Baseball Glove Size Chart (2026): The Right Size by Age AND Position

Glove size is measured in inches from the heel of the glove to the top of the fingers — and the right number comes from two lookups, not one: the player's age (hand size and closing strength) and, from about 10 up, the position they field (middle infielders want small and quick; outfielders want long and deep). Both charts are below, one screenshot each.

One rule before the tables, because it causes half the returns we hear about: the glove is worn on the non-throwing hand. "Right Hand Throw (RHT)" means the player throws right and wears the glove on the left. Check the player, then the listing, then order.

Verified picks in every band: the youth glove guide (sized by age, with easy-close options for small hands).

Position deep-dives: infield · outfield · first base · catcher. Note the catcher trap: mitts are measured by circumference, so "32 inches" on a catcher's mitt and "12 inches" on a fielding glove describe completely different gloves.

1. The close test: the player must squeeze the glove fully shut with their glove hand alone. Can't close it = wrong glove, whatever the chart said. (Easy-close youth models exist for exactly this — they're in the youth guide.)
2. One size step at a time: a glove bought two sizes up flops open and teaches drops. Size for this season.
3. Youth pattern ≠ short adult glove: youth gloves have smaller hand openings and shorter finger stalls — an 11.5" youth and 11.5" adult fit differently. Match the pattern to the age.
4. Real leather needs real break-in: plan a few weeks of catch before game day — the break-in guide covers it (and what never to do: ovens and heavy oil).

A lefty thrower wears the glove on the right hand — buy "Left Hand Throw (LHT)" — and inventory is thinner, so order early in the season. Two position notes: lefties have a genuine edge at first base (the LHT first-base mitt selection is good for exactly that reason), and traditionally don't play 2B/SS/3B/C as they advance — worth knowing before investing in a position-specific glove. Full lefty-friendly picks are flagged throughout the glove guides.

The web — the leather between thumb and fingers — is position equipment, not decoration:

Youth translation: below 10U ignore this chart entirely (easy-close beats web choice); from 11U, match the web to the primary position — and note pitchers specifically WANT closed webs so hitters can't peek the grip (the same information battle electronic calling fights at the sign level).

The buying logic by age: entry tier for 5–8 (they outgrow before they wear out), the middle tier for 9–12 (real leather the player can actually close — every pick in the youth guide's core band lives here), pro hide only when hands stop growing (~14+) and the break-in becomes an investment instead of a delay. A $300 glove on a 10-year-old is a gift to whoever they hand it down to.

Fastpitch runs the same age logic with three differences: the ball is bigger (11" at 10U-and-under, 12" from 12U up), so gloves run about an inch larger with deeper pockets — typical fastpitch fielder sizes are 11.5"–12" infield and 12"–13" outfield — and fastpitch-specific patterns have narrower hand openings for smaller hands with bigger pockets for the ball. A baseball glove technically works but fights the 12" ball all season. The dedicated guides: fastpitch outfield · fastpitch first base · plus the rest of the fastpitch kit. Catchers: the catcher sizing chart's fastpitch section covers the mitt differences.

1. After wet games: towel off, air-dry at room temp — never a radiator, dryer, or truck bed. Heat is how leather dies young.
2. Monthly in-season: a pea-sized dab of conditioner worked into the pocket and laces. More is worse — heavy oil adds weight and rot.
3. Store with a ball in the pocket, glove wrapped or banded, somewhere climate-sane (not the garage in January, not the car in July).
4. Check the laces each month: pocket and web laces stretch and snap mid-season — a $8 lace kit and ten minutes beats a game with a blown web. Fraying = re-lace before it fails.
5. Off-season: clean, light condition, ball-in-pocket storage. A mid-tier glove treated this way genuinely delivers its 2–4 seasons; the care kit guide has the full toolkit.

Case 1 — First real glove, age 7 (tee-ball → coach pitch). Size: 10"–10.5" from the age chart. Priority: CAN THEY CLOSE IT — test in store or buy an easy-close model. Tier: entry ($25–$40); they'll outgrow it by 9. Web: irrelevant at this age. The youth guide's little-kid pick is built for exactly this buyer.

Case 2 — 11-year-old shortstop, travel ball. Size: 11.25"–11.5" (position chart wins now). Web: I-web for transfers. Tier: middle ($60–$90 oiled leather) — real pocket formation without a monster break-in. Confirm RHT, buy 3+ weeks before the season, break in with daily catch. The infield guide ranks the candidates.

Case 3 — 13-year-old moving from infield to outfield. Size: jump to 12.25"–12.5" — the position change matters more than the age bump. Web: H-web or trapeze for depth. Tier: middle-to-premium depending on commitment; this glove may last into high school, so pro hide starts making sense. The outfield guide plus a proper break-in gets it game-ready by opening day.