Ski Size Calculator

How ski length is chosen

Ski length guides from retailers and manufacturers share one idea: ski length tracks your height, then shifts up or down for ability, weight and terrain. Beginners are often placed on skis that reach roughly between the chin and the nose, because shorter skis turn more easily. Stronger skiers move up toward the forehead or the top of the head, which adds stability at speed. This calculator turns that idea into percentages of your height. Treat the result as a shopping range that narrows your search, not as one exact answer, and expect a rental shop to suggest a length within a few centimeters.

Here is a worked example with the defaults. A 70-inch skier is 178 cm tall. An intermediate skier uses 90 to 96 percent of height, which is about 160 to 171 cm. Weight of 170 pounds is close to the average for that height, so no adjustment is made, and all-mountain terrain adds nothing. The suggested length is about 166 cm. Change the ability to advanced and the range moves up by roughly 9 cm.

Terrain and weight adjust the result. Powder skis are often chosen longer, so this tool adds 6 cm, while terrain park skis are often shorter, so it subtracts 6 cm. Weight moves the range by up to 5 cm either way, because heavier skiers flex a ski more. Skis are sold in set lengths, often every 3 to 7 cm, so you will round to the nearest size. Different brands also size differently, so read the manufacturer's chart for the model you want.

Skis are only half the fit. Your boots control the ski, so work out your size with the ski boot size finder and convert sizes with the ski boot mondopoint converter. If you are choosing between skis and a snowboard, try the snowboard size calculator, then price the trip in the ski trip cost calculator.

Where these numbers come from

The formulas and default values in this calculator are based on:

• Common retailer and manufacturer ski-length rules of thumb (chin-to-forehead guidance by ability)
• Arithmetic from your inputs. Note: the percentage bands are a simplified model built from those rules of thumb, not a manufacturer chart, and no retailer page was opened in this build

This is a planning estimate, not medical, legal or immigration advice. Fees, allowances, limits and entry rules change, so confirm the figures with your airline, cruise line, customs agency or the official government source before you book or travel, and follow their rules if they differ from this page.