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A regulation soccer goal for 11v11 play is 8 ft high by 24 ft wide (8 yd), measured from the inside of the posts and the underside of the crossbar. Youth small-sided goals step down from there: 4 ft x 6 ft for 4v4, 6.5 ft x 18.5 ft for 7v7, and 7 ft x 21 ft for 9v9, while futsal uses a 6 ft 7 in x 9 ft 10 in (2 m x 3 m) goal. This guide lays out each size by age group and match format, explains how the dimensions are measured, and covers the space, net and anchoring details that matter before you buy.
The table below summarizes the standard soccer goal size by age under the US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer small-sided standards, plus the full-size goal used by FIFA, NCAA and NFHS high school play. All heights and widths are interior measurements.
| Format | Age group | Goal height | Goal width | Governing standard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4v4 | U6 to U8 | 4 ft | 6 ft | US Youth Soccer / US Club Soccer |
| 7v7 | U9 to U10 | 6.5 ft | 18.5 ft | US Youth Soccer / US Club Soccer |
| 9v9 | U11 to U12 | 7 ft | 21 ft | US Youth Soccer / US Club Soccer |
| 11v11 | U13 and older | 8 ft | 24 ft (8 yd) | FIFA, NCAA, NFHS, US Youth Soccer |
| Futsal | All ages | 6 ft 7 in (2 m) | 9 ft 10 in (3 m) | FIFA futsal |
If your league follows a different progression, its rulebook takes priority over this table. Some leagues shift the age cutoffs by a year in either direction, so confirm the format your players will use before ordering.
Small-sided formats exist so that young players get more touches on the ball, more shots and more decisions per game. A smaller goal matches a smaller field and a smaller goalkeeper. A U8 keeper cannot cover a 24 ft goal, and a full-size goal turns every shot into a likely score rather than a contest.
The progression from 4v4 to 11v11 also lets the goal grow at roughly the same pace as the players. Each step adds height and width so that by U13 the players are shooting at, and defending, the same 8 x 24 ft target they will see for the rest of their careers.
The full-size regulation soccer goal is the one number most people know: 8 ft high and 24 ft wide, which equals 8 yd across. This is the goal used in FIFA international play, NCAA college soccer, NFHS high school soccer and 11v11 youth play at U13 and older.
Both dimensions are interior measurements. The 24 ft width is taken from the inside of one post to the inside of the other, and the 8 ft height is taken from the ground to the underside of the crossbar. This detail matters when you compare products. A goal advertised by its outside frame dimensions will have a smaller opening than the rules require.
The rules also govern the posts and crossbar themselves. Posts and crossbar must be the same width, no more than 5 in (12 cm), and they must be white. A goal with round, square or elliptical posts is acceptable as long as the width stays within that limit and matches between the posts and the crossbar.
Depth is the one dimension the rulebooks leave open. A typical 8 x 24 ft competition goal has about 4 ft of top depth and 8 ft of bottom depth, but the depth is not regulated and varies by model. Deeper goals hold the net farther from the goal line, which keeps the ball from rebounding off the netting into the keeper. Shallower goals take up less room and are easier to move and store.
Each small-sided format pairs a goal size with a specific age band. Here is how the youth soccer goal size progression works in practice.
The smallest standard goal is 4 ft high and 6 ft wide. At this age, most leagues play without a dedicated goalkeeper, so the goal is deliberately small to keep scores reasonable and to reward accurate shooting rather than power. These goals are light enough for one adult to carry and are usually the first size a club or family buys.
The jump to 7v7 introduces goalkeepers and a much wider goal at 6.5 ft high by 18.5 ft wide. The extra width gives keepers something realistic to cover while the reduced height keeps the crossbar within reach of a U9 or U10 player. This is the size most often missing from club inventories, because it does not match the common recreational 6 x 18 ft goal exactly.
The 9v9 goal is 7 ft high by 21 ft wide. It is close enough to full size that players start to develop realistic shooting angles and keepers learn proper positioning, but it is still scaled down for a smaller field. The 7 x 21 ft size is also a common recreational and training size, so it is easy to find in portable models.
From U13 on, players move to the full 8 x 24 ft goal. This is the same goal used at the high school, college and professional levels, so there is no further change in target size as players age up.
Futsal is played indoors on a hard court, and its goal is sized differently from any outdoor format. A futsal goal is 6 ft 7 in high by 9 ft 10 in wide, which corresponds to 2 m x 3 m. It is taller than a 4v4 goal but far narrower than a 7v7 goal, which suits the fast, tight passing game futsal is designed for.
Futsal goals are commonly labeled as 2 m x 3 m rather than in feet and inches; either label refers to the same goal. Facilities that host both futsal and outdoor training will need separate goals, since no outdoor youth size shares the futsal footprint.
Outside of sanctioned matches, manufacturers sell a handful of common recreational and training sizes. Some of these match an official format and some do not. The table below shows how each common size lines up with the official soccer goal dimensions.
| Common size | Matches an official format? | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 6 x 12 ft | No official match | Backyard play, shooting drills, small-group training |
| 6 x 18 ft | Close to 7v7 (6.5 x 18.5 ft) but not exact | Practice, recreational leagues that do not require exact sizing |
| 7 x 21 ft | Yes, 9v9 (U11 to U12) | 9v9 matches, training for older youth |
| 8 x 24 ft | Yes, 11v11 regulation | Matches for U13 and up, high school, college |
| 4 x 6 ft | Yes, 4v4 (U6 to U8) | 4v4 matches, home use, finishing drills |
The key thing to notice is the 6 x 18 ft goal. It is popular and inexpensive, but it is half a foot short in both height and width compared to the 6.5 x 18.5 ft goal the 7v7 standard calls for. For practice that is rarely a problem. For sanctioned 7v7 matches, buy the exact 6.5 x 18.5 ft size.
Soccer goal nets are described by two numbers: mesh size and twine thickness. Mesh is commonly 4 in square, which is small enough to stop a soccer ball in every format from 4v4 to 11v11. Twine thickness commonly runs from 2 mm to 4 mm, with thicker twine used for competition and club goals that see daily use and weather exposure.
Net dimensions have to match the goal frame, including its depth. A net sized for a goal with 4 ft of top depth and 8 ft of bottom depth will not fit a shallower training goal, and a net cut for a shallow frame will be stretched tight and tear on a deep one. When you replace a net, measure the frame height, width, top depth and bottom depth before ordering.
Portable goal frames are commonly aluminum or steel. Aluminum is lighter, which makes it the usual choice for goals that get moved between fields, folded for storage or carried by coaches and parents. Steel is heavier and is more common in permanent installations where the goal stays in one place and weight is an advantage rather than a burden.
Either material works for any size in this guide, so the decision comes down to how often the goal will move and how many people will be moving it.
Every movable soccer goal must be anchored or counterweighted at all times. This is not optional and it is not limited to game day. ASTM F2056 and CPSC guidance both call for movable goals to be secured whenever they are in place, including during practice and while stored on the field, and NFHS requires goals to be anchored for high school play.
Unanchored goals can tip forward when a player hangs on the crossbar or when wind catches the net. Anchoring options include ground stakes, augers, sandbags and counterweight bags, and the right choice depends on the surface. Turf and hard surfaces usually call for weights, while natural grass allows staked or augered anchors.
Choosing a goal size is only part of the job. The goal has to fit the field, the markings around it and the space behind it.
On a full-size field, the penalty area extends 18 yd from the goal line and the goal area extends 6 yd. Both are measured from the goal line outward into the field, and the goal itself sits centered on the goal line between the posts. The 24 ft goal width fits inside the goal area with room on either side, so the goal area markings should be laid out relative to the goal posts rather than the other way around.
Small-sided field markings vary by league, so use your league's field diagram for 4v4, 7v7 and 9v9 layouts.
Goal depth determines how much space you need behind the goal line. A typical competition 8 x 24 ft goal has about 8 ft of bottom depth, so the back of the goal sits roughly 8 ft behind the goal line. Add room behind that for the net to give, for keepers to retrieve balls and for spectators to stand clear. The exact runoff distance behind the goal varies by league and venue.
Also account for the 4 ft of top depth. The back bar of the goal projects rearward at crossbar height, which matters where a goal sits near a fence, wall or netting system. Measure the space from the goal line back to any obstruction and compare it against the bottom depth of the specific model you are buying, since depth is not regulated and differs between goals.
If goals come off the field between sessions, plan a storage spot that fits your largest frame. Folding youth goals reduce the footprint, but every goal should be re-anchored the moment it returns to the field.
The dimensions in this article come from the FIFA Laws of the Game for the full-size and futsal goals, the NCAA soccer rules and NFHS soccer rules for college and high school play, and the US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer small-sided standards for 4v4, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11 formats. Anchoring requirements come from ASTM F2056, CPSC movable goal safety guidance and the NFHS rulebook. Always confirm current requirements with your own league or sanctioning body before purchasing, since local rules can differ.
Browse our full range of soccer goals in every size covered here, from 4 x 6 ft to full 8 x 24 ft. For youth clubs and families, see our portable folding youth goals that set up quickly and store flat. Programs that need match-ready 8 x 24 ft goals with regulation posts and anchoring can shop official tournament and competition goals. And for complete setups with replacement nets, anchors and backstop netting, visit our soccer goals and netting systems collection.
A full-size regulation goal is 8 ft high by 24 ft wide (8 yd), measured from the inside of the posts and the underside of the crossbar. FIFA, NCAA, NFHS and 11v11 youth play all use this size.
U6 to U8 players use 4v4 goals that are 4 ft high by 6 ft wide under US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer small-sided standards.
7v7 goals for U9 to U10 are 6.5 ft x 18.5 ft. 9v9 goals for U11 to U12 are 7 ft x 21 ft.
A futsal goal is 6 ft 7 in high by 9 ft 10 in wide, which is 2 m x 3 m.
The 7v7 standard calls for 6.5 ft x 18.5 ft, so a 6 x 18 ft goal is half a foot short in both dimensions. It works for practice, but buy the exact size for sanctioned matches.
Depth is not regulated and varies by model. A typical 8 x 24 ft competition goal has about 4 ft of top depth and 8 ft of bottom depth.
Yes. ASTM F2056 and CPSC guidance call for all movable goals to be anchored or counterweighted at all times, and NFHS requires goals to be anchored for high school play.
