Soccer Field Dimensions: Size, Markings & Goal Measurements

The size of a soccer field has been a contested question since the laws of the game were first written down in the 19th century — and to this day, two professional pitches can differ by as much as a quarter of an acre. This guide sets out the standard soccer field dimensions for professional, international and youth matches, the markings inside them, and the size of the goals.

Short answer: A regulation soccer field is 100–130 yards (90–120 m) long and 50–100 yards (45–90 m) wide, per the IFAB Laws of the Game. For senior international matches, FIFA narrows that to 110–120 yards (100–110 m) long and 70–80 yards (64–75 m) wide. The most common professional pitch size is around 115 × 75 yards (105 × 68 m). Goals are 8 yards (7.32 m) wide and 8 feet (2.44 m) tall.

Soccer Field Dimensions at a Glance

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game — Law 1: The Field of Play. Youth small-sided dimensions follow US Soccer player-development guidance and can vary by league.

How Big Is A Soccer Field?

Even though it's always in view whenever you're watching a game, the soccer field is arguably one of the most overlooked aspects of the sport. Dimensions, markings, surface; all these things are super important. But how big is a typical soccer field?

Both length and width must be taken into account. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which is the governing body that writes the rules of soccer, states that "a field must be rectangular and marked with continuous lines. A full-size pitch may be anywhere from 50-100 yards in width and 100-130 yards in length."

But the international governing body FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) gets a little more specific. According to them, a regulation soccer field is between 110 and 120 yards long, and 70 to 80 yards wide.

The optimum soccer field size is 360 feet long (120 yards) by 225 feet wide (75 yards), although as these regulations highlight, pitches can vary in size all over the world. For example, high school soccer field dimensions are often a little bit smaller, with youth soccer sides or amateur teams operating at a lower physical level than pro players. Meanwhile, the pitches at most of the world's greatest stadiums will be right at the top end of that spectrum.

It's also worth noting that the guidelines for an international soccer field are a little bit more strict. In order to ensure that all international matches are played on similar-sized fields, the laws state that pitches must be 70-80 yards wide, as opposed to the more lenient 50-100 yards wide. But what about pitch length?

How Long Is A Soccer Field?

International soccer field regulations state that a soccer field must be a minimum of 110 yards long and a maximum of 120 yards long. The more lenient FIFA standard for club soccer allows pitch lengths of between 100-130 yards.

At lower levels of the game, you may see soccer fields that are closer to 50m in length, although it's generally considered that the closer you can get to the soccer field dimensions used at the top level of the game, the better.

The length of a soccer field can have an impact on the styles of play utilized during the game, too. For instance, a short pitch can allow teams to play more long-balls, going direct to their forward players and bypassing the midfield. A smaller soccer field may also encourage a heightened use of attacking set-pieces like throw-ins and corners. Meanwhile, an especially large pitch can promote possession-based football and calm, methodical passing.

How Many Acres Is A Soccer Field?

As we've mentioned, soccer fields can vary in length, width, and overall size, despite the regulations that are in place to keep them within appropriate limits. In total, the average soccer field for adult play is typically around 81,000 square feet, which works out as 1.86 acres.

If that sounds like a lot, perhaps it will help you realize the levels of fitness and stamina that are required to play at a high standard. And it's not just the players — game officials like the Referee and the Assistant Referees also need to be able to charge around a regulation soccer field for long periods.

Before we move on to discussing how to find a soccer field in your local area, there are a few other points relating to soccer field dimensions that we should go into first.

Soccer Field Markings

The size of the pitch isn't the only thing that matters. The markings on a soccer pitch are also super important, whether that's the goal lines, the corner arc, markings inside the penalty box and the goal area. Without accurate and consistent pitch markings, the respective jobs of referees, assistant referees, players, and coaches would become impossible. So how exactly is a soccer field usually marked?

If you've ever watched a soccer game, you'll know that every field of play is marked out using white lines, which are typically marked manually using paint. All pitch markings are carefully measured: the outer lines, the halfway line, the penalty box markings, the center circle, and the corner markings.

The perimeter of a soccer field marks out the dimensions we discussed earlier on. The halfway line divides the field into two halves from touchline to touchline (the long side lines). In the exact middle of the pitch is the center mark (nine inches in diameter), which is surrounded by the center circle (10 yards in radius).

Let's move on to the penalty areas. The penalty area or 18 yard box, is a rectangular zone that extends 18 yards (16.5 m) out from the goal line, and 18 yards either side of each goalpost — making the box 44 yards wide overall. Twelve yards out from the center of the goal is the penalty spot (or penalty mark), on which players test their nerves whenever a penalty kick is awarded or a shootout occurs. During penalties, all players have to be 10 yards away from the ball (except the penalty taker), which brings us to our next key marking - "the D". This term refers to the arc along the top of the penalty area, which players must stand behind when a penalty is being taken. 

Our final key soccer field marking is another super important one: the 6 yard box. Drawn six yards (5.5 m) out from the goal line, and six yards from the inside of each goalpost — making the area 20 yards wide, this is a crucial reference point for both defenders and attackers. It's also the point at which goalkeepers will place the ball when they take goal-kicks.

And one more thing, while we're still situated in the goal mouth — soccer goals are supposed to be eight yards wide, measured between the inside of both posts. The crossbar should be eight feet (2.44 m) above the ground, measured at the lower edge of the crossbar. The posts and bar should be no wider than five inches.

How Big Is a Soccer Goal?

A regulation soccer goal is 8 yards (7.32 m) wide and 8 feet (2.44 m) tall, measured between the inside of the posts and to the lower edge of the crossbar. The posts and crossbar must be the same width and depth, and must not exceed five inches (12 cm). The corner arc — the quarter-circle marked in each corner of the field — has a 1-yard (1 m) radius. All of these measurements are set out in IFAB Law 1: The Field of Play.

How To Find a Soccer Field Near You

The fastest way to find a soccer field in your local area is a quick Google Maps search for “soccer fields near me” — the map view will show public parks, school grounds and dedicated pitches close to you. Local parks & recreation departments and your state or county soccer association are also useful starting points, especially for finding the right size of pitch for youth or small-sided games.

Grow Your Soccer Knowledge

If you want to understand the game beyond the pitch dimensions, our complete guide to soccer positions is a good place to start — it covers every role on the field and how the markings above shape what each player does. From there, our breakdown of the best soccer formations shows how teams arrange themselves within those dimensions.

For coaches and parents working with younger players, our guide to 9v9 soccer formations is built around the youth field sizes covered above. And if you’re newer to the laws of the game, our explainer on the soccer pass-back rule is one of the most commonly misunderstood points.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How big is a soccer field in feet?

A regulation soccer field is around 300–390 feet long and 150–300 feet wide (90–120 m by 45–90 m). The most common professional pitch is about 345 × 225 feet (115 × 75 yards / 105 × 68 m). Soccer goals are 24 feet wide and 8 feet tall (7.32 m by 2.44 m).

Are a soccer field and football field the same size?

Soccer fields are larger than football (or American football, for readers outside the US) fields, with the latter limited to 53 1/3 yards wide, while a soccer field is usually 75 yards wide.

What are the dimensions of a youth soccer field?

Youth field sizes follow small-sided guidelines from federations like US Soccer. Typical ranges: 4v4 (U6–U8) ~25–35 yd by 15–25 yd; 7v7 (U9–U10) ~47–50 yd by 30–35 yd; 9v9 (U11–U12) ~70–80 yd by 45–55 yd; and 11v11 (U13 and up) follows the full IFAB range. Exact dimensions can vary by league and venue.

What are the dimensions of the 6-yard box?

The 6-yard box (or goal area) measures 6 yards by 20 yards (5.5 m by 18.3 m). It extends 6 yards out from the goal line and 6 yards either side of each goalpost.

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