Scale Explorer

Sports

How big is a golf ball?

Golf ball

Diameter
at least 4.27 cm 1.68 in
Weight
up to 0.0459 kg 1.62 oz maximum
Show
Honeybee, US penny, Golf ball, Human drawn to the same scaleHoneybee: length (worker) 10–15 mm. US penny: diameter 19.05 mm. Golf ball: diameter at least 4.27 cm. Human: height 1.61–1.75 m.Honeybee: 10–15 mmUS penny: 19.05 mmGolf ball: at least 4.27 cmHuman: 1.61–1.75 mHuman1.61–1.75 mGolf ballat least 4.27 cmUS penny19.05 mmHoneybee10–15 mm
Everything is drawn to the same scale, standing on the same ground line. Silhouettes are simplified outlines scaled to the measured dimension. A faded outline shows the top of a size range.

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Dimensions

MeasurementMetricImperialNotesSource
Diameter at least 4.27 cm at least 1.68 in Minimum diameter allowed by the Rules of Equipment, 1.680 in (42.67 mm) [1]
Weight up to 0.0459 kg up to 1.62 oz Maximum weight allowed, 1.620 ounces avoirdupois (45.93 g). Maximum [1]

About the golf ball

A golf ball is a small dimpled ball, and the Rules of Golf, written jointly by The R&A and the USGA, limit how small and how heavy it can be. It must be at least 1.680 in (42.67 mm) across and weigh no more than 1.620 oz (45.93 g). The rules set only these two limits on size and weight: a minimum diameter and a maximum weight.

  • The rules set only a minimum diameter and a maximum weight, so a legal golf ball can be larger or lighter than these limits. [1]

How many fit?

  • ≈ 39 × Golf ball · diameter lined up end to end match the Human · height
  • ≈ 1,800 × Golf ball · weight on the scales weigh as much as Human · body mass
  • ≈ 2.8–4.3 × Honeybee · length (worker) lined up end to end match the Golf ball · diameter

Counts divide one sourced figure by another. "End to end" uses each object's main measurement; weight and volume rows appear only when both figures are sourced.

How it compares

  • 2.8–4.3× A golf ball is about 2.8–4.3 times as wide as a honeybee is long. See side by side
  • 2.2× A golf ball is about 2.2 times as wide as a US penny. See side by side
  • 1/1.2 An AA battery is about 1.2 times as tall as a golf ball is wide. See side by side
  • 1/1.6 A tennis ball is about 1.6 times as wide as a golf ball. See side by side
  • 1/2.9 A soda can is about 2.9 times as tall as a golf ball is wide. See side by side
  • 1/39 An average adult is about 39 times as tall as a golf ball is wide. See side by side

Factors compare the diameter of a golf ball with each object’s own main measurement (height for a human). Where a size varies, the factor is given as a range.

Notes on these figures

  • The diameter is the rule's minimum; the typical diameter of balls on sale was not found in a primary source.

Sources

  1. The R&A (with the USGA), The Rules of Equipment, Part 4: Conformance of Balls. Accessed 25 September 2026.

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