Player Efficiency Calculator
The efficiency rating, or EFF, sums the good things a player does and subtracts the bad. It gives a single season total of overall productivity.
Calculate player efficiency
Fill in the fields and select Calculate.
What you'll need
To use the player efficiency calculator, have these figures ready:
- Points — for example, 1800.
- Rebounds — for example, 500.
- Assists — for example, 400.
- Steals — for example, 100.
- Blocks — for example, 50.
- Missed field goals — for example, 700.
- Missed free throws — for example, 150.
- Turnovers — for example, 200.
The calculator then returns the efficiency (eff) the moment you press calculate.
How it works
EFF = (points + rebounds + assists + steals + blocks) − (missed shots + missed free throws + turnovers)
You enter the points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, missed field goals, missed free throws and turnovers, and the calculator returns the efficiency (eff) using the formula above.
When to Use
Use this Player Efficiency Rating (PER) calculator to determine overall basketball productivity. John Hollinger's formula aggregates all positive and negative box-score actions into a single rate metric.
What the result tells you
EFF rewards box score production and is easy to read, but it favours players who get plenty of minutes and shots. A high total can come from volume as much as quality, so pair it with efficiency measures like true shooting before deciding how much a player really helps a team win.
Benchmarks & Interpretation
Here is how typical results are categorized and interpreted:
| Value / Range | Rating | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Above 25.0 | MVP Candidate | Dominates match play. Exceptional scoring efficiency, rebounding, and defensive impact. |
| 18.0 – 25.0 | All-Star Level | Highly productive contributor. Key starter who leads team plays consistently. |
| Below 15.0 | Bench / Role Player | Standard production. Supports rotation plays but lacks dominant scoring efficiency. |
Pro Tips & Advice
Boost your PER rating by improving your shooting percentage (avoiding wasted possessions) and increasing defensive rebounds.
Step by step
- Enter the points.
- Enter the rebounds.
- Enter the assists.
- Enter the steals.
- Enter the blocks.
- Enter the missed field goals.
- Enter the missed free throws.
- Enter the turnovers.
- Select Calculate to read the efficiency (eff).
Worked example
A player with 1800 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 100 steals and 50 blocks, who missed 700 shots, 150 free throws and turned it over 200 times, rates 2850 − 1050, which is 1800.
Frequently asked questions
How is the player efficiency worked out?
EFF = (points + rebounds + assists + steals + blocks) − (missed shots + missed free throws + turnovers). The efficiency rating, or EFF, sums the good things a player does and subtracts the bad. It gives a single season total…
Is EFF the same as PER?
No. EFF is a simple sum used in box scores. PER is a pace adjusted, per minute rating that needs league wide data, so the two are not directly comparable.
What is a standard league average PER?
By design, the average PER for all NBA players is set exactly at 15.00 every season to serve as a benchmark.
What does PER simplify or miss?
PER is heavily weighted towards offensive box-score stats, often underrepresenting elite lock-down defensive specialists who do not register steals or blocks.
How accurate is the Player Efficiency Calculator?
The tool applies the standard formula exactly, so the result is only as accurate as the figures you enter. Double check your inputs, since a wrong number going in gives a wrong number coming out.
Is the Player Efficiency Calculator free to use?
Yes. Every tool on GamersZone is free, with no account and no limit on how many times you calculate. The maths runs in your browser, so the numbers you enter are never sent to a server or stored.
How we calculate this
This tool applies the standard formula shown above. The calculation runs entirely in your browser, so the figures you enter are never stored.