how far away is a penalty kick in soccer

A penalty kick in soccer is taken from the penalty spot, which is 12 yards away from the goal line, or about 11 meters. That’s roughly 36 feet.

Quick Scoop

The key distance is measured from the penalty spot to the center of the goal line. During the kick, all other players must stay at least 10 yards away from the spot.

Field Context

The penalty spot sits inside the penalty area, also called the 18-yard box. The box itself extends 18 yards from the goal line, but the kick is taken from the smaller, fixed mark in the middle.

TL;DR

Penalty kick distance: 12 yards / 11 meters / about 36 feet.