How big is an ice hockey rink?
B · Beginner · The game · 2 of 10The rink is 60 metres long and 26 to 30 metres wide, with rounded corners and boards about 1.07 metres high. Two blue lines split it into three zones; a red centre line halves it. Each goal is 1.83 metres wide and 1.22 metres high, on a goal line 4 metres from the end boards.
How it works
- Size: 60 m by 26 to 30 m; corners rounded with a 7 to 8.5 m radius.
- Boards and glass: boards ideally 1.07 m high; protective glass above, 2.4 m behind the goals and 1.8 m at the sides.
- Goal lines: red, 5 cm wide, 4 m from each end.
- Blue lines: 30 cm wide, dividing the defending, neutral and attacking zones.
- Centre line: red, 30 cm wide, used for icing.
- Goal: 1.83 m between the posts, 1.22 m high, held by flexible pegs.
- Goal crease: marked in red in front of each goal; the line is part of the crease.
- Goalkeeper's restricted area: a trapezoid behind each goal where the goalkeeper may play the puck.
- Face-off spots: nine, including the centre spot and two circles in each end zone.
- Benches and penalty boxes: benches on one side, penalty boxes opposite.
The glossary has the rink, the zone, the blue line, the red line, the goal crease and the goalkeeper's restricted area.
Tricky cases
Is an NHL rink the same size?
No. NHL rinks are 200 by 85 feet, about 61 by 26 m. IIHF rinks may be up to 30 m wide.
Does the blue line belong to the zone it borders?
For offside, a skate on the blue line is on-side; the puck must completely cross the leading edge to enter the zone.
The net comes off its pegs as the puck goes in. Is it a goal?
Not if the frame was displaced first, though a goal may be awarded if a defender displaced it on a clear scoring chance.
Where may the goalkeeper play the puck behind the net?
Only inside the trapezoid; outside it is a minor penalty for delay of game.
Why the rule exists
The lines govern offside, icing and where face-offs happen, so they must be the same on every rink. The trapezoid stops goalkeepers from acting as an extra defender in the corners.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IIHF rink | 26 to 30 m wide | IIHF 1.2 |
| Goal | 1.83 m by 1.22 m | IIHF 2.1 |
| Restricted area | Trapezoid behind the goal | IIHF 1.8, 27.7 |
From the rule book
International Ice Hockey Federation, Official Rulebook 2026/27 (version 1.0, June 2026), Rules 1 to 3. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IIHF Official Rulebook, revised each season.