By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
Free throw percentage measures how often a player converts uncontested shots from the foul line. It divides free throws made by free throws attempted and reports the result as a percentage. Because the shot is the same every time, the rate is a clean measure of a repeatable skill.
Convert made and attempted free throws into a percentage.
FT% = FTM ÷ FTA × 100
Free throws are tracked apart from field goals, so this rate is not mixed with live-play shooting. Attempts must be greater than zero, and makes cannot exceed attempts.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| FTM | Free throws made, counting each successful foul-line shot. |
| FTA | Free throws attempted, counting every foul-line shot taken. |
| FT% | Made free throws divided by attempts, shown as a percentage. |
7 ÷ 8 = 0.875, so FT% is 87.5%. A perfect 8 for 8 would be 100.0%, while 7 for 10 would fall to 70.0%.
Free throw percentage divides made free throws by attempts. Because the shot is unguarded from a fixed distance, it removes contest, movement, and most decision making, leaving a relatively clean read on touch and routine. That makes it one of the most stable and predictive shooting statistics, especially once a player has several hundred attempts.
Stability does not mean zero variation. Players have hot and cold stretches, and small samples early in a season can mislead. But a career free throw mark built over thousands of attempts tends to predict future performance far better than a comparable sample of contested jumpers.
Free throw percentage captures a narrow skill. It does not measure how often a player gets to the line, which depends on aggression, role, and officiating, and it does not capture the value of drawing fouls that put opponents in penalty situations. A player with a high percentage but few attempts adds less than the number suggests.
It also interacts with late game strategy, since poor free throw shooters get fouled intentionally and good ones are avoided. That makes the stat tactically meaningful beyond its face value, but it still describes one specific shot rather than overall scoring ability.
Continue with the Three-Point Percentage Calculator, True Shooting Percentage Calculator, or the Effective Field Goal Percentage Calculator — or browse more basketball tools and all sports calculators.
Yes. An and-one free throw is still a free throw attempt, and it counts in both the makes and attempts totals.
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Content updated: September 2026