A standard field goal in American football is worth 3 points.

Since your post format is more content-focused, here’s a quick “Quick Scoop”-style breakdown.

What is a field goal?

  • A field goal is a kick where the offense tries to send the ball between the uprights and over the crossbar of the goalpost during regular play.
  • Teams usually try a field goal on fourth down when they are close enough to the goalposts but not close enough (or out of time) to realistically score a touchdown.

How many points is a field goal?

  • In the NFL and college football, a successful field goal is worth 3 points.
  • This 3‑point value is the same in most standard American football leagues, both professional and college.

Rare exception

  • Some small-sided versions, like six‑man football, use a slightly different system where a field goal can be worth 4 points , but that is a niche format, not the mainstream game you see on TV.

How it compares to other scoring plays

  • Touchdown: 6 points.
  • Extra point kick after a touchdown: 1 point.
  • Two-point conversion after a touchdown: 2 points.
  • Field goal: 3 points.
  • Safety: 2 points.

Mini example

Imagine your team is losing 20–18 late in the fourth quarter. They drive to the opponent’s 25-yard line but stall on third down. Instead of risking a failed fourth-down attempt, they send out the kicker, who nails the field goal. Those 3 points flip the score to 21–20 and can decide the game.

TL;DR: In normal American football (NFL and college), a field goal is worth 3 points. Most casual discussions of “how many points is a field goal” are referring to this 3‑point play.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.