Can You Use an Indoor Basketball Outside? Ball Types and Sizes Explained

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You can use an indoor basketball outside, but you should not. Indoor balls have soft leather covers made for smooth hardwood, and rough asphalt or concrete scuffs the leather, dries it out and wears away the grip within a few sessions. For outdoor courts, use a rubber ball or an indoor/outdoor composite ball. The chart below shows which ball works best on every surface, plus the right size for every age.

Indoor vs. outdoor basketballs
Which basketball to use on every surface
Leather balls are made for gyms, composite balls work almost anywhere, and rubber balls are built for blacktop.
Surface Indoor leather Indoor/outdoor composite Outdoor rubber
Indoor hardwood gym Best Best OK
Indoor sport court tiles Best Best OK
Outdoor asphalt court Avoid OK Best
Outdoor concrete driveway Avoid OK Best
Rubberized outdoor court Short term Best Best
Wet or dusty outdoor court Avoid Short term Best
Basketball sizes by age
Size Circumference Who uses it
Size 7 29.5 in Men and boys 15 and older; NBA, NCAA men and high school boys
Size 6 28.5 in Women, girls 12 and older and boys 12 to 14; WNBA and NCAA women
Size 5 27.5 in Kids ages 9 to 11
Size 4 25.5 in Kids ages 5 to 8
Size 3 22 in Mini balls for ages 4 to 6 and toddlers
Size ranges vary slightly by league; check your league’s rules before buying.

Indoor, Composite and Outdoor Balls Compared

Ball Cover Pros and cons
Indoor leather Full grain leather Softest feel and best grip on hardwood; scuffs, dries out and loses grip fast on rough surfaces
Indoor/outdoor composite Synthetic leather Good grip indoors and holds up reasonably well outside; the best pick if you only buy one ball
Outdoor rubber Rubber Toughest cover and cheapest; harder feel and less grip indoors, but made for concrete and asphalt

How to Tell What Kind of Ball You Have

Check the ball’s printing. Most balls say “indoor,” “outdoor” or “indoor/outdoor” right on the panel. Leather balls usually say “genuine leather” and feel slick when new; composite balls say “composite” or “synthetic”; rubber balls are heavier, have deep pebbling and often have wider channels.

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Official ball specifications are in the NBA rulebook, and NFHS sets ball rules for high school basketball.