Ski Size Calculator
Enter standing height without ski boots.
Estimate a practical starting length for adult fixed-heel alpine skis used at lift-served resorts. The calculator builds a published-style band from your height and main discipline, then shows how ability, weight relative to height and your preference for easier turning or more stability position you within that band. It does not choose a ski model, calculate a binding release setting or replace the size chart for the exact ski. Construction, flex, rocker, effective edge and available manufactured lengths can all change the final choice.
How to estimate your alpine ski length
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1
Enter your height
Choose metric or imperial units and enter your current adult height. This sets the discipline-specific starting band.
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2
Choose your discipline
Select piste, all-mountain, freestyle or freeride according to where and how you expect to use this pair most often.
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3
Describe ability, build and feel
Choose your ability, whether you are lighter or heavier for your height, and whether you prefer easier turns, balance or stability.
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4
Compare real model sizes
Use the result as a shortlist, then check the manufacturer's rider guidance, construction and available lengths for each candidate ski.
The height band comes first
Alpine ski length is not a body conversion with one exact answer. Salomon publishes the discipline bands below.
This calculator uses transparent discipline bands rather than hiding those choices:
| Main resort discipline | Published-style starting band | Why the band shifts |
|---|---|---|
| Piste and carving | Height minus 15 to minus 5 cm | Shorter lengths can feel quicker from edge to edge on groomed snow |
| All-mountain | Height minus 10 cm to height | Balances manoeuvrability with stability across mixed resort terrain |
| Freestyle and park | Height minus 10 cm to height | Allows room for a more manageable or more supportive twin-tip choice |
| Freeride and soft snow | Height plus 5 to plus 10 cm | Extra running surface can add stability and float |
The band stays visible. The result only suggests where to start comparing available model lengths. It is not a measurement of skill, a performance prediction or permission to ignore a manufacturer’s rider range.
How the position inside the band is chosen
The full discipline band always remains visible. The tool uses a small, auditable score only to place a starting marker inside it:
- Ability: beginner adds 0 points, intermediate adds 2 and advanced adds 4.
- Relative weight for height: lighter subtracts 1 point, average adds 0 and heavier adds 1. This is a sizing signal, not a judgement about health or body shape.
- Preferred feel: easier handling subtracts 1 point, balanced adds 0 and more stability adds 1.
A total of 1 or less marks the lower sixth of the band, 2 or 3 marks its midpoint, and 4 or more marks the upper sixth. These thresholds position attention; they do not create a more precise physical truth. When signals disagree, compare two nearby production lengths and give the model’s stated skier-weight range priority.
Primary sizing references:
- Salomon guide to choosing ski types
- Salomon guide to choosing piste skis
- Völkl ski sizing guide
- REI guide to downhill skis
- Rossignol guide to choosing alpine skis
Binding setup is separate and safety-critical
A length result must never set a binding indicator value. Compatibility and release settings also depend on boot standard, boot sole length and the skier profile. Rossignol says alpine bindings should be mounted, adjusted and tested by a trained technician using the skier’s actual boots and proper test equipment. Read the Rossignol alpine binding safety guide and do not use this estimate to drill, remount or change release settings yourself.
Scope and exclusions
This tool covers adult, fixed-heel, lift-served resort skis. It excludes children, cross-country, touring, backcountry and telemark skis, adaptive equipment, race skis, ski blades and specialised models. It does not assess whether terrain, speed, snow or a ski category is safe for a person. The exact model chart and a qualified retailer take priority.
Frequently Asked Questions
That visual rule describes a broad starting region, not a universal fit. Piste skis often fall below standing height, while some freeride skis extend above it. Ability, weight, construction, terrain and the exact model chart matter alongside height.
Brands offer discrete lengths, and two models with the same printed length can differ in rocker, effective edge, flex and mounting point. A range honestly supports comparison without pretending those design differences can be reduced to one centimetre.
No. Shorter skis are generally easier to turn, but going too short can reduce stability and may place the skier outside the model’s recommended weight range. Start toward the lower portion, then verify the exact product chart and discuss the choice with a qualified shop.
Keep the full discipline band visible and compare two adjacent production lengths. Give the manufacturer’s skier-weight limits priority, then consider whether easier manoeuvrability or added stability better suits your current technique and usual terrain.
No. Ski length is not a binding release setting. Boot compatibility, boot sole length and the skier profile must be checked, and alpine bindings should be mounted, adjusted and release-tested by a trained ski technician with the proper equipment.
No third-party sizing service is contacted. Your height and selected categories are processed by this site through Livewire, and funnel mode places those values in the page URL so later steps can restore them. Avoid sharing that URL if you consider the information private.
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