Whether you are setting up a temporary field for a tournament, building a backyard diamond, or coaching, knowing the official dimensions of a softball field is essential. Softball field dimensions differ between fastpitch and slowpitch, and they change based on age group and league.
Base Path Distances
The distance between bases is the most fundamental measurement. Unlike baseball's universal 90-foot base path, softball uses a 60-foot base path for standard adult play.
- 8U (Coach Pitch): 50 feet between bases
- 10U Fastpitch: 55 feet between bases
- 12U Fastpitch: 60 feet between bases
- 14U and above Fastpitch: 60 feet between bases
- Adult Slowpitch: 65 feet between bases (some leagues use 70 feet)
- High School and College Fastpitch: 60 feet between bases
All base paths form a perfect square. The distance from home plate to second base (the diagonal) is 84 feet 10 inches on a 60-foot diamond and 91 feet 11 inches on a 65-foot diamond.
Pitching Distances
- 10U Fastpitch: 35 feet
- 12U Fastpitch: 40 feet
- 14U Fastpitch: 43 feet
- High School and College Fastpitch: 43 feet
- Adult Slowpitch: 50 feet (some leagues use 46 feet)
The pitching rubber is 24 inches long and 6 inches wide, flush with the ground. In fastpitch, the pitching circle is 16 feet in diameter centered on the rubber.
Outfield Distances
- 10U: 150 to 175 feet
- 12U: 175 to 200 feet
- 14U: 200 to 225 feet
- High School: 200 to 225 feet (varies by state)
- College Fastpitch: 220 feet down the lines, 250 feet to center
- Adult Slowpitch: 275 to 315 feet (varies by league)
Home Plate and Batter's Box
Home plate is the same in softball as baseball: a 17-inch wide pentagon. The batter's box is 3 feet wide and 7 feet long, positioned with the front edge 4 feet ahead of the center of home plate and the back edge 3 feet behind it. The catcher's box sits behind home plate and extends 10 feet back, 8.5 feet wide.
Infield Layout Details
The infield is traditionally skinned (dirt) from the base paths to the pitching circle. The grass line on a standard field sits about 60 feet from home plate in an arc connecting the first and third base lines. Coaches' boxes are located 15 feet from each base and 10 feet from the foul line. On-deck circles are 5 feet in diameter.
Backstop and Dugout Placement
The backstop should sit 25 to 30 feet behind home plate. Dugouts are positioned along the first and third base lines, typically 25 to 30 feet from the foul lines. The home team traditionally occupies the third base dugout.
Marking a Field from Scratch
Start at home plate. Use a 100-foot tape measure and stakes. From the back point of home plate, measure 60 feet (or your league distance) along the first base line and third base line. Set second base at the intersection of two 60-foot measurements from first and third base.
A field marking machine or chalk liner ($40 to $80 for a basic hand-push model) keeps foul lines, batter's boxes, and coaching boxes clean and visible. Re-chalk before each game.
For the pitching distance, measure from the front edge of the pitching rubber to the back point (apex) of home plate. This measurement is commonly done incorrectly. The measurement goes to the back point of the plate, not the front edge.