5 Best Portable Basketball Hoops for Driveway Showdowns

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IF YOU LOVE playing basketball but don't have the time, money, or space to install an in-ground goal, then a portable basketball hoop is the way to go. Portable basketball hoops don't require you to dig a huge hole in the ground and pour concrete, nor do they cost over a thousand bucks. Another plus to going portable? You can store your hoop come winter, thus lengthening its lifespan.

And how can we forget to mention the sentimental appeal to hooping in your driveway? From practicing with your kids before their middle school basketball team tryouts, to intense 3-on-3 summer night games with your buddies from college, we can guarantee memories will be made on that court.

Best Portable Basketball Goals

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What to Consider

Don't be fooled. Not all hoops are the same. Here are a few details to look for before you buy.

Backboard Material

The two types of backboard materials to know about for portable basketball goals is acrylic and polycarbonate (there's also glass, but glass is used for professional goals and is extremely rare on portable goals). Polycarbonate is going to be cheaper, but the tradeoff is exposure to weather and UV light will make the backboard brittle and rigid over time. Acrylic is typically more expensive, but the benefit is it's better suited for exposure to weather and UV light (acrylic is not affected by UV light like polycarbonate), plus you get more responsive bounce.

Base Capacity

Most portable goals hold about 35 gallons. You can either go with water or sand, but we prefer sand for how well it dissipates. Sand is also heavier than water, so filling the base with sand is wiser for a more secure hold. If you're curious about how much weight you need to keep your goal in place, a safe number is around 300 to 450 pounds. It sounds like a lot, but if you want to be safe and protect your goal then more weight is always worth adding. If you want to eliminate the labor of filling the base full, you can fill it to a point and then stack sand bags on top of the back of the goal to keep it in place. It won't be the most pleasing to look at, but it will allow you to move the goal around easier.

Price

Paying more gets you a better playing experience, especially when it comes to a wide acrylic backboard. A wider backboard makes it easier to shoot bank shots and perform layups, and the acrylic material will be much more responsive and last longer. A more expensive goal might also come with better wheels for moving the goal. Keep in mind a portable basketball hoop won't be as deluxe as an in-ground goal, but you can get pretty dang close.

How We Selected

The editors and writers at Men's Health who play basketball put together their favorite features in a portable driveway goal. Factors like backboard material and dimensions of the goal, the base of the goal, and special design notes were considered in our selection process. We also took into account price, as some basketball goals provide a better overall value than others. This list below represents our top picks of portable basketball hoops that will actually last for years to come. Keep scrolling to learn more.

Spalding Momentous EZ Assembly

Spalding makes a handful of portable goals, but the Momentous EZ is our favorite due to its value-driven price and ease of assembly. Spalding notes its takes about 30 minutes to put together. We found it took just over half an hour when following the instructions, which makes it the easiest goal to assemble in our book.

As for the materials used in the goal, the Momentous EZ comes with an acrylic backboard in either 50 or 54-inch sizing. You can also choose between a clear view back, an H-frame, or a steel H-frame (for durability). We chose the steel H-frame to help prevent backboard damage. The theory behind the H-frame is it should help absorb stress when someone dunks or hangs on the rim.

There's a hand crank for adjusting the height of the goal (great if you have kids or if you want to do a driveway dunk contest). The base is wide and supportive and will hold up to 26 gallons of water or sand. If you're looking for a premium goal that won't set you back a thousand dollars, there's nothing better than this pick. Start here in your search. You won't regret it.

Lifetime Competition XL Portable Basketball Hoop System

Lifetime is another brand that churns out long-lasting portable goals. This one is similar to the Spalding Momentous EZ in the fact its has a wide acrylic backboard. The base is also just as sturdy as the Spalding EZ, and it has an ability to hold up to 35 gallons of water or sand. The downside of this goal to the Spalding EZ is it's not as fast of a setup, so you do need to lock in for at least two hours to get it up. This goal is also more expensive than the Spalding EZ too.

The upside? That would be the 4 extra inches of backboard, the reinforced rim, and the hand crank adjustment. The rim is thicker and outfitted with steel springs, which makes it a lot more capable for handling dunks. The hand crank makes adjusting the goal from 7.5 feet to 10 feet smoother and easier than the turning hand crank on the Spalding EZ goal.

There are small differences in detail here when comparing to the Spalding EZ goal. Spalding has the better setup and price, but Lifetime has a few premium features that will make competitive play more fun.

Portable Basketball Hoop Outdoor

If you are looking for a portable goal that won't break the bank, this top-selling $250 model is worth a look. It's made to adjust to a wide range of height, from 4.8 feet to 10 feet. This means it appeals to everyone from small kids to adults. One cool idea you can do with this goal is you can lower it to its 4-foot setting and position it up against an in-ground pool—something other goals on this list don't have a low enough range to make it suitable for pool hoops.

The biggest qualm about this goal is the polycarbonate backboard. It won't last as long as acrylic, and so you should expect a few good years out of it with a slight decline in bounce as it braves the changing of the seasons. One way to help preserve this goal, though, is to store it inside whenever possible to avoid weathering.

IE Sports Basketball Hoop Outdoor Goal

This model from IE Sports will help save you some cash while still providing solid play. Its made with a 44-inch polycarbonate backboard, which is great when it comes to saving money. The base and frame are similar in design to the Awii Sports goal, so there's no worries here on durability here.

Like mentioned prior, we don't really like the hand crank for adjusting the height; this goal has one. You've probably noticed the unique mini trampoline this goal comes with so you can pass the ball to yourself. We think it's an awesome feature, as it maximizes solo practice by allowing you to work on passing and catch-and-shoot drills. Overall, this goal is reliable, well-priced, and comes with a fun feature.

Pro Mini Hoop Basketball System

Remember how fun mini hoops are? This goal takes mini hoops to a whole other level with an adjustable height pole (up to 9 feet) and a sturdy base. Sure you could buy a cheap sub-$100 full size goal for your kids to play on, but for a similar price you get a much better build and a whole lot of fun.

Position it up to your pool for water mini hoops. Bring it down to your basement or put it in the garage for winter mini hoops. You get the point.

What Size Backboard Do I Need?

A regulation backboard is typically 48 inches tall by 72 inches wide. Most portable goals have a 48-inch height, but there's a variance on width. While 72-inches is fun to play on due to the full ability to shoot bank shots and layups, a driveway goal doesn't need to be that wide.

Look to a 50-inch or 54-inch width. Anything under 50 is fine, however you will lose space to shoot bank shots and layups. The benefit to buying a goal with a smaller backboard, though, is you save money (they're almost always cheaper).

How to Store a Basketball Goal

The easiest way to store a portable basketball goal is to lower the rim to its lowest setting, tarp it, then roll it into a garage or shed. Some basketball goals can be disassembled (or at least partially disassembled) but that process can be pretty annoying. Make sure to drain any water from the base to avoid it freezing and expanding the plastic of the base.

Some of the high-end Spalding portable goals can partially disassemble for storage (not the Spalding EZ we recommend, though). You can take out bolts at the middle of the goal and the backboard will fold down, thus helping store in a garage or shed with a low ceiling.

How Much Should I Spend on a Portable Basketball Goal?

It's true there are plenty of basketball goals between $100 and $200, but we just don't believe the quality is there to be worth the spend. Instead, consider $250 as the absolute baseline if you want a goal that has a durable build, a sizable backboard, and an easy way to move it and adjust its height.

Anything $1,000 and more for a portable goal is probably too high, as we'd suggest getting an in-ground goal if you're wanting to spend that much. If in-ground is definitely not an option and you want premium, then going for one of the Spalding goals that's over $1,000 is a good place to look.

The ideal sweet spot for a goal? We say between $400 and $600, mostly because you can get a wide acrylic backboard for around this price.

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