What size skis do I need: ski length by height

How long should my skis be?

Ski length starts from your height: an intermediate skier goes from 5 cm (2 in) shorter than their height up to their height, a beginner from 15 to 5 cm shorter, an expert from their height up to 5 cm longer. These are the bands of K2's chart at the most common heights (5'4" to 6', 163-183 cm), and they agree with Atomic's rule of thumb: beginners around the chin, experts at their own height or above.

The type of ski moves the range. On-piste skis (frontside skis in US shops) go 5 cm shorter: K2 says 2 to 5 cm shorter for groomers, Atomic 5 to 10. Freeride skis go 5 cm longer, and touring skis 5 cm shorter, as Atomic suggests for its touring range. If you enter your weight, the calculator adds 3 cm when your BMI is 25 or more (the WHO overweight threshold) and takes 3 cm off below 18.5. K2 gives 1 to 3 cm either way for skiers heavier or lighter than average.

Kids use Nordica's junior chart: the ski should reach between the chest and the nose, with a 10 cm band for each height. Beginners sit in the short half, stronger skiers in the long half.

Poles are 70% of your height, as LEKI suggests, rounded to the nearest size sold (5 cm steps). Freeride poles get 5 cm more. You can change every adjustment in the advanced options.

A worked example

In feet and inches (US). The calculator opens with an intermediate all-mountain skier 5'10" tall (177.8 cm), weight left out.

• Intermediate band: 177.8 - 5 = 172.8 cm up to 177.8 cm, rounded
• Skis: 173-178 cm (skis are sold in centimeters in the US too)
• Poles: 177.8 × 0.70 = 124.5 cm, nearest size 125 cm, sold as 50"

At 200 lb (BMI 28.7) the same skier moves up to 176-181 cm.

In metres (UK). At 1.80 m, intermediate, all-mountain: 175-180 cm skis and 125 cm poles (180 × 0.70 = 126 cm). With on-piste skis the range drops to 170-175 cm; with freeride skis it rises to 180-185 cm and the poles to 130 cm.

Ski size chart by height and level

All-mountain skis, weight left out. Ski lengths in cm.

Height	Beginner	Intermediate	Expert
5'2"	142-152	152-157	157-162
5'4"	148-158	158-163	163-168
5'6"	153-163	163-168	168-173
5'8"	158-168	168-173	173-178
5'10"	163-173	173-178	178-183
6'0"	168-178	178-183	183-188
6'2"	173-183	183-188	188-193

Poles: 44" (110 cm) at 5'2", 46" (115 cm) at 5'4" and 5'6", 48" (120 cm) at 5'8", 50" (125 cm) at 5'10", 52" (130 cm) at 6' and 6'2".

Kids skis, intermediate level (Nordica chart): 70-80 cm at 3'3" (100 cm), 90-100 cm at 3'7" (110 cm), 100-110 cm at 3'11" (120 cm), 110-120 cm at 4'3" (130 cm), 120-130 cm at 4'7" (140 cm), 140-150 cm at 4'11" (150 cm).

Ski and pole sizes in the shops

Each ski model comes in a handful of lengths. Pick the one inside your range; if none falls inside, beginners and skiers who like short turns take the nearest shorter one, fast skiers and those who ski off-piste the longer one. Nordica recommends sizing up on skis with a lot of rocker, since they touch the snow over a shorter length.

Fixed poles come in 5 cm steps. US shops label them in inches, 2 inches for every 5 cm (Vermont Ski and Sport: 46" = 115 cm, 48" = 120 cm, 50" = 125 cm). Some US charts give a size shorter than the 70% rule: Vermont Ski and Sport puts 5'10" to 6'0" on 48". For touring, get adjustable poles you can shorten for the climb. To check the length in the shop, stand the pole upright on the floor and hold the grip: your elbow should bend at about 90°.

Common mistakes

• Buying skis to grow into. Nordica advises against going longer than a child's range: long skis are harder to turn.
• Measuring with shoes on. Take your height barefoot: shoes already add 1 to 2 cm, as Alpinstore's LEKI size guide notes.
• Buying expert-length skis as a beginner. Short skis are easier to maneuver at low speed, long ones are steadier at high speed: K2 and Atomic match them to different levels.
• Using one length for every kind of ski. The same skier needs shorter on-piste skis and longer freeride skis.
• Choosing poles by formula alone. If the result falls between two sizes, the elbow check in the shop decides.