Soccer Ball and Basketball Sizes by Age
Soccer balls run from size 1 to 5 and basketballs from size 3 to 7; the right one depends on the player's age, and basketball size also on the league.
By Adolph GreenContributing writer.
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The short answer
Ball sizes are numbers, not inches. A bigger number means a bigger ball. For soccer, size 5 is the adult ball and sizes 3 and 4 are youth balls. For basketball, size 7 is the men's ball, size 6 the women's ball, and size 5 the youth ball. Leagues set their own rules, so check with the coach before you buy.
Soccer ball size by age
Nike publishes this chart for its soccer balls:
| Size | Age | Circumference | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Under 8 | 18 to 20 in | Skill training |
| 3 | 8 to 12 | 23 to 24 in | Junior |
| 4 | 13 and older | 25 to 26 in | Youth |
| 5 | Adult | 27 to 28 in | Adult |
Size 1 is a mini ball. Nike labels it a skill-training ball rather than a match ball for any age group.
Size 4 vs size 5 soccer ball
A size 4 ball is about 2 inches smaller around than a size 5. In Nike's chart, size 4 is the youth ball and size 5 the adult ball. A smaller ball suits smaller feet and legs. Age cutoffs differ from league to league and from brand to brand, so the league's rule always wins over a brand's chart.
If you are buying for a player near the cutoff, ask which size the team plays with. Practicing with the same size as matches makes the most sense.
Basketball size by age
Nike's basketball chart:
| Size | Circumference | Weight | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 22 to 22.5 in | 12 to 14 oz | Mini ball |
| 5 | 27 to 28 in | 16 to 18 oz | Age 9 and under |
| 6 | 28.5 to 29 in | 18 to 20 oz | Girls and women 9 and older, boys 9 to 12 |
| 7 | 29.5 to 30 in | 20 to 22 oz | Boys and men 12 and older |
Size 7 is the largest ball in the chart. Note that the age bands for size 6 depend on the player: girls move to it at 9 and stay with it, while boys use it only from 9 to 12 before moving to size 7.
Picking between two sizes
- Follow the league first. Youth leagues, schools and clubs set the ball size for games, and their age groups can differ from a maker's chart.
- Match practice to games. Training with the size the team plays keeps touch and shooting consistent.
- Check the circumference. If a ball's size number is unclear, compare its stated circumference with the tables above.
- Buying ahead: a child close to a cutoff will need the next size soon, but a ball that is too big is harder to control now.
How we count
The size, age, circumference and weight figures come from Nike's published size charts. A read-only query of our listing data on October 26, 2026 found 369 balls across sports under sports and outdoors on Wiki Shopping. The counts change as listings are added or removed.