About the Ski Size Calculator
This ski size calculator recommends a ski length in centimetres from four things that matter most: your height, your weight, how well you ski and where you like to ski. It returns a single starting length and a sensible range either side, the length in inches, and where the ski tip should reach when the ski stands upright beside you.
It is meant for adult skiers buying or renting alpine skis — first-timers wondering whether to go short, intermediates moving up from rentals and experienced skiers comparing a carving ski with a powder ski. The chart below shows recommended lengths across a range of heights for the ability and terrain you choose.
The method follows the rule of thumb used in ski shops: beginners ski roughly chin-to-nose height, intermediates around the nose to eyebrows, and advanced and expert skiers around the forehead or slightly above the head. Lighter skiers, carving and park skis go shorter; heavier skiers and powder skis go longer. Rocker profiles and manufacturer size runs vary, so treat the result as a starting point and check the brand’s size chart.
With the default inputs, the recommended ski length is 170 cm. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the ski size calculator
- 1Choose metric or imperial units.
- 2Enter your height and weight.
- 3Pick the ability level that honestly matches how you ski now.
- 4Choose the terrain you ski most often.
- 5Use the recommended length as your target and shop within the suggested range.
Formula and method
The starting point is your height in centimetres. Ability sets the main offset: beginners −15 cm (chin to nose), intermediates −8 cm (nose to eyebrows), advanced −2 cm (forehead) and experts +3 cm (around the top of the head). Shorter skis turn more easily; longer skis are faster and more stable.
Terrain then adjusts the length: −5 cm for carving on groomers or park skiing, −3 cm for touring (lighter and easier kick turns), and +5 cm for powder and freeride for more float. Weight is checked through BMI: under 18.5 takes off 5 cm and 27 or above adds 5 cm, because a heavier skier bends a ski more. The ±5 cm range reflects normal personal preference and the size steps manufacturers use.
- height
- Skier height in cm (ft/in converted at 2.54 cm per inch)
- ability offset
- −15 beginner, −8 intermediate, −2 advanced, +3 expert
- terrain offset
- −5 groomers/park, −3 touring, 0 all-mountain, +5 powder
- weight offset
- −5 if BMI < 18.5, +5 if BMI ≥ 27, otherwise 0
Worked examples
178 cm, 75 kg intermediate, all-mountain
A BMI of 75 ÷ 1.78² = 23.7 needs no weight adjustment, all-mountain adds nothing, and intermediate takes off 8 cm: 178 − 8 = 170 cm. The suggested range is 165–175 cm, which reaches about nose to eyebrow height.
5 ft 4 in, 120 lb beginner on groomers
64 inches is 162.6 cm and 120 lb is 54.4 kg, a BMI of about 20.6 (no weight change). Beginner −15 cm and groomers −5 cm give 162.6 − 20 = 142.6, rounded to a 143 cm ski, with 138–148 cm as the range.
185 cm, 95 kg expert skiing powder
A BMI of 95 ÷ 1.85² = 27.8 adds 5 cm, expert adds 3 cm and powder adds 5 cm: 185 + 13 = 198 cm. A range of 193–203 cm covers most freeride models.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know what size skis to get?+
Start from your height: beginners usually ski a length between chin and nose, intermediates around nose to eyebrow, and advanced skiers around forehead height or a little taller. Then go shorter if you are light or love carving and longer if you are heavy or ski powder.
Should beginners use shorter skis?+
Yes. Shorter skis are easier to turn, stop and control at low speed, so most beginners ski 10–20 cm shorter than their height. As you get faster and more confident you can move up in length for stability.
Does weight matter more than height for ski length?+
Weight determines how much you bend (flex) the ski, so it matters a lot. A light skier on a long, stiff ski will struggle to turn it, while a heavy skier on a short ski can overpower it. That is why this calculator adjusts for weight as well as height.
Are powder skis longer than all-mountain skis?+
Usually, yes. Powder and freeride skis are often chosen 5–10 cm longer for float and stability, and their rockered tips mean they feel shorter on snow than their measured length.
What length skis for park and freestyle?+
Park skiers often choose skis about 5 cm shorter than their all-mountain length, because shorter skis are lighter to spin, easier to press on rails and quicker to manoeuvre in the terrain park.
Can I use this calculator for children?+
It is designed for teens and adults. Children’s skis are usually sized from chest to chin height depending on ability, and growth should be taken into account; ask the shop for a junior size chart.