There is no single regulated 5-a-side pitch size. Unlike futsal, which FIFA governs, 5-a-side turf football is built to the space available, and dimensions vary widely between facilities.
In practice, boxes in India commonly run between about 25 by 16 m and 35 by 20 m. English FA guidance for small-sided football recommends around 40 by 30 yards, roughly 36.5 by 27.4 m, with goals at 12 by 4 ft.
Common 5-a-side dimensions
| Setup | Metric | Imperial | Plays as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact box | 25 × 16 m | 82 × 52 ft | Fast, wall-heavy, very little space to run into |
| Common turf box | 30 × 20 m | 98 × 66 ft | The usual Indian corporate and commercial size |
| Larger box | 35 × 20 m | 115 × 66 ft | More room to build play, closer to small-sided football |
| FA small-sided guidance | 36.5 × 27.4 m | 40 × 30 yd | Open small-sided football rather than a box |
| Futsal, for comparison | 40 × 20 m | 131 × 66 ft | Indoor, hard court, FIFA governed |
The bottom row is the important comparison. Futsal and 5-a-side get used interchangeably in conversation and they are not the same facility, which is covered below.
5-a-side and futsal are different builds
Futsal under FIFA Laws is indoor, played on a hard flat surface with a low-bounce ball, and the walls are out of play. 5-a-side as built in India is almost always artificial turf enclosed by netting or rebound boards, with the walls very much in play.
They need different surfaces, different enclosures and different budgets. Deciding which one is actually wanted before taking quotes saves a great deal of confusion, because a vendor quoting a futsal court and a vendor quoting a turf box will produce very different numbers for what sounds like the same request. Full futsal dimensions are set out in our futsal court dimensions guide.
Working out what your site fits?
Send us the available footprint and we will tell you which format it supports and what the enclosure needs to be.
How pitch size changes the game
A smaller box produces a faster, more continuous game where the walls are used constantly and there is little space to build an attack. A larger box allows more recognisable football, with room to pass into space and press.
Neither is better, but they suit different groups. A corporate campus running short evening games with mixed ability usually gets more out of a compact box, because the game stays continuous and nobody spends the session chasing. A facility catering to serious amateur players will want the larger footprint.
Goals
5-a-side goals are commonly 12 ft wide by 4 ft high, which is 3.66 by 1.22 m under FA small-sided guidance. Since the format is unregulated, goal sizes vary, but this is the most widely used figure and goals at this size suit the box dimensions above.
Goal fixing matters more than it sounds. Freestanding goals on turf move during play and become a hazard. They should be anchored or integrated into the enclosure structure.
Enclosure height
Perimeter netting has to be tall enough to keep the ball in without stopping play constantly. On rooftops and in built-up sites this is a safety requirement rather than a convenience, and it is worth over-specifying rather than under-specifying, because raising an enclosure later means re-engineering the frame.
Run-off and total footprint
The pitch dimension is the playing area inside the enclosure. A buildable footprint needs space for the structure itself, access gates, and circulation around the outside. Allow a footprint meaningfully larger than the pitch dimension on every side rather than working to the pitch figure exactly.
Surface
Artificial turf with around 40 mm pile is the usual specification for football use, long enough for realistic ball roll and player comfort, short enough to drain and recover. Infill type and UV stability matter as much as pile height, particularly for uncovered pitches in Indian sun. Our football turf guide covers the specification in detail.
Related football and futsal guides
- Futsal court dimensions, official FIFA size and markings
- Football turf, pile height, infill and base
- Football and futsal court installation
- Box cricket setup, a similar enclosed-turf build
Frequently asked questions
What is the size of a 5-a-side football pitch?
There is no single regulated size. Boxes in India commonly run between about 25 by 16 m and 35 by 20 m. FA small-sided guidance recommends around 40 by 30 yards, roughly 36.5 by 27.4 m.
Is 5-a-side the same as futsal?
No. Futsal is indoor on a hard surface with a low-bounce ball and the walls out of play, governed by FIFA at 40 by 20 m. 5-a-side as built in India is artificial turf enclosed by netting, with the walls in play.
What size are 5-a-side goals?
Commonly 12 ft by 4 ft, which is 3.66 by 1.22 m. The format is unregulated so sizes vary, but this is the most widely used figure.
How does pitch size change the game?
A smaller box produces a fast continuous game with constant wall use. A larger box allows more recognisable football with room to pass into space and press.
What turf pile height is used for 5-a-side?
Around 40 mm is the usual working figure for football use. Infill type and UV stability matter as much as pile height, especially for uncovered pitches.
Planning a 5-a-side or futsal facility?
sportsOS scopes turf, enclosure, goals, marking and floodlighting as one project, sized against a survey of your actual footprint.
See Football & Futsal Courts →