What size bat for a 5-year-old?
Quick answer
Most 5-year-olds use a 24"–26" baseball bat with a -12 or -11 drop.
For an average 5-year-old (about 3'7", 41 lb). Taller or heavier players go longer; smaller players go shorter.
Length: go by height and weight
Age is only a starting point. Bat makers size by height and weight. A quick check: stand the bat beside your player. The knob should reach the middle of their palm with their arm hanging down. If they can't hold the bat straight out to the side for about 10 seconds, it's too heavy.
| Player size | Length |
|---|---|
| Smaller than average | 23"–24" |
| Average | 24"–26" |
| Bigger than average | 26"–27" |
Get the exact length in the Bat Finder. It uses the full height-and-weight chart and checks your league's length limit.
Drop: -12 or -11
Drop is length minus weight in ounces: a 30" bat that weighs 20 oz is a -10. A bigger drop is lighter and easier to swing. Most 5-year-olds do best with -12 or -11.
Which stamp does your league require at 5?
The stamp matters more than the size: a bat without the right one isn't legal, no matter how well it fits. League age can differ from birthday age, so check your division.
| League | Division | Stamp (2027) | Drop for this age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little League | Tee Ball | USABat or Tee ball or Wood | -12 or -11 |
| Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken | T-Ball | Tee ball | — |
| Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken | Cal Ripken (Rookie, Minor, Major 60/70) | USABat or Wood | -12 or -11 |
| PONY | Shetland, Pinto, Mustang, Bronco & Pony (6U–14U) | USABat or BBCOR or Wood | -12 or -11 |
| Diamond Youth (Dixie) | T-Ball | USABat or Tee ball or Wood | -12 or -11 |
| Diamond Youth (Dixie) | 6U Coach Pitch through 12U Majors | USABat or BBCOR or Wood | -12 or -11 |
Shop 5-year-old sizes
Pick the stamp your league requires. Links open bats in a typical 5-year-old size; change the size on the store's page if yours differs. We earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you.
USABat bats · 25" -12
Tee ball bats · 25"
Other ages
4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18
Sizes come from the Rawlings/Easton bat sizing chart and average heights and weights from the CDC growth charts. They're guidance, not rules. Your league's rules decide what's legal.
Not sure what to buy?
The free Bat Finder gives you the length, the drop and the stamp your league requires in about 20 seconds.
Open the Bat Finder