Buying a baseball glove sounds simple until you realize an 11-year-old shortstop, an 11-year-old pitcher, and an 11-year-old outfielder all need different sizes — and a catcher’s mitt isn’t measured the same way as any of them. Glove size affects everything from how quickly a fielder can transfer the ball to how easily a young player can squeeze the mitt closed. Buying too big is the most common mistake parents make, and it leads directly to dropped balls and bad mechanics.
The chart and table below combine recommendations from Rawlings, Wilson, and major glove retailers into one reference. Use the line chart to see how sizing scales as a player grows, then drop into the full table to find the exact range for your child’s age and position.
Contents
Baseball Glove Size Chart by Age & Position
Recommended glove sizes from T-ball through pro · Updated for 2026
How Glove Size Scales by Age & Position
Full Sizing Reference by Age & Position
| Age Group | Pitcher | Infield (2B/SS/3B) | Outfield | First Base | Catcher * |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ages 5–6 (T-ball) | 8.5″ – 10″ | 8.5″ – 10″ | 8.5″ – 10″ | 10″ – 11″ | 29.5″ – 30″ |
| Ages 7–8 | 10″ – 10.75″ | 10″ – 10.75″ | 10″ – 10.75″ | 11″ – 11.5″ | 30″ – 31″ |
| Ages 9–10 | 11″ – 11.5″ | 10.75″ – 11.25″ | 11″ – 11.75″ | 11.5″ – 12″ | 31″ – 32″ |
| Ages 11–12 | 11.5″ – 12″ | 11″ – 11.75″ | 11.75″ – 12.25″ | 12″ – 12.5″ | 32″ – 32.5″ |
| Ages 13–14 | 11.5″ – 12″ | 11.25″ – 11.75″ | 12″ – 12.75″ | 12″ – 12.75″ | 32″ – 33″ |
| Ages 15–18 (HS) | 11.75″ – 12″ | 11.25″ – 12″ | 12.5″ – 13″ | 12.5″ – 13″ | 32.5″ – 34″ |
| Adult / Pro | 11.75″ – 12″ | 11.25″ – 12″ | 12.5″ – 13″ | 12.5″ – 13″ | 32.5″ – 34.5″ |
* Catcher’s mitts are measured differently. Unlike fielder’s gloves, which are measured from the heel to the tip of the index finger, catcher’s mitts are measured by their outer circumference. That’s why a 33″ catcher’s mitt isn’t gigantic — it’s roughly equivalent in pocket size to a 12″ fielder’s glove.
Sizes reflect industry recommendations from Rawlings, Wilson, and major glove retailers. Glove sizes are typically etched into the thumb or pinky finger — check there before measuring.
How to Read the Chart
Glove size is measured in inches (except catcher’s mitts), running from the heel of the glove to the tip of the index finger. The size is etched into the leather on the thumb or pinky finger of every glove — if you already own one, look there first.
Three things change as a player gets older. Hand size grows, which is the obvious one — a 9-inch glove that fits a six-year-old will be useless on a teenager. Position specialization kicks in around age 9-10, which is when you’ll see the lines start to spread apart on the chart. Before that, most kids are using all-purpose gloves and rotating positions. After that, an outfielder needs deeper pockets to track fly balls while an infielder wants a smaller, quicker glove for fast transfers. The ball gets faster and harder, which means glove leather and padding need to keep up.
Position Tips That Don’t Fit on the Chart
Pitchers should always use a closed-web glove, regardless of size. The closed web hides grip changes from the batter — an open-web glove will let a sharp-eyed hitter see whether you’re throwing a fastball or a curve. Pitcher gloves are also the only position with color restrictions: predominantly white or gray gloves are illegal at most levels because they create distractions during the pitching motion.
First basemen use a mitt, not a glove — there’s no individual finger separation, and the pocket has a scooped shape designed to dig balls out of the dirt. Don’t try to play first base with a regular fielder’s glove; the mechanics are completely different.
Catchers are the biggest outlier on the chart. Their mitts are measured by circumference (the distance around the outer edge), which is why the numbers look so much bigger — a 33-inch mitt isn’t three times the size of an 11-inch glove. The reason for circumference measurement is that catchers need maximum receiving surface, not catching depth.
Middle infielders (second base and shortstop) tend to go as small as the rules allow. Speed of transfer is everything in the middle infield, and a quarter-inch can be the difference between turning a double play and missing it. Third basemen, on the other hand, want a bit more padding because they see the hardest-hit balls in the infield.
The Single Biggest Mistake
Buying a glove for a kid to “grow into” is the most common — and most damaging — sizing error. A glove that’s too big is impossible for a young hand to close properly, which means the ball pops out of the pocket on routine catches. Worse, the player learns to compensate with bad habits: lunging at the ball, two-handing everything, or angling the glove awkwardly. Those habits stick around long after the glove finally fits. The right size now beats the right size in two years, every time. Most quality leather gloves last three to five years of regular play anyway, so a properly-fitted glove will see plenty of use before it’s outgrown.