Football pitch dimensions and markings

Football pitch dimensions under the Laws of the Game: the pitch is 90 to 120 metres long and 45 to 90 metres wide, narrowed for international matches to 100 to 110 metres by 64 to 75 metres. The penalty area reaches 16.5 metres out, the penalty mark sits 11 metres from the middle of the goal, and the goal is 7.32 metres wide and 2.44 metres high. This guide walks through every line on the pitch and its measurement, and the pieces we made from the pitch.

Length and width

The pitch is a rectangle: the long sides are the touchlines and the short sides are the goal lines. The Laws set a range rather than one size: touchlines from 90 to 120 metres, goal lines from 45 to 90 metres. For international matches the range is tighter, 100 to 110 metres long and 64 to 75 metres wide. No line may be wider than 12 cm, and distances are measured from the outside edge of the lines, because a line belongs to the area it marks.

The goal area and the penalty area

The goal area, the six-yard box, is marked 5.5 metres from the inside of each goalpost and runs 5.5 metres into the field. The penalty area is bigger: its lines start 16.5 metres from the inside of each post and run 16.5 metres into the field.

That box is where our Side Netting shot starts: a curler from the edge of the area that ends in the side netting. On the back of the tee it is a crayon goal with the ball tucked into the side netting; on the long sleeve, a fine chalk-line goal with the ball clipping the netting.

The penalty mark and the arc

The penalty mark is 11 metres from the midpoint between the posts. Outside the penalty area, an arc with a radius of 9.15 metres is drawn from the mark, so other players keep that distance while the kick is taken. In Penalty Spot the pitch is stitched small, with the ball waiting on the mark and the kick still to come.

The goal

The inside of the posts are 7.32 metres apart, and the lower edge of the crossbar is 2.44 metres above the ground. Both numbers began in imperial units: 8 yards wide and 8 feet high.

The centre circle and the corner arcs

The centre circle has a radius of 9.15 metres around the centre mark, the same distance opponents keep at kick-off. Each corner has a small arc with a radius of 1 metre from the flagpost, and the ball is placed inside it for a corner kick. Corner comes from that arc: crayon corner flags with a ball waiting by the flag on the back of the tee, or a fine chalk-line corner and flag with the ball curling away in yellow on long sleeves.

Why the odd numbers?

Figures like 16.5, 9.15 and 7.32 can look strange, but the reason is simple: the Laws were first written in yards and feet, then converted to metres. The penalty area is 18 yards, the goal area 6 yards, the penalty mark 12 yards, the centre circle and penalty arc 10 yards, and the corner arc 1 yard. The Laws still print both units side by side.

It is also why so many numbers match: the distance opponents keep at kick-off is the same as the radius of the penalty arc, 9.15 metres, or ten yards. Once you know the numbers, you can read a pitch from above like a map.

Pitch markings on our pieces

Pitch Lines draws the pitch in crayon: the centre circle, the boxes and the corner arcs in white on striped green, repeated edge to edge on a jersey, a tee, a polo, shorts, bags, towels and a rug. Chalk Talk is a crayon tactics board, circles, crosses and dashed passing runs in white, red and yellow on slate grey, on a tee, a jersey, shorts, bags and a rug. Build-up, Side Netting, Corner and Box to Box carry a small stitched football at the chest, and many of their pieces add a crayon or fine chalk-line drawing on the back. Penalty Spot is stitched small on caps, beanies, a windbreaker and a tote. Plate I: The Attacking Half is a crayon view from the stands, the crowd above and the attacking half below, made for the wall.

All our football drawings, with the embroidered Playmaker, Clean Sheet and Free Kick figures, are in the football collection. We never use the name or crest of any club or league. Every piece is made for you after you order, with free shipping.