5-a-side pitch size
There's no single 5-a-side pitch size: the FA's small-sided laws give a range, and venues build what fits. If you've seen 40 by 30 yards, that's about the size England Football recommends for under-8s and under-9s. Here's the adult range, the goals, the markings drawn out, and the youth sizes.
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In short
- The FA recommends 25 to 50 metres long and 16 to 35 metres wide for 5-a-side, and the same range for 6-a-side.
- 40 by 30 yards is about the youth 5v5 size (37 by 27 metres), not a rule for adults.
- Goals are 3 to 5 metres wide and 1.2 to 2 metres high.
- The penalty area is a semicircle with a 6 metre radius, and the penalty mark is 6 metres from goal.
- Youth 5v5 (under-8s and under-9s from 2026-27): up to 37 by 27 metres, 12 by 6 foot goals and a size 3 ball.
5-a-side pitch dimensions
The FA's small-sided laws give a recommended minimum and maximum, and the touchlines (the long sides) must be longer than the goal lines.
- Length: 25 to 50 metres (27 to 55 yards, 82 to 164 feet).
- Width: 16 to 35 metres (17 to 38 yards, 52 to 115 feet).
- 6-a-side: the same range. The laws don't give it a bigger pitch, though venues often use their larger ones.
Goals 3 to 5 m wide, 1.2 to 2 m high. Lines 8 cm wide; corner arcs only without boards.Drawn to scale on a 40 by 25 metre pitch, inside the FA's range.
Is a 5-a-side pitch 40 by 30 yards?
Not by rule. 40 by 30 yards is about 37 by 27 metres, which is England Football's recommended pitch for under-8s and under-9s playing 5v5, and also their maximum. For adults, the FA's small-sided laws don't give one size: anything from 25 by 16 metres to 50 by 35 metres is in the recommended range, and 37 by 27 metres sits inside it.
5-a-side goal size
A 5-a-side goal is between 3 and 5 metres between the posts (about 10 to 16 feet) and between 1.2 and 2 metres from the ground to the bottom of the crossbar (about 4 to 6.5 feet). Posts and crossbar are 8 centimetres wide and deep, and the goal sits in the middle of the goal line.
The markings
- Lines: 8 centimetres wide.
- Halfway line, with a centre mark and a centre circle of 3 metres radius.
- Penalty area: a semicircle of 6 metres radius from the middle of each goal line.
- Penalty mark: 6 metres from the middle of the goal.
- Corner arcs: 25 centimetres radius, only needed when there are no boards or walls round the pitch.
Youth 5v5 pitch size
From the 2026-27 season, England Football has under-8s and under-9s playing 5v5 on matchday, with under-7s on 3v3. Sizes are length by width, without the run-off round the pitch.
- 5v5, under-8s and under-9s: 37 by 27 metres recommended (about 40 by 30 yards), which is also the maximum; at least 27 by 18 metres. Goals 12 by 6 feet. Size 3 ball.
- 3v3, under-7s: 15 by 10 metres recommended, up to 20 by 15 metres. Goals 4 by 2.5 feet. Size 3 ball.
How much room each player gets
With ten players, the smallest pitch in the FA's range (25 by 16 metres) gives each one 40 square metres; the biggest (50 by 35) gives 175. That's why two five-a-side venues can feel like different games. Put twelve on for 6-a-side and the space per player drops to 33 and 146.
For comparison, the FA's recommended 11-a-side pitch gives each of 22 players about 290 square metres. On a small pitch, keep the numbers down: two extra players take a sixth of everyone's space.
The ball isn't set by the small-sided laws, only that it suits the players' age. Adults usually play with a normal size 5, which the Laws of the Game make 68 to 70 centimetres round.
Before your next game
The usual 5-a-side rules are worth agreeing before kick-off, and if you've wondered how it differs from futsal, there's a guide to futsal vs 5-a-side. For the teams, the 5-a-side team generator splits your ten fairly with the keepers kept apart.
Pitch sizes for the other formats: 5-a-side, 7-a-side, 9-a-side and 11-a-side, or every size on one page.
Pick fair 5-a-side teamsQuestions
What are the dimensions of a 5-a-side pitch?
The FA recommends 25 to 50 metres long and 16 to 35 metres wide, which is 27 to 55 yards by 17 to 38 yards, or 82 to 164 feet by 52 to 115 feet.
Is a 5-a-side pitch 40 by 30 yards?
Not by rule. 40 by 30 yards is about 37 by 27 metres, England Football's recommended pitch for under-8s and under-9s. For adults the FA gives a range, 25 to 50 metres by 16 to 35 metres.
What size is a 5-a-side pitch in feet?
The FA's recommended range of 25 to 50 metres by 16 to 35 metres is about 82 to 164 feet long and 52 to 115 feet wide. The 37 by 27 metre youth pitch is about 121 by 89 feet.
What size is a 5-a-side goal?
3 to 5 metres wide and 1.2 to 2 metres high under the FA's small-sided laws. Youth 5v5 goals are 12 feet by 6 feet.
How big is the penalty area in 5-a-side?
A semicircle with a 6 metre radius, measured from the middle of the goal line. The penalty mark is 6 metres from the middle of the goal.
Is a 6-a-side pitch bigger than a 5-a-side pitch?
Not by rule: the FA gives one recommended range for both, 25 to 50 metres by 16 to 35 metres. Venues often put 6-a-side on their bigger pitches.
What size is a youth 5v5 pitch?
England Football recommends 37 by 27 metres for under-8s and under-9s, which is also the maximum, and at least 27 by 18 metres, with 12 by 6 foot goals and a size 3 ball.