What size bat for a 13-year-old?
A 13-year-old usually swings a −5 bat. In Little League Intermediate (50/70) and Junior it must carry the USA Baseball or BBCOR mark; in USSSA travel ball, the USSSA 1.15 mark. The length comes from height and weight, not age: the length chart gives it, or let the fit work it out.
The mark, league by league
A game bat without the mark your league names is turned away at the plate. Solid one-piece wood needs no mark.
| League | The mark a metal bat needs |
|---|---|
| Little League: Intermediate (50/70), Junior | USA Baseball or BBCOR |
| Cal Ripken | USA Baseball |
| Babe Ruth 13-16 | USA Baseball or BBCOR |
| PONY | USA Baseball or BBCOR |
| DYB | USA Baseball |
| USSSA: 14U and under | USSSA 1.15 or BBCOR |
The drop
-5 (USSSA 13U cap in most states); -8 where the state allows and the player is small.
Check the drop your league allows before you look at anything else.
The length
Read the length off the chart by height and weight, then check it with the bat in hand.
Stand the bat on its end beside the player, arm hanging: the knob should reach about the middle of the palm. Well past the wrist = too long; short of the palm = too short. Axe's variant: bat held against the center of the chest pointing out, fingertips should reach the knob.
Where this comes from
- published Ages 13-14, USA or USSSA: Louisville Slugger - How to Choose a Baseball Bat
- published Little League Intermediate (50/70) or Junior: Little League - Bat Information
- published USSSA 14U and under: USSSA - Baseball Bat New Mark Rules
- derived Any: Dick's Sporting Goods - Baseball Bat Buying Guide
- secondary No sensor; checking length with the bat in hand: Smash It Sports - Youth bat sizing guide 2026 (knob-to-palm, hip test)
- published Any league: USA Baseball - Bats FAQ
- Our explainer: What "drop" means
Every rule, with its source, is on How the fit works.
More in bat guides
- What size bat for a 7-year-old?A 7-year-old usually swings a −13 to −12 bat.
- What size bat for an 8-year-old?An 8-year-old usually swings a −12 to −10 bat.
- What size bat for a 9-year-old?A 9-year-old usually swings a −12 to −10 bat.
- What size bat for a 10-year-old?A 10-year-old usually swings a −12 to −10 bat.
- What size bat for an 11-year-old?An 11-year-old usually swings a −12 to −10 bat, or −8 for a bigger, stronger player.
- What size bat for a 12-year-old?A 12-year-old usually swings a −12 to −10 bat, or −8 for a bigger, stronger player.
- What size bat for tee ball?A tee-ball bat is 24 to 26 in long with a 2-1/4 in barrel, at a drop of −14 to −10.5, and carries the USA Baseball tee-ball mark: it is only for use with approved tee balls.
- What is the difference between USA, USSSA and BBCOR bats?They are the marks different leagues require on a metal bat: USA Baseball in Little League and most rec leagues, USSSA in travel ball, and BBCOR in high school and college.