Little League Bat Rules: Approved Sizes, Changes & Regulations

When it comes to Little League, it is often questioned what kind of bats you are allowed to use at certain levels. Since 2018, it is required that all divisions of Little League use bats that have a USA 1.15 BPF stamp, and the barrel diameter cannot exceed 2 5/8-inches. However, BBCOR bats can be used in the Intermediate, Junior League and Senior League Divisions. It is important to make sure your bat is legal for the division you are in, or of course, you will not be able to use it. So, below we will discuss each of the different divisions and break down the different sizes of bats that are allowed for each one.

What are Little League Divisions?

Little League has divisions of play for all children, ages 4-16. Depending on the child’s age, they will fall into a certain division, which will require a bat that must meet a certain size requirement. Each division and their specific bat size requirements can be found below.

Tee Ball (Ages 4-7)

All Tee Ball bats must feature the USA Baseball stamp accompanied by the following text, ONLY FOR USE WITH APPROVED TEE BALLS, in order to be legal for Little League. Additionally, Tee Ball bats may only be 26-inches in length and shorter.

Minor League (Ages 5-11)

All youth baseball bats used in the Minor League division of Little League must not exceed 33-inches in length and cannot have a barrel diameter larger than 2 5/8-inches. Also, they must have the USA certified stamp, however, solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo. Lastly, approved Tee Ball bats may also be used for Coach Pitch and Machine Pitch Minor Divisions only with the use of approved Tee Balls.

Major Division (Ages 9-12)

The Major League division is very similar to the Minor League division, the only difference is the age range of the players allowed to play in the league. All youth baseball bats that are used in the Major League division of Little League must not exceed 33-inches in length and cannot have a barrel diameter larger than 2 5/8-inches. Also, they must have the USA certified stamp, however, solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo. Lastly, approved Tee Ball bats may also be used for Coach Pitch and Machine Pitch Minor Divisions only with the use of approved Tee Balls.

Intermediate (Ages 12-13)

All youth/junior big barrel bats used in the Intermediate division of Little League must not exceed 34-inches in length and cannot have a barrel diameter larger than 2 5/8-inches. Also, they must have the USA certified stamp, however, solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo. Lastly, bats meeting BBCOR standard, marked with the certification stamp can be used.

Junior (Ages 12-14)

The Junior division is very similar to the Intermediate division, the only difference is the age range of the players allowed to play in the league. All youth/junior big barrel bats used in the Intermediate division of Little League must not exceed 34-inches in length and cannot have a barrel diameter larger than 2 5/8-inches. Also, they must have the USA certified stamp, however, solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo. Lastly, bats meeting BBCOR standard, marked with the certification stamp can be used.

Senior League (Ages 13-16)

All bats used in the Senior League, other than solid one-piece wood barrel bats, must be BBCOR baseball bats and feature the BBCOR certification stamp. The bats cannot exceed 36-inches in length, must not have a barrel diameter larger than 2 5/8-inches, and must have a length to weight ratio of drop 3 (-3).

Little League Bat Rules Chart

Each division of Little League has its own set of guidelines and limitations when it comes to bat size and required certification stamps, displayed in the chart below.

LeagueAgesBat SizeNotes
Tee Ball4 - 726 inches and shorterApproved Tee Ball bats may also be used for Coach Pitch/Machine Pitch Minor Divisions only with the use of approved Tee Balls
Minor Leagues5 - 11No more than 33-inches in length

Barrel diameter cannot exceed 2 5/8-inches
Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo

Approved Tee Ball bats may also be used for Coach Pitch and Machine Pitch Minor Divisions only with the use of approved Tee Balls
Major Division9 - 12No more than 33-inches in length

Barrel diameter cannot exceed 2 5/8-inches
Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo

Approved Tee Ball bats may also be used for Coach Pitch and Machine Pitch Minor Divisions only with the use of approved Tee Balls
Intermediate12 - 13No more than 34-inches in length

Barrel diameter cannot exceed 2 5/8-inches
Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo

Bats meeting BBCOR standard, marked with the certification stamp can be used
Junior League12 - 14No more than 34-inches in length

Barrel diameter cannot exceed 2 5/8-inches
Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo

Bats meeting BBCOR standard, marked with the certification stamp can be used
Senior League13 - 16No more than 36-inches in length

Barrel diameter cannot exceed 2 5/8-inches

Must have a drop 3 (-3) length to weight ratio
All bats must meet BBCOR certification and include the stamp of approval

Solid one-piece wood barrel bats do not require a USA Baseball logo

Little League Bat FAQs

How can you tell a bat is approved for play?

Little League requires all bats to have the USA certification. Some divisions can use bats that have the BBCOR certification stamp. The table above highlights all approval requirements for each division. If anything is unclear, it is always recommended to reach out to your league administration to make sure your bat is indeed approved for play.

Are there size, weight and drop limits by division?

Each division has its own size limits, mostly in length and barrel diameter of the bat. Weight and drop limits are only required in Senior League where BBCOR bats are required. Each division’s size limits can be found in the chart above.

Are wood bats allowed for play in Little League?

Solid, one-piece wood bats that adhere to Little League’s regulations will be allowed for play, and do not require a USA baseball certified stamp. Any multi-piece wood bat must have the USA stamp to be approved for play.

Let BaseballMonkey Help with Little League Bats!

Now that you’ve read through the rules for Little League baseball bats, it’s time to get out there and play! Come by your local MonkeySports superstore for expert advice in all thing’s baseball and to get an in-person look at our bat selection, or, you can always shop baseball bats on our website!

 

This article was originally published on November 6, 2019, and has been updated with new information.