Skipping rope size guide
The right rope length for every age and height.
The right length makes skipping much easier. Too long and the rope drags on the floor and tangles; too short and it catches the head or the feet. Most children who “can’t skip” are using a rope that doesn’t fit.
The quick check
Stand on the middle of the rope with feet together. Pull the handles up beside the body: they should reach just below the armpits. If they reach the shoulders, the rope is too long; if they stop at the chest, it is too short.
Which length?
| Rope | Who it’s for | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 m | Children aged about 4 to 7 (Reception to Year 2) | About 1.00 m to 1.30 m (3′3″ to 4′3″) |
| 2.5 m | Children aged about 7 to 11 (Years 3 to 6) | About 1.20 m to 1.55 m (3′11″ to 5′1″) |
| 2.8 m | Teenagers, adults and tall children | About 1.50 m to 1.83 m (4′11″ to 6′) |
These heights are a guide. skip-hop ropes are sized by key stage, so a pupil who is a little shorter or taller than the band can still use the rope for their key stage. That is why the bands overlap.
Between sizes? Go for the longer rope and tie a knot a couple of centimetres below each handle. It makes no difference to how the rope turns, and the child can untie it as they grow.
Signs the rope is the wrong length
Too long
- The rope slaps the floor well in front of the feet and bounces.
- The skipper lifts their hands up high or holds them wide to stop it dragging.
- The rope wraps round the ankles on every turn.
Too short
- The rope catches the head or the heels.
- The skipper hunches over or jumps very high to get it under the feet.
- The hands are pulled out to the sides.
Ropes for a whole class or school
For a school, size by key stage rather than by child: 2.1 m for Reception to Year 2 and 2.5 m for Years 3 to 6, with a few 2.8 m ropes for your tallest Year 6 pupils and for staff and Young Leaders. Our ropes come in class packs of 10, and the whole-school set has 76 ropes in a kit bag, sized for a primary school.
Long ropes and Double Dutch ropes
Group skipping needs longer ropes, turned by two people.
| Rope | Use it for | Jumpers |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5 m (Double Dutch pair) | Double Dutch, or one rope on its own for small-group long rope | 1 to 3 |
| 7.5 m long rope | Long rope games such as Clusterjump and Figure of Eight, and skipping rhymes | 4 or more |
Our Double Dutch ropes come as a pair in contrasting colours, so jumpers can see which rope is which. The beaded pair is heavier and turns with a steady rhythm, which suits confident skippers.
Questions people ask
What size skipping rope does a 5-year-old need?
Most children in Reception to Year 2, about ages 4 to 7, need a 2.1 m rope. Check it by standing on the middle: the handles should reach just below the armpits.
What size skipping rope does a 10-year-old need?
Most children in Years 3 to 6, about ages 7 to 11 and about 1.20 m to 1.55 m tall, need a 2.5 m rope. A tall Year 6 pupil may need the 2.8 m rope.
What length skipping rope does an adult need?
Most adults up to about 1.83 m (6′) need a 2.8 m rope. If you’re between sizes, choose the longer rope and tie a knot below each handle.
How long is a Double Dutch rope?
Our Double Dutch ropes are 4.5 m each and come as a pair in contrasting colours, so jumpers can tell the two ropes apart. That length suits two turners and one to three jumpers.
How long should a long rope be for group skipping?
For four or more jumpers, games like Figure of Eight and the old playground rhymes, use a 7.5 m long rope with a turner at each end.
Can I make a skipping rope shorter?
Yes. Tie a knot a couple of centimetres below each handle, or two knots if it is still long. It makes no difference to how the rope turns.