Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Effective field goal percentage fixes a flaw in raw FG%: it treats a made three-pointer as worth more than a made two, because it is. The formula is (field goals made + 0.5 × three-pointers made) ÷ field goal attempts. A player shooting lots of threes can have a higher eFG than FG%, better reflecting their scoring value. It doesn't include free throws — for that, use True Shooting.
- (FGM + 0.5 × 3PM) ÷ FGA
- Credits threes for extra value
- Better than raw FG% for shooters
- Excludes free throws (use TS% for those)
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eFG% exists because raw field-goal percentage treats a made three-pointer the same as a made two-pointer, which undervalues three-point shooting — a player hitting 40% of threes is actually more efficient per shot than a player hitting 50% of twos once the extra point is accounted for, and eFG% captures that correctly.
FAQ
Why is eFG% better than regular field goal percentage?
Regular FG% doesn't account for three-pointers being worth more — eFG% adjusts for this, giving a more accurate picture of true shooting efficiency across different shot types.
What's considered a good eFG% in basketball?
In the NBA, league-average eFG% is typically around 53-54%; elite efficient scorers often post eFG% above 58-60%.