All 30 NBA home arenas ranked by capacity, pulled straight from ThrillZing’s venue database. The spread is tighter than in any other major league — arenas are built to a formula — but the top and bottom still stand about 4,000 seats apart.
The United Center in Chicago leads at 20,917, more than 400 clear of second-place Xfinity Mobile Arena (20,478) in Philadelphia. Built for the Jordan-era Bulls in 1994, it remains the biggest basketball building in the league.
All 30 NBA Arenas by Capacity
Here is the complete 2026 ranking. Each arena links to its full ThrillZing venue profile.
| # | Arena | Team | Opened | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Center | Chicago Bulls | 1994 | 20,917 |
| 2 | Xfinity Mobile Arena | Philadelphia 76ers | 1996 | 20,478 |
| 3 | Capital One Arena | Washington Wizards | 1997 | 20,356 |
| 4 | Little Caesars Arena | Detroit Pistons | 2017 | 20,332 |
| 5 | Madison Square Garden | New York Knicks | 1968 | 19,812 |
| 6 | Scotiabank Arena | Toronto Raptors | 1999 | 19,800 |
| 7 | Kaseya Center | Miami Heat | 1999 | 19,600 |
| 8 | Ball Arena | Denver Nuggets | 1999 | 19,520 |
| 9 | Spectrum Center | Charlotte Hornets | 2005 | 19,444 |
| 10 | Rocket Arena | Cleveland Cavaliers | 1994 | 19,432 |
| 11 | Moda Center | Portland Trail Blazers | 1995 | 19,411 |
| 12 | American Airlines Center | Dallas Mavericks | 2001 | 19,200 |
| 13 | TD Garden | Boston Celtics | 1995 | 19,156 |
| 14 | Crypto.com Arena | Los Angeles Lakers | 1999 | 18,997 |
| 15 | Target Center | Minnesota Timberwolves | 1990 | 18,798 |
| 16 | Kia Center | Orlando Magic | 2010 | 18,846 |
| 17 | Frost Bank Center | San Antonio Spurs | 2002 | 18,354 |
| 18 | Paycom Center | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2002 | 18,203 |
| 19 | Chase Center | Golden State Warriors | 2019 | 18,064 |
| 20 | Toyota Center | Houston Rockets | 2003 | 18,055 |
| 21 | Intuit Dome | LA Clippers | 2024 | 18,000 |
| 22 | Delta Center | Utah Jazz | 1991 | 17,867 |
| 23 | FedExForum | Memphis Grizzlies | 2004 | 17,794 |
| 24 | Golden 1 Center | Sacramento Kings | 2016 | 17,611 |
| 25 | Barclays Center | Brooklyn Nets | 2012 | 17,732 |
| 26 | Fiserv Forum | Milwaukee Bucks | 2018 | 17,341 |
| 27 | Gainbridge Fieldhouse | Indiana Pacers | 1999 | 17,274 |
| 28 | Mortgage Matchup Center | Phoenix Suns | 1992 | 17,071 |
| 29 | State Farm Arena | Atlanta Hawks | 1999 | 17,044 |
| 30 | Smoothie King Center | New Orleans Pelicans | 1999 | 16,867 |
Why the United Center Is Still King
When the United Center replaced Chicago Stadium in 1994, the Bulls were the hottest ticket in sports, and the building was sized accordingly. Three arenas built since — Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena, Washington’s Capital One Arena, and Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena — have topped 20,000, but none has caught it. Most modern NBA buildings aim for roughly 17,000 to 19,500 seats, where sightlines and premium-seating economics work best.
That’s why the newest arenas in the league sit mid-table or lower: Chase Center (2019) holds 18,064, Intuit Dome (2024) holds 18,000, and Fiserv Forum (2018) holds 17,341. Newer no longer means bigger — it means more suites, better acoustics, and a tighter bowl.
Shared Buildings and Outliers
Several arenas on this list pull double duty with NHL teams — the United Center, Madison Square Garden, Capital One Arena, Little Caesars Arena, TD Garden, Crypto.com Arena, and Ball Arena among them — and basketball configurations typically seat more than hockey ones in the same building.
At the bottom, New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center (16,867) is the league’s smallest home floor, proof that atmosphere has nothing to do with raw seat count.
Explore more: the oldest NBA arenas, the largest stadiums in the world, all stadium guides.
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Biggest NBA Arenas FAQs
What is the biggest NBA arena?
The United Center in Chicago, home of the Bulls, is the biggest NBA arena with a capacity of 20,917 — 439 more than second-place Xfinity Mobile Arena.
What is the smallest NBA arena?
The Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, home of the Pelicans, is the smallest NBA arena at 16,867 for basketball.
How many seats does a typical NBA arena have?
Most NBA arenas hold between 17,000 and 20,000 for basketball. Arenas built in the last decade cluster near 18,000, trading raw capacity for premium seating and steeper, closer bowls.
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