TL;DR
The best indoor/outdoor basketballs are:
– Overall: Wilson NCAA Legend VTX
– Price: Adidas All Court 3.0
– NBA Design: Wilson NBA Authentic
Today, I’m going to take an in depth look at the best indoor/outdoor basketballs on the market.
If you are like me, sometimes you play outdoors (when the weather is nice), and sometimes you play indoors (nothing beats hardwood courts and indoor hoops).
If you take a nice indoor ball outdoors, it’s going to get torn apart (and very dirty) after a couple games.
Using a tough, rubber outdoor ball indoors just doesn’t feel right bouncing on the nice hardwood floors and indoor baskets.
So, should you get two separate basketballs?
Luckily for us, there are basketballs designed for both indoor and outdoor usage. No need to buy two balls!
Read on for my top picks (all under $50):
The 5 Best Indoor/Outdoor Basketballs (under $50)
Here is a quick comparison table of all the best indoor/outdoor basketballs. All of these basketballs are under $50, and specifically state they are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. Scroll down further for more detailed descriptions.
Disclaimer: Hoop Dojo may receive a small commission if you purchase any of these basketballs through the links on this page. It helps to support the site! 🙂
Indoor/Outdoor Basketball Comparison Table
| Image | Name | Price (USD) | Rating (out of 5) | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Wilson NCAA Legend VTX | $45 | 4.6 | Amazon |
 | Spalding Excel TF500 | $40 | 4.6 | Amazon |
 | Molten BG3800 Series | $50 | 4.5 | Amazon |
 | Adidas All Court 3.0 | $25 | 4.8 | Amazon |
 | Wilson NBA Authentic | $45 | 4.6 | Amazon |
Best overall:
WILSON NCAA Legend VTX
Best Overall
Wilson NCAA Legend VTX
- Excellent soft feel
- Deep, textured seams/channels
- Durable
Wilson is the leading brand in basketballs right now. They are not only the official ball of the NBA and WNBA, but also the NCAA!
The Wilson NCAA Legend VTX is one of their best indoor/outdoor basketball options. The ball cover is made of a high performance soft composite leather. It is very soft and comfortable on your hands. This makes it great for dribbling and shooting.
One interesting small feature of this ball is that its channels (i.e. seams) are pebbled instead of smooth:
This provides the ball with a more consistent feeling no matter where your hands are on the ball. The channels/seams are also fairly deep which gives you better grip and makes it easier to shoot the ball.
Overall, the Wilson Legend VTX is a fantastic indoor/outdoor basketball. It is also durable, and bounces well.
There are a couple other similar basketballs to consider from the same series: Wilson Legend, and Wilson Legend OT.
The Wilson Legend OT is the same except it uses a slightly cheaper cover material. If you want to save some money, it is a great choice.
The Wilson Legend is the cheapest as it does not have textured channels/seams, uses a cheaper cover material, and does not have “cushioned core” internal construction (i.e. not as soft feeling).
The Wilson Legend VTX has MRSP of around $45, but is currently on sale for just $38 on Amazon. Get it while you can!
Pros
- Great soft feel
- Deep textured channels
- Durable
- Available in multiple sizes
Cons
- MRSP is a bit pricey ($45)
Spalding Excel TF500
Spalding Excel TF500
- Great cover material
- Bounces well
- Classic Spalding design
Spalding was the official basketball brand of the NBA for over 30 years. They were recently replaced by Wilson back in 2021-2022 season.
Despite no longer being the official NBA ball, the company still produces some great basketballs.
The Excel TF-500 is their premiere indoor/outdoor ball.
It features a durable composite leather cover which is soft and a tiny bit sticky for better grip and control.
The other main feature of the ball is that it is “sponge-backed” for softer feel and more consistent bounce on both indoor and outdoor courts.
The pebbling and seams use the classic Spalding design:
The seams are flat, and not textured like the above Wilson NCAA Legend ball. If you grew up playing with a Spalding ball, you may prefer this design.
The only real downside is that the ball gets slippery when very dusty. If you are playing on really dirty courts, then it’s probably not the greatest.
Overall, the Excel TF-500 is an excellent all surface basketball. It is available in three sizes (5, 6, 7), and currently retails for around $40.
Pros
- Cover material feels great
- Good bounce
- Available in multiple sizes (5, 6, 7)
Cons
- Slippery when dusty
Molten BG3800 Series
Molten BG3800 Series
- Official FIBA design
- Excellent grip
- Great feel
North Americans may not be very familiar with Molten, but it is the official basketball brand of FIBA!
The Molten BG3800 is the official FIBA approved indoor/outdoor basketball.
The ball features a 12-panel design, which is different from the typical 8-panel design of the NBA or NCAA. The cover texture is also a bit different from the typical pebble design of Wilson or Spalding:
It may take some while to get used to, but once you do, it’s a great basketball.
The synthetic cover material feels great on your hands, and has excellent grip, even when the ball is a bit dirty. The ball bounces well and is also durable.
The main downside of this ball is that it is a bit expensive, retailing for around $50.
Pros
- Official FIBA basketball
- Great feeling composite material
- Available in multiple sizes
Cons
- Most expensive ball on this list
Best Price:
Adidas All Court 3.0 Ball
Best price / Cheapest
Adidas All Court 3.0
- Very affordable
- Good grip and feel
- Durable
Adidas is best known for making shoes, but they also have other great products like basketball socks and this indoor/outdoor basketball.
The All Court 3.0 is an excellent budget friendly basketball.
It is made with a durable 100% polyurethane leather (i.e. PU leather). The material doesn’t absorb water which makes it easy to clean, and gives it excellent grip.
The seams of the ball are pebbled/textured similar to the more premium Wilson NCAA Legend ball mentioned above. This gives it a more consistent feel.
Best of all, the Adidas All Court 3.0 is the cheapest ball on this list at just $25! You are not going to find a better ball for this price.
Pros
- Cheap price
- Very durable
- Available in multiple sizes
Cons
- Not as nice feeling as other indoor/outdoor basketballs
Best Official:
Wilson NBA Authentic Indoor Outdoor Basketball
Wilson NBA Authentic
- Official NBA design
- Consistent bounce
- Excellent feel & durability
Last, but definitely not least is the Wilson NBA Authentic Indoor/Outdoor Basketball.
This ball has nearly exactly the same design as the official NBA basketball, down to Adam Silver’s signature.
The channels/seams are the same design as the NBA game ball, as well as the internal construction (called “Ever Bounce”).
The ball has excellent, consistent bounce whether you play indoors, or outdoors.
The “Pure Feel” cover is made of composite leather which feels great on your hands, and is very durable. Of course, it is not quite the same as an indoor ball, but that is to be expected.
If you want to know what it feels like to play with an NBA ball, this is about as close as you will get without paying $200 for the official ball.
The Wilson NBA Authentic Indoor/Outdoor basketball retails for around $45. It is still a bit pricey, but reasonable for this quality of ball.
Pros
- Official NBA design
- Excellent, consistent bounce
- Great professional feel
- Available in multiple sizes
Cons
- Little bit pricey
How to choose the best indoor/outdoor basketball for yourself?
Before you purchase a ball, here are some things you should consider:
Size
Basketballs come in multiple sizes. Depending on your age and gender, here are the recommended sizes:
| Size | Circumference | Weight | Description (age / gender / etc.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size 7 | 29.5” (75cm) | 22 oz (0.62 kg) | NBA; Official men’s size; Men’s ages 13+ |
| Size 6 | 28.5” (72.5cm) | 18-20 oz (0.51 - 0.57 kg) | WNBA; Official women’s size; Girl age 12+; Boys age 11-13 |
| Size 5 | 27.5” (69.9cm) | 14-16 oz (0.4 – 0.45 kg) | Youth (Boys and Girls) aged 9-11 |
| Size 4 | 25.5” (64.77cm) | 14 oz (0.4 kg) | Children (Boys and Girls) age 8 and under |
| Size 3 / mini | 22.5” (55.9cm) | 10 oz(0.28 kg) | Novelty-sized, “mini” basketball |
Material / Use
The best indoor/outdoor basketballs are made of synthetic/composite leather material. This allows them to be tough enough to be used outside, while still maintaining a nice soft feel like indoor basketballs.
Indoor/outdoor balls won’t be quite as tough as purely outdoor rubber basketballs, so if you mainly only play outside, then you should just consider an outdoor ball.
They are also not quite as nice feeling as purely indoor basketballs. If you only play indoors, then consider splurging on an indoor ball.
Bounce
I personally hate basketballs that are overly bouncy. It’s how you get jammed fingers. You’re also going to brick a lot more shots.
Of course, it’s also unacceptable if the ball doesn’t bounce well enough.
Try to find the ball in store and bounce it a couple times. If you order online without trying, make sure they have free returns!
Design
The outer design and color comes down to your personal preference. Most basketballs are some sort of orange, as that is the accepted standard. Some will come in multi colors.
You should also take note of how many panels are on the ball, and the design of the seams. NBA style balls have 8 panels, while the official FIBA ball design has 12 panels.
Brand
It’s always good to buy from a trustworthy brand. The main basketball brands are Wilson and Spalding. Molten is the top international basketball brand (outside of North America). Some shoe/clothing brands like Nike and Adidas also make good basketballs.
Try before you buy
When in doubt, try before you buy!
Find a store that has the ball you want. Pick it up and dribble around a few times. Shoot it into the air a couple times. Make sure it feels good in your hands.
Other FAQ
Is it OK to use an indoor basketball outside?
No. Don’t use an indoor basketball outside unless you want to damage the cover. Real indoor basketballs are not meant to be used on rough outdoor/concrete surfaces. The softer cover will easily get torn apart. It will also get dirty easily.
Are indoor/outdoor basketballs better than outdoor basketballs?
Depends on what you’re looking for. I personally like the feel of composite leather indoor/outdoor basketballs a lot more than those tough rubber outdoor balls. But, if you are only going to be playing outdoors, an outdoor ball will last a lot longer.
Is Spalding or Wilson better?
Neither. Molten is the best! Haha, just kidding. Both Spalding and Wilson make great basketballs. Wilson basketballs are more popular recently due to being the official basketball of both the NBA and NCAA.
Click here for a detailed comparison between Spalding and Wilson
Summary
Indoor/outdoor basketballs offer the best of both worlds. They’re more durable than purely indoor basketballs, and feel much better than rubber outdoor basketballs.
I personally like the Wilson NCAA Legend VTX basketball the best. If you want to save some money, you should consider the Adidas All Court ball.
Now, I want to hear from you:
Which of these indoor/outdoor basketballs would you buy?
Or, is there one you recommend not on this list?
Either way, let me know in the comments below!
