Pro Football Goal Post Dimensions: NFL vs Soccer Goals

By LDK Sports Engineering Team

Compare NFL, full-size soccer, and futsal goal dimensions in feet and meters, with measurement points and safety checks for choosing the right goal.

“Pro football goal post dimensions” usually refers to American football in the United States. An NFL goalpost has an 18 ft 6 in crossbar, with the top of the crossbar 10 ft above the ground. A full-size soccer goal is a different structure: its opening is 24 ft (7.32 m) wide and 8 ft (2.44 m) high. Futsal goals are smaller at 3 m by 2 m.

If you are ordering equipment, identify the sport and competition first. The words “football goal” can mean an NFL scoring post, a soccer goal with a net, or a futsal goal.

Goal type	Width	Height	Measurement note
NFL goalpost	18 ft 6 in crossbar	10 ft to the top of the crossbar	Uprights extend 35 ft above the crossbar
Full-size soccer goal	7.32 m (24 ft) opening	2.44 m (8 ft)	Width is between the inside edges of the posts
Futsal goal	3 m (about 9 ft 10 in)	2 m (about 6 ft 7 in)	Width by height

Pro football goal post dimensions in the NFL

Under the NFL’s 2026 playing rules, the crossbar is 18 ft 6 in long, and its top is 10 ft above the ground. The two uprights extend 35 ft above the crossbar, putting their tops 45 ft above the ground. NFL uprights are 3 to 4 in in diameter.

These measurements describe an American football field-goal post. It has no soccer-style opening for a goalkeeper to defend and is not interchangeable with a soccer goal frame.

Full-size soccer goal dimensions

A regulation full-size soccer goal opening measures 7.32 m (24 ft) between the inside edges of the posts. The underside of the crossbar is 2.44 m (8 ft) above the ground. The posts and crossbar share one width and depth, each no greater than 12 cm (about 5 in), under IFAB Law 1.

Outdoor soccer goal installed on a grass field

The 7.32 m measurement is the clear opening, not the outside-to-outside width of the frame. The 2.44 m measurement runs from the ground to the underside of the crossbar. Those reference points help when checking a specification sheet or measuring a goal already installed.

View the full-size standard soccer goal.

Futsal, youth, and small-sided soccer goal sizes

A futsal goal is 3 m wide and 2 m high, according to FIFA’s futsal rules explainer. That is approximately 9 ft 10 in by 6 ft 7 in. It is substantially smaller than a full-size outdoor soccer goal.

Youth and grassroots soccer do not have one universal goal size across every age group and competition. IFAB allows national associations, confederations, or FIFA to modify field and goal dimensions for youth, veterans, disability, and grassroots football. Use the dimensions stated by the applicable league or governing body. A 5 m by 2 m goal may appear in a local format, but it should not be treated as the rule for all seven-a-side or youth matches.

Indoor goal with red-and-white posts and net beside a sports court

How to measure a soccer goal

Measure the opening horizontally from the inside edge of one upright to the inside edge of the other.
Measure height vertically from the playing surface to the underside of the crossbar.
Measure the post and crossbar cross-section separately; IFAB sets a maximum width and depth of 12 cm for a full-size goal.

Do not compare an outside frame measurement with the regulation opening. Also check whether the listed height is measured to the crossbar’s underside or its top.

What to check before choosing a goal

Sport and rules: NFL field-goal posts, soccer goals, and futsal goals have different shapes and measurements. Match the equipment to the competition.
Playing format: Confirm the age group and local small-sided rules before choosing a youth goal.
Venue and installation: Check whether the goal is fixed or portable and how it will be secured. IFAB requires goals, including portable goals, to be firmly secured to the ground. For movable soccer goals, CPSC guidance recommends anchoring or counterweighting them at all times, never climbing on the frame or net, and checking the structure and connecting hardware before use. CPSC describes the handbook as guidance, not a mandatory standard.
Competition use: IFAB recommends that goals used in official FIFA or confederation competitions meet the FIFA Quality Programme requirements. Check the exact model and competition requirements before specifying a product.

LDK lists a standard soccer goal, a portable soccer goal, aluminum soccer goals, and futsal goals. For help matching a goal to your venue and playing format, contact LDK. When sending a request through the inquiry page, include the competition, opening dimensions, and installation type.

LDK soccer goal product collage with several goal models

Frequently asked questions

What are pro football goal post dimensions in the NFL?

The NFL crossbar is 18 ft 6 in long, and its top is 10 ft above the ground. The uprights extend 35 ft above the crossbar.

How tall is a soccer goal?

A full-size soccer goal is 2.44 m (8 ft) high, measured from the ground to the underside of the crossbar.

What are FIFA regulation soccer goal dimensions?

The full-size goal opening is 7.32 m (24 ft) wide and 2.44 m (8 ft) high. Measure width between the inside edges of the posts.

What size is a futsal goal in feet?

A futsal goal is 3 m by 2 m, approximately 9 ft 10 in wide by 6 ft 7 in high.

What size goal is used for seven-a-side or youth soccer?

There is no single size for every youth or seven-a-side competition. The applicable association or league sets the permitted dimensions, so use that competition’s specification.