Full reference chart

Ball size chart by age and level

Football is sized by age bracket; basketball is sized by level, not age. This page lists every size in current use across four sports so you can check a player's ball against the spec, not against habit.

Rule of thumb

  • Under 8 Size 3
  • Age 8-12 Size 4
  • Age 12+ Size 5
  • Skills drills Size 1

Size, age and level chart

Circumference and weight for every ball size covered on this site
SizeAge or levelCircumferenceWeight
Football, size 1 (skills)Close-control drills, any age43-46 cmStays within ~1 m of foot
Football, size 3Under 858-61 cm350-390 g
Football, size 4Age 8-1263.5-66 cm350-410 g
Football, size 5Age 12+ / adult68-70 cm410-450 g
Basketball, size 6Women / juniors72.4-73.7 cm510-567 g
Basketball, size 7Men / adult74.9-78.0 cm567-650 g
VolleyballAll levels65-67 cm260-280 g
Netball, size 5All levels68-71 cm330-400 g
Concentric circumference of football sizes 1, 3, 4 and 5 Four nested circles sized proportionally to average circumference: size 1 about 44.5 cm, size 3 about 59.5 cm, size 4 about 64.75 cm, size 5 about 69 cm. Size 5 — 68-70 cm Size 4 — 63.5-66 cm Size 3 — 58-61 cm Size 1 — 43-46 cm
Fig. 1 — Nested circumference of football sizes 1, 3, 4 and 5, ring radius scaled to each size’s average circumference.

Procedure: re-check a ball against growth

  1. 1

    Re-measure circumference every season

    5 min

    Typical failure: using last year’s size without re-checking growth into the next bracket.

  2. 2

    Weigh on a zeroed kitchen scale

    2 min

    Typical failure: scale not zeroed first, adding false grams to the reading.

  3. 3

    Confirm level with the coach, not only age

    5 min

    Typical failure: assuming recreational and competitive squads at the same age use the same size.

  4. 4

    Cross-check against the pitch or court in use

    5 min

    Typical failure: a U9 squad training on an adult-size layout, which skews expectations of ball size too. See pitch and court dimensions.

Frequently asked

Is ball size the same across all team sports?
No. Football sizes by age bracket. Basketball sizes by level and gender of competition: size 6 for women, size 7 for men. Volleyball and netball each use a single standard size.
My child is big for his age. Should he use a bigger ball?
Size by skill level and age bracket, not body size. A size 5 in small hands or feet slows down close control more than it helps.
Do girls and boys use different ball sizes?
In basketball, yes: size 6 (72.4-73.7 cm, 510-567 g) for women versus size 7 (74.9-78.0 cm, 567-650 g) for men. In football, sizing is by age, not gender.