Kids' ski size chart
By the Sizemaven team. Checked against its sources October 14, 2026.
Kids' skis should stand between your child's chest and nose (evo). Cautious beginners go nearer the chest and confident kids nearer the nose. On evo's chart, a typical 8-year-old at 4'2" (127 cm) uses 110-120 cm skis, and a typical 12-year-old at 4'11" (149 cm) uses 135-145 cm. Size by height rather than age, and do not buy much longer to grow into.
- Ski height
- Chest to nose
- Age 6, 3'9"
- 95-105 cm
- Age 8, 4'2"
- 110-120 cm
- Age 12, 4'11"
- 135-145 cm
Kids' ski length by height and ability
Height sets the length and ability moves it within the chest-to-nose range. Shorter skis are easier to turn and stop, so a cautious beginner sits near the chest. A child who skis fast and confidently can go up toward the nose. This table uses the same rule as the ski size calculator: height minus 15 cm for cautious beginners, minus 10 cm for kids comfortable on blue runs, and minus 6 cm for fast, confident kids.
| Child height | Cautious beginner | Blue runs | Fast and confident |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 ft 4 in (102 cm) | 80-89 cm | 90-99 cm | 90-99 cm |
| 3 ft 7 in (109 cm) | 90-99 cm | 90-99 cm | 100-109 cm |
| 3 ft 10 in (117 cm) | 100-109 cm | 100-109 cm | 110-119 cm |
| 4 ft 2 in (127 cm) | 110-119 cm | 110-119 cm | 120-129 cm |
| 4 ft 5 in (135 cm) | 110-119 cm | 120-129 cm | 120-129 cm |
| 4 ft 8 in (142 cm) | 120-129 cm | 130-139 cm | 130-139 cm |
| 4 ft 11 in (150 cm) | 130-139 cm | 130-139 cm | 140-144 cm (adult ski) |
Weight changes the length a little. evo says a child who is light for their height should go shorter and a heavy child longer. The tool moves the length 3 cm when a child is more than 15% lighter or heavier than evo's typical weight for that height.
Age is only a rough guide
Charts by age assume a typical height for that age. evo's chart uses the 50th-percentile height, the middle height for each age, so half of all children are taller and half are shorter. Measure your child and use height when you can.
| Age | Typical height | Ski length |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3'4" (102 cm) | 80-90 cm |
| 5 | 3'7" (109 cm) | 90-100 cm |
| 6 | 3'9" (114 cm) | 95-105 cm |
| 7 | 3'11" (119 cm) | 100-110 cm |
| 8 | 4'2" (127 cm) | 110-120 cm |
| 9 | 4'5" (135 cm) | 115-125 cm |
| 10 | 4'7" (140 cm) | 120-130 cm |
| 11 | 4'9" (145 cm) | 130-140 cm |
| 12 | 4'11" (149 cm) | 135-145 cm |
| 13 | 5'2" (157 cm) | 140-150 cm |
| 14 | 5'5" (164 cm) | 150-160 cm |
Growing room versus control
Buying skis a size up so they last another season is tempting, but longer skis are harder for a child to turn and stop. evo advises against sizing kids' skis much bigger than the recommended range, and notes that boots and outerwear are the gear designed to allow for growth.
A practical way to plan: buy within the range for your child's height now, toward the longer end only if they are confident. INTERSPORT Rent suggests new skis once the current pair is more than 15 cm shorter than the recommended length.
Hand-me-down skis follow the same rule. Stand them beside your child and check that they fall between the chest and the nose.
Have a shop set your child's bindings
Have a ski shop mount, adjust and test your child's bindings. evo says bindings should always be mounted, adjusted, serviced and inspected by a certified binding technician. Bring your child's boots, because the shop sets the bindings to that boot.
- Junior ski boots do not fit adult bindings, according to evo, so a child in junior boots needs junior bindings.
- When your child gets new boots, take the skis and the new boots back to the shop. evo notes that a boot in the same Mondopoint size can still have a different sole length.
- For boot sizes, see the ski boot size chart. Junior boots use the same Mondopoint system, which is foot length in centimeters.
When a child moves to adult lengths
The tool's kids' lengths run up to 130-139 cm. Once the rule calls for 140 cm or more, the tool shows adult skis in your child's length. INTERSPORT Rent says moving to adult skis becomes possible from about 160 cm tall and 55 kg, so a child who needs an adult length may still be lighter than the skiers adult skis are made for. A shop can help you choose.
Questions
What size skis does a 6-year-old need?
evo's chart gives 95-105 cm for a typical 6-year-old at 3'9" (114 cm). Use your child's real height: the skis should stand between the chest and the nose, shorter for a cautious beginner.
Should I buy kids' skis a size bigger so they grow into them?
No. Longer skis are harder for a child to turn and stop. evo advises against sizing much past the recommended range. Choose the longer end of the range only for a confident skier.
Should kids' skis come up to the chin?
The chin is in the middle of the usual range. evo's range is chest to nose: beginners nearer the chest, kids comfortable on blue runs around the chin, and fast skiers toward the nose.
Does my child's weight change ski length?
A little. evo says to go shorter for a child who is light for their height and longer for a heavy child. The tool moves the length by 3 cm.
Who should set my child's ski bindings?
A ski shop. evo says bindings should always be mounted, adjusted and inspected by a certified binding technician. Bring the boots your child will ski in.
Sources
The numbers on this page come from the pages below. Brands differ, so check the size chart on the product page before you buy. Read our method