Bat sizing cheat sheet
From Online Baseball Academy · updated 2026-07-18
What size baseball bat does my child need?
| Player height | Starting bat length | Rough age range |
|---|---|---|
| 3'0" - 3'4" | 26" | 5-6 |
| 3'5" - 3'8" | 27" | 6-7 |
| 3'9" - 4'0" | 28" | 7-8 |
| 4'1" - 4'4" | 29" | 9-10 |
| 4'5" - 4'8" | 29-30" | 10-11 |
| 4'9" - 5'0" | 30-31" | 11-12 |
| 5'1" - 5'4" | 31-32" | 12-14 |
| 5'5" - 5'8" | 32-33" | 13-15 |
| 5'9" - 6'0" | 33-34" | 15+ |
| 6'1" and up | 34" | 15+ |
Starting points, not prescriptions. Charts disagree by about an inch around the 4'0"-4'5" boundary, so if you cross-check this against a manufacturer's grid and see a one-inch difference, neither is wrong. Confirm with the tests below.
What drop weight should my child swing?
| Drop | Typical player | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -12 to -13 | Tee ball and coach pitch, roughly 5-7 | 26" / 13 oz |
| -10 to -11 | Most youth players, roughly 8-12 | 30" / 20 oz |
| -8 | Stronger youth players, 11-13 | 31" / 23 oz |
| -5 | Transition years, 12-14 | 31" / 26 oz |
| -3 | High school and college (BBCOR requires it) | 32" / 29 oz |
The -3 row is a certification requirement, not a sizing choice. BBCOR bats are only made in -3, so at high school the decision is made for you.
The 20-second test
Have your child hold the bat straight out from their side with one hand, parallel to the ground. If they can't hold it steady for about 20 seconds without the barrel dropping, the bat is too heavy for them right now.
Three things parents get wrong
- Sizing by age. Two eleven-year-olds can be 4'6" and 5'2". Size by height and weight.
- Buying big to grow into. Costs a season of good swings. Bat speed beats bat length at every youth age.
- Ignoring the certification stamp. The right size in the wrong standard is still illegal in your league.
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