NFL rules call for the sidelines and end lines to be 6 feet (1.8 m) wide, though the lines may be narrower on fields used for multiple sports or by college or amateur teams. The longer lines are the sidelines and the shorter lines are called end lines. The entire field is a rectangle 360 feet (110 m) long by 160 feet (49 m) wide. Other variants of American football such as nine-man or arena football typically use smaller fields with smaller end zones. This article mainly describes the field used in the National Football League, college football, and other leagues playing (traditionally) outdoor 11-man football. Originally, these lines ran across the field, giving it a checkerboard-like appearance resembling that of a gridiron, which gave rise to 'gridiron' being a nickname for a football field and for the sport itself that has remained while the appearance has not. Between the goal lines, additional lines span the width of the field at 5-yard intervals. There is a goal centered on each end line, with a crossbar 10 feet (3.0 m) above the ground and goalposts 18 feet 6 inches (5.64 m) apart extending at least 35 feet (11 m) above the crossbar. When the 'football field' is used as unit of measurement, it is usually understood to mean 100 yards (91.44 m), although technically the full length of the official field, including the end zones, is 120 yards (109.7 m). In addition, there are end zones extending another 10 yards (9.144 m) past the goal lines to the 'end lines', for a total length of 120 yards (109.7 m). The rectangular field of play used for American football games measures 100 yards (91.44 m) long between the goal lines, and 160 feet (48.8 m) ( 53 + 1⁄ 3 yards) wide. Diagram of an early version of an American football field the intersecting gridlines of this early form gave birth the field's nickname of 'gridiron'.

Football field font