Softball Glove Size Chart by Age (Fastpitch, 8U to 14U)
Most fastpitch players from about 8 to 11 fit a softball glove between 10.5 and 12 inches, and from about 12 up they move to 12 to 12.5 inches, longer for outfield and first base. That is where two brand charts land. Nike’s puts softball “all positions” at 11 to 12 inches for ages 8 to 11 and 12 to 12.5 inches for 12 and up. Rawlings sizes by position: youth fastpitch infield 10.5 to 11 inches, youth outfield 11 to 11.5. Start with your daughter’s hand and the squeeze test below, not the age on the box.
The softball glove size chart by age
Two brands, side by side, because they do not print the same numbers. The Nike column comes from its fielding glove size chart; the Rawlings column from its glove sizing chart, which describes itself as “a general guide.”
| Age | Nike: softball, all positions | Rawlings: fastpitch by position | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 8 (tee ball) | No softball row | No softball row | Use a t-ball glove; see below |
| 8 to 11 | 11”–12” | Youth infield 10.5”–11”, youth outfield 11”–11.5” | Small hands sit at 10.5–11 |
| 12 and up | 12”–12.5” | Adult infield 11.5”–12”, adult outfield and 1st base 12”–13” | The jump to an adult pattern |
Read the two columns together and a nine-year-old with average hands lands around 11 inches on both charts. The disagreement is at the edges: Rawlings lets a small-handed youth infielder go down to 10.5, and Nike’s single softball row never goes below 11. When the charts disagree, the squeeze test decides.
The by-age question I would ask myself first: is she 12 yet, or about to move up? That is where both brands step up a size, and it is the year buying big feels most tempting.
Under 8: there is no softball row yet
Neither brand prints a softball size for tee ball. At that age, a general youth glove is the answer. Rawlings lists tee ball at 8.5 to 10 inches for ages 3 to 6, and Nike’s baseball chart has 10 to 10.5 inches for ages 6 to 7. Our baseball glove size chart covers those rows, and the advice is the same: favor small and soft, because a weak hand has to close it.
Why softball gloves step up at 12: the ball gets bigger
The jump in both charts lines up with the ball. Little League’s approved ball list says “11-Inch Softballs are used by Tee Ball and Minor League Softball players” and “12-Inch Softballs are used by Little League (Majors), Junior, and Senior Softball Players.” That is the simplest reason softball sizes run longer than baseball sizes at the same age.
Two cautions. First, the move to the Majors ball depends on the division, not the birthday, so check which ball her team uses this season. Second, travel and club organizations run their own rules, and your league’s equipment notes win over any chart.
Fastpitch, slowpitch, or a baseball glove?
Buy fastpitch. Every youth softball glove in the Rawlings chart is a fastpitch glove. Slowpitch rows on the same chart are adult only and much bigger: 12 to 13 inches for infield and 12.5 to 14 for outfield. A slowpitch glove handed down from a parent’s rec league is a size too big for most girls under 14.
A baseball glove in a pinch. At the youngest levels, a general youth glove is fine. Once she is catching a full-size softball in Majors, a glove built for softball holds it better. If she already owns a baseball glove that closes easily, there is no rush to replace it before spring.
Position sizing, once positions are real
Below about 10U, most teams rotate positions, so buy one all-purpose glove from the age chart. Once she has a position, Rawlings’ rows are the useful ones:
| Position | Youth fastpitch | Adult fastpitch |
|---|---|---|
| Infield | 10.5”–11” | 11.5”–12” |
| Outfield | 11”–11.5” | 12”–13” (with 1st base) |
Outfield gloves run longer for reach; infield gloves run shorter for a quick transfer to the throwing hand. First base mitts and catcher’s mitts are separate tools. A catcher’s mitt is measured around the outside, not from tip to heel, which is why its number looks so big. Until she is the team’s regular catcher, the league or team usually has one.
The fit test that beats both charts
Wilson’s guide to choosing a glove puts the whole test in two sentences: “If a player can easily and successfully squeeze the glove closed, they should be able to use that glove. If a player struggles to close the glove, try a smaller glove.” It adds a second check: if the glove feels like it will “slide off their hand when his or her arm is down by their side,” the glove or its hand opening is too large.
In the store, run all of it:
- Hand all the way in. Fingers to the ends of the stalls.
- One-hand squeeze. It closes with her own hand. No helper hand, no grimace.
- Arm down, shake. The glove stays on.
- Ball in the pocket. A softball sits in the pocket, not in the heel.
- Ten easy tosses. Then ask where it feels wrong. “Heavy” means size down.
Same scouting report as the baseball version: the most common mistake at the register is a glove bought to grow into. A glove she cannot close drops the ball, and our catching progression only works when the glove closes.
A worked example
For the 8-to-11 range, the worked example is the Mizuno Prospect Finch youth softball glove in 11 inches. It is a youth softball line, and 11 inches sits inside both brands’ charts for that age. Choose the throwing hand carefully on the listing. A “right-hand throw” glove goes on the left hand, and the same mistake happens in softball as in baseball.
Named alternatives worth trying on: youth fastpitch lines from Rawlings, Wilson and Easton. Try a few on in the store, because hand shape varies more than age does.
The top-end leather glove is wasted on a hand that grows every few months. If the bat is next on the list, our softball bat size chart covers length, drop and the stamp.
What to skip
- Buying a size up “to grow into.” Both charts already step up at 12. Buy for this season’s hand.
- A slowpitch glove for a fastpitch player. Wrong pattern, wrong size.
- An adult glove for a 9-year-old. Even if a teammate’s big sister swears by it.
- A catcher’s mitt before she is the catcher.
FAQ: softball glove sizes
What size softball glove for an 8 year old?
Start around 11 inches. Nike’s softball chart begins at 11 inches for ages 8 to 11, and Rawlings’ youth infield row goes down to 10.5 for smaller hands.
What size softball glove for a 10 year old?
Around 11 to 11.5 inches. Infielders can go a little shorter and outfielders a little longer, within Rawlings’ youth fastpitch rows.
What size softball glove for a 12 year old?
Nike moves softball to 12 to 12.5 inches at 12 and up, and Rawlings’ adult fastpitch rows start at 11.5 for infield. Expect to land around 12 inches, especially once she plays with the 12-inch ball.
Are softball gloves bigger than baseball gloves?
At the same age, usually yes, because the ball is bigger. Little League uses an 11-inch softball through Minor League and a 12-inch ball from Majors up.
How do I know if a softball glove is too big?
She cannot squeeze it closed with one hand, it slides off when her arm hangs down, or the ball keeps landing in the heel. Any one of those means size down.
