Ski Length Calculator

How it is calculated

The tool subtracts a fixed number of centimetres from your height, chosen by skill level: ski length = height − offset. The offset is 15 cm for beginner, 10 cm for intermediate and 5 cm for advanced. Any other value, or no skill chosen, is treated as intermediate. It then shows a range of 5 cm either side, length − 5 to length + 5. Height is in centimetres and must be between 50 and 272; anything outside that gives no result. All results are rounded to whole centimetres. Body weight, ski type and terrain are not inputs, so the figure is a starting point for a general all-mountain ski, not a size guarantee. A heavier skier, or one who prefers powder, may go to the upper end of the range or beyond it.

Common mistakes

• Entering height in feet and inches or in inches, or in metres. The field is in centimetres and accepts only 50 to 272, so 1.78 or 10 gives no result; a value such as 70 (inches) would give a ski about a third too short.
• Rating skill too high. Advanced gives the longest ski, which is harder to turn and control for someone still learning.
• Expecting a level the tool does not have, such as expert. Only beginner, intermediate and advanced change the offset; any other value silently falls back to the intermediate result.
• Treating the single number as exact. The range of 5 cm either side is the real recommendation, and shops often stock only certain lengths.
• Ignoring body weight and ski type. A heavier skier often prefers the upper end, and carving, powder and race skis are sized differently from the all-mountain case.