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How much does a basketball weigh in kg
What's the Official Size of a Basketball
By Luke Updated
The size of a basketball is pretty standard. The official NBA size 7 basketball has a circumference of 29.5 inches (75 cm). This is also the official size for men’s NCAA basketball and boys high school basketball.
Since younger boys, girls and women often have smaller hand sizes, there are smaller size basketballs for younger levels of basketball play. The smaller sizes allow those with smaller hands to be able to handle the basketball better and make shooting the ball a little easier as well.
Contents
My Personal Experience
What is the Official Size of a Basketball?
Additional Resources
Final Words
My Personal Experience
I have had the pleasure of coaching basketball for young kids, and I can tell you that the smaller youth size basketballs really make a difference. The young kids are able to handle the smaller basketballs much better. The lighter weight really allows them to shoot better and get the basketball up to the hoop.
It really helps with their confidence and gets them started on learning the fundamentals. As kids grow, they are able to gradually move up to an official size basketball and remain confident in their skills.
What is the Official Size of a Basketball?
Let’s take a look at the size, circumference, weight and use for each size of a basketball. The following chart can be handy if you’re trying to figure out what size of basketball your child should start using.
Size
Weight
Circumference
Age Group
Size 7
22 oz (1.38 lbs or 0.62 kg)
29.5 inches (75 cm)
This is the official size of the NBA, NCAA Men’s and boys highschool. Recommended for men and boys ages 15 and up.
Size 6
20 oz (1. 25 lbs or 0.57 kg)
28.5 inches (72 cm)
This is the official size of the WNBA, Women’s College and girls high school. Recommended for Women and girls ages15 and up. Boys ages 12 – 14.
Size 5
17 oz (1.06 lbs or 0.48 kg)
27.5 inches (70 cm)
This is the standard youth size basketball that you will see in many youth leagues. Recommended for boys and girls ages 9 – 11.
Size 4
14 oz (0.88 lbs or 0.40 kg)
25.5 inches (65 cm)
Recommended for boys and girls ages 5 – 8.
Size 3
10 oz (0.63 lbs or 0.28 kg)
22 inches (56 cm)
This is known as a “mini” basketball and recommended for boys and girls ages 4 – 8.
Size 1
8 oz (0.50 lbs or 0.23 kg)
16 inches (41 cm)
This is known as a “micro-mini” and recommended for boys and girls ages 2 – 4.
Additional Resources
As you can see there are multiple sizes of basketballs made for different age groups and leagues. The different sizes are made by many of the different basketball manufacturers. Spalding has a great website showing the difference in the basketball sizes. Take a look if you want to find out more.
Final Words
The official weight and size of an NBA basketball is 22 ounces (1.38 lbs or 0.62 kg) and 29.5 inches (75 cm) in circumference. There are quite a few other basketball sizes made for different leagues and age groups.
The youth-size basketballs are a great tool to help kids learn and gain confidence as they start playing basketball. If you are unsure of what size basketball to use, just check the chart above. I hope this provides useful information to anyone who has questions about basketball weights and sizes.
Have you ever used a smaller size basketball just for fun? We’d love to hear from you, so please leave your comments if you would like.
How Much Does a Basketball Weigh?
When Dr. James Naismith invented basketball in 1891, he used peach baskets as goals and soccer balls (weighing only 16 ounces) for the first two years. Since then, the weight of a basketball has changed when the first basketball made of laced leather was manufactured in 1894. Decades later, genuine leather was used and then composite leather in the 1990s up until now. Because we now have standard basketballs in production, how much does a basketball weigh?
Before we answer that question, let us examine why the weight of a basketball is critical.
How Important is the Weight of a Basketball
There are standards for basketball size and weight for a reason. Can you imagine all these big guys at the NBA still shooting basketballs the size and weight of soccer balls? A properly inflated ball and one of the correct size are essential for proper skill development and basketball players’ safety.
Does a ball that is not adequately inflated affect the training of a basketball player? Of course! A ball with too little air will be too flat and impossible to dribble. An overly inflated basketball may also be challenging to dribble as it tends to stay high and difficult to control when shooting. Moreover, improperly catching an overly inflated ball or reaching for it as a defender may cause jamming of the fingers.
Thus, for the safety of the players and for their skill development, there is no other way but to use a properly inflated ball of the correct size and weight.
What’s the Standard Weight of a Basketball to Have?
If we are talking about a standard NBA basketball, the standard weight is 22 ounces or around 1.4 pounds. (The weight of basketball in kg is 0.623 kg.) It measures 29.5 inches in circumference and is inflated to about an air pressure of 7.5 to 8.5 psi (pounds per square inch).
However, depending on the level of basketball you are playing, the official sizes and weight of the ball may vary. Let’s take a look.
How Much Does a Basketball Weigh in Various Basketball Leagues?
NBA Basketball Weight
As mentioned, the NBA basketball weight is 22 ounces or 1.4 pounds, give or take. (That is 623.69 grams if we are using the metric system.) The official NBA basketball has a circumference of 29.5 inches and an air pressure of 7.5 to 8.5 psi. The official NBA basketball is commonly referred to as a size 7.
WNBA Basketball Weight
The WNBA and the NBA may have a similar 10-foot hoop and 50 feet x 94 feet of court, but there is a slight difference between the weight of the basketball they use. While the NBA uses a basketball with a 29.5-inch circumference, the WNBA uses a size 6 basketball, which measures 27.75 inches and weighs 18 ounces. If inflated to around 8 psi, the ball may reach a maximum of 28.5 inches in circumference and up to 20 ounces in weight.
NCAA Basketball Weight
Official NCAA basketballs are manufactured by Wilson, and it is a little bigger than the Spalding basketball the NBA uses. (The NBA has dropped its partnership with Spalding after this season and will use Wilson basketballs starting in 2021-22.)
The maximum circumference of a standard NCAA basketball is 30 inches and a weight of 22 ounces. The seams are no wider than 0.25 inches. On the other hand, a women’s NCAA basketball has a similar seam width but is only at around 20 ounces in weight and 29 inches in circumference.
FIBA Basketball Weight
The official balls used in FIBA basketball competition are manufactured by a company called Molten. Typically, the men use the GL7 series, and the women use the GL6. It is a little less heavy than Spalding and Wilson basketballs, weighing only 567 grams or 20 ounces. While it weighs less than an NBA basketball, it is also slightly more prominent at a circumference of 30.7 inches for men. Women’s basketball is around 29 inches in circumference.
How Much Does a Youth Basketball Typically Weigh?
Most of the junior or youth basketball leagues use a college ball. Otherwise, if a youth basketball is used, they weigh significantly less than NBA or college balls.
Typically, a youth basketball is referred to as a size 5 basketball. It is about 27. 5 inches in circumference (70 cm) and weighs around 20 ounces (1.25 pounds). Most kids up to 10 years old use this type of basketball.
If need be, children eight years old and below use a smaller basketball. It is often referred to as a size 4 and weighs only 14 ounces with a circumference of 25.5 inches. After the size 4, the size 3 is what is referred to as a mini-basketball. It only weighs 10 ounces with a circumference of 22 inches.
Basketball Sizes and Weight
We have already outlined the basketball sizes and weight above, but for the data to be more comprehensive, let’s put it in one table below:
Basketball Size
Circumference
Weight
Remarks
Size 7
29.5 inches
22 ounces
This is the official size and weight of an NBA and NCAA basketball. Recommended for basketball players 15 and above.
Size 6
28.5 inches
20 ounces
This is the official size of a WNBA and women’s NCAA basketball. It is recommended for boys and girls 12-14 years old.
Size 5
27.5 inches
17 ounces
Recommended for boys and girls from 9-11 years old and is most often referred to as a youth basketball.
Size 4
25.5 inches
14 ounces
For boys and girls eight years old and below, preferably as young as five years old.
Size 3
22 inches
10 ounces
Often referred to as mini basketball, it is recommended for kids 4-8 years old.
Size 1
16 inches
8 ounces
Often called the micro-mini basketball, the size 1 is best used by pre-school children 2-4 years old.
FIBA basketball
Up to 30.7 inches
20-22 ounces
A FIBA basketball, which uses the Molten brand, is officially a size 7 but may have a circumference of up to 30.7 inches. Women’s international basketball also uses a size 6, but with slight variations in circumference and weight.
Nerf ball
9-20 inches
1-5 ounces
Ball made of foam, plastic, or rubber and is recommended for toddlers.
7 Random Facts about Basketballs:
1. Spalding was the first manufacturer of basketballs in 1894 based on the design of the existing baseball. It has been the official manufacturer of NBA basketball since 1983 and until the 2019-20 season.
2. The Japanese manufacturer has been the official manufacturer of the balls used in international basketball competitions (including the Olympics and World Championships) sanctioned by FIBA. It has been doing so since 1982 until now.
3. The official Spalding NBA basketball is made of the finest full grain leather and costs a shade under $170.
4. Spalding became the official ball manufacturer of the Euroleague in 2012.
5. Albert Goodwill Spalding, the Spalding founder, was a pitcher for the Boston Red Stockings with an overall winning percentage of . 796. He is also the first pitcher to get 200 wins.
6. Molten basketballs were made the Tokyo 1964 Olympics’ official basketball, only six years after the company’s inception.
7. Wilson has been the official partner of NCAA basketball since the 1990s and will take over as the NBA’s official basketball in the 2021-22 season. It was also the first partner of the league from 1946 until it was replaced by Spalding in 1983.
Wrapping Things Up: How Much Does a Basketball Weigh
For non-basketball fans, talking about the weight of a basketball seems irrelevant. However, for the sake of skill development and consistency, standard measurements of a basketball have been developed through the years.
In the game’s inception, Dr. Naismith has to make do with what’s already there– in this case, peach baskets and soccer balls. Soccer balls typically weigh around 16 inches and compared to the basketball sizes today, that’s about the weight of a size 5 basketball, one recommended for 9-11-year-old kids. It must have been pretty uncomfortable to shoot with!
As mentioned, there are already standard or official basketball sizes and basketball weights. A size 7 is the one used in the NBA and men’s NCAA. It is usually 22 ounces in weight, 29.5 inches in circumference, with air pressure between 7.5 to 8.5 psi. It is also the recommended ball for boys aged 15 and up. A size 6 basketball is the one used by the WNBA and NCAA. Tournaments for girls aged 12-14 years old use a size 6 basketball– 28.5 inches in circumference and 20 ounces in weight.
From there, youth basketball uses a different basketball weight and size. A size 5 basketball, 27.5 inches in circumference, and 17 ounces in weight are usually referred to as a youth basketball. A size 4 basketball is for kids 5-8 years old, and a size 3 basketball is often called the mini basketball. Even smaller than that, a size 1 basketball is called the micro-mini basketball; because, after all, it is only 16 inches in circumference and weighs only 8 ounces.
The Molten basketballs used in FIBA competitions, including the Olympics and World Championships, are also officially a size 7. That means they also weigh 22 ounces, but they may have a circumference of up to 30.7 inches rather than the typical 29.5.
Why is it important that we know all about the weight of basketball and its sizes? It is essential because it is not safe and is not conducive to basketball skills development. How so? An underinflated basketball is virtually impossible to dribble, while an overinflated basketball is hard to control and may injure fingers after a wrong catch. Because of these reasons, it is very critical to use basketballs and their recommended weight and sizes.
Those who are not familiar with basketball may get confused about the question, how much does a basketball weigh? After all, a ball is just a ball, right? Wrong! Official basketball weight and sizes exist for a reason, and as basketball players, it would be in our best interest to follow these propositions.
If you enjoyed this post, you’ll like our other basketball FAQ articles here.
Also, check out our basketball reviews here.
size, weight, diameter, main features and properties of
Danila Chezhin
The word basketball consists of two English words - basket (basket) and ball (ball). The first part of the name arose because in the original version of the game, instead of a ring and a shield, a regular fruit basket with a cut-out bottom was used. What about the second part? What should be a basketball? What material is used to make it? Are there standards that establish the diameter and weight of the main basketball projectile? Look for answers to these and other questions in our article.
The main characteristics of the ball for basketball
The material used for the manufacture of modern basketball spheres is artificial leather. Every year, equipment manufacturers modernize the coating and improve the quality of the workmanship, making the ball more and more comfortable for athletes.
The optimum pressure for an inflated game ball is 7 to 9 psi, pounds-force per square inch.
It is customary to play basketball with an orange ball with black lines drawn on it, which divide the sphere into 8 equal parts. But this is not a dogma - in tournaments of different levels there are official balls of other colors. Much more important is the weight and diameter of the projectile.
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Weight, size and circumference of a basketball
The so-called "seven" is used in men's team competitions. The weight of a size 7 basketball is from 567 to 650 grams. The diameter of the circle is 749-780 millimeters.
The diameter of the basketball used in women's competitions is smaller - from 724 to 737 mm. Weight - 510-567 g.
Children and young men play the so-called "five". This ball is even smaller and lighter. 690-710 millimeters is the allowable circumference. The mass of the ball of the 5th size is 470-500 g.
Different sizes of balls result from different hand physiology. Obviously, the smaller the grip, the smaller the ball.
Free Basketball Broadcasts
FIBA Basketball
Basketball size standards are the same in European and American basketball. The differences are only in the manufacturing companies. The official ball of tournaments under the auspices of FIBA, the main European basketball federation, is the model of the Japanese company Molten, one of the largest market players in the world.
Competitions under the auspices of the Russian Basketball Federation are also held by the Molten model.
NBA Basketball
Spalding has been the official ball in North American Major League Basketball for many years. Moreover, the artificial leather model, introduced into use at some point, was not recognized by the players' council. As a result, the NBA returned to the traditional natural turf model.
The NCAA college basketball league in the United States uses a Chicago-brand Wilson ball. The same model is used in Russian university sports tournaments.
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Types of basketballs
With the growing popularity of street basketball 3x3, streetball, manufacturers have become more active. Balls for the hall are not suitable for playing on asphalt, as they quickly lose their qualities. Therefore, numerous companies produce a huge number of specialized shells for the "street". The most famous balls are the American Rawlings, which are played in almost all major three-on-three basketball tournaments.
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Home / All sports / Basketball size 7,6,5,3 (weight, diameter, pressure)
03/20/2020 All sports Leave a comment 26,922 Views
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Basketball size varies by league, governing body, and gender and age of students. Basketballs differ from each other in weight, pressure, circumference and material of manufacture. According to the official rules of the game, the game projectile must have a spherical shape, be made in orange and have 8 black inserts and seams.
The official size of a basketball is numbered 7, it has the following characteristics: weight (mass) is - 567-650 grams, circumference - 749-780 cm, atmospheric pressure - 0.56 - 0.63 kg / cm 2 . This is the largest ball, and now look at the rest in the table:
Size
Circumference (cm)
Weight (grams)
Pressure (kg/cm 2)
Where applicable
7
749-780
567-650
0. 56 - 0.63
Professional Men's Basketball, Boys 14+
6
724-737
510-567
0.56 - 0.63
Women's professional basketball, girls 12+, boys 12-13
5
690-710
470-500
0.56 - 0.63
Boys and girls 10-11 years old
3
560-580
300-330
0.56 - 0.63
Boys and girls 4-9 years
Pass the Basketball Test
Basketballs are made from natural leather or synthetic leather - the pressure is the same for all sizes. It is worth remembering that a correctly inflated ball of the correct size is important to ensure quality training and skill development for players of different ages.
For games held under the auspices of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the ball is inflated to air pressure so that when it falls onto the court from a height of 1. 8 meters, it should bounce to a height of 1.2-1.4 meters (measured by the top of the game ball).
Indoor and outdoor basketballs
There are no differences between the versions of the game in terms of size, but there are other nuances regarding manufacturing. Indoor balls are made of genuine leather, and outdoor balls are made of rubber.
Leather basketballs intended for indoor use should not be used outdoors. Concrete or asphalt surfaces cause the leather to become rough and wear out quickly, eventually resulting in poor hand-ball contact. Also, some balls for playing inside are made of composite or synthetic leather, but their quality leaves much to be desired.
For outdoor play, manufacturers make balls with a rubber surface, as it is able to interact better with rough field surfaces. A rubber basketball would be a good choice for beginner players as it is much easier to control and develop skills.
Best Selling Brands of Basketballs
Basketball is very popular all over the world, which means that ball manufacturers do not have to sit idle, because they need to compete, create a quality product and, accordingly, make a profit. Here are the 3 best selling basketball brands in the world.
Spalding (USA)
Wilson (USA)
Molten (Japan)
Spalding makes balls for the world's most popular league, the NBA. Wilson is in demand with the NCAA and most of the youth leagues in the United States of America. But Molten is the main supplier of game equipment for FIBA tournaments, European championships and even the Olympic Games.
Note that on average for men, a standard size 7 basketball sells for $30-60.
Basketballs have changed a lot since the beginning of the game in the late 19th century. Today, technology has made it possible to make very high-quality and even smart balls. This was not always the case, because decades have passed and the balls have undergone many changes and improvements, although at the very beginning, James Naismith, the founder and father of basketball, used a soccer ball to play, which his students threw into peach baskets.
25 lbs or 0.57 kg)
The different sizes are made by many of the different basketball manufacturers. Spalding has a great website showing the difference in the basketball sizes. Take a look if you want to find out more.
Since then, the weight of a basketball has changed when the first basketball made of laced leather was manufactured in 1894. Decades later, genuine leather was used and then composite leather in the 1990s up until now. Because we now have standard basketballs in production, how much does a basketball weigh?
Moreover, improperly catching an overly inflated ball or reaching for it as a defender may cause jamming of the fingers. 
(That is 623.69 grams if we are using the metric system.) The official NBA basketball has a circumference of 29.5 inches and an air pressure of 7.5 to 8.5 psi. The official NBA basketball is commonly referred to as a size 7.
The seams are no wider than 0.25 inches. On the other hand, a women’s NCAA basketball has a similar seam width but is only at around 20 ounces in weight and 29 inches in circumference.
5 inches in circumference (70 cm) and weighs around 20 ounces (1.25 pounds). Most kids up to 10 years old use this type of basketball.
It is recommended for boys and girls 12-14 years old.
796. He is also the first pitcher to get 200 wins.
It must have been pretty uncomfortable to shoot with!
The same model is used in Russian university sports tournaments. 
Balls for the hall are not suitable for playing on asphalt, as they quickly lose their qualities. Therefore, numerous companies produce a huge number of specialized shells for the "street". The most famous balls are the American Rawlings, which are played in almost all major three-on-three basketball tournaments. 
56 - 0.63 
8 meters, it should bounce to a height of 1.2-1.4 meters (measured by the top of the game ball). 
Here are the 3 best selling basketball brands in the world. 
