How Many Points Is a Touchdown in Football?

By Sarah Miller · August 29, 2026

In American football, a touchdown is worth 6 points. This is the primary method of scoring and occurs when a player carries the ball into or catches it within the opponent's end zone.

What Is a Touchdown in Football?

A touchdown (TD) is one of the most exciting plays in American football. It is scored when a player legally gains possession of the ball in the opposing team's end zone, either by running or catching it. Once a touchdown is scored, the offensive team earns 6 points and is awarded the opportunity to attempt an extra point or two-point conversion.

How Can a Touchdown Be Scored?

Running into the end zone: A ball carrier crosses the goal line with the ball in their possession.
Catching a pass in the end zone: A receiver catches a forward pass while in bounds within the end zone.
Recovering a loose ball in the end zone: A fumble or blocked kick is recovered by an offensive player in the opponent’s end zone.
Interception returned for a touchdown: A defensive player intercepts a pass and returns it to the opposing end zone.

After the Touchdown: Extra Point and Two-Point Conversion

After scoring a touchdown, teams have two options to earn additional points:

Extra Point (1 Point)

The offense attempts a kick from the 15-yard line (2-point try from 2015 onward in the NFL). If successful, they earn 1 additional point.

Two-Point Conversion (2 Points)

The team runs a play from the 2-yard line (NFL) or 3-yard line (college) aiming to cross the goal line again. Success yields 2 points; failure results in 0 extra points.

Season	NFL Touchdowns	Avg. TDs per Game	Extra Point Success %	2-Point Conversion %
2020	1,496	5.2	93.7%	48.5%
2021	1,488	5.1	93.1%	51.6%
2022	1,507	5.3	93.5%	50.8%
2023	1,532	5.4	94.2%	49.3%
2024 (projected)	1,550	5.5	94.0%	50.0%

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows a steady increase in total touchdowns over recent seasons, reflecting more offensively driven strategies. Extra point success remains consistently high, while two-point conversions hover around 50%, making strategic decisions more nuanced for coaches.

Differences Between Leagues

While the value of a touchdown remains consistent at 6 points across major leagues, rules for conversions and field dimensions vary slightly.

NFL vs. College Football (NCAA)

NFL: Extra point kicks from 15-yard line (33-yard attempt); 2-point tries from 2-yard line.
NCAA: Extra point kicks from 15-yard line (33-yard attempt); 2-point tries from 3-yard line.
High School: Similar to NCAA but varies by state association.

Historical Context of the 6-Point Touchdown

The 6-point value for a touchdown was standardized in 1912, prior to which touchdowns were worth 5 points. The change was made to increase the value of offensive play and encourage more dynamic scoring compared to safeties and field goals.