Soccer balls come in five sizes, numbered 1 to 5. Only three of them are game balls in US youth soccer (3, 4 and 5). Size 1 is a mini, size 2 is a skills ball, and the futsal ball is its own size 4 with a lower bounce.
This page is the spec sheet: what each size measures, which kind of ball you'll find in that size, and what it's actually good for. If you only need to know which size your kid's league uses, our soccer ball size by age chart answers that in one table.
Why are there different soccer ball sizes?
Because one ball can't suit a 6-year-old and a high school senior. The rulebooks set a smaller, lighter ball for younger age groups and move players up in steps. US Youth Soccer's Policy on Players and Playing Rules (December 2025) lists exactly three: size 3, size 4 and size 5, each with a circumference and a weight range.
Sizes 1 and 2 aren't in that table at all. No governing body sets a spec for them, so they vary from maker to maker. That's worth knowing before you compare two "size 2" balls online and wonder why they feel different.
Pressure is the other number people ask about. The IFAB Laws of the Game, Law 2 (2026/27 edition) give a range for the full-size ball only: 0.6 to 1.1 atmosphere at sea level, which is 600 to 1,100 g/cm² or roughly 8.5 to 15.6 psi. For sizes 3 and 4 there's no official figure. Use the number printed next to the valve.
Soccer ball size chart: specs for sizes 1 to 5
| Size | Circumference | Weight | Pressure | Main ball types | Source for the specs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (mini) | Varies by maker | Varies | Maker's label | Souvenir, toddler, footwork ball | None official |
| 2 (skills) | Varies by maker | Varies | Maker's label | Skills and juggling ball | None official |
| 3 | 23 to 24 in | 11 to 12 oz | Maker's label | Youth game and training ball | US Youth Soccer |
| 4 | 25 to 26 in | 11 to 13 oz | Maker's label | Youth game and training ball | US Youth Soccer |
| 4 (futsal) | 62 to 64 cm (about 24.4 to 25.2 in) | 400 to 440 g (about 14 to 15.5 oz) | 0.6 to 0.9 atm | Low-bounce indoor ball | FIFA Futsal Laws |
| 5 | 27 to 28 in (68 to 70 cm) | 14 to 16 oz (410 to 450 g) | 0.6 to 1.1 atm | Match, training and practice balls | IFAB Law 2, US Youth Soccer |
Two things jump out of that table. A size 3 and a size 4 weigh almost the same, so the jump between them is mostly about how big the ball is on the foot. And the futsal ball is smaller around than an outdoor size 4 but heavier, which is why it feels so different.
Size 1: what is a mini soccer ball for?
It's a keepsake and a footwork toy. Club shops sell minis with a crest on them, and toddlers like a ball they can carry. No league plays with one.
Older players use minis for close control, though. Toe taps, sole rolls and a few juggles with a ball this small make a normal ball feel big afterward. Keeping one in the backpack does no harm. Just don't buy it as a 5-year-old's first team ball. They'll need a size 3 for practice.
Size 2: who uses a size 2 soccer ball?
Mostly players working on touch at home. A size 2 is a skills ball, bigger than a mini and still well under a game ball, so it's a good in-between for juggling and for kids under 4 who want to copy an older sibling.
Because no rulebook sets its size, check the label before you buy two and expect them to match. If juggling is the plan, our guide on how to juggle a soccer ball starts with a full-size ball and moves down from there.
Size 3: what is a size 3 ball used for?
It's the smallest ball used in a US youth game. US Youth Soccer sets it at 23 to 24 inches around and 11 to 12 ounces, for its 6U and 8U groups.
You'll see two versions on the shelf. A game ball is stitched or bonded and keeps its shape over a season. The training version is made for volume, the one that gets kicked against walls and fences all week. For a backyard, the training version makes more sense. The U6 soccer drills we wrote all assume a size 3.
Most balls print the size near the valve. If yours doesn't, wrap a soft tape measure around the widest part and compare it with the chart above.
Size 4: outdoor ball or futsal ball?
Both carry the number 4, and they're different balls. The outdoor size 4 is the youth ball for US Youth Soccer's 10U, 11U and 12U groups, at 25 to 26 inches and 11 to 13 ounces. Kids keep it for about four seasons, so it's the ball that gets the most wear.
The futsal ball is built for hard indoor floors. Its specs come from the FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26 (published in the US through U.S. Soccer) set it at 62 to 64 cm around and 400 to 440 g. The same law includes a bounce test: dropped from 2 meters, the ball must come back between 50 and 65 cm on the first bounce. That's why a futsal ball sits still on a gym floor while an outdoor size 4 skips away.
Which should you buy? For a backyard on grass, the outdoor size 4. A futsal ball makes sense for gym sessions and for anyone who wants a ball that stays on the ground for sole work. The U12 soccer drills on this blog use an outdoor size 4.
Size 5: match ball, training ball or practice ball?
Size 5 is the full-size ball, and it's where the type of ball matters most. IFAB Law 2 sets the size and weight for any match: 27 to 28 inches (68 to 70 cm) and 14 to 16 ounces (410 to 450 g) at the start of the game. US Youth Soccer uses the same size 5 from 13U up. U13 is a year where leagues differ, which the age chart explains.
Inside that spec, size 5 balls fall into three groups.
- Match balls. Built for games. Law 2 says balls in official FIFA and confederation competitions must carry a mark from the FIFA Quality Programme, and national associations can require it too.
- Training balls. Built for volume: hundreds of kicks a week, wet grass, the side of a garage. This is the right ball for most backyard work.
- Practice and "bag" balls. The cheapest tier, fine for a team ball bag or a second ball for passing drills.
FIFA's quality marks page (updated June 2022) explains the three current marks. FIFA Quality Pro is aimed at top-level play, FIFA Quality puts more weight on durability for heavy use, and FIFA Basic is the entry level that replaced the old IMS mark from June 1, 2021. Balls still carrying the older IMS mark are fine to use; FIFA lets those marks stand until their certification runs out.
For home practice, a training-grade size 5 is the sensible buy. Our Open Goaaal® size 5 soccer ball is a match and training ball in the size played from 13U up, and the soccer ball collection lists what we carry.
How do you check a ball's size and pressure at home?
Measure around the widest point with a soft tape, then check pressure with a gauge needle in the valve. It takes about five minutes and two cheap tools.
A few habits help. Wet the needle before you push it in. Check pressure every couple of weeks, because balls lose air slowly. And pump to the number on the ball, not to "feels hard." An over-inflated youth ball stings on the foot and flies off the laces. One that's too soft goes dead and barely rolls on longer grass.
If you shoot at home a lot, the ball gets kicked into fences, gutters and the street. The Open Goaaal® 3-in-1 Soccer Goal Trainer is a goal, rebounder and backstop in one, so most missed shots come back to the player instead of rolling away.
FAQ
What is the official size of a soccer ball?
Size 5. IFAB Law 2 sets it at 27 to 28 inches around and 14 to 16 ounces at the start of a match, which is the ball used from US high school soccer up to the pros.
Is a futsal ball the same as a size 4?
No. It carries the number 4, but under the FIFA Futsal Laws it's 62 to 64 cm around, heavier than an outdoor size 4 and built to bounce much less.
Are size 1 and size 2 balls used in games?
Not in US youth leagues. US Youth Soccer's game table starts at size 3. Sizes 1 and 2 are skills and souvenir balls, and their exact sizes vary by maker.
What PSI should a soccer ball be?
For a size 5, IFAB allows roughly 8.5 to 15.6 psi at sea level. Every other size: use the pressure printed on the ball.
What size ball does my child need?
That depends on their age group. Our soccer ball size by age guide gives the size for every group from U6 to U19.
Picking the right size, in short
Buy the size the league plays with first, then add a smaller skills ball if your player likes footwork. For anything shot at a goal, a training-grade size 3, 4 or 5 will outlast a match ball. Still choosing between brands? Our roundup of the best soccer balls covers what to look for.
