How it works
The board answers the basketball size by age question and the two that come with it: how high the rim should be and how big the court is. Enter a player's age and whether they play boys' or men's basketball or girls' or women's. You get the ball, rim, court, three-point line and free throw distance for that age.
From 7 to 18, every number comes from the equipment and court specifications table in the USA Basketball and NBA Youth Guidelines. Outside those ages the board uses common sizes, and the source line says so. The boys and girls choice only matters from 12, where ball sizes split.
Basketball size by age: the guideline table
| Age | Ball | Rim | Court | Three-point line | Free throws |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 to 8 | Size 5 (27.5 in) | 8 ft | 50 × 42 ft | None | 14 ft |
| 9 to 11 | Size 6 (28.5 in) | 9 ft | 74 × 50 ft | None | 14 ft |
| 12 to 14 | Girls size 6, boys size 7 (29.5 in) | 10 ft | 84 × 50 or 94 × 50 ft | 19 ft 9 in | 15 ft |
| Grades 9 to 12 | Girls size 6, boys size 7 | 10 ft | 94 × 50 ft | 22 ft 2 in, or the nearest line under it | 15 ft |
Up to age 11 every basket counts 2, so young players shoot from distances where they can keep their form. The 7 and 8 year old court is usually played across a full-size floor, so one gym holds two games. The three-point line arrives at 12, and from there it shapes the game the way the corner three does at the top level.
Basketball sizes, from size 3 to size 7
| Size | Around the ball | Weight, approx. | Usual player |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 22 in (56 cm) | 10 oz (285 g) | Mini ball, ages 4 to 6, dribbling drills |
| 4 | 25.5 in (65 cm) | 14 oz (400 g) | Junior ball, often sold for ages 5 to 8 |
| 5 | 27.5 in (70 cm) | 17 oz (480 g) | Youth ball, the guideline size for 7 and 8 |
| 6 | 28.5 in (72 cm) | 20 oz (570 g) | Ages 9 to 11, then girls and women from 12 |
| 7 | 29.5 in (75 cm) | 22 oz (620 g) | Boys from 12, and men |
Weights are approximate and vary by maker. A size 7 basketball is the men's ball of the NBA, NCAA and FIBA. A size 6 basketball is the women's ball, used in the WNBA, NCAA women's basketball and FIBA women's competition, and it is also the guideline ball for every child from 9 to 11. A size 5 basketball is the youth ball for 7 and 8 year olds.
Why some charts say size 5 at 9 to 11
Plenty of retail size charts put 9 to 11 year olds on a size 5 and move them up at 12. That is not what the youth guideline says. The USA Basketball and NBA table moves players to a size 6 at 9, the same age the rim rises to 9 ft and the court stretches to 74 ft.
The difference is one inch around and about 3 oz, and a size 5 still works for a small 9 year old or a beginner who cannot yet get a size 6 to the rim with good form. Watch the shot. If it starts coming from the hip, drop a size at home and move up when the form holds. For league play, practise with the ball the league uses.
Hoop height by age
| Age | Rim height |
|---|---|
| 3 to 4 | About 6 ft (5 to 6 ft on an adjustable hoop) |
| 5 to 6 | Lowered, about 8 ft |
| 7 to 8 | 8 ft (2.44 m) |
| 9 to 11 | 9 ft (2.74 m) |
| 12 and up | 10 ft (3.05 m) |
The first two rows are common practice; the rest are guideline numbers. A child throwing a full-size ball at a 10 ft rim has to heave it from the chest, and that motion sticks. At 8 or 9 ft, with the right ball, the elbow stays under the ball and the follow-through stays clean.
Worked example: a 10 year old boy
Enter 10 and choose boys' or men's basketball. The board shows:
- Band: ages 9 to 11
- Ball: size 6, 28.5 in around (72 cm), about 20 oz (570 g)
- Rim: 9 ft (2.74 m)
- Court: 74 × 50 ft
- Three-point line: none, every basket counts 2
- Free throws: 14 ft
So the answer to "what size basketball for a 10 year old" is a size 6, for boys and girls alike. Change the age to 12 and the paths split. He moves to a size 7 and a 10 ft rim, while a 12 year old girl keeps the size 6 she will use from then on. If he is small for his age or new to the game, a size 5 at the driveway hoop is a sensible bridge until his shot is clean. For the TV side, see how to read a basketball game.
Limits
- The guidelines are recommendations. Leagues set their own rules, and many still play on 10 ft rims at 10 or 11.
- The tool works by age, but leagues group players by grade or birth year. A 14 year old in grade 9 belongs on the high school row.
- High school three-point lines vary. The guideline asks for 22 ft 2 in or the nearest line under it, and many US high school courts still use 19 ft 9 in. In Canada, school and club leagues mostly play FIBA-based rules, so check with your provincial association.
- The under 7 and adult answers are common practice, not guideline numbers.
Every line on these courts is in the basketball court dimensions tool.
Balls in every size
Once you know the size, the ball itself matters less than the surface it will live on: an indoor composite ball for gym floors, a rubber one for the driveway, and a foam ball for apartment dribbling. These three come in the sizes this chart uses; check the size on the listing before you buy.
Wilson Evolution Indoor Basketball
The soft composite indoor game ball you see in a lot of school gyms, sold in sizes 5, 6 and 7.
- Indoor only
- Sizes 5, 6 and 7
- Composite leather
Wilson NBA DRV Outdoor Basketball
A rubber outdoor ball made for driveways and park courts, sold from mini up to size 7.
- Outdoor cover
- Sizes from mini to 7
ALDWDY Silent Basketball (size 7)
A full-size foam ball with deep channels that turns the dribble into a dull thud; one of the most widely bought silent balls.
- Size 7, 29.5 in
- PU foam, no pump needed
- Grooved like a real ball
Sources
- USA Basketball and NBA, Youth Basketball Guidelines (Rules and Standards): the equipment and court specifications table.
- FIBA Official Basketball Rules: the size 7 ball for men's competition and the size 6 ball for women's.
- Manufacturers' published ball specifications, for approximate weights.
FAQ
What size basketball for a 10 year old?
A size 6, which is 28.5 in around (72 cm). The USA Basketball and NBA Youth Guidelines use a size 6 for every player from 9 to 11, with a 9 ft rim. A size 5 is fine at home for a small 10 year old.
What is the difference between a size 6 and a size 7 basketball?
A size 7 is 29.5 in around and about 22 oz (620 g); a size 6 is 28.5 in and about 20 oz (570 g). Boys move to the size 7 at 12. Girls and women use the size 6 at every level, including the WNBA.
How high should the hoop be for an 8 year old?
8 ft (2.44 m), with free throws from 14 ft, under the youth guideline for ages 7 and 8. The rim moves to 9 ft at 9 and to the regulation 10 ft at 12.
What size basketball do adults use?
Men use a size 7 (29.5 in), as in the NBA. Women use a size 6 (28.5 in), as in the WNBA.
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