Baseball Glove Size Guide
Baseball Glove Size Guide
A baseball glove is measured in inches, from the top of the index finger down through the heel along the back of the glove. Position dictates size more than age does — a 10-year-old playing third base needs a different glove than a 10-year-old playing the outfield. Here's the chart Carlos's academy uses.
Size by position
| Position | Size range | Why this size |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | 11.50" – 12.00" | Closed web hides the grip from the batter. Smaller than infield to keep the glove quick out of the bag. |
| Catcher | 32.50" – 34.00" | Catcher's mitts are measured by circumference, not length. Bigger pocket = more reliable framing on borderline pitches. |
| First base | 12.50" – 13.00" | Mitt-style scoop with no individual fingers. Long pocket for digging throws out of the dirt. |
| Middle infield (2B / SS) | 11.25" – 11.75" | Smaller and shallower for the fastest ball-to-throw transfer. Shortstops typically run 11.50"–11.75". |
| Third base | 11.75" – 12.00" | Bigger than middle infield. Hot-corner reaction needs a deeper pocket and more glove on the backhand. |
| Outfield | 12.50" – 13.00" | Long deep pocket for catching fly balls cleanly + extra reach on diving plays. H-web or trapeze for sun-shielding. |
| Utility (multi-position) | 11.75" | The do-everything size. Big enough for the outfield in a pinch, small enough for the infield. The most common size at Kachi Baseball. |
Size by age — adjust within the position range above
| Age | Common league | Recommended size |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 5–7 | Tee Ball / Coach Pitch | 10.00" – 10.50" |
| Ages 8–10 | Little League Minors | 10.50" – 11.50" |
| Ages 11–13 | Little League Majors / Travel | 11.00" – 11.75" |
| Ages 13–16 | Babe Ruth / Travel / Junior High | 11.50" – 12.00" (position-driven) |
| Ages 16+ | High school / College / Adult | Position chart above (full adult size) |
"Don't size up just because you can. A glove that's too big is harder to close and slower out of the pocket. Buy the size that fits the position you actually play."
Web styles by position
- I-web (open): middle infield. Lightest, most ventilated, lets dirt fall through.
- H-web (open): outfield, third base, sometimes pitcher. Strong, sun-shielding, deep pocket.
- Trapeze (open): outfield. Deepest pocket of all standard webs — best for tracking fly balls.
- Modified trap: any position. Half-open, half-closed — most popular MLB pattern.
- Two-piece closed: pitcher. Hides grip, very stiff, holds shape.
- Basket / one-piece closed: pitcher, sometimes third base. Compact, deepest closed-web pocket.
- Catcher's mitt (full closed): catcher. No web slot — solid leather face for framing.
- First base scoop: first base. Long single-piece web for stretching and scooping.
How to measure your current glove
- Lay the glove flat, palm-up.
- Run a soft tape measure from the tip of the index finger straight down through the deepest part of the pocket to the heel of the glove on the back side.
- That number — in inches — is your size. Most gloves also have it stamped on the thumb or pinky.
- For catcher's mitts, measure the circumference around the outside edge of the mitt — typically 32.5"–34".
Right-hand throw vs left-hand throw
If you throw with your right hand, you wear the glove on your left hand. That's a "right-hand throw" (RHT) glove. Left-handed throwers wear the glove on the right hand — a "left-hand throw" (LHT). Catchers and first basemen who throw left-handed are rare; most positions are available in both.
Still not sure?
Read the Kachi Fitting Guide for the full hand-stall and break-point walkthrough, or the Custom Glove Process page for how to spec a build.