In Association Football (soccer), the penalty area (also known as the "18-yard box" or "penalty box"), extends 18 yards (16.46 metres) to each side of the goal and 18 yards in front of it.

Fouls by the defensive team punishable by a direct free kick (i.e. most physical defensive fouls ), committed within the penalty area, may be penalised by a penalty kick.

The penalty area has other functions, including:

• Goalkeepers: The area delimiting the area in which a goalkeeper may legally handle the ball;
• Goalkicks: The ball is not in play until it has left the area, and opposing players must remain outside the area until this time;
• Defensive free kicks: Again, the ball is not in play until it has left the area, and opposing players must remain outside the area until this time;
• Taking of penalty kicks: players other than the kicker and the goalkeeper must remain outside the area (and also 10 yards from the ball and behind the penalty spot).

The penalty spot (or penalty mark) is immediately in the middle of the 12 yards (11 m) in front of the goal. It is the spot where the ball is placed before a player takes a penalty kick. See penalty kick and penalty shootouts.