How Tall Is a Lacrosse Goal?

6 feet tall, 6 feet wide and about 7 feet deep. Here are the official lacrosse goal dimensions, how youth and box goals differ, and what to look for when you buy one.

Connor Stifel · General Lacrosse · Updated October 21, 2026 · 6 min read

The quick answer

6' x 6'Field lacrosse goal

6 feet tall and 6 feet wide (1.83 m x 1.83 m), for men's and women's field lacrosse at every level from high school up.

~4' x 4'Box & young youth

Box lacrosse uses a smaller goal, and USA Lacrosse recommends 3x3 or 4x4 goals for 8U.

One of the most common questions new fans and players ask is, "How tall is a lacrosse goal?" Let me answer that right away: a standard lacrosse goal is 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide, or about 1.83 meters by 1.83 meters.

Whether it's high school, college or the pros, the size is the same in men's and women's field lacrosse.

But there's more to a lacrosse goal than its height. From the depth of the net to the changes for youth leagues and box lacrosse, there's plenty to unpack. I'll break it all down for you here.

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What is a lacrosse goal?

A lacrosse goal is the cage on the field that the goalie defends and that the offense is trying to put the ball into. It's built from a sturdy steel frame with netting that stretches back to catch those high-speed shots.

When it's set up, the front forms a perfect square. Game goals are heavy steel built to stay put, while practice goals are often lighter and easier to move or fold up.

The goalie defends that space with everything they've got, while the offense tries to put the ball in the back of the net.

Sturdy steel frame (practice goals are often lighter and collapsible)
Square opening when set up
Defended by the goalie while the offense tries to score

Standard lacrosse goal dimensions

Governing bodies like the NCAA, NFHS, World Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse set the official goal dimensions for most levels of play.

Here's the official breakdown:

Height: 6 feet (1.83 m)
Width: 6 feet (1.83 m)
Depth: The net comes to a point about 7 feet (2.13 m) behind the goal line

Want to see the sizes compared? Here's a lacrosse goal measurements and size guide on YouTube.

Lacrosse goal construction and materials

So we've settled how tall a lacrosse goal is, but the dimensions don't stop at height and width. Let's talk frame and net.

Most lacrosse goals are made of steel tubing about 1.5 inches in diameter, and some game goals go up to 1.75 inches. They're built tough for all the shots that miss and ring off the pipe.

The net is usually weatherproof nylon or polyethylene, built to survive all four seasons.

Lacrosse goal construction and materials

Pipe diameter: Usually 1.5 inches (38.1 mm); some game goals use 1.75 inches
Net cord: Roughly 3 to 7 mm thick, depending on the net
Mesh openings: No larger than 1.5 inches (38.1 mm)
Frame color: Orange (almost always)
Weight: Varies a lot. Portable practice goals can be light enough to carry, while regulation steel game goals are much heavier.

Read more: Best lacrosse goals reviewed

Are all lacrosse goals the same size?

No, and this is where it gets interesting. Field lacrosse goals for older players are the standard 6x6 feet, but things change depending on the level and the game.

Youth lacrosse

High school and most older youth games use the regulation 6x6 goal with the 7-foot-deep net.

For the youngest players, USA Lacrosse recommends a 3x3 or 4x4 foot goal at 8U, and allows either a 4x4 or a regulation 6x6 goal at 10U, depending on what the league chooses.

Box lacrosse (indoor)

Box lacrosse uses a much smaller goal, about 4 feet by 4 feet. The indoor game is faster and tighter, so a smaller cage fits the compact rink, and box goalies wear much bigger pads to fill it.

Women's lacrosse

Women's field lacrosse uses the same 6x6 goal as the men's game. No difference here.

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Official vs practice lacrosse goals

When you're shopping for a goal, it's easy to get stuck choosing between an official goal and a practice goal. They look similar at first glance, but they're built differently. Knowing the difference will save you time, effort and probably money.

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Who sets the lacrosse goal regulations?

Wondering who's behind all these measurements? Here's your answer:

NCAA: College lacrosse in the U.S.
World Lacrosse: International play.
NFHS: U.S. high school lacrosse.
USA Lacrosse: Youth and amateur leagues.

They all agree on the 6x6 goal for field lacrosse and allow smaller goals for young youth players, while box leagues use their own smaller goal. So yes, those little goals at the youth jamboree are legit.

Choosing the right lacrosse goal

If you're buying a lacrosse goal, here's what to think about:

Intended use: For official games, make sure it's regulation size. For practice or the backyard, a smaller or more portable goal works fine.
Portability: Some goals are designed to be light and easy to set up, which makes them great for backyard practice.
Durability: Look for a sturdy frame and weather-resistant netting that can handle regular use and all kinds of weather.

Setting up a new goal? Here's how to string the net.

See it live LAXdotCOMtv on YouTube

Six by six. Learn it, aim for the corners, and live there.

Lacrosse goals at BattleLax

Coach's note: Every great shooter I've coached, from upstate New York to Virginia Beach to Ontario, had a goal in the backyard or the driveway. Get a 6x6 so you're shooting at the real thing, hang a set of corner targets ($46.99) on it, and put in 100 shots a day. You'll be finding top shelf without looking by summer.

Goals for game day and the backyardOfficial 6x6, backyard, practice and box goals. All at BattleLax.