Football Turf Size Guide: 5-a-Side, 7-a-Side, 9-a-Side and Full-Size Pitch Dimensions for UAE Projects

Overview

The first question on almost every pitch project we price is the same: how big does the turf need to be? The answer depends on who will play on it. A full-size 11-a-side pitch has legal limits set by the Laws of the Game, but 5-a-side, 7-a-side and 9-a-side turfs are sized to recommendations rather than strict rules, and the area you actually have to buy is always larger than the lines you paint. This guide sets out the official and recommended dimensions for every common format, shows the turf area each one needs, and explains how we size football pitches for schools, residential compounds and commercial operators across Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. For the construction and turf specification of a full-size pitch, see our companion guide to FIFA football pitch standards.

Football Pitch Sizes at a Glance

The table below brings the main formats together. Full-size dimensions come from the IFAB Laws of the Game; small-sided dimensions are the FA's recommended sizes, which are widely used as a reference when no local standard applies; futsal dimensions come from the Futsal Laws of the Game. Playing area is length multiplied by width, before run-off.

• 5v5 (under-7 and under-8): 37 m x 27 m, about 999 sqm. Goals 3.66 x 1.83 m.
• Futsal: 25–42 m x 16–25 m; international 38–42 m x 20–25 m (a 40 x 20 m court is 800 sqm). Goals 3 x 2 m.
• 7v7 (under-9 and under-10): 55 m x 37 m, about 2,035 sqm. Goals 3.66 x 1.83 m.
• 9v9 (under-11 and under-12): 73 m x 46 m, about 3,358 sqm. Goals 4.88 x 2.13 m.
• 11v11 (under-13 and under-14): 82 m x 50 m, about 4,100 sqm. Goals 6.40 x 2.13 m or 7.32 x 2.44 m.
• 11v11 (under-15 and under-16): 91 m x 55 m, about 5,005 sqm. Goals 7.32 x 2.44 m.
• 11v11 adult (FA recommended): 100 m x 64 m, 6,400 sqm. Goals 7.32 x 2.44 m.
• 11v11 professional and international: commonly 105 m x 68 m, 7,140 sqm. Goals 7.32 x 2.44 m.

Full-Size 11-a-Side: What the Laws of the Game Require

Law 1 of the IFAB Laws of the Game sets the limits for a full-size pitch. The touch line (the long side) must be between 90 m and 120 m and the goal line (the short side) between 45 m and 90 m, and the pitch must be rectangular, so the touch line is always longer than the goal line. For international matches the range narrows to 100–110 m long and 64–75 m wide. Inside those limits, the markings are fixed regardless of pitch size: goals 7.32 m wide and 2.44 m high, a goal area extending 5.5 m from each goalpost, a penalty area extending 16.5 m, a penalty mark 11 m from the goal line, and a centre circle with a 9.15 m radius. This is why a narrow pitch still has a full-size penalty box and simply loses width elsewhere. Most new pitches intended for competitive or professional use are built at 105 m x 68 m. It sits inside the international range and is the size FIFA-quality stadium pitches are generally designed around, which makes it the safe default when a client wants a pitch that will never be ruled too small.

5-a-Side, 7-a-Side and 9-a-Side Turf Sizes

Small-sided football has no single legal size, which is why turf sizes vary so much between operators. England's Football Association publishes recommended dimensions by age group, and they are the most widely used reference: 37 x 27 m for 5v5, 55 x 37 m for 7v7 and 73 x 46 m for 9v9. The FA also notes that where space is tight, 9v9 pitches can be marked across a full-size pitch at 68 x 46 m or 64 x 46 m. For commercial 5-a-side and 7-a-side turfs, the type most often built for rental and social leagues in the UAE, operators normally design within or close to these ranges and enclose the pitch with fencing or rebound boards. Smaller enclosed pitches keep the ball in play and the game fast; larger ones suit more open, competitive football. If the pitch will host organised youth football, sticking to the recommended sizes avoids a surface that clubs and schools later find too small for their fixtures.

Futsal Courts

Futsal is FIFA's official five-a-side format, played with a smaller, lower-bounce ball and five players a side, one of them a goalkeeper. Under the Futsal Laws of the Game the court is 25–42 m long and 16–25 m wide, and 38–42 m long and 20–25 m wide for international matches. Goals are 3 m wide and 2 m high. Futsal is traditionally an indoor game on a hard court, but outdoor futsal-sized turfs are common in schools and compounds because the dimensions fit where a larger pitch will not. If you want a court that can host organised futsal, check which surface the competition requires before choosing turf; FIFA runs a separate quality programme for futsal surfaces.

Why the Turf Area Is Bigger Than the Pitch

The figures above are playing areas, inside the lines. The turf you order, and the sub-base you build, cover a larger rectangle. Players need a safety run-off zone beyond the touch lines and goal lines so they can decelerate without hitting a fence, wall or floodlight column, and referees, substitutes and maintenance equipment need space around the pitch too. How much run-off you need depends on the level of play and the competition rules, so we agree it with the client before we price. As a planning rule, always size the sub-base, drainage and turf for the playing area plus run-off, and add a small allowance for cutting and seams. A pitch that is laid exactly to the lines, with a fence right on the touch line, is unsafe and will be uncomfortable to play on.

• Playing area: length x width inside the lines.
• Plus safety run-off beyond every line.
• Plus space for goals, benches, technical areas and maintenance access where needed.
• Plus a small cutting and seam allowance when ordering turf.

Planning a Pitch on a UAE Plot

Fitting a pitch onto a real site is rarely just a matter of the rectangle. On school campuses, residential compounds and commercial plots in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, the decisions that most affect size and cost are made before any turf is chosen. Orientation comes first: a long axis running roughly north–south keeps the low morning and evening sun out of players' eyes, which matters because in the UAE most play happens early or after sunset. Drainage comes next; artificial turf is laid on an engineered, free-draining sub-base, and that water has to go somewhere. Then lighting and shade: floodlight columns need their own foundations outside the run-off, and shaded seating makes the difference between a pitch that is used year-round and one that sits empty from May to September. Finally, think about ball-stop fencing, especially next to villas, roads and glazing. Our guide to sports turf maintenance for commercial facilities covers what it takes to keep the surface performing once it is built.

Which Size Should You Build?

Choose the format first and the size second. For a private villa or small compound, a 5-a-side turf in the futsal or FA 5v5 range is usually the right answer: it fits, it is affordable to light and fence, and it gets used. For schools, 7v7 and 9v9 pitches serve the age groups that play most, and a full-size pitch that can be cross-marked into smaller pitches gives the most flexibility. For clubs, academies and any facility that will host competitive senior matches, build to 105 x 68 m and specify turf tested under the FIFA Quality Programme.

• Villa or small compound: 5v5 or futsal-sized turf.
• Primary school: 5v5 and 7v7, or one 7v7 that doubles as two 5v5 pitches.
• Secondary school or community: 9v9, or full-size cross-marked for smaller games.
• Club, academy or competitive venue: 105 x 68 m full-size pitch.

How to Size a Football Turf for Your Site

A planning sequence for choosing the right football pitch format and calculating the turf area for a UAE school, compound or commercial site.

1. Decide who will play and in what format — Match the format to the users: 5v5 or futsal for small children and casual adult games, 7v7 for under-9 and under-10 football and social leagues, 9v9 for under-11 and under-12, and 11v11 for senior teams and competitive matches.
2. Measure the usable plot — Measure the clear, level area available, excluding setbacks, building access, utilities, drainage routes and any trees you need to keep. Note the orientation; a north–south long axis keeps the low sun out of players' eyes in the morning and evening.
3. Choose the playing dimensions — Pick dimensions within the official or recommended range for the format, then check they fit the plot with run-off on every side. If a full 11v11 pitch will not fit, a 9v9 pitch, or two 7v7 pitches across the space, often will.
4. Add run-off and calculate the turf area — Add a safety margin beyond the touch lines and goal lines. Multiply the overall length by the overall width (playing area plus run-off) to get the turf area to order, then allow a small extra for cutting and seams.
5. Plan fencing, lighting, drainage and shade — Allow space for perimeter fencing or ball-stop netting, floodlight columns, goal storage, a drainage connection for the sub-base, and shaded seating for players and spectators. In the UAE, floodlighting and shade decide how many hours a pitch is actually used.

Conclusion

Football turf size is set by who will play. Full-size pitches must sit within the IFAB limits, and 105 m x 68 m is the safe default for competitive use; small-sided turfs follow recommended sizes such as the FA's 37 x 27 m for 5v5, 55 x 37 m for 7v7 and 73 x 46 m for 9v9; futsal has its own 25–42 m by 16–25 m range. In every case, plan and price the turf for the playing area plus run-off, not just the lines. Petrascape has built and maintained sports surfaces for schools, institutions and private clients across Al Ain and Abu Dhabi since 2003. If you are planning a pitch, contact us with your plot dimensions and we will tell you which formats fit, what groundwork the site needs, and provide an itemised quotation for the football pitch that suits it.

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Sources

• Laws of the Game — Law 1: The Field of Play — The International Football Association Board (IFAB)
• FA Guide to Pitch and Goal Dimensions (metric) — The Football Association (England)
• A crash course in futsal rules — FIFA
• FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf — FIFA

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard size of a football turf?

For full-size 11-a-side football, the IFAB Laws of the Game allow a pitch 90–120 m long and 45–90 m wide, narrowed to 100–110 m by 64–75 m for international matches. Most new professional and FIFA-quality pitches are built at 105 m x 68 m, which is 7,140 sqm of playing surface before run-off is added. For small-sided turfs there is no single legal size, but the FA's recommended sizes (37 x 27 m for 5v5, 55 x 37 m for 7v7, 73 x 46 m for 9v9) are a widely used reference.

What size is a 5-a-side football turf?

There is no single official 5-a-side size. The FA recommends 37 m x 27 m for 5v5 youth football (under-7 and under-8), and futsal, the FIFA-governed five-a-side game, is played on a court 25–42 m long and 16–25 m wide, or 38–42 m by 20–25 m for international matches. Commercial 5-a-side turfs are usually designed somewhere in that range, with fencing or rebound boards around the edge. The final size depends on the plot and how much run-off space you can give players.

What size is a 7-a-side pitch?

The FA recommends 55 m x 37 m for 7v7 football, which is the format used for under-9 and under-10 players and for many adult social leagues. That is 2,035 sqm of playing area. Two 7v7 pitches can often be marked across a single full-size 11-a-side pitch, which is a common way for schools and clubs to get more use out of one surface.

How many square metres of turf does a full-size pitch need?

A 105 m x 68 m playing area is 7,140 sqm. You then add the run-off zone around the lines, plus any area for technical areas, goal storage and maintenance access, so the total turf area for a full-size pitch is noticeably larger than the playing surface alone. Our FIFA football pitch standards guide covers the full-size build in detail. For quoting, we measure the overall rectangle including run-off and add a small allowance for cutting and seams.

What size goals do I need for each pitch?

Full-size 11v11 goals are 7.32 m wide and 2.44 m high. The FA recommends 3.66 m x 1.83 m goals for 5v5 and 7v7, 4.88 m x 2.13 m for 9v9, and either 6.40 m x 2.13 m or full-size goals for under-13 and under-14 11v11. Futsal goals are 3 m wide and 2 m high. Goals must be properly anchored or weighted; unsecured goals are a known safety hazard.

Can you build a football turf on a villa or compound plot in the UAE?

Yes. A private 5-a-side or small training turf is a common addition to larger villas and residential compounds in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. The key constraints are a properly compacted, free-draining sub-base, ball-stop fencing to protect neighbours and buildings, shade, and lighting if the pitch will be used in the evening, which in the UAE summer is when most play happens. A site survey tells you which format fits and what groundwork the plot needs.