Basketball Size Guide: Size 5, 6 or 7?

Basketballs come in three main sizes. Size 7 is the full-size ball, size 6 is slightly smaller, and size 5 is for younger players. This guide shows who usually plays with which size.

Basketball size chart

Ball size Usually used by Circumference Weight
Size 7 Men and boys aged 15 and over 750 to 770 mm 580 to 620 g
Size 6 Women and girls aged 12 and over, and boys aged 12 to 14 715 to 730 mm 510 to 550 g
Size 5 Children aged 9 to 11 (called "Mini" by FIBA) 685 to 700 mm 465 to 495 g

These are typical figures. Age groups can differ between schools, associations and leagues, so check with your coach or association before you order.

Indoor or outdoor basketball?

Indoor basketballs are made for polished wooden courts. Outdoor basketballs are made for concrete and asphalt, where the surface wears the ball faster. If a team plays on both, choose the surface where it plays most. For example, a school team that trains on a concrete court and plays finals in a hall would use an outdoor ball for training and an indoor ball for the match.

About Molten basketballs

Molten Corporation is a Japanese company that started in Hiroshima in 1958. According to FIBA, Molten balls have been the official game ball at the Olympic Games and FIBA World Cups since 1982. Ralhum Sports is the official distributor of Molten in Sri Lanka.

Shop basketballs

Browse basketballs or all Molten products. For team and school orders, see our schools, clubs and dealers page.

Sources

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