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YARDSHOTS · KNOW YOUR FIELD

Baseball & Softball
Field Dimensions Guide

Baseball & softball field dimensions, from the first tee to the professional game.

Field reference reviewed September 30, 2026 · U.S. leagues and rule sets

What size is a baseball field?

High school, NCAA and professional baseball use 90-foot base paths and a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. Little League Majors uses 60-foot bases and a 46-foot pitching distance. Outfield dimensions vary by league and venue; the tables below distinguish recommendations from requirements.

From a first swing off a tee to a college or professional game, field size changes the way baseball and softball feel. The quickest way to understand a diamond is to check three things: the distance between bases, the pitching distance, and the distance from home plate to the outfield fence.

Read the numbers

A 46/60 field has a 46-foot pitching distance and 60-foot base paths. A 50/70 field uses 50 and 70 feet. “60/90” is common shorthand for a full-size baseball field, but the actual pitching distance is 60 feet, 6 inches. Softball follows its own progression: many fastpitch divisions keep 60-foot bases while the pitching plate moves back with age.

Fence distance ≠ a league average

There is no single reliable “average fence distance” across these leagues. Most rulebooks provide a recommendation, a minimum, or a permitted range—not a measured average of real parks. Yardshots lists those reference figures and identifies what each one means. A range in both fence columns describes the permitted or recommended boundary range; it does not mean the foul lines use the low end and center field uses the high end.

Find your field

Every entry has its own labeled graphic. Measurements are in feet; ages follow each organization’s eligibility rules.

Little League baseball

DivisionAge / levelBasesPitchingFoul linesCenterFence status
Tee Ball4–760 ftNot applicable200200Recommendation
Minors — player pitch5–12*60 ft46 ft200+200+Recommendation
Majors9–1260 ft46 ft200+200+Recommendation
Intermediate (50/70)11–1370 ft50 ft200–275200–275Recommended range
Juniors12–1490 ft60 ft 6 in300300Recommendation
Seniors13–1690 ft60 ft 6 in300300Recommendation

PONY baseball

DivisionAge / levelBasesPitchingFoul linesCenterFence status
Foal4U50 ftNot applicable125200Recommendation
Shetland6U50 ft38 ft125200Recommendation
Pinto — coach/machine8U60 ft38 ft150200Recommendation
Pinto — player pitch8U60 ft40 ft150200Recommendation
Mustang10U60 ft46 ft175225Recommendation
Bronco12U70 ft50 ft225275Recommendation
Pony14U80 ft54 ft275315Recommendation
Colt16U90 ft60 ft 6 in300350Recommendation
Palomino19U90 ft60 ft 6 in300350Recommendation
Thorobred23U90 ft60 ft 6 in300350Recommendation

Other baseball

DivisionAge / levelBasesPitchingFoul linesCenterFence status
Cal Ripken Major/60Typically 11–1260 ft46 ftVenue-specificVenue-specificVaries
Cal Ripken Major/70Typically 11–1270 ft50 ftVenue-specificVenue-specificVaries

School & pro baseball

DivisionAge / levelBasesPitchingFoul linesCenterFence status
High school (NFHS)High school90 ft60 ft 6 in300+350+New-field recommendation
College (NCAA)College90 ft60 ft 6 in330400Recommendation
Professional (MLB / MiLB)Professional90 ft60 ft 6 in325+400+New-park rule; exceptions

Little League softball

DivisionAge / levelBasesPitchingFoul linesCenterFence status
Tee Ball4–760 ftNot applicable200200Recommendation
Minors5–1160 ft35 ft200200Recommendation
Majors9–1260 ft40 ft200200Recommendation
Juniors12–1460 ft43 ft200200Recommendation
Seniors12–1660 ft43 ft200200Recommendation

PONY fastpitch

DivisionAge / levelBasesPitchingFoul linesCenterFence status
Shetland6U55 ft40 ft150–175150–175Recommended range
Pinto — coach pitch8U55 ft35 ft150–175150–175Recommended range
Pinto — player pitch8U55 ft30 ft150–175150–175Recommended range
Mustang10U60 ft35 ft150–175150–175Recommended range
Bronco12U60 ft40 ft175–200175–200Recommended range
Pony14U60 ft43 ft175–200175–200Recommended range
Colt16U60 ft43 ft175–200175–200Recommended range
Palomino18U60 ft43 ft175–200175–200Recommended range
Thorobred23U60 ft43 ft175–200175–200Recommended range

USA Softball fastpitch

DivisionAge / levelBasesPitchingFoul linesCenterFence status
Girls 10U10U60 ft35 ft175–225175–225Rulebook range
Girls 12U12U60 ft40 ft200–225200–225Rulebook range
Girls 14U14U60 ft43 ft200–225200–225Rulebook range
Girls 16U16U60 ft43 ft200–225200–225Rulebook range
Girls 18U18U60 ft43 ft200–225200–225Rulebook range
Adult womenAdult60 ft43 ft200–250200–250Rulebook range
Adult menAdult60 ft46 ft225–275225–275Rulebook range

School & pro softball

DivisionAge / levelBasesPitchingFoul linesCenterFence status
High school girls (NFHS)High school60 ft43 ft185–235185–235Recommended range
College women (NCAA)College60 ft43 ft190+220+Conditional minimums
Professional women (AUSL)Professional60 ft43 ftVenue-specificVenue-specificVaries by venue

USA Softball slowpitch

DivisionAge / levelBasesPitchingFoul linesCenterFence status
WomenAdult70 ft50 ft265–300265–300Rulebook range
CoedAdult70 ft50 ft275–300275–300Rulebook range
MenAdult70 ft50 ft300–325300–325Rulebook range
SeniorsAdult70 ft50 ft300–315300–315Rulebook range

PONY slowpitch

DivisionAge / levelBasesPitchingFoul linesCenterFence status
Foal4U55 ft40 ft150–175150–175Recommended range
Shetland6U55 ft40 ft150–175150–175Recommended range
Pinto8U55 ft40 ft150–175150–175Recommended range
Mustang10U60 ft40 ft150–175150–175Recommended range
Bronco12U65 ft46 ft175–200175–200Recommended range
Pony14U65 ft50 ft175–200175–200Recommended range
Colt16U65 ft50 ft175–200175–200Recommended range
Palomino18U65 ft50 ft175–200175–200Recommended range
Thorobred23U65 ft50 ft175–200175–200Recommended range

The field-size glossary

Base path / baseline

In a field-size chart, the side length of the infield square between the prescribed base-layout points. It is not the same as the runner’s actual route during a play.

Pitching distance

The straight-line distance from the back point (apex) of home plate to the front edge of the pitching plate. It is not measured from the center of the mound or the pitcher’s release point.

Diamond

The square formed by home, first, second, and third. “A 60-foot diamond” means each side is 60 feet, not that the entire field is 60 feet wide.

Home to second

The diagonal across the square: base distance × √2. A 60-foot diamond is about 84 feet 10¼ inches across; a 90-foot diamond is about 127 feet 3⅜ inches.

Foul-line distance

Distance from the back point of home plate down the left- or right-field line to the outfield boundary. Left and right need not match at an actual park.

Center-field distance

Distance from home plate straight through second base to the outfield boundary.

Power alley / gap

The outfield between left and center, or right and center. A park can be deeper in the gaps than along its foul lines.

Pitching rubber / plate

The rectangular plate from which a pitcher delivers. Its front edge supplies the pitching-distance reference.

Mound vs. circle

Baseball commonly uses a raised mound. Fastpitch softball uses a level pitching plate and a marked circle; the circle is not an elevated mound.

Backstop

The fence, screen, or wall behind home plate. Its clearance is separate from pitching distance and outfield depth.

Warning track

A surface strip near a fence that helps fielders recognize the boundary. Its width is separate from home-run distance.

League age / U division

An eligibility classification, not necessarily the player’s age today. “12U” means 12-and-under under that organization’s age rules.

Recommended vs. required

A recommendation is a preferred reference layout. A required minimum or range is a competition rule, sometimes with exceptions. Neither is a statistical average.

Ground rules

Local rules describing how a particular field’s boundaries and obstructions are handled.

Common questions

Are Little League and PONY fields the same size?

Sometimes. Little League Majors and PONY Mustang share a 46/60 infield. PONY Bronco uses 50/70, and PONY’s 14U division uses 54/80. An age label alone does not tell you the field dimensions.

Does a 12U team always play on a 60-foot diamond?

No. Organization and format matter. Little League Majors uses 60-foot bases, while PONY Bronco uses 70-foot bases. Cal Ripken offers both Major/60 and Major/70.

Is a college baseball infield bigger than a high school infield?

Both use 90-foot base paths and a pitching distance of 60 feet, 6 inches. Outfield shape and depth can differ substantially.

Is a softball field just a smaller baseball field?

It has its own layout and pitching rules. Women’s college fastpitch uses a level pitching plate 43 feet from home and 60-foot bases. Adult slowpitch can use 70-foot bases and 50-foot pitching.

How should I compare home runs on different fields?

Start with the actual fence distance in the direction the ball traveled, then consider fence height. The same distance may clear one park and stay in play at another. Field dimensions alone cannot predict a home run.

Do these dimensions apply to every tournament?

No. Tournament books, local options, state associations, and venue ground rules may modify a regular-season reference. Confirm the exact organization, division, season, and format.

Scope & source notes

Scope. This U.S.-focused reference covers the named Little League and PONY divisions, selected Cal Ripken formats, high school, NCAA, professional baseball, girls/women’s fastpitch, adult men’s fastpitch, and adult/PONY slowpitch. It is not a catalog of every travel-ball or international rule set.

Youngest divisions. A tee has no pitching distance. For coach and machine formats, the delivery position may be governed by supplemental rules. PONY Foal baseball is illustrated as tee play; its Rule 7 also lists a 38-foot delivery layout.

PONY softball update. The 2026 change notice and revised distance chart set Pinto 8U coach pitch at 35 feet. A 40-foot entry remains in the body of Rule 2. The guide follows the explicit 2026 amendment. Player pitch remains a separate 30-foot format.

NCAA softball fences. Existing institutional fields with fences at least 6 feet high have 190-foot left/right and 220-foot center minimums. New construction uses 200/220 minimums and fences at least 6 feet high. Fields with a 4-foot fence use 210/230 minimums. Do not reduce this to a universal 200-foot fence.

Adaptive baseball. Little League Challenger and Senior Challenger are adaptive programs, rather than additional fixed-size competitive diamonds. Select field layout and accommodations with the program. PONY Champions arrangements should likewise be confirmed locally.

Source dates. Reviewed September 30, 2026. NCAA baseball uses the 2025–26 book; NCAA softball uses 2026–27. NFHS public diagrams are older editions, and the baseball fence recommendation is documented in the linked 2023 book. The AUSL infield reference is a 2025 secondary explainer, not a verified 2026 facility rule. PONY public rulebook copies are linked alongside the official rulebook hubs.

Sources

YARDSHOTS FIELD GUIDE · Reviewed September 30, 2026. Original educational graphics. League names identify the rules referenced and do not imply affiliation.