Ski Size Chart
Find your ski length by height and ability, then adjust it for your weight and where you ski. Use the calculator for a quick answer, or the charts below for adults and kids. Lengths are in centimeters, the way skis are sold.
What size skis do I need?
Suggested ski length
168–174 cm
Full range for your height and ability: 168–174 cm. Anywhere in your range works. Go shorter for quick turns, longer for speed.
Each brand publishes its own size chart. Check the length range for the ski you buy.
Ski size chart by height and ability
Find your height, then read across to your level. Within each range, the factors further down tell you whether to go shorter or longer.
| Skier height | Beginner | Intermediate | Advanced / expert |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4'8" (142 cm) | 125–135 cm | 133–140 cm | 138–150 cm |
| 5'0" (152 cm) | 138–148 cm | 148–155 cm | 152–163 cm |
| 5'4" (163 cm) | 148–158 cm | 158–165 cm | 163–173 cm |
| 5'8" (173 cm) | 158–168 cm | 168–174 cm | 172–183 cm |
| 6'0" (183 cm) | 168–178 cm | 178–184 cm | 182–193 cm |
| 6'4" (193 cm) | 174–184 cm | 184–190 cm | 188–198 cm |
A quick check without a tape measure: stand a ski on its tail. For most skiers it should reach somewhere between the chin and the top of the head: beginners near the chin, advanced and expert skiers at the top of the head or above.
Go shorter or longer?
Shorter skis turn more easily and feel nimble; longer skis are more stable at speed and float better in soft snow. Use these to pick a spot inside your range:
| Go shorter if you… | Go longer if you… |
|---|---|
| are a beginner or newer intermediate | are an advanced or expert skier |
| weigh less than average for your height | weigh more than average for your height |
| like short, quick turns | ski fast and make long turns |
| ski mostly groomed runs | ski mostly powder or off-piste |
| are buying a carving ski with full camber | are buying a ski with a lot of rocker |
Height, weight, and ability
Ski charts start with height because it sets the overall range, and ability narrows it down. Weight decides where in that range you land: a lighter skier usually does better toward the short end, and a heavier skier toward the long end, where the extra length adds stability. That's why the calculator asks whether you're lighter or heavier than average for your height rather than for an exact weight.
Rocker, camber, and ski length
Camber is the upward arch under your foot; rocker is a tip (and sometimes tail) that rises early off the snow. A rockered ski has less edge touching the snow, so it pivots easily and feels shorter than it measures. That's why makers suggest sizing up for skis with a lot of rocker, such as powder skis, and sizing down for narrow carving skis with full camber.
Kids' ski size chart
Kids' skis should reach between the chest and the nose. Use your child's height; ages are only a guide. If they fall between two rows, use the shorter row if they're light for their height and the taller row if they're heavy.
| Age (typical) | Height | Ski length |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 94 cm (3'1") | 70–80 cm |
| 4 | 102 cm (3'4") | 80–90 cm |
| 5 | 109 cm (3'7") | 90–100 cm |
| 6 | 114 cm (3'9") | 100–105 cm |
| 7 | 119–122 cm (3'11"–4'0") | 100–110 cm |
| 8 | 127 cm (4'2") | 110–120 cm |
| 9 | 135 cm (4'5") | 120–125 cm |
| 10 | 140 cm (4'7") | 120–130 cm |
| 11 | 145 cm (4'9") | 130–140 cm |
| 12 | 149 cm (4'11") | 140–145 cm |
| 13 | 156–157 cm (5'1"–5'2") | 140–150 cm |
| 14 | 163–164 cm (5'4"–5'5") | 150–160 cm |
Go toward the chest for a beginner, a cautious skier, or a lighter child; toward the nose for a fast, confident, or heavier child. Skis bought too long to grow into are harder to turn, so stay inside the range.
Renting skis
At a rental shop, give your height, weight, and honest ability level, and say where you plan to ski. The technician uses these to choose your length and set up the skis with your boots. Bring the length from this chart as a starting point, and ask for shorter skis if you're still learning.
Need boots too? The ski boot size chart converts your foot length to Mondopoint and shoe sizes. Riding a board instead? See the snowboard size chart.
Ski Size Chart FAQ
What size skis do I need for my height?
Start with your height and ability. A 5'8" (173 cm) skier usually fits about 158–168 cm as a beginner, 168–174 cm as an intermediate, and 172–183 cm as an advanced skier. A 6'0" (183 cm) intermediate fits about 178–184 cm.
Should skis come to your chin or your nose?
Anywhere from your chin to the top of your head is the usual range. Beginners do best near the chin, and advanced or expert skiers at the top of the head or a little above.
Is ski length based on height or weight?
Height and ability give you the starting range. Weight then moves you within it: if you're lighter than average for your height, pick the shorter end; if you're heavier, pick the longer end.
Should a beginner get shorter skis?
Yes. Shorter skis are easier to turn and control at low speed, which is what you need while learning. Most beginners ski with skis that reach somewhere around their chin.
Do rocker skis need to be longer?
Usually, yes. Rocker lifts the tip (and sometimes the tail) off the snow, so less of the ski touches the snow and it skis shorter than its length. Ski makers suggest sizing up a little for skis with a lot of rocker, and skiing narrow carving skis with full camber shorter.
What size skis does a child need?
Kids' skis should reach between the child's chest and nose. As a guide, a 7-year-old around 120 cm tall uses about 100–110 cm skis, and a 10-year-old around 140 cm about 120–130 cm. Don't buy longer than the range to leave room to grow.
What length skis for powder?
Go toward the long end of your range, or use a ski with more rocker. A longer ski floats better in deep snow and is more stable in ungroomed terrain.
Sources
Adult lengths: Völkl's ski sizing guide (K2 publishes the same table), checked against evo's ski size chart, whose lengths for beginner, intermediate, and expert fall inside these ranges at every height. Chin-to-head rule and reasons to size up or down: evo, Völkl/K2, and Nordica's ski sizer. Kids: evo's kids' ski size chart and Nordica's junior chart; where they differ we show the lengths both include. Between chart heights, the calculator interpolates. Inch conversions are calculated (1 in = 2.54 cm). Each brand sizes its own skis; check the chart for the ski you buy.