Shot Clock
A big, bright basketball shot clock for practices, pickup games and small-gym games. Tap Reset 24 or Reset 14 (or your own times), start and stop with the Space bar, and let the buzzer call the violation. Go fullscreen on a tablet, laptop or TV.
Last updated:
Space start/stop · R full reset · T short reset · ↑/↓ ±1 s · B buzzer · F fullscreen
Reset buttons keep the clock running if it was running, so a rebound reset is one tap. Settings are saved in this browser.
How to use the Shot Clock
- Pick a preset: 24 / 14 for NBA, WNBA and FIBA rules, 30 / 20 for NCAA men's, 35 for high schools that use a shot clock, or enter custom times.
- Press Start (or Space) when the team gains possession. Press Stop when the game clock stops for a foul, timeout or out-of-bounds ball.
- Reset with the big Reset buttons, or R for a full reset and T for a short reset. If the clock is running it keeps running from the new value.
- Fix mistakes with +1 s and −1 s or the arrow keys.
- At zero the buzzer sounds and the display flashes for a shot clock violation. Press a Reset button for the next possession.
Shot clock lengths by level
| Level | Shot clock | Short reset | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA | 24 s | 14 s | The 24-second clock dates back to the 1954–55 season; the 14-second offensive rebound reset was added in 2018. |
| WNBA | 24 s | 14 s | Same timing as the NBA. |
| FIBA (international, Olympics) | 24 s | 14 s | FIBA moved from 30 to 24 seconds in 2000. |
| NCAA men's | 30 s | 20 s | Shortened from 35 to 30 seconds in 2015; offensive rebound reset to 20 seconds. |
| NCAA women's | 30 s | varies | Check the current women's rulebook for reset rules. |
| US high school | 35 s or none | none | Allowed by the national federation rules; each state decides whether to use it. |
Rules are updated from time to time, so check the current rulebook of your league or association before an official game. For practices and casual games, use whatever limit fits your players.
Running the shot clock: common situations
These are the typical situations in NBA and FIBA style rules. Press Start (Space) when a team gains control of the ball and Stop whenever the game clock stops.
| What happens | Shot clock | Button |
|---|---|---|
| Change of possession (defensive rebound, steal, made basket) | Full reset | Reset 24 / R |
| Shot hits the rim, offense gets the rebound | Short reset | Reset 14 / T |
| Shot misses the rim entirely (air ball), offense recovers | Keeps running | No reset |
| Defensive foul or kicked ball, 14 s or more left | Continues from where it stopped | Stop, then Start |
| Defensive foul or kicked ball, fewer than 14 s left | Set to 14 | Reset 14 / T |
| Ball goes out of bounds, same team keeps it | Stops, then continues | Stop, then Start |
Tips for the shot clock operator
- Sit with a clear view of the rim. The short reset depends on whether the ball touched the ring, so watch the rim, not the shooter.
- Use the keyboard on a laptop: Space, R and T are fast to find without looking.
- A shot beats the buzzer only if it left the hand before zero. If the ball is in the air when the horn sounds and then hits the rim, it is not a violation.
- Mute the beeps for games and keep only the zero buzzer so players are not distracted; turn the countdown beeps on for drills.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the shot clock in basketball?
The NBA, WNBA and FIBA (international) games use a 24-second shot clock. NCAA men's and women's college basketball use 30 seconds. In US high school basketball a 35-second shot clock is allowed under the national federation rules, and each state association decides whether to use it, so many high school and youth games have no shot clock at all.
When does the shot clock reset to 14 seconds?
Under NBA and FIBA rules the most common short reset is an offensive rebound: if the shot touches the rim and the offense gets the ball back, the clock resets to 14 seconds instead of 24. A defensive foul or kicked ball in the frontcourt also sets the clock to 14 when fewer than 14 seconds remain; if 14 or more remain, the clock just continues. In NCAA men's basketball the offensive rebound reset is to 20 seconds.
What are the keyboard shortcuts?
Space starts and stops the clock, R resets to the full time, T resets to the short time, the Up and Down arrows add or remove one second, B sounds the buzzer by hand and F toggles fullscreen. Shortcuts are ignored while you are typing in a settings box.
Can I use it on a TV or tablet for a game?
Yes. Press Fullscreen and the display fills the screen, or connect a laptop to a TV or cast the browser tab. On a tablet, keep it plugged in; the page asks the device to keep the screen awake while the clock is running where the browser supports it.
Why does it show tenths of a second near the end?
Professional arenas show tenths when less than 5 seconds remain, because a shot must leave the shooter's hand before the clock hits zero and every tenth matters. You can turn this off to show whole seconds only.
Is the clock accurate if my screen is busy or the tab is in the background?
Yes. The remaining time is calculated from the real elapsed time measured by the browser, not by counting ticks, so it does not drift. The buzzer still sounds at zero when the tab is in the background, though browsers may delay background updates by a fraction of a second.
Can I use it for other sports or drills?
Yes. Use the Custom preset for any limit from 1 to 99 seconds, such as a 30-second possession drill, a 10-second backcourt drill, a play clock for flag football or a time limit for board game turns.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.