Pickleball Balls: Indoor vs Outdoor

Official specs from the USA Pickleball Equipment Standards Manual · Updated 29 September 2026

Short answer: use an outdoor ball (about 40 small holes, harder) on concrete or asphalt courts, especially in wind. Use an indoor ball (about 26 larger holes, softer) on smooth gym or wooden floors. When in doubt, use whatever ball the venue or your open play group uses.

Indoor vs outdoor balls

OutdoorIndoor

HolesAbout 40, smallerAbout 26, larger

ShellHarder, slightly heavierSofter, lighter

PaceFaster, lower bounceSlower, easier to control

Best onConcrete, asphalt, windy courtsGym, wooden and other smooth floors

WearCan crack with heavy useScuffs quickly on rough surfaces

Hole counts are typical, not a rule: any number from 26 to 40 is allowed, and some balls sit in between.

Official ball specifications

From Section 2.D of the USA Pickleball Equipment Standards Manual:

Diameter: 2.87 to 2.97 inches (7.29–7.54 cm), and no more than ±0.020 inch (0.51 mm) out of round.
Weight: 0.78 to 0.935 oz (22.1–26.5 g).
Bounce: 30 to 34 inches (76.2–86.4 cm) to the top of the ball when dropped from 78 inches (198.1 cm) onto a granite surface plate.
Holes: 26 to 40 circular holes.
Surface: smooth, with no texturing.
For sanctioned tournaments, the ball must be on the USA Pickleball approved list.

Which ball should you buy?

Match the court. Check whether your usual venue is indoors on a smooth floor or on a painted outdoor surface. Venue pages on PickleSportsHub list the court type.
Match your group. Open play groups usually agree on one ball. Using the same one keeps rallies consistent.
Temperature changes the feel. Plastic balls get softer in the heat and harder and more brittle in the cold, such as a strongly air-conditioned hall. Warm up with the ball for a few rallies before a game.
Buy a pack. Balls go out of round and crack over time, so a pack of several lets you swap one out mid-session.

When to replace a ball

It has a crack, even a small one.
It wobbles in flight or bounces unevenly, a sign it's out of round.
It feels noticeably softer than a new ball when you squeeze it.

Find a court to play on

Browse courts by city to see which venues are indoor and which are outdoor. See also: how to choose a paddle and the official court dimensions.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between indoor and outdoor pickleballs?

Outdoor balls usually have about 40 smaller holes and a harder, slightly heavier shell, so they cut through wind and last on rough surfaces. Indoor balls usually have about 26 larger holes and a softer shell, which gives more control and a slower pace on smooth floors.

How big is an official pickleball?

Between 2.87 and 2.97 inches (7.29–7.54 cm) in diameter, weighing 0.78 to 0.935 oz (22.1–26.5 g), with 26 to 40 circular holes.

How high should a pickleball bounce?

Dropped from 78 inches (198.1 cm) onto a granite surface, an approved ball must bounce 30 to 34 inches (76.2–86.4 cm), measured to the top of the ball.

How long does a pickleball last?

It depends on the surface and how hard you play. Replace a ball when it cracks, goes out of round, or gets noticeably softer, because it will bounce unpredictably.