What Size Skis Do I Need? Length by Height, Weight, and How You Actually Ski

For most adult all-mountain skiers, the right ski length lands somewhere between your chin and the top of your head. A 5 foot 10 intermediate is usually on a 170 to 178 cm ski. But height is the crudest of the three inputs that matter, and it is the only one most size charts use. Weight and how you actually ski change the answer by 10 cm in either direction, which is the difference between a ski that works and one you fight all season.

Here is how to size a ski properly, starting with the chart and then correcting it for the things the chart does not know about you.

In this article

• Ski size chart by height
• Correcting for weight
• Correcting for how you ski
• Waist width: the other number that matters in Colorado
• Why rocker makes a 180 ski like a 172
• FAQ

Ski size chart by height

Start here, then adjust. These are all-mountain lengths for an intermediate to advanced skier of average build.

Correcting for weight

A ski bends because you load it. Two skiers of identical height and wildly different weight need different skis, because the heavier one will bend a given ski far more easily and will overpower a short soft one.

• Heavier than average for your height: size up toward the top of your range, or past it. You need more edge and more material underfoot to hold.
• Lighter than average: size down. A ski you cannot bend will not turn for you, it will just track straight and wear you out.

If you weigh 200 pounds at 5 foot 10, ignore the 170 end of that range entirely. If you weigh 130 pounds at the same height, the 178 will feel like a plank.

Correcting for how you ski

Be honest here rather than aspirational. The most common sizing mistake we see is a skier buying the ski they want to deserve.

Waist width: the other number that matters in Colorado

Length gets the attention, but waist width, the measurement underfoot in millimeters, decides what the ski is for. Front Range skiers have a specific problem: you might ski hardpack at Eldora on Tuesday and knee-deep at Berthoud on Thursday, and most people want one ski for both.

If you are buying one ski and you live on the Front Range, the 88 to 100 mm band is where the honest answer usually sits.

The one-ski answer

Rossignol Sender 100 2027

100 mm underfoot, in 162, 170, 178, 184 and 190 cm. Squarely in the Colorado band.

$700 See lengths →

Shorter lengths, lighter skiers

Volkl M7 Mantra W Flat 2027

In 149, 156 and 163 cm. Built so a lighter skier can actually bend it instead of riding on top of it.

$900 See lengths →

Why rocker makes a 180 ski like a 172

Two skis of the same stated length can have very different amounts of edge actually touching the snow. Camber is the arch that puts the tip and tail in contact under load. Rocker is the early rise that lifts them off it.

A heavily rockered powder ski at 185 cm may only have 150 cm of effective edge on a groomer. A cambered carving ski at 170 cm may have 160 cm. That is why a long freeride ski can feel shorter and easier than its number suggests, and why sizing down on a rockered ski to make it "manageable" often produces a ski with no grip left at all.

The practical rule: the more rocker a ski has, the longer you can and should go.

Storm day ski

Volkl Revolt 112 Flat 2027

112 mm underfoot in 178, 185 and 192 cm. Rockered enough that the long one is the right one.

$849 See lengths →

Frequently asked questions

How long should your skis be for your height?

Between your chin and the top of your head for most adult all-mountain skiers. A 5 foot 10 skier typically lands on 170 to 178 cm. Adjust longer if you are heavy for your height or ski fast, shorter if you are light or still developing.

What length ski for a 5 foot 7 woman?

Roughly 158 to 170 cm on an all-mountain ski. Toward 158 if you are lighter, prefer short turns or ski mostly groomers. Toward 170 if you ski aggressively or spend real time in soft snow.

What ski size should a 5 foot 8 man wear?

About 162 to 173 cm all-mountain. Add length for weight, speed and powder. Subtract for tight trees and a preference for quick turns.

Is it better to ski with longer or shorter skis?

Longer skis are more stable at speed and float better in soft snow. Shorter skis turn faster, forgive mistakes and are easier in trees and bumps. Neither is better, they are trades. Pick for the skiing you actually do.

Should beginners get shorter skis?

Yes. Chin height or slightly below. A shorter ski pivots with less effort and punishes a back seat stance far less, which matters far more than top end stability you are not using yet.

Do I need different length skis for powder?

If you ski deep snow regularly, a longer and wider ski floats better and stays calmer. Most Front Range skiers are better served by one ski in the 88 to 100 mm range than by a dedicated powder ski they use six days a season.

Related reading: How Long Do Skis Last? and Bindings Are Safety Equipment, Not Just Hardware.