7 Best Portable Basketball Hoops in 2024

In this article we’re reviewing which are the best portable basketball hoops. I’m sure you have fond childhood memories of practicing your basketball skills, shooting into a hoop mounted to the wall of your house or garage.

But these days, many neighborhoods don’t permit permanently fixed hoops. Even if yours does, it’s not easy to rip up a concrete base to take a hoop with you when moving home.

However, a portable basketball hoop can be used on any flat, level surface such as concrete or even grass in the backyard. They can easily be moved around to protect your grass and you won’t suffer the regular thump thump of a stray basketball hitting your house wall…

When choosing an outdoor portable basketball hoop for you or your family, there are a lot of factors to consider such as budget, height, backboard size and rim type. No worries, we’ve done the hard work for you and have carefully reviewed dozens of models to select the 7 best portable basketball hoops in 2024.

From cheap models for shooting hoops to more professional systems for slam dunks and real world play, there’s one suitable for players of every age and size!

Our three top picks are listed below, followed by a quick comparison table of all 7 hoops. Then we’ll review each model in more detail. Finally, our Buying Guide will reveal what you need to look for in a portable hoop, so you can buy one most suited to your needs and budget.

Ultimate Choice

Spalding Ultimate Hybrid 54″

See at Amazon

Best Value

Lifetime 90491 Strong Arm 48″

See at Amazon

Budget Choice

Lifetime 90040 Impact
44″

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7 Best Portable Basketball Hoops in 2024 – Comparison Table

The portable basketball systems below are in ascending order of backboard size (and usually price, because larger backboards are more expensive). After the comparison table we will review each hoop, in the same order, to make comparing them easier.

If you’re on a small screen, click on the green plus sign, or the little picture of each hoop, to see more features.

	Name	Back Board Size	Base Volume	Backboard	Price	Height
	Lifetime 90040 Impact	44"	27 gallons	Polyethylene	$	7.5' to 10'
	Lifetime 1221 Pro Court	44"	27 gallons	Polyethylene	$	7.5' to 10'
	Lifetime 90584 Courtside	46"	31 gallons	Polycarbonate	$	8' to 10'
	Lifetime 90585 Portable	48"	31 gallons	Polycarbonate	$$	8' to 10'
	Lifetime 90491 Strong Arm	48"	31 gallons	Polycarbonate	$$	8' to 10'
	Spalding Ultimate Hybrid 54"	54"	19 gallons + 200 lbs sand	Acrylic	$$$$	7.5' to 10'
	Silverback NXT 54"	54"	25 gallons	Polycarbonate	$$$$$	7.5' to 10'

Portable Basketball Hoop Reviews – for every budget

These reviews are in the same order (backboard size) as the comparison table above.

1. Lifetime 90040 Impact

Best Budget Choice

• Backboard Size: 44″
• Backboard: Polyethylene
• Base Volume: 27 gallons
• Height: 7.5′ to 10′
• Rim: Fixed

The Lifetime 90040 Impact is the first of five portable hoops from Lifetime, a Utah company founded in 1986 to manufacture basketball systems.

So they know a thing or two about building them! But, despite their reputation and popularity, you don’t pay a premium for this 44″ entry level hoop (check price at Amazon).

The cheap price and relatively small backboard make this ideal for younger kids and beginners. Assembly only takes an hour or two for 2 people and the 27 gallon base holds enough sand (recommended) or water to keep the whole system stable even in strong winds.

If you need to store it away overnight, it is one of the lightest hoops here and the base has front wheels to make it even easier to move around. When set to its lowest height, the whole system is under 10’ tall (115″), including the backboard, so it could be stored in many garages.

A three piece pole provides telescoping rim height adjustment from 7.5’ to 10’ to suit players of different ages and skill levels. But, as this is a budget model, the height adjustment is not very easy – it really needs 2 adults to lower the system on its side and move the pole up or down.

If you only need to adjust the height occasionally, as kids grow or become more expert, this isn’t an issue. But if you will want to change height regularly, consider a slightly more expensive model like the 90584 (review no. 3 below) which has much easier adjustment.

There are of course some other cost savings typical of this price range:

• the 44” polyethylene (plastic) backboard is big enough for kids to shoot hoops but not large enough for bank shots
• the rim is standard i.e. screwed directly to the backboard so is not suitable for slam dunking (or it could break off)
• likewise, the backboard is attached directly to the support pole so is more suited to shooting hoops from distance than running up to the rim for a slam dunk (or you risk jumping straight into the pole)

However, it’s fair to say that you’d have to spend at least twice as much for these features so this is our Best Budget choice. It is awesome value for kids (or big kids!) to practice shooting hoops, is light enough to move around, short enough to fit indoors for storage and comes with a 5-Year Limited Warranty.

See at Amazon

2. Lifetime 1221 Pro Court

Best Budget Choice

• Backboard Size: 44″
• Backboard: Polyethylene
• Base Volume: 27 gallons
• Height: 7.5′ to 10′
• Rim: Fixed

The Lifetime 1221 Pro Court is proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to buy a portable basketball hoop. It is usually one of the cheapest here (check price at Amazon) but still has many great features.

Note: this hoop is exactly the same as the Lifetime 90040 Impact (review no. 1 above) except that it has a gray, instead of orange, backboard – everything else is identical so it has all the same Pros and Cons. It therefore shares our top pick for those on a tight budget with the 90040.

The reason we have included it separately is because the prices of both models change regularly and are often different from each other. If you’re not bothered about the backboard color, choose whichever is cheaper at the time… Also, during the peak Summer season, stocks can run out quickly so it helps to be able to choose from either model.

See at Amazon

3. Lifetime 90584 Courtside

Best 46″ Backboard

• Backboard Size: 46″
• Backboard: Polycarbonate
• Base Volume: 31 gallons
• Height: 8′ to 10′
• Rim: Fixed

The Lifetime 90584 Courtside is a step up in size from the above models, with a 46″ backboard. It also has a more sturdy 3″ HSLA (High Strength Low Alloy) steel pole yet costs only a little extra (check price at Amazon).

This larger backboard is helpful for general play but if bank shots are your thing then look for a minimum size of 48″ (preferably 54″) for the backboard. Assembly only takes an hour or two for 2 people and the higher capacity 31 gallon base holds enough sand (recommended) or water to keep the extra size and weight steady.

Like most portable basketball systems, the base has front wheels to make it easier to move around. When set to its lowest height, the whole system is just over 10’ tall (122″), including the backboard, so it could be stored overnight in some garages.

The three piece pole provides rim height adjustment from 8’ up to 10’, to adapt to players of different ages and skill levels. Unlike the cheaper models above, height adjustment is much easier via a Quick Adjust mechanism. You just put a broomstick handle under the rim and push it up or down to change the height in 6″ steps.

Another benefit of this mechanism is that the backboard is not screwed directly to the support pole. This means that the rim is positioned about 18 inches in front of the pole. This helps a lot when running up to the rim as the extra gap significantly reduces the risk of jumping straight into the pole.

There are still a couple of cost savings compared to more expensive models:

• the 46” polycarbonate (plastic) backboard is plenty big enough for kids to shoot hoops but still not really large enough for bank shots. It’s quite noisy too.
• the rim is standard i.e. screwed directly to the backboard so is not suitable for slam dunking (or it could break off)

However, you’d have to spend about $100 more to get these features so this is still a good budget choice and is better for general play than the cheaper 44″ models. It is also much easier to adjust the height (only needs 1 person) and it comes with a 5-Year Limited Warranty.

See at Amazon

4. Lifetime 90585 Portable

Best 48″ Backboard for Kids and Teens

• Backboard Size: 48″
• Backboard: Polycarbonate
• Base Volume: 31 gallons
• Height: 8′ to 10′
• Rim: Slam-It

The Lifetime 90585 Portable is another step up in size, price and features from the smaller models above. The larger 48″ backboard is steel framed and offers more space for layups and real game play (check price at Amazon).

This makes the system well suited to general play by older kids, as well as shooting practice. The welcome addition of a Slam-It (breakaway) rim lets you slam dunk like an NBA star, without damaging the rim. As it is a larger and heavier system it does take a bit longer to assemble though – allow 2 to 3 hours for two people.

The base of this hoop has a 31 gallon capacity which holds enough sand (recommended) or water to keep the hoop stable in moderate winds. If using water, which is much lighter than sand, or leaving the hoop out during severe winds, it could be a good idea to add some extra weights to the base or strap it down to be safe.

The base has front wheels to make it easier to move around. When set to its lowest height, the whole system is just over 10’ tall, including the backboard, so it could be stored overnight in some garages.

The 3″ wide three piece pole provides rim height adjustment from 8’ up to 10’, to adapt to players of different ages and skill levels. Unlike the cheaper models above, height adjustment is extremely quick and easy via a Strong Arm mechanism – an integrated handle to change the height in 6″ steps.

Another benefit of this mechanism is that the backboard is not screwed directly to the support pole. This means that the rim is positioned up to about 16 inches in front of the pole. This helps a lot when running up to the rim or slam dunking as the extra gap significantly reduces the risk of jumping straight into the pole.

You’d have to spend more than twice as much to buy a system with an even larger 54″ backboard so this model is great value for money and suitable for kids of all ages. It is better for general play than the smaller models, has a Slam It rim for slam dunking, has easy height adjustment (only needs 1 person, a kid could do it) and it comes with the usual Lifetime 5-Year Limited Warranty.

See at Amazon

5. Lifetime 90491 Strong Arm

Best Portable Basketball Hoop for the Money

• Backboard Size: 48″
• Backboard: Polycarbonate
• Base Volume: 31 gallons
• Height: 8′ to 10′
• Rim: Slam-It

The Lifetime 90491 Portable Basketball System is another 48″ model from one of the leading brands and includes a basketball which is a welcome bonus (check price at Amazon).

The larger backboard makes this system suitable for team play by teens, as well as shooting practice. Like the 90585 model above, this also includes a Slam-It (breakaway) rim for slam dunking and takes a similar amount of time to assemble – allow 2 to 3 hours for two people.

The backboard graphics are screen printed with UV protected ink for better color and protection against fading in the sun while the base of this hoop has a 31 gallon capacity. This can hold enough sand (recommended) or water to keep the hoop stable in moderate winds. If using water, which is much lighter than sand, or leaving the hoop out during severe winds, it could be a good idea to add some extra weights to the base or strap it down to be safe.

As with most portable hoops, there are wheels at the front of the base to make it easier to move around and the 3″ wide pole provides rim height adjustment from 8’ up to 10’, to adapt to players of different ages and skill levels. Height adjustment is extremely quick and easy via a Strong Arm mechanism – an integrated handle to change the height in 6″ steps.

Another benefit of this mechanism is that the backboard is not screwed directly to the support pole – this means that the rim is positioned up to about 16 inches in front of the pole. This helps a lot when running up to the rim or slam dunking as the extra gap significantly reduces the risk of jumping straight into the pole.

You’d have to spend more than twice as much to buy a system with an even larger 54″ backboard so the Lifetime 90491 wins our award for Best Value portable hoop. It is suitable for kids of all ages, has a Slam It rim for dunking, has very easy height adjustment and comes with the usual Lifetime 5-Year Limited Warranty.

See at Amazon

6. Spalding Ultimate Hybrid 54″ Acrylic

Ultimate Choice – Best Portable Basketball Hoop

• Backboard Size: 54″
• Backboard: Acrylic
• Base Volume: 19 gallons + 200 lbs
• Height: 7.5′ to 10′
• Rim: Breakaway

The Spalding Ultimate Hybrid has a 54″ acrylic backboard suitable for all types of play and practice. As you’d expect from this flagship model, it has many other luxury features but still offers good value for money (check price at Amazon).

The larger acrylic backboard makes this system suitable for team play by kids, teens or adults. It allows easy layups and bank shots, as well as shooting practice. It includes a heavy duty breakaway rim for slam dunks and a rebounder on the base which can help bounce successful shots back to you. It does take a fair amount of time to assemble though – allow at least 2 to 3 hours for two people.

This Spalding portable basketball system gets its ‘Hybrid’ name from the way that the base needs to be weighted down. Because the backboard is so large and heavy, just filling the base with sand or water wouldn’t be enough to keep it stable.

Therefore you need to fill the base with 19 gallons of water and weight it down with four 50-pound bags of sand. There is a cover on top to keep the sand hidden for a nice clean look, as shown in the video below:

As with most portable hoops, there are wheels at the front of the base to make it easier to move around, although you would probably need to remove all of the sand bags first. A good sign of quality is that the support pole is a larger 4″ diameter square pole. Precision height adjustment is made easy via the Spalding Screw Jack lift system, using a detachable handle as shown below.

This lift system provides precise rim height adjustment for any height from 7.5’ up to 10’, to adapt to players of different ages and skill levels.

Unlike cheaper models, you are not limited to 6″ increments here. You can crank it up or down to the exact height you want. It does take a while though – so if you want to move all the way from 7.5′ to 10′ be prepared for a good arm workout!

Another benefit of this mechanism is that the backboard is not screwed directly to the support pole. This means that the rim (offset) is positioned 16 inches in front of the pole. This helps a lot when running up to the rim or slam dunking as the extra space significantly reduces the risk of jumping into the pole.

Some users note that the assembly instructions are not very good – it definitely pays to take your time and work through them methodically. On the plus side, you only have to assemble it once to have years of fun!

The Spalding Hybrid is our Ultimate Choice. It is suitable for kids of all ages and adults, has a large 54″ acrylic backboard and includes a breakaway rim for dunking. It also has a very hefty ballast system, precise height adjustment and a rebounder to save time fetching the ball.

See at Amazon

7. Silverback NXT Portable 54″

Excellent Build Quality

• Backboard Size: 54″
• Backboard: Polycarbonate
• Base Volume: 25 gallons
• Height: 7.5′ to 10′
• Rim: Breakaway

The Silverback NXT Portable is the second 54″ system here but, unlike the Spalding above, it has a polycarbonate backboard (check price at Amazon).

The large backboard has an Infinity Edge that folds backward to increase rigidity and helps make this system suitable for team play by kids, teens or adults. 54″ provides enough room for layups and bank shots in real play, not just shooting practice, and there is an enclosed breakaway rim for dunking.

This portable hoop is supplied partially built for super quick assembly and the instructions are easy to follow. Silverback estimate 90 minutes to assemble but most users suggest allowing a couple of hours unless you have built such systems before.

The 3.5″ steel pole in the NXT is attached to a steel frame underneath the base for extra rigidity. The base has a 25 gallon capacity which might seem a bit small for a 54″ backboard until you realize that the whole system weighs about 180 pounds already so it is heavy enough to withstand most gusty winds.

Unlike most systems here it has large wheels at the back of the base – you lift the front and move the system as if you were pushing a wheel-barrow. It’s a super clever design but bear in mind that this hoop is heavy, with or without ballast. If you want easier portability, the Spalding Hybrid above (without sand bags) is probably a better choice.

The NXT provides rim height adjustment from 7.5′ up to 10’, to adapt to players of different ages and skill levels. Height adjustment is quick, using a sliding actuator at the rear of the pole. But you can only change the height in 6″ increments, not to an exact height of your choice like with the Spalding.

We like the Silverback NXT and it is well worth considering if you’re looking for a 54″ system. It has some premium features like the Infinity edged backboard and excellent build quality thanks to its steel frame. It doesn’t quite win our Ultimate Choice award because we prefer the acrylic backboard of the Spalding Hybrid which also has more precise height adjustment, a rebounder and easier to remove ballast.

See at Amazon

Buying Guide – What You Need To Look For

Some of the most important things to think about if you want to buy one of the best portable basketball hoop systems for outdoor play include:

Backboard

Backboards are typically made from one of the following materials:

• Tempered glass – this is the best choice for professional basketball players as it provides the same performance as the basketball system seen in gyms and on court. It doesn’t scratch very easily and, unlike other materials, it doesn’t yellow in the sun so it stays looking newer for much longer.
  
  However, it is by far the most expensive type of backboard and there is always a risk that it could shatter if a ball strikes it very hard. For similar reasons, it is not suitable for areas that regularly experience high winds.

• Acrylic – this is a great choice for families with players of different abilities. It is also the best choice for an intermediate level player or a professional player on a tight budget. It still looks professional as it is transparent.
  
  But it costs much less than tempered glass, is more durable and there is only a slight difference in how much the ball rebounds. However, it is even more likely to break than tempered glass if a ball is slammed hard against it.
  And, being softer, it does scratch very easily so it may look tarnished quite quickly.

• Polycarbonate / Polyethylene. This is the cheapest and most commonly seen type of backboard. It is the best choice for beginners and general daily play as it is less expensive and more durable than the above options so it should last for many years.
  
  As this material is more flexible than tempered glass or acrylic, it will better absorb the shock of a ball hitting it hard. This means it is less likely to break. But the downside is that the ball won’t bounce off the backboard as much. It can also look like plastic and therefore more like a kid’s basketball game.

Other alternatives are plastic and eco-composites, which can cost much less than the materials above. But the old adage of “you pay for what you get” certainly applies and we wouldn’t recommend them. If portability is an issue, bear in mind that tempered glass and acrylic backboards are heavier so they require a bigger base. A larger base does offer more stability though.

Backboards that you see in gyms and basketball courts have a standard measurement of 72 inches (W) x 46 inches (H). However, the backboard on most portable basketball hoops doesn’t meet regulations. They tend to be smaller, typically between 44 and 54 inches wide.

If you are a professional basketball player, a high school league player or an aggressive player, you will want to purchase a model with a 54″ backboard. Although smaller than standard, it should still be adequate for fine tuning your skills.

Small backboards (i.e. less than 48″) are best suited to younger children, homes with a small driveway, or anyone wanting to practice shooting from a tight corner, or wanting to learn trick shots faster. For general play, for older children or adults, we would recommend one that is 48″ to 54″ because a wider board will help you to successfully shoot more hoops.

Rim

The rim for all hoops on the market is standardized at 18 inches. However, the way that the rim is attached to the backboard is either Standard or Breakaway. Let’s take a closer look at what this means:

• Standard – a basic 5/8 inch solid steel rim is simply screwed onto the lower part of the backboard. This gives the rim more stability and longer rebounds but that in turn can mean more missed shots as the ball will bounce in and back out again more often.
  
  This design also means that it will eventually break if it regularly has a lot of downward pressure applied to it – either from dunking or someone hanging from the rim – as all that pressure will be transferred to the screws.
  However, its simple design makes it the most affordable type of rim, so it is worth considering if you are on a budget and try to remember not to put any weight on it.

• Exposed breakaway – these have a more authentic feel as, like those on professional courts, they have double compression springs that allow the rim to move up and down for some slam dunking.
  
  The rim will bounce back upwards after it has had weight applied to it. Hence these are sometimes known as “Slam It” rims. They have a nicer feel when shooting than a standard rim and have a better rebound effect.

• Enclosed breakaway – slightly more expensive than the exposed version as here the springs are covered for better weather protection, so they are less likely to rust.
  
  They are also more heavy duty as the springs here are reinforced and there is a wrap-around brace for extra support, so that the rim can withstand heavier dunking. These are the closest match to those seen on professional courts and are the best for coping with aggressive play.

Base

Portable basketball hoops usually have a base that is a container that needs to be filled to make it heavy, so that it give the whole unit more stability. A heavy base prevents the whole thing from tipping over in wind or if someone dunks or hangs from the rim. Obviously the size of the footprint of the base also contributes to stability.

People commonly fill their base with water, sand / gravel or a combination of the two. Note that sand provides more stability than water as it weighs a lot more (approximately 13 pounds per gallon compared to only 8 pounds per gallon for water).

If you are thinking of filling the base with water, bear in mind that water can freeze and expand in frosty conditions which can crack the base open. You can avoid this in one of two ways:

• Add plenty of anti-freeze to your water or
• Use a base gel – this clever gel absorbs up to 400 times its weight in water and replaces sand or water as ballast weight

Also be mindful that with some hoops, water may slowly leak from the base, so you may need to regularly top it up to keep the hoop stable.

Most of the weight above ground on a portable basketball hoop comes from the backboard. So for heavier backboards (tempered glass, acrylic) or larger backboards (48″ or larger) you will want a base with a larger footprint and a larger capacity.

As a rough guide, the base needs to have a capacity of around:

• Small Polycarbonate / Polyethylene backboards – 27+ gallons
• Acrylic backboards – 35 to 40 gallons
• Tempered Glass backboards – 50+ gallons

Most portable basketball hoops have wheels under the base to make them easier to move around. Double check that the model of your choice has wheels and how easy it is to lift if you may need to move it on a regular basis.

Support Pole

Most support poles allow you to adjust the height from about 7.5 feet up to about 10 feet so that you can increase the height as your kids grow up or as you become more proficient. Or decrease it if you want the boost of having a better score rate!

More affordable hoops usually come with a telescopic pole, in 3 sections, with holes at 6″ increments. You simply slide a peg into the appropriate hole to fix the height you want. If you are used to playing with a single pole cemented into the ground, do bear in mind that a pole in 3 sections may be more wobbly.

The top portable basketball hoops have thicker steel poles so should be be less wobbly. The most versatile poles have what is known as “infinity settings”. A screw jack or pneumatic adjustment system allows you to set height precisely, to anywhere between the minimum and maximum height settings.

If you are a professional or school league player you should ensure that your pole is long enough for the backboard to be 10 feet above the ground. This will then match the standard height of hoops on indoor courts.

Another major consideration with a support pole is how far it is away from the backboard – this distance is called the ‘offset’. On cheaper models, there is no offset (i.e. the backboard is fixed straight to the pole as shown below) so there is an increased chance that players will slam into it after running up to the hoop to dunk a shot.

So the higher the offset the better. For professional hoops it will be at least 4 feet but it will be much shorter on portable basketball hoops – about 18 inches is common. You should still try to buy a portable hoop with as much clearance as possible to minimize the chance of injury. If you can’t afford that on your budget, wrap some padding around the post to cushion any potential collisions.

Sturdiness

For strength, make sure that your frame is made from steel. The backboard should be braced to the support pole. On budget hoops this bracing will probably only go around the bottom and the sides of backboard. Better hoops have bracing that goes all around the backboard and behind it to make it sturdier, but are also more costly.

Portable basketball hoops have heavy bases to reduce the chance of them blowing over in strong wind or if players run into them. For extra sturdiness and more peace of mind – especially if you live in an area with regular strong winds – you could use heavy duty straps to secure the base to an anchor which is fixed permanently into the ground.

Price

A large part of the price will be the cost of the backboard. Especially if you have selected one made from acrylic like the Spalding Ultimate Hybrid – our Ultimate Choice.

One way of lowering the price if you are on a budget, but still want some quality, is to purchase one with a 48″ polycarbonate backboard like the Lifetime 90491 Strong Arm – our Best Value choice. However, the smaller the backboard the less opportunity there is for your ball to bounce off it and land in the hoop.

If you are on a very tight budget we would recommend the Lifetime 90040 Impact – our Best Budget choice. If you are tempted by other hoops that seem to be a lower price be aware that compromises have to be made. They are likely to have a smaller base (less stable), a smaller backboard (lower success rate when shooting) and a lower maximum pole height (not suitable for adults).

Tip: if your kids love basketball but can’t play outdoors during the winter, check out our full reviews of the best indoor basketball arcade games and shoot hoops in your home basement or play space!