eFG% Calculator: Effective Field Goal Percentage

An eFG% calculator finds effective field goal percentage, a basketball shooting statistic that adjusts field-goal percentage to account for the extra value of a three-point basket. Enter field goals made and three-pointers made, along with field-goal attempts, to get eFG% as a percentage.

Formula

Effective field goal percentage is calculated as:

eFG% = 100 × (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) ÷ FGA

• FGM is total field goals made, in shots. It includes both two-point and three-point baskets.
• 3PM is three-point field goals made, in shots.
• FGA is total field-goal attempts, in shots, including both two-point and three-point attempts.

The factor 0.5 adds half a made basket for each three-pointer. That adjustment makes one three-pointer count as 1.5 field goals in the numerator: it is worth three points rather than the two points represented by an ordinary made field goal. The calculator displays the result as a percentage, rounded to one decimal place. Its second output is ordinary field-goal percentage: 100 × FGM ÷ FGA.

Worked Example

Using the calculator’s default values—8 field goals made, 3 three-pointers made, and 15 field-goal attempts:

1. Calculate the three-point adjustment: 0.5 × 3 = 1.5.
2. Add the adjustment to field goals made: 8 + 1.5 = 9.5.
3. Divide by attempts: 9.5 ÷ 15 = 0.6333…
4. Convert to a percentage: 0.6333… × 100 = 63.3%.

The calculator therefore returns 63.3% eFG%. Ordinary field-goal percentage for the same line is 8 ÷ 15 × 100 = 53.3%. The ten-percentage-point difference reflects the added value of the three made threes.

What eFG% Measures

Effective field goal percentage is a shooting-efficiency measure used in basketball statistics. Ordinary field-goal percentage treats every made basket the same, whether it is a two-pointer or a three-pointer. That can obscure an important difference: a made three produces one more point than a made two, despite both counting as one made field goal.

eFG% makes a simple adjustment for that difference. It is not a player’s points per shot, nor is it a measure of all scoring. It focuses on field-goal shooting and does not include free throws, turnovers, assists, or other aspects of performance. A separate statistic, true shooting percentage, is designed to include both field goals and free throws in its estimate of scoring efficiency.

How to Enter the Numbers

Use figures from the same player, team, game, or time span. The three inputs should describe one consistent statistical line. In particular, three-pointers made are already included in total field goals made and in total field-goal attempts; do not add them to either total a second time.

• Field goals made: enter all made two-point and three-point shots.
• Three-pointers made: enter only made shots from beyond the three-point line.
• Field-goal attempts: enter all attempted two-point and three-point shots, whether they went in or missed.

For a valid statistical line, field goals made cannot exceed attempts, and three-pointers made cannot exceed either total field goals made or total attempts. The calculator accepts nonnegative values and requires at least one attempt so its division is defined. If you are calculating a percentage from a published box score, use the counts rather than an already rounded percentage when possible.

Reading and Comparing Results

An eFG% of 55% means the adjusted made-field-goal total is 55% of the player’s field-goal attempts. It does not mean the player made 55% of shots in the literal, unadjusted sense. That ordinary percentage is FG%, which the calculator reports separately.

As a comparison, a shooter who makes 6 of 10 two-point attempts has an eFG% of 60%. A shooter who makes 4 of 10 three-point attempts has an eFG% of 60% as well: (4 + 0.5 × 4) ÷ 10 = 0.60. The second shooter’s ordinary FG% is only 40%, but the extra value of the made threes brings the adjusted figures level. This example assumes the listed attempts are the only field-goal attempts in each line.

Comparisons are most useful when the figures cover similar contexts, such as the same competition and a similar sample of games. A small number of attempts can produce a percentage that changes sharply after one shot. eFG% also does not show shot difficulty or defensive pressure, so it should not be treated as a complete evaluation of a player.

Common Errors and Limits

• Counting three-pointers twice: FGM already includes 3PM. The formula adds only the half-basket adjustment, not the full number of threes again.
• Using points instead of made shots: enter the number of baskets, not the number of points scored. A three-pointer counts as one made field goal and one three-pointer.
• Mixing time periods: do not combine season attempts with game makes or use totals from different players.
• Rounding too early: calculate from whole-number counts and round the final percentage. Rounding an intermediate value can slightly change the displayed result.

The statistic describes field-goal efficiency after a fixed adjustment; it does not account for free throws or the full context of a shot. It can also exceed 100%: a player making only three-point shots at a very high rate may have an adjusted field-goal value greater than the number of attempts. That is mathematically possible because the numerator gives extra credit to made threes, not because the player made more shots than were attempted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does eFG% stand for?
It stands for effective field goal percentage. It adjusts field-goal percentage to reflect the extra point value of a made three-pointer.

How do you calculate eFG%?
Use 100 × (field goals made + 0.5 × three-pointers made) ÷ field-goal attempts. Count three-pointers made within total field goals made and attempts.

Why is there a 0.5 in the formula?
A three-pointer is worth 1.5 times as many points as a two-pointer. The extra 0.5 gives the made three additional credit beyond the one made field goal already counted.

Can eFG% be higher than FG%?
Yes. For a player who has made at least one three-pointer, eFG% is higher than ordinary FG% because the formula gives made threes an extra adjustment. If no threes were made, the two figures are equal.

Is eFG% the same as true shooting percentage?
No. eFG% adjusts field-goal shooting for three-pointers. True shooting percentage also accounts for free throws, using a separate formula.

What if there are no field-goal attempts?
eFG% is undefined when attempts are zero because the formula divides by attempts. A player with no attempts should not be assigned a zero eFG% from this calculation.

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in f | Field goals made | shots | 8 | 0
in t | Three-pointers made | shots | 3 | 0
in a | Field-goal attempts | shots | 15 | 1
out efg | Effective field goal percentage | % | 100 * (f + 0.5 * t) / a | 1
out fg | Field goal percentage | % | 100 * f / a | 1