How large is a basketball

Basketball Sizes: A Quick Guide for All Levels of Play

NBA and College Basketball Sizes

Basketball sizes vary by age, gender, and level of play. The official size of the basketball used by the NBA is 29.5 inches in circumference. That’s the same size used throughout men’s college and high school basketball leagues. The WNBA uses a slightly smaller ball, measuring 28.5 inches in circumference.

For international play, specifically FIBA, the basketball used is what’s called a Molten GL7 for men and Molten GL6 for women. These basketballs typically feature two different colors and are slightly bigger, with a 30.7-inch circumference for the men’s ball and a 29-inch circumference for the women’s.

Youth Basketball Sizes

Boys in middle school (or ages 12-14), use a 28.5-inch ball, as do all women and girls ages 12 and up. For anyone, male or female, between the ages of nine and 11, a ball size of 27. 5 inches in circumference is recommended and is the most commonly sized ball used in youth basketball leagues.

Boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 8 use a basketball between sizes of 22 inches and 24.5 inches in circumference, depending on the individual’s hand size, which can be determined by a coach or parent by measuring from the bottom of the individual’s palm to the tip of his or her middle finger.

An NBA basketball must be inflated to a pressure of 7.5 to 8.5 PSI. The WNBA uses the same pressure regulations.

In the NCAA, inflation requirements are given in weight, with the men’s ball having a maximum weight of 22 ounces and the women’s ball having a maximum weight of 20 ounces. In FIBA play, the official rules state that the ball “be inflated to an air pressure such that, when it is dropped onto the playing floor from a height of approximately 1,800 mm measured from the bottom of the ball, it will rebound to a height of between 1,200 mm and 1,400 mm, measured to the top of the ball. ”

A standard NBA basketball has a diameter between 9.43 and 9.51 inches. In the WNBA, the basketball has a diameter of between 9.07 and 9.23 inches. Basketballs used in the NCAA are between 9.39 and 9.55 inches for men and 9.07 and 9.23 inches for women.

Basketballs used for indoor and outdoor play differ in their material. Indoor basketballs are made of full-grain leather; basketballs meant for outdoor use are made of rubber.

Though basketballs made for indoor use may initially feel smooth to the touch, after a few uses, they become somewhat broken in and easier to grip, much like a baseball mitt. Leather basketballs should not be used outside because the concrete surface of an outdoor basketball court causes the leather to roughen and wear, which eventually ruins the ball’s grip.

Some indoor basketballs are made of composite or synthetic leather. The upside is that they don’t need to be broken in like a regular leather ball. But generally speaking, the quality is not as good.

Outdoor, or “street” balls, employ a rubber surface because it can absorb the rougher surface of a concrete court without sacrificing the ball’s grip. A rubber ball is also a good choice for beginners because it is the easiest ball to control.

The three best-selling basketball brands are Spalding, Nike, and Wilson. As the official ball of the NBA, Spalding is perhaps the most recognized basketball manufacturer. Nike and Wilson are also popular thanks to the variety of textures, technologies, and color schemes they offer.

A typical official-size men’s basketball retails on average between $30 and $60. Both the NBA and WNBA use Spalding basketballs, while the NCAA and most youth leagues use Wilson. As mentioned previously, FIBA and international leagues use Molten as their basketball provider.

READ MORE:

• Basketball Court Dimensions and Hoop Height: A Quick Guide
• Helpful Stretches for Basketball Players
• AAU Basketball, Explained 
• How to Build a Basketball Body

Share This Story!

MOST POPULAR

NBA and College Basketball Sizes

Basketball sizes vary by age, gender, and level of play. The official size of the basketball used by the NBA is 29.5 inches in circumference. That’s the same size used throughout men’s college and high school basketball leagues. The WNBA uses a slightly smaller ball, measuring 28.5 inches in circumference.

For international play, specifically FIBA, the basketball used is what’s called a Molten GL7 for men and Molten GL6 for women. These basketballs typically feature two different colors and are slightly bigger, with a 30.7-inch circumference for the men’s ball and a 29-inch circumference for the women’s.

Youth Basketball Sizes

Boys in middle school (or ages 12-14), use a 28.5-inch ball, as do all women and girls ages 12 and up. For anyone, male or female, between the ages of nine and 11, a ball size of 27.5 inches in circumference is recommended and is the most commonly sized ball used in youth basketball leagues.

Boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 8 use a basketball between sizes of 22 inches and 24.5 inches in circumference, depending on the individual’s hand size, which can be determined by a coach or parent by measuring from the bottom of the individual’s palm to the tip of his or her middle finger.

An NBA basketball must be inflated to a pressure of 7.5 to 8. 5 PSI. The WNBA uses the same pressure regulations.

In the NCAA, inflation requirements are given in weight, with the men’s ball having a maximum weight of 22 ounces and the women’s ball having a maximum weight of 20 ounces. In FIBA play, the official rules state that the ball “be inflated to an air pressure such that, when it is dropped onto the playing floor from a height of approximately 1,800 mm measured from the bottom of the ball, it will rebound to a height of between 1,200 mm and 1,400 mm, measured to the top of the ball.”

A standard NBA basketball has a diameter between 9.43 and 9.51 inches. In the WNBA, the basketball has a diameter of between 9.07 and 9.23 inches. Basketballs used in the NCAA are between 9.39 and 9.55 inches for men and 9.07 and 9.23 inches for women.

Basketballs used for indoor and outdoor play differ in their material. Indoor basketballs are made of full-grain leather; basketballs meant for outdoor use are made of rubber.

Though basketballs made for indoor use may initially feel smooth to the touch, after a few uses, they become somewhat broken in and easier to grip, much like a baseball mitt. Leather basketballs should not be used outside because the concrete surface of an outdoor basketball court causes the leather to roughen and wear, which eventually ruins the ball’s grip.

Some indoor basketballs are made of composite or synthetic leather. The upside is that they don’t need to be broken in like a regular leather ball. But generally speaking, the quality is not as good.

Outdoor, or “street” balls, employ a rubber surface because it can absorb the rougher surface of a concrete court without sacrificing the ball’s grip. A rubber ball is also a good choice for beginners because it is the easiest ball to control.

The three best-selling basketball brands are Spalding, Nike, and Wilson. As the official ball of the NBA, Spalding is perhaps the most recognized basketball manufacturer. Nike and Wilson are also popular thanks to the variety of textures, technologies, and color schemes they offer.

A typical official-size men’s basketball retails on average between $30 and $60. Both the NBA and WNBA use Spalding basketballs, while the NCAA and most youth leagues use Wilson. As mentioned previously, FIBA and international leagues use Molten as their basketball provider.

READ MORE:

• Basketball Court Dimensions and Hoop Height: A Quick Guide
• Helpful Stretches for Basketball Players
• AAU Basketball, Explained 
• How to Build a Basketball Body

Share This Story!

Basketball Dimensions & Drawings | Dimensions.com

Sports

>

Basketball

Basketball sizes come in variations for different ages, genders, and level of play. The official NBA and competitive professional basketball is 29.5” | 74.9 cm in circumference with a diameter between 9.43”-9.51” | 24-24.2 cm. Professional basketballs must be inflated to a pressure between 7.5-8.5 PSI and cannot exceed the maximum weight of 22 ounces. When choosing a basketball, consider whether the play environment will be primarily outdoor or indoor because indoor basketballs perform best as full-grain leather constructions and outdoor basketballs are better as rubber.

Basketball sizes come in variations for different ages, genders, and level of play. The official NBA and competitive professional basketball is 29.5” | 74.9 cm in circumference with a diameter between 9.43”-9.51” | 24-24.2 cm. Professional basketballs must be inflated to a pressure between 7.5-8.5 PSI and cannot exceed the maximum weight of 22 ounces. When choosing a basketball, consider whether the play environment will be primarily outdoor or indoor because indoor basketballs perform best as full-grain leather constructions and outdoor basketballs are better as rubber.

Upgrade to Pro

*Under Development*

Height:

9.43”-9.51” | 24-24.2 cm

Width:

Depth:

Length:

Weight:

Circumference: 29.5” | 74.9 cm
Diameter: 9.43”-9.51” | 24-24.2 cm
Pressure: 7.5-8.5 PSI
Weight: 22 ounces (maximum)
Material (Indoor): Full-grain leather
Material (Outdoor): Rubber

Birthday:

Properties

Drawings include:
Basketball elevation

Related Collections

Related Tags

Share

Text by

Bryan Maddock

Updated on

November 14, 2020

2D Downloads

For 2D Downloads of this element, upgrade to a Dimensions Pro Membership. Available in DWG (CAD, Imperial & Metric), SVG, JPG formats

3D Downloads

For 3D Downloads of this element, upgrade to a Dimensions Pro Membership. Available in 3DM (Rhino), OBJ (NURB), SKP (Sketchup) formats

Upgrade to Dimensions Pro

Ad Blocker

Enjoy free drawings? We do too! 
Advertising helps fund our work.
Please support the project by disabling
or whitelisting your ad blocker while browsing Dimensions.Guide. Thanks!

BasketballSports

Browse the Entire CollectionBrowse

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players score points by shooting (throwing) a ball through an elevated hoop located on either side of the rectangular court. To advance the ball down the court, players must bounce the ball (dribble) or pass it to a teammate.

Sort by

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

6'9" | 2.06 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

December 30, 1984

—

LeBron James

206.000

1984.00

1810000

6'7" | 2. 01 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

June 29, 1991

—

Kawhi Leonard

201.000

1991.00

1400000

6’10” | 2.08 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

September 29, 1988

—

Kevin Durant

208.000

1988.00

1100000

6’6" | 1.98 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

July 6, 2000

—

Zion Williamson

198.000

2000.00

848000

6’10” | 2.08 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

March 11, 1993

—

Anthony Davis

208.000

1993.00

578000

6’6" | 1.98 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

February 17, 1963

—

Michael Jordan

198.000

1963.00

499000

6’3" | 1.91 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

November 12, 1988

—

Russell Westbrook

191.000

1988.00

496000

6’8” | 2.03 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

May 29, 1984

—

Carmelo Anthony

203. 000

1984.00

489000

6'7" | 2.01 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

February 28, 1999

—

Luka Dončić

201.000

1999.00

478000

6’11" | 2.11 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

December 6, 1994

—

Giannis Antetokounmpo

211.000

1994.00

472000

5’9” | 1.75 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

February 7, 1989

—

Isaiah Thomas

175.000

1989.00

471000

6’3" | 1.91 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

March 14, 1988

—

Steph Curry

191.000

1988.00

431000

6’5” | 1.96 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

August 26, 1989

—

James Harden

196.000

1989.00

419000

6’6” | 1.98 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

August 23, 1978

—

Kobe Bryant

198.000

1978.00

393000

7’1” | 2. 16 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

March 6, 1972

—

Shaquille O’Neal

216.000

1972.00

327000

6'7" | 2.01 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

September 14, 1989

—

Jimmy Butler

201.000

1989.00

307000

6’4” | 1.93 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

January 17, 1982

—

Dwyane Wade

193.000

1982.00

294000

6’1" | 1.85 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

May 6, 1985

—

Chris Paul

185.000

1985.00

287000

7’0” | 2.13 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

March 16, 1994

—

Joel Embiid

213.000

1994.00

207000

6’2” | 1.88 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

July 15, 1990

—

Damian Lillard

188.000

1990.00

206000

6'9" | 2.06 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

August 14, 1959

—

Magic Johnson

206. 000

1959.00

203000

6’6" | 1.98 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

February 20, 1963

—

Charles Barkley

198.000

1963.00

176000

6’8” | 2.03 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

March 3, 1998

—

Jayson Tatum

203.000

1998.00

160000

7’1" | 2.16 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

August 21, 1936

—

Wilt Chamberlain

216.000

1936.00

145000

6'9" | 2.06 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

December 7, 1956

—

Larry Bird

206.000

1956.00

144000

7’2” | 2.18 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

April 16, 1947

—

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

218.000

1947.00

139000

7’0” | 2.13 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

February 19, 1995

—

Nikola Jokić

213.000

1995.00

135000

6’0” | 1. 83 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

June 7, 1975

—

Allen Iverson

183.000

1975.00

129000

7’6” | 2.29 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

September 12, 1980

—

Yao Ming

229.000

1980.00

107000

7’0” | 2.13 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

June 19, 1978

—

Dirk Nowitzki

213.000

1978.00

83000

6'9" | 2.06 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

February 12, 1934

—

Bill Russell

206.000

1934.00

82000

6’11" | 2.11 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

April 25, 1976

—

Tim Duncan

211.000

1976.00

82000

6’3" | 1.91 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

February 7, 1974

—

Steve Nash

191.000

1974.00

76000

7’0” | 2.13 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

August 5, 1962

—

Patrick Ewing

213. 000

1962.00

67000

6’11" | 2.11 m

—

—

—

—

—

—

May 19, 1976

—

Kevin Garnett

211.000

1976.00

61000

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Backboards

9.43”-9.51” | 24-24.2 cm

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Basketball

24.200

https://p3d.in/e/cHJyj

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Rims & Nets

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Basketball Court

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Hoop & Backboard

More Sports

Sports

View the CategoryCategory

How to choose a basketball?

Basketball is a fast and dynamic sport. To enjoy the gameplay, you need to buy high-quality inventory. Basketball equipment is presented in a wide range. Many well-known brands are engaged in the manufacture of balls for this sport. Which option to choose? Consider the main criteria.

Types of basketballs

One of the most important selection criteria is the purpose of the ball. With this, you need to start looking for a suitable projectile, we will start with this, in total there are three types:

• for the hall;
• for the street;
• universal.

The Indoor Basketball has excellent grip on parquet. Made from nat. leather or synthetics. Professional athletes choose models with a composite coating. Microfiber provides a comfortable grip. The material muffles impacts during the dribble. It is forbidden to play on asphalt sites, as in such conditions the projectile will very quickly lose all its qualities.

For the open field (outdoor) use shells made of synthetic raw materials. This composition makes them extremely resistant to wear. Additional surface treatment enhances grip. The ball is easy to control.

Universal projectiles are made of rubber. It is resistant to wear, behaves normally on parquet and can serve for quite a long time on open street areas. Some are covered with synthetic or composite materials. Manufacturers produce goods for sites with a smooth, wooden, rubber coating.

How to decide on the material

To understand how to choose a basketball, take into account the raw materials used in production. Durable versatile basketballs are made from artificial materials. Many professional indoor balls are made from composite leather.

Genuine leather is considered the best material for the hall. The leather ball is an essential element of any professional basketball tournament. If you see the marking “Supreme Leather” on such a ball, then the manufacturer used premium leather.

Quality check

The first evaluation method is rebound. A correctly inflated ball will bounce to a height of approximately 130 centimeters. There is an alternative way. Raise the professional ball to head level, and then release it. He should bounce to the waist. Look at the quality of the nipple.

Do not sit on it or kick it to keep its original shape. Careful use preserves the correct rebound during the dribble. Elasticity is another indicator of quality. The ball must not become soft after a short play. Pump up periodically, but use only a special nozzle, and not a football needle.

Size

What size basketball should I buy? It all depends on the specifics of use. Marking No. 7 - the largest ball is intended for competitions of men's teams. The table shows absolutely all existing sizes:

Size