Ski Size Calculator NZ

This ski size calculator recommends a ski length from your height, your ability level, the kind of skiing you do and your build. The usual starting point used by rental shops and ski retailers is your height: an adult ski stood on its tail generally sits somewhere between your chin and the top of your head. Where in that band you should be depends on how you ski. Beginners want a shorter, more forgiving ski that is easy to turn and control at slower speeds, so the calculator takes around 12 centimetres off your height. Intermediates sit about 7 centimetres below head height, advanced skiers close to head height, and experts often ski at or slightly above it for stability at speed. The type of ski matters too: carving and park skis are usually run a little shorter, while powder and freeride skis are run longer for float in soft snow. Your build nudges the result as well, since a heavier, stronger skier can drive a longer, stiffer ski, while a lighter skier will find a shorter one easier to bend into a turn. Enter your details and the calculator gives a recommended length with a sensible range either side; treat it as a starting point, and let boot fit, the specific model and a demo day make the final call.

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cm
168 cm
recommended ski length
Suggested range163 to 173 cm
Total adjustment-7 cm
Your height175 cm

A guide only. Ski stiffness, turn radius, snow conditions and the specific model all matter as much as length, and most skis come in fixed length steps, so pick the stocked length closest to the recommendation. Children's skis are sized differently, mostly by weight, so use this for adults and teens of adult height.

How it works

The calculator starts from your height in centimetres and applies three adjustments. Ability sets the base: beginner takes 12 centimetres off your height, intermediate takes 7 off, advanced takes 2 off, and expert adds 2. Ski type then shifts the result: all-mountain skis stay as they are, carving and park skis come down 3 centimetres for quicker turning, and powder or freeride skis go up 5 centimetres for float. Finally your build fine-tunes it: a lighter build takes 3 centimetres off and a heavier build adds 3, because the force you can put through a ski changes how long and stiff a ski you can work. The result is the recommended length, and the suggested range is 5 centimetres either side of it, which is the band most skiers of your profile would happily ride. Skis are made in fixed length steps, typically around 7 centimetres apart, so in practice you choose the stocked length nearest the recommendation: the shorter one if you value quick, easy turns, the longer one if you value stability at speed.

Worked example

Using the defaults: you are 175 cm tall, an intermediate skier on all-mountain skis with an average build. Intermediate takes 7 cm off your height and the other settings make no change, so the recommendation is 175 - 7 = 168 cm, with a suggested range of 163 to 173 cm. Drop the ability to beginner and the recommendation shortens to 163 cm; switch to powder skis as an advanced skier and it rises to 178 cm, since 175 - 2 + 5 = 178. If the model you like comes in 165 cm and 172 cm, both sit inside the default range, so you would take the 165 for quicker turns on groomed runs or the 172 for more stability when you point them downhill.

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Frequently asked questions

What size skis do I need for my height?

As a rule of thumb, an adult ski stood on its tail should reach somewhere between your chin and the top of your head. Beginners should sit at the short end of that band, roughly 10 to 15 centimetres below their height, intermediates around 5 to 10 below, advanced skiers close to head height, and experts at or slightly above it.

Does the type of ski change the length?

Yes. Powder and freeride skis are usually run about 5 centimetres longer than an all-mountain ski for float in soft snow, while carving and park skis are usually run a few centimetres shorter so they turn faster and are easier to spin and control.

Does weight matter for ski length?

It nudges the answer a few centimetres. A heavier or stronger skier can bend and drive a longer, stiffer ski, while a lighter skier will find a slightly shorter ski easier to flex and turn. Children are sized differently again, mostly by weight rather than height, so this tool is for adults and teens of adult height.