A bowling lane is 60 feet long from the foul line to the center of the headpin (pin 1). This is the measurement that matters for the game — the distance the ball must travel from the point of delivery to reach the pins. Every aspect of ball motion, oil pattern length, and targeting is calculated relative to this 60-foot playing surface.
But the lane itself extends beyond that 60 feet in both directions. The full structure is longer, and understanding the complete dimensions helps you make sense of what you're looking at when you step into a bowling center.
Full Lane Dimensions
| Section | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Approach area | ~15 ft | Where the bowler walks and delivers the ball |
| Foul line to arrows | ~15 ft | First 15 feet of the playing surface |
| Arrows to pins | ~45 ft | The remaining 45 feet of the lane |
| Foul line to headpin | 60 ft (exact) | The regulated playing distance |
| Pin deck | ~3 ft | Behind the headpin to the back of the deck |
| Total playing surface | ~63 ft | Foul line to back of pin deck |
| Width (playing surface) | 41¼ inches | Exactly 39 boards, each 1 1/16" wide |
| Gutters (each side) | ~9½ inches | Not part of the playing surface |
The 39 Boards
A bowling lane is divided into 39 boards, each exactly 1 1/16 inches wide. These boards are the primary targeting and adjustment reference for all bowlers. Board 1 is on the right edge (for right-handers) and board 39 is on the far left. The center board is board 20.
The arrows embedded in the lane sit at boards 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 — every 5 boards. Most right-handed bowlers target between the second arrow (board 10) and the third arrow (board 15) for their strike shot. The guide dots on the approach are at boards 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35, mirroring the arrow positions.
The Arrows and Dots
The seven arrows embedded in the lane are at 15 feet from the foul line — exactly one quarter of the playing distance to the pins. They're placed here because targeting a point 15 feet away is far more precise than trying to aim at pins 60 feet away. The dots on the approach (at the foul line and 12–15 feet back) help bowlers position their feet consistently for every shot.
The range finders — two sets of dots embedded in the lane at 7 feet and 12–13 feet past the foul line — help advanced bowlers track whether the ball is online before it reaches the arrows. These aren't always present on older lanes but are standard on modern installations.
Oil Pattern Length vs. Lane Length
Not all 60 feet is oiled. A typical house oil pattern (the pattern used in recreational bowling centers) applies oil to approximately 40 feet of the lane, leaving the last 20 feet dry. This dry back end is what makes recreational bowling accessible — balls hook hard on the dry back end and are "steered" into the pocket by the oil-to-dry transition.
Sport patterns used in competitive and PBA-level bowling oil more of the lane — sometimes 44–47 feet — reducing the dry back end and making the game significantly harder. The 60-foot lane length is fixed; the oil pattern within it is the variable that determines difficulty level.
Why 60 Feet?
The 60-foot distance was standardized by the American Bowling Congress in the late 19th and early 20th century based on existing lane construction at the time. Like many sports dimensions, it was codified from common practice rather than calculated from first principles. The approach length (~15 feet) allows enough room for a 4–5 step delivery approach. The pin deck provides enough space behind the pins for the mechanical pin-setting equipment. The total ~86 feet of a bowling lane (approach + playing surface + pin deck) became the standard footprint that all bowling center architecture is designed around.