Ski Size Chart: How Long Your Skis Should Be
For skiers buying or renting a new pair: the length that suits your height and ability, how ski type changes it, and the matching pole and boot sizes.
Most adult skis should stand between your chin and the top of your head. As a rule, beginners ski about 15 to 20 cm shorter than their height, intermediates about 5 to 15 cm shorter, and advanced skiers from 5 cm shorter to 5 cm longer. For a 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) skier that is 153 to 178 cm depending on ability.
- Beginner
- height − 15–20 cm
- Intermediate
- height − 5–15 cm
- Advanced
- height ± 5 cm
- Pole length
- height × 0.68
On this page
Ski size chart by height and ability
Find your height, then read across to your level. The ranges come from standing the ski on its tail: a beginner ski reaches the chin, an intermediate ski the nose or eyes, and an advanced ski the top of the head or beyond.
| Height | Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft 10 in (147 cm) | 127–132 | 132–142 | 142–152 |
| 5 ft 0 in (152 cm) | 132–137 | 137–147 | 147–157 |
| 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) | 137–142 | 142–152 | 152–162 |
| 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | 143–148 | 148–158 | 158–168 |
| 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) | 148–153 | 153–163 | 163–173 |
| 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) | 153–158 | 158–168 | 168–178 |
| 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | 158–163 | 163–173 | 173–183 |
| 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | 163–168 | 168–178 | 178–188 |
| 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | 168–173 | 173–183 | 183–193 |
| 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | 173–178 | 178–188 | 188–198 |
Skis are made in steps of 5 to 8 cm, so pick the listed length that falls inside your range. If you sit between two lengths, the weight, terrain and ski-type adjustments below decide which way to go.
How ski type and weight change the length
The chart assumes an all-mountain ski with modest rocker. Other designs ski shorter or longer than their printed length.
| Factor | Adjustment | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Heavier than average for your height | +5 cm | More weight bends the ski further |
| Lighter than average | −5 cm | The ski would be too stiff to flex |
| Lots of tip and tail rocker (powder, freeride) | +5 to +10 cm | Rocker lifts the ends off the snow, shortening the edge in contact |
| Carving or slalom-style ski | −5 to −10 cm | Fully cambered; short length gives quick turns |
| Park and twin-tip skis | −5 cm (or + for big jumps) | Short spins easily; longer is more stable on landings |
| Mostly groomed runs, slow speeds | Stay at the short end | Easier to turn and stop |
| Fast skiing, off-piste, deep snow | Stay at the long end | More stability and float |
Stand barefoot against a wall and mark your chin, nose and the top of your head. Measure each mark from the floor. Those three numbers are your beginner, intermediate and advanced targets in centimeters.
Ski width: waist sizes by type
Width is printed as three numbers in millimeters: tip, waist and tail (for example 128/92/112). The waist, the narrowest point under the boot, decides how the ski behaves.
| Ski type | Waist width | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Carving / frontside | 66–85 mm | Groomed runs, quick edge-to-edge turns |
| All-mountain | 85–100 mm | Mixed conditions, one ski for everything |
| Freeride / powder | 100–120 mm and up | Deep snow and off-piste |
| Touring (backcountry) | 80–105 mm | Climbing uphill on skins, then descending |
A narrow ski tips onto its edge faster; a wide ski floats better but needs more effort on hard snow. Beginners on resort pistes usually do best between 75 and 90 mm.
Turn radius
The sidecut radius, printed in meters, is the arc the ski draws when it is on edge without skidding. Under about 15 m means short, snappy turns; 15 to 20 m is the all-round middle; over 20 m suits long, fast turns. For the same model, a longer ski has a longer radius.
Ski pole size chart
Turn a pole upside down and grip it just under the basket with the handle on the floor. Your elbow should bend to about 90°. As a formula, pole length is roughly your height in centimeters × 0.68, rounded to the nearest 5 cm.
| Skier height | Pole length (cm) | Pole length (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 4 ft 6 in (137 cm) | 90–95 | 35–37 |
| 4 ft 6 in–5 ft 0 in (137–152 cm) | 100–105 | 39–41 |
| 5 ft 1 in–5 ft 4 in (155–163 cm) | 105–110 | 41–43 |
| 5 ft 5 in–5 ft 8 in (165–173 cm) | 115–120 | 45–47 |
| 5 ft 9 in–6 ft 0 in (175–183 cm) | 120–125 | 47–49 |
| 6 ft 1 in–6 ft 4 in (185–193 cm) | 125–130 | 49–51 |
| Over 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | 135 | 53 |
Freestyle skiers often go 5 cm shorter, and backcountry skiers use adjustable poles so they can lengthen them for climbing.
Ski boot sizes (Mondopoint)
Ski boots are sized in Mondopoint, the length of your foot in centimeters, as defined in ISO 9407. Measure your foot from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe while standing, and that number is your Mondo size. Conversions to shoe sizes are approximate and vary by brand.
| Mondopoint (cm) | US men's | US women's | EU | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23.5 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 37.5 | 4.5 |
| 24.5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 38.5 | 5.5 |
| 25.5 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 40 | 6.5 |
| 26.5 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 41.5 | 7.5 |
| 27.5 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 43 | 8.5 |
| 28.5 | 10.5 | 11.5 | 44 | 9.5 |
| 29.5 | 11.5 | – | 45.5 | 10.5 |
Ski boots are meant to be snug: performance fits are often a half size below your measured foot. The binding is then set to the boot sole length (BSL) in millimeters, printed on the heel, and the release value is set by a technician following ISO 11088. Never adjust binding release settings by guesswork.
Kids' ski sizes
- First-timers and cautious skiers: skis between chest and chin height. A 110 cm child would use about 80 to 95 cm skis.
- Confident kids skiing all of the mountain: chin to nose height.
- Growth: buying a size up for growth is the most common mistake. A child on skis 15 cm too long struggles to turn. Seasonal leases and trade-in programs solve the problem more safely.
Transporting skis
- Ski bags come in lengths of about 160 to 200 cm. Choose one at least 5 to 10 cm longer than your skis, since bindings and tip rocker take room.
- Roof boxes list an interior length; it must exceed your ski length. Many boxes that are 190 to 215 cm long outside hold skis only up to about 175 to 200 cm. The cargo carrier size guide lists typical interior lengths, and the roof rack guide covers crossbar spacing.
- Flying: most airlines carry one ski bag plus one boot bag as a single checked item, but size and weight limits and fees vary. Confirm with the airline as of your travel date.
If you split time between skiing and riding, the snowboard size chart sizes boards by weight. For other equipment, see the sports equipment sizes hub.
Frequently asked questions
Should skis be taller than you?
Only for advanced skiers on wide, rockered powder or freeride skis, which can run 5 to 10 cm past head height. Most recreational skiers are best on skis between chin and forehead height.
What happens if skis are too long or too short?
Skis that are too long are harder to turn and to stop, which makes beginners lean back. Skis that are too short feel nervous at speed and sink in soft snow, because there is less ski supporting your weight. A 5 to 10 cm error either way is noticeable.
Does weight matter for ski length?
Yes. A skier heavier than average for their height presses the ski harder and should move up about 5 cm; a lighter skier can go 5 cm shorter. Weight matters as much as height for how a ski flexes.
What size skis for a child?
Children's skis usually reach between the chest and the nose. Beginners and timid skiers stay near chest or chin height; confident young skiers go to the nose. Kids' skis are sold from about 70 cm up to around 150 cm.