Soccer ball size by age
Enter your child's birth year (or age) and get the US Soccer age group and the ball size the league will use: size 3 for U8 and younger, size 4 for U9 to U12, size 5 from U13 up. The drawing shows the three sizes to scale.
Soccer ball size finder
Balls drawn to scale from the middle of each circumference range.
How to use the ball size finder
- Enter the player's birth year and choose the season. US youth soccer runs on a seasonal year from August 1 to July 31, and the tool picks the current one for you.
- The result shows the age group (U8, U11 and so on), the format that age group plays (4v4, 7v7, 9v9 or 11v11) and the ball size with its circumference and weight.
- If you only know the age, switch to Age. Because age groups follow birth years, one age can fall into two groups; the tool tells you when those two groups use different balls.
- Switch between inches and ounces or centimeters and grams. The drawing shows sizes 3, 4 and 5 to scale with the right one highlighted.
Soccer ball size by age group
This follows US Youth Soccer guidance and US Soccer's small-sided formats. Birth years are for the 2026–27 seasonal year (fall 2026 to summer 2027).
| Age group | Born in (2026–27) | Format | Ball size |
|---|---|---|---|
| U6, U7, U8 | 2021, 2020, 2019 | 4v4 | Size 3 |
| U9, U10 | 2018, 2017 | 7v7 | Size 4 |
| U11, U12 | 2016, 2015 | 9v9 | Size 4 |
| U13 to U19 | 2014 to 2008 | 11v11 | Size 5 |
| Adults | 2007 and earlier | 11v11 | Size 5 |
Each new seasonal year, every birth year moves up one group. In 2027–28, players born in 2015 become U13 and switch to a size 5 ball.
Ball sizes, circumference and weight
| Ball | Circumference | Weight | Used by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size 3 | 23–24 in (≈ 58–61 cm) | 11–12 oz (≈ 312–340 g) | U8 and younger |
| Size 4 | 25–26 in (≈ 63.5–66 cm) | 12–13 oz (≈ 340–369 g) | U9 to U12 |
| Size 5 | 68–70 cm (27–28 in) | 410–450 g (14–16 oz) | U13, high school, college, adults |
| Futsal (size 4) | 62–64 cm | 400–440 g | Adult futsal, indoors on a hard floor |
Only the size 5 numbers come from the Laws of the Game (Law 2), which also set its pressure at 0.6–1.1 atmospheres at sea level. Sizes 3 and 4 are industry sizes, so the exact weight varies a little between brands. Metric values marked ≈ are conversions. The futsal figures come from the Futsal Laws of the Game.
How age groups are worked out
US Soccer has grouped players by birth year since 2016. The rule is simple: the age group is the year the season ends minus the birth year. A child born in 2016 playing in the 2026–27 season is 2027 − 2016 = U11, so the ball is a size 4 and the format is 9v9. The same child is U12 in 2027–28 (still size 4) and U13 in 2028–29, when the ball goes up to size 5.
This is also why a single age is not always enough. A child who is 11 in October 2026 was born in either 2014 or 2015, so they are U13 (size 5) or U12 (size 4). Some leagues and school programs group by school year instead of birth year. If yours does, use the age group your league assigns and look up its ball in the table.
Tips for buying the right ball
- Check your league first. Most leagues follow the sizes above, but the league's rules decide.
- Read the panel. The size and recommended pressure are printed on the ball. Pump to that pressure; an over-inflated ball is hard and bouncy, an under-inflated one is dead.
- Buy for the season, not for growth. A bigger ball does not last longer in a useful way, because the child changes size group only when the league says so.
- Futsal is different. For indoor courts buy a futsal ball, not a regular size 4 ball; the low bounce is what makes futsal work. For field sizes by age, see our soccer field dimensions page.
How we tested
We checked the age-group and ball functions with Node. Born 2015 in the 2026–27 season gives U12 and a size 4 ball; born 2019 gives U8 and size 3; born 2018 gives U9 and size 4; born 2014 gives U13 and size 5. The season picker returns 2026–27 for October 2026, March 2027 and August 1, 2026. Ages map to the right two groups: age 9 gives U10 or U11 (size 4 either way), age 11 gives size 4 or 5, and age 7 gives size 3 or 4. The age-group-to-format mapping returns 4v4 for U6 and U8, 7v7 for U9 and U10, 9v9 for U11 and U12 and 11v11 for U13. We also measured the drawing in code: the size 5 circle is 27.5 ÷ 23.5 times the diameter of the size 3 circle, matching the middle of their circumference ranges. Every check passed.
Frequently asked questions
What size soccer ball does a 10-year-old use?
Size 4. In fall a 10-year-old is in the U11 or U12 age group, depending on the birth year, and both groups play with a size 4 ball. Most children move to size 5 in the season they become U13.
Is a size 5 ball only for adults?
No. Size 5 is the ball for U13 and older, which covers middle school travel teams, high school, college, adult leagues and the professional game. It is the only size the Laws of the Game describe.
What is a futsal ball?
A futsal ball is a size 4 ball, 62–64 cm around and 400–440 g, that is heavier than a size 4 outdoor ball and bounces less. That keeps it on the floor on a hard indoor court. Adults use it; youth futsal programs often use smaller futsal balls.
How do I tell what size a ball is?
The size is printed on one of the panels, usually next to the brand name, together with the recommended pressure. If the print has worn off, measure around the widest part with a soft tape: about 23–24 in means size 3, 25–26 in size 4 and 27–28 in size 5.
Can my child practice with a bigger ball?
They can, but a ball that is too big is heavier and harder to dribble and strike cleanly, which slows learning. Practice with the size your child plays games with, so the touch at practice matches the touch on match day.
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