimeter, the acrylic backboard doesn’t create too much sound and its durability won’t leave you disappointed.

Polycarbonate backboards are even more long-lasting than the acrylic ones. Although they look and feel pretty much the same, polycarbonate is denser (1.2 grams per cubic centimeters) and thus stronger material. There’s not much difference in price between the two, so if you’re planning on a dunk show every now and then, polycarbonate is a better choice.

The heaviest backboard material – glass, will give you the most real and authentic rebound feel. You’ll see this type of backboard in the NBA, as well as the NCAA and even semi-pro leagues. Higher end basketball hoops feature glass backboard as its weight is more than double than polycarbonate and acrylic (density of glass – 2.53 grams per cubic centimeter).

Maximally secure your basketball hoop

When you own a portable basketball hoop, you need to do everything to keep it from falling over.

The first and most important step is fully filling the base and filling it with the densest material you can find. Most manufacturers are recommending sand instead of water, but there’s also the BaseGel. Mixed with water, this super-absorbent polymer provides the same result as around 400 pounds of sand. A good option for those who want to move their hoop often, as you can instantly turn the process just by adding table salt.

If you have a portable basketball hoop that kids use or you want to secure it from wind you can use a pair of anchors and ratchet strap. If you want to learn more about securing basketball hoop, we recently wrote an article so just follow the link.

Do you need a portable basketball hoop?

Be wary as you look for basketball hoops to make sure that you don’t get taken by the marketing. Almost every basketball hoop today, no matter how lightweight it is, is marketed as “safe, secure, fun” Check the numbers.

There is a basketball hoop for all age groups. However, if you’re limited by budget, there’s a strong chance you’ll buy whatever you run on to and hope for best. To avoid that, research just a little bit before making the choice. This is where we talked about best portable basketball hoops for older teenagers and grown-ups, and here you’ll find our reviews of smaller basketball hoops for kids.

Remember, better safe than sorry. I learned it the hard way on my first portable basketball hoop.