Everyday scale
An NFL crossbar sits exactly 10 feet off the ground.
10 ft × 18 ft 6 in
The uprights above it stand 18 feet 6 inches apart, measured inside to inside.
Standard-defined
Why this is interesting
A field goal has to clear a target defined to the inch.
How this measurement works
The NFL rulebook puts the top of the crossbar 10 feet above the ground, and sets the uprights 18 feet 6 inches apart, measured from the inside of one to the inside of the other.
How certain is this?
Standard-defined — specified by the rulebook.
Sources & further reading
National Football League
Official Playing Rules of the National Football League(opens external site)
Keep going
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