Basketball psi is a range, not one magic number: rule books and ball makers give slightly different figures. Here is what the NBA, FIBA and Spalding say, with a psi to bar table and the steps to inflate a basketball.
Short answer: The NBA rule book asks for 7.5 to 8.5 pounds of pressure, which is read as psi (about 0.52 to 0.59 bar). Spalding gives 7 to 9 psi and recommends 8 psi. FIBA gives no single number: it tests the bounce and asks for the recommended pressure to be marked on the ball.
How many psi should a basketball have?
- NBA: the 2025-26 rule book says the ball must be between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds pressure. It says pounds, not psi; reading it as psi is the usual interpretation. Officials must check that the game balls are properly inflated.
- Spalding: most basketballs have a recommended range of 7 to 9 psi, and Spalding recommends 8 psi, the figure it says is indicated on all Spalding basketballs.
| psi | bar | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0.48 | bottom of Spalding's range |
| 7.5 | 0.52 | bottom of the NBA range |
| 8 | 0.55 | Spalding's recommendation |
| 8.5 | 0.59 | top of the NBA range |
| 9 | 0.62 | top of Spalding's range |
The bar values are our conversion (1 psi = 0.0689476 bar), rounded to two decimals. If your ball is marked in bar, 0.5 bar is 7.25 psi and 0.6 bar is 8.70 psi: roughly 0.5 to 0.6 bar.
What does FIBA say about basketball air pressure?
FIBA gives no psi or bar figure. Its equipment rules define correct pressure with a bounce test: dropped from about 1.8 m (1,800 mm, measured from the underside of the ball), the ball must rebound to between 1,035 and 1,085 mm. FIBA also requires the ball to be marked with the recommended inflation pressure or pressure range, so the printed number is the maker's own figure.
How to inflate a basketball step by step
These steps follow Spalding's how-to page.
- Get a pump made for sports balls, a needle that fits tightly in the valve and, if you can, a pressure gauge.
- Find the valve, near the bottom of the ball, and insert the needle.
- Pump, pausing now and then to check the gauge. Spalding's recommendation is 8 psi.
- At the pressure you want, remove the needle.
- Bounce the ball. Spalding says it should have a consistent bounce and feel responsive.
- Check it again later: if it loses pressure quickly, Spalding says it might be the valve or a leak.
One exception: Spalding says not to inflate its NEVERFLAT basketballs for the first year.
What happens if you over-inflate a basketball?
Spalding says over-inflation can damage the integrity of the ball, so it will not perform to standard, and that extreme over-inflation can make it explode. That is why a gauge helps.
How to store a basketball
Spalding advises a room with a regulated temperature, not outdoors or in a vehicle, because those conditions can lead to the ball deflating and reduce its lifespan.
FAQ
What is the correct basketball psi?
The NBA rule book gives 7.5 to 8.5 pounds pressure, read as psi. Spalding gives 7 to 9 psi and recommends 8. Follow the figure printed on your ball.
How many bar is a basketball?
Roughly 0.5 to 0.6 bar. The NBA range is 0.52 to 0.59 bar, and Spalding's 8 psi is 0.55 bar.
Do I need a pressure gauge?
Spalding says a gauge can help you find the precise pressure, and suggests pausing while you pump to check it.
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Sources
- Spalding: how to inflate a basketball
- Spalding: product FAQs
- NBA Official Playing Rules (2025-26; Rule 1, Section II, and Rule 2, Section II)
- FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2024, Basketball Equipment (2024 edition, section 2.4 Basketballs)
The Spalding pages and the rule books were checked on 4 November 2026. Bar values are our own conversion.