Short answer: If you can dig a hole in your garden or driveway and you want a hoop that plays like the real thing for years, buy an in-ground hoop: it is the most stable and the only type with a tempered-glass backboard in our range. Choose a portable hoop if you rent, cannot concrete, or need to move it. Choose a wall-mounted hoop if you have a strong wall but no space for a pole. All three adjust to the official rim height of 3.05 m.
The three types at a glance
| — | In-ground | Portable | Wall-mounted |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it stands | Pole set in a concrete foundation (directly or on an anchor kit) | Base on wheels, filled with water or sand | Bolted to a masonry wall |
| Stability when you dunk or the ball hits the board | Best | Lowest: the board moves more | Good, if the wall is solid |
| Backboard in our range | Tempered glass (Goalrilla, Goaliath GB) or polycarbonate (GoTek 54 In-Ground) | Polycarbonate | Polycarbonate |
| Height adjustment | 2.30–3.05 m | 2.30–3.05 m | 2.30–3.05 m |
| Can you move it later? | Only with an anchor kit (unbolt and take it with you) | Yes, roll it | No |
| Installation work | Dig, concrete, wait for it to cure, then mount | Assemble, fill the base | Drill and bolt into the wall |
| Our price range (2 Nov 2026) | about €700–3,550 | about €850 | about €600 |
In-ground hoops: for families who play every day
An in-ground hoop has its pole set in concrete. That makes it the closest thing to a gym hoop at home: the board does not wobble, the rebound is predictable and the rim takes hard shots.
What you get: - Stability. The pole sits in a concrete foundation. The steel poles in our range are 10 × 10 cm (Goaliath GB), 12.7 × 12.7 cm, 15.2 × 15.2 cm or 15.2 × 20.3 cm (Goalrilla). A thicker pole means less shake. - Glass backboards. Every Goalrilla and every Goaliath GB model has a tempered-glass board, like in a sports hall. (More in our guide Glass, acrylic or polycarbonate backboard?.) - Overhang. The distance from the pole to the front of the board. More overhang lets players drive under the basket without running into the pole. In our range it goes from about 49 cm (Goaliath GB50) to 122 cm (Goalrilla 72-inch models). - Adjustable height. All of them go from 2.30 m (young kids) to 3.05 m (official height). Goaliath uses a hand crank, Goalrilla an adjustment handle on the pole. - Moving house is possible. Goalrilla systems always come with an anchor kit: a steel plate with threaded bolts that is cast into the concrete. The hoop is bolted onto it, so it can be unbolted and taken with you. For Goaliath GB models the anchor kit is an extra (Goaliath Anchor Kit).
What it asks of you: a spot where you may dig, a concrete foundation, and patience while the concrete cures. See Installing an in-ground hoop.
Which in-ground model? - Starting out, kids 6–14: Goaliath GoTek 54 In-Ground: 137 cm polycarbonate board, round pole, 48 kg. - Real glass at a fair price: Goaliath GB50, GB54, GB60: tempered glass, 10 × 10 cm pole, TÜV Rheinland tested. - Teens and adults who play hard: Goalrilla GS54c, GS60c, FT54, FT60, CV54, CV60. - The full court feeling, 183 cm glass: Goalrilla GS72c, FT72, CV72 and the flagship DC72E1.
Portable hoops: when you cannot or may not dig
A portable hoop stands on a hollow base that you fill with water or sand. It needs no concrete and can be rolled to the side when you need the driveway.
Good for: renters, paved yards you may not break open, players who want to try the game before spending more, and anyone who may move soon.
Keep in mind: - The board moves more on hard shots than on an in-ground hoop. Hanging on the rim is not what a portable hoop is made for. - The base must be filled completely, or the hoop can tip over in strong wind. In a stormy forecast, lower the height or put the hoop away. - Water in the base can freeze. Check in the manual which fill your base allows for winter.
In our range: Goaliath GoTek 50. The new GoTek 50-1 and 54-1 portable models are coming to the shop.
Wall-mounted hoops: the space saver
A wall-mounted hoop is bolted to the wall of a house, garage or hall. No pole stands in the way, so it suits narrow driveways and courtyards.
Keep in mind: - The wall must be solid masonry or concrete. Plasterboard, hollow blocks of unknown quality or thin facade insulation are not enough on their own; ask a builder. - The fixings are not included, because the right bolt depends on your wall. Buy anchors made for your wall type and for the load. - Before drilling, check for cables and pipes in the wall. - The overhang is set by the bracket, so the free space in front of the wall matters.
In our range: Goaliath GoTek 54 Wall Mount: 137 × 84 cm polycarbonate board, 66–81 cm from the wall, height 2.30–3.05 m with a steel crank, 30 kg, TÜV Rheinland tested.
Five questions to decide in two minutes
- May you dig and pour concrete where the hoop will stand? No → portable or wall-mounted.
- Is there a solid wall facing a flat playing area? Yes, and no room for a pole → wall-mounted.
- Who plays? Small kids only → any type at 2.30–2.60 m. Teens/adults who shoot hard or dunk → in-ground with glass.
- How much playing area do you have? A 183 cm (72-inch) board needs a wide court to look right. See our backboard size guide.
- Will you move house in the next years? Yes → portable, or an in-ground hoop on an anchor kit.
Safety basics for every type
- Keep a free run-out zone around and under the basket: no walls, fences, cars or steps where players land.
- Cover the pole with a pad (Goalrilla Universal Pole Pad, Goaliath Pole Pad) and the lower board edge with backboard padding.
- Do not hang on the rim unless the system is built for it (breakaway rim, in-ground).
- Adjust the height only when nobody is under the board.
FAQ
What is the official basketball rim height? 3.05 m (10 feet) from the floor to the top of the rim. Every hoop in our range reaches it and also goes down to 2.30 m for younger players.
Which type of basketball hoop is the most stable? An in-ground hoop with its pole set in concrete. Thicker poles (for example 15.2 × 20.3 cm on the Goalrilla CV72 and DC72E1) shake less than thin ones.
Can I take an in-ground hoop with me when I move? Yes, if it stands on an anchor kit. All Goalrilla hoops come with one; for Goaliath GB models it is sold separately. You unbolt the hoop and leave the anchor plate in the ground (or pour a new foundation at the new house).
Are wall-mount fixings included? No. The right fixing depends on your wall, so you buy it separately.
Which hoops does Dunk Shop sell? Goalrilla (in-ground, 54/60/72-inch glass) and Goaliath (in-ground glass and polycarbonate, wall mount, portable), delivered from the brands' European distributor in Germany to Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and other EU countries.
New to hoops? Start with our guide to a basketball hoop for home, or browse all basketball hoops.
Read next: basketball hoop height.