Watching your team in the playoffs is a thrilling experience, but it can get pricey. Tickets alone could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. And if you have to travel to the game, get a hotel nearby and pay for food, drinks and other expenses, you could be looking at an expensive day. But setting a budget, planning ahead or looking into short-term financing options could make this dream a reality.
Playoff tickets vary widely depending on who’s playing, what round it’s in and if it’s a make-or-break game. The cost also depends largely on where you sit. The cheapest seats are in the nosebleed section (hint: if you’re near the roof, you’re there!), and the most expensive are courtside. But there are a number of pricing tiers in between, with options for almost any budget.
Here are approximate prices you might expect to find for this year’s NBA playoffs. Keep in mind that you’ll pay significantly more to see home games from storied franchises such as the Celtics, Lakers and Knicks, to name a few.
| Category | Low-end range (Upper levels) | High-end range (courtside, luxury, etc.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First round | $50 to $400 | $600 to $3,000+ | Prices vary by market and matchup. |
| Conference semi-finals | $150 to $600 | $1,500 to $5,000+ | Increased demand as stakes rise. |
| Conference finals | $170 to $1,100 | $2,000 to $19,000+ | High-profile games drive prices up. |
| NBA finals | $1,100 to $4,000 | $5,000 to $23,000+ | Premium prices for championship games. |
It’s been an exciting playoff season so far, with the Lakers and Houston both getting knocked out in the first round and the Knicks winning an upset over Boston in the conference semifinals. Now, Oklahoma City takes on Minnesota in the West, while the Knicks battle it out with Indiana in the East to see who goes to the finals.
| Round One — West | Winner |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies | Oklahoma City 4-0 |
| Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors | Golden State 4-3 |
| Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | Minnesota 4-1 |
| Denver vs. Los Angeles Clippers | Denver 4-3 |
| Round One — East | Winner |
| Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Miami Heat | Cleveland 4-0 |
| Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic | Boston 4-1 |
| New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons | New York 4-2 |
| Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks | Indiana 4-1 |
| Conference Semifinals — West | Winner |
| Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets | Oklahoma City 4-3 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Golden State Warriors | Minnesota 4-1 |
| Conference Semifinals — East | Winner |
| Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers | Indiana 4-1 |
| Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks | New York 4-2 |
| Conference Finals — West | Upcoming games/wins |
| Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves @Oklahoma City | Game 1: Oklahoma City 114-88 |
| @Oklahoma City | Game 2: Thursday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. ET |
| @Minnesota | Game 3: Saturday, May 24, 8:30 p.m. ET |
| @Minnesota | Game 4: Monday, May 26, 8:30 p.m. ET |
| @Oklahoma City | Game 5 (if needed): Wednesday, May 28, 8:30 p.m. ET |
| @Minnesota | Game 6 (if needed): Friday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET |
| @Oklahoma City | Game 7 (if needed): Sunday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET |
| Conference Finals — East | Upcoming games/wins |
| New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers @New York | Game 1: Indiana 138-135 |
| @New York | Game 2: Friday, May 23, 8 p.m. ET |
| @Indiana | Game 3: Sunday, May 25, 8 p.m. ET |
| @Indiana | Game 4: Tuesday, May 27, 8 p.m. ET |
| @New York | Game 5 (if needed): Thursday, May 29, 8 p.m. ET |
| @Indiana | Game 6 (if needed): Saturday, May 31, 8 p.m. ET |
| @New York | Game 7: (if needed): Monday, June 2, 8 p.m. ET |
| Finals | |
| Teams TBA | Game 1: Thursday, June 5, 8 p.m. ET |
It’s too early to tell what the average ticket price will be for the 2025 finals, but a lot depends on who’s playing. If New York makes it to the finals, for instance, expect to pay more than if Indiana moves up. Here’s a sampling of average prices for the past few years of the NBA Finals.
There’s no average for 2020 because, due to Covid, basketball was cut short before the end of the regular season.
If you don’t have the extra cash to pay for the game — and you don’t want to rack up credit card debt — consider these options to finance your trip.
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Paying for tickets isn’t the only cost you’ll need to budget for if you plan to hit some playoff games this year. Here’s a look at some other expenses to keep in mind as you plan for the postseason.
Whether you’re driving, flying or taking public transportation to get to the game, you’ll need to factor gas, tickets or other travel expenses into your budget. Domestic flights in the US, for example, are around $400, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). But the actual cost depends on where you’re flying to and from, the days you’re traveling and other variables.
If you’re planning on flying to see a game, book your tickets as early as possible to save on airfare.
If you’re traveling to an away game, you’ll need a place to stay. Hotel rooms average around $158 a night, according to J.D. Power, but you can expect to pay more when big events are going on in the area. Or consider splitting the cost of a home rental from Airbnb or VRBO if you’re going with friends.
Parking at NBA arenas typically costs anywhere between $10 and $40, although you could see those prices jacked up during the playoffs. You can likely find cheaper parking further away from the venue, or use public transportation to avoid parking altogether.
You could pay close to $20 for a beer at an NBA playoff game, or as much as $10 for a hot dog. If you’re on a tight budget, you might want to make sure you eat before you go.
Just like food and drinks, team apparel and souvenirs are inflated at games. But if you really want to buy something at the game to get the full experience, go for it. Or, you could consider using a cash advance app to fund your extra spending money, without it being due until your next payday.
Otherwise, you can get pretty much all the same stuff online afterward — at more reasonable prices — if you don’t want to blow your budget on an overpriced team jersey.
Here are a few ways to limit your spending while still enjoying a playoff game or two.
There are playoff plans for any budget. Here’s a look at low, mid and high budget scenarios for experiencing the game to give you an idea of what you may need to plan for or finance.
Maybe you’re a budget fan. You’re just looking to be in the building, feel the energy and cheer your team on without breaking the bank. You stick to local games, skip the hotel and grab the cheapest ticket you can find.
Breakdown:
Total cost: ~$100
So, you’re a midrange fan. You want a solid view of the action and a memorable experience, but you don’t want to splurge too much. You’re open to traveling, sharing costs with a friend, staying overnight and maybe grabbing a souvenir or drink while you’re there.
Breakdown:
Total cost: ~$920 per person
You’re the kind of fan who’s willing to go all out. NBA finals front row seats, luxury travel, top-tier hotel and you’re grabbing merch and premium food like it’s part of the show. You want bragging rights.
Breakdown:
Total cost: ~$14,650
Planning ahead and setting a budget you can stick to are two ways to help you control costs while still enjoying the game.
Going to the NBA playoffs can get expensive — tickets alone can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Plus, you’ll need to factor in other costs such as travel, transportation, parking or other expenses. But if you plan ahead, stick to a budget and find creative ways to manage the costs, you can still have a great game day experience without going broke.
If a playoff game is canceled because it’s not needed, you’ll be refunded for what you paid for the ticket. If it’s rescheduled, you’ll receive a new ticket for that game. Or, if you can’t make it, your money is refunded.
If you buy your resale tickets through reputable sites — like Ticketmaster, StubHub or SeatGeek — your tickets are guaranteed to be authentic. But if they’re not, you’ll get a full refund.
Maybe. If you wait until gameday — and there are still seats available — you might be able to get a steal on tickets because the arena is trying to sell out.
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