Softball vs baseball is mostly a question of scale. Women’s fastpitch under USA Softball rules uses a 12-inch ball weighing 6.5 to 7 ounces, pitched underhand from flat ground 43 feet away, with bases 60 feet apart. Baseball uses a 9 to 9.25 inch ball weighing 5 to 5.25 ounces, thrown from a raised mound 60 feet 6 inches away, with 90-foot bases.
Key Takeaways
- The softball is bigger and heavier: about 12 inches around and up to 7 ounces, against a 9-inch, 5-ounce baseball.
- Softball pitchers throw underhand from level ground. Baseball pitchers work off a rubber raised 10 inches.
- A fastpitch diamond has 60-foot bases and a backstop 25 to 30 feet from home. Regulation baseball uses 90-foot bases.
- Fastpitch runners must stay on the bag until the pitch is released. Baseball runners can lead off.
- Bats do not cross over: softball caps the barrel at 2.25 inches, while BBCOR baseball bats go to 2 5/8 inches.
Softball vs Baseball: The Official Numbers Side by Side
Softball started as an indoor take on baseball at Chicago’s Farragut Boat Club in November 1887, according to USA Softball. This table compares adult and high school fastpitch with baseball, using the 2026 USA Softball rulebook and the 2026 Official Baseball Rules.
| Spec | Fastpitch softball | Baseball |
|---|---|---|
| Ball size | 11 7/8 to 12 1/4 in around | 9 to 9 1/4 in around |
| Ball weight | 6.5 to 7 oz | 5 to 5 1/4 oz |
| Pitching distance | 43 ft women, 46 ft men | 60 ft 6 in |
| Pitching area | Flat, 16 ft circle | Mound, rubber 10 in high |
| Delivery | Underhand, hand below hip | No arm angle rule |
| Base paths | 60 ft | 90 ft |
| Home to second | 84 ft 10 1/4 in | 127 ft 3 3/8 in |
| Base size | 15 in, double first base | 18 in (MLB) |
| Outfield fence | 200 to 250 ft (women) | 250 ft minimum |
| Backstop | 25 to 30 ft | 60 ft or more |
| Bat barrel | 2.25 in max | 2 5/8 in (BBCOR), 2.61 in (MLB wood) |
| Bat length | 34 in max | 36 in (BBCOR), 42 in (MLB) |
| Glove length | 14 in max | 13 in max |
| Innings | 7 | 9 (MLB), 7 (high school) |
| Leading off | Not before release | Allowed |
How Big Is a Softball Compared to a Baseball?
The ball is the difference you notice first. USA Softball’s 12-inch fastpitch ball weighs 6.5 to 7 ounces, and women’s and girls’ fastpitch uses an optic yellow cover with red stitches. A major league baseball is yarn wound around a small cork or rubber core, covered in horsehide or cowhide, and weighs 5 to 5 1/4 ounces.
The smaller 11-inch ball, at least 6 ounces, is standard for 10U fastpitch and women’s slowpitch.
Cabbage Ball and the 16-Inch Softball
At the other extreme is the Chicago-style 16-inch ball, which some players nickname cabbage ball. USA Softball requires it to measure at least 16 inches around and weigh at least 9 ounces. It plays on 55-foot bases for women and 60-foot bases for men, with a 38-foot pitching distance.
How Softball Pitching Differs From Baseball Pitching
A fastpitch pitcher starts with the pivot foot on a 24-inch rubber set level with the ground, inside a 16-foot circle. The rules demand an underhand motion with the hand below the hip, and the windmill may not make two full turns.
A baseball pitcher works from a rubber 10 inches above home plate, on an 18-foot mound. MLB rules control the windup and set positions but not the arm slot, so the pitcher picks the angle.
In slowpitch, the pitch must travel in an arc at least 6 feet high and no more than 10 feet, from 50 feet in adult USA Softball play.
Softball Pitching Distance by Age and Level
| Level | Distance |
|---|---|
| 10U fastpitch, girls and boys | 35 ft |
| 12U fastpitch, girls and boys | 40 ft |
| Girls 14U to 18U, high school, college, women | 43 ft |
| Boys 14U to 18U, high school boys, men | 46 ft |
| High school slowpitch, 12-inch ball | 46 ft |
| Adult slowpitch (USA Softball) | 50 ft |
| 16-inch slowpitch | 38 ft |
Little League softball uses 35, 40 and 43 feet as players move up, while Little League baseball pitches from 46 feet through the Majors. Our Little League rules guide explains the divisions.
Softball Field vs Baseball Field: Bases, Fences and Backstops
A fastpitch diamond is a 60-foot square, while high school, college and pro baseball use 90 feet. Adult slowpitch sits between them at 70 feet in USA Softball play. For every baseball measurement, see our guide to baseball diamond dimensions.
USA Softball requires a double first base in every division: a 15 by 30 inch bag, half white and half a contrasting color.
Fences and backstops come in closer too:
- Softball fences. USA Softball sets 200 to 250 feet for women’s fastpitch. College fields with a fence 6 feet or taller need at least 190 feet to left and right (200 on new fields) and 220 feet to center.
- Baseball fences. MLB sets a 250-foot minimum and calls 320 feet down the lines and 400 feet to center preferable.
- Backstops. Softball places the backstop 25 to 30 feet behind home. MLB recommends 60 feet or more.
Can the two share a field? When softball uses a baseball field, USA Softball says the mound should come out and the backstop must sit 25 to 30 feet from home. Little League uses 60-foot bases for all softball and for baseball ages 12 and under, so one infield can serve both.
Softball vs Baseball Equipment: Bats, Gloves, Cleats and Pants
Bats
A USA Softball bat can be no more than 34 inches long, 38 ounces in weight and 2.25 inches across the barrel. It must also carry the softball certification mark.
High school baseball requires the BBCOR .50 mark on any bat that is not one piece of wood. USA Baseball’s BBCOR specs cap those bats at a 2 5/8 inch barrel, 36 inches and a drop of 3 (length minus weight). From the 2028 season, high schools will also allow lighter USABat bats with drops of 4 to 6. MLB allows only solid wood.
Gloves
MLB caps a fielder’s glove at 13 inches from fingertip to heel and 7 3/4 inches wide. USA Softball allows up to 14 inches along the first finger and 8 inches across the top of the palm, extra room for a ball about 3 inches bigger around.
Cleats and Pants
Cleat rules split on metal. USA Softball limits metal cleats to 3/4 inch, bans round metal spikes, and bans metal entirely in 10U and 12U fastpitch and several slowpitch divisions. MLB bars pointed spikes like those on golf or track shoes.
USA Softball lets a team mix long and short pants as long as the color matches. MLB requires uniforms identical in color, trim and style.
Rules That Differ: Innings, Leadoffs and Run Rules
- Innings. A regulation softball game is seven innings. MLB plays nine, and high school baseball plays seven.
- Leading off. A fastpitch runner must keep contact with the base until the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. USA Softball and high school rules call a runner who leaves early out. Baseball runners take leads, and the pitcher may throw to any base before committing to the pitch.
- Extra innings. USA Softball’s tiebreaker starts in the eighth inning with the batter due up last placed on second base. MLB starts each extra half inning with a runner on second after the ninth.
- Run rules. College softball rules end a game when one team leads by 8 runs after five innings.
Practicing Softball and Baseball at Home
One batting cage can serve both hitters. The pitching end is where the sports split. A softball pitcher needs flat ground and 35 to 46 feet. A baseball pitcher needs a mound and 46 feet for Little League or 60 feet 6 inches from high school up.
Measure your longest clear run first. Our look at the pros and cons of batting cages can help you decide whether one fits.
Tip: Measure pitching distance from the back point of home plate to the front edge of the rubber, as both rulebooks do, and mark each distance your players use.
My Backyard Sports builds batting cages and sports turf, and our crews paint lines to regulation or custom layouts. See every sport we build for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Softball vs Baseball
Is a softball heavier than a baseball?
Yes. A 12-inch fastpitch softball weighs 6.5 to 7 ounces under USA Softball rules, while an MLB baseball weighs 5 to 5.25 ounces. Even the 11-inch ball used in 10U fastpitch must weigh at least 6 ounces, still more than a baseball, and the 16-inch ball weighs 9 ounces or more.
Are softball and baseball gloves the same?
They look alike, but the size limits differ. MLB limits a fielder’s glove to 13 inches from fingertip to heel, while USA Softball allows up to 14 inches along the first finger. For league games, choose a glove sized for the ball your league plays with.
Can you use a baseball bat for softball?
Not in sanctioned games. USA Softball requires a bat no wider than 2.25 inches that carries its certification mark. High school baseball currently requires the BBCOR .50 mark on any non-wood bat, with a barrel up to 2 5/8 inches. Check your league’s approved bat list before game day.
Which is harder, softball or baseball?
Neither wins across the board. Softball puts the pitcher 43 feet from the batter and the bases 60 feet apart, so reactions and throws happen fast. Baseball’s 60 feet 6 inches and 90-foot bases call for longer throws and more ground to cover. Players who switch should expect the biggest adjustment in pitching and base running, where the rules differ most.
Build One Practice Space for Softball and Baseball
My Backyard Sports designs and installs batting cages and sports turf for families with players in both sports. Talk with our team, and we will measure your space and recommend a layout.