How to measure goalie pads for the right size
Every current manufacturer sizes leg pads from a leg measurement, but they do not all ask for the same one. Bauer, CCM, TRUE and Warrior charts key on floor-to-knee (FTK); Brian's keys on ankle-to-knee (ATK) plus a knee-to-thigh measurement. The single rule that matters: measure the exact line the brand's chart names, and never convert one method into another.
The short version
- Bauer, CCM, TRUE, Warrior: measure floor-to-knee — from the floor straight up to the centre of the kneecap, in bare feet or socks, knee slightly bent.
- Brian's: measure ankle-to-knee — from the ankle bone to the centre of the kneecap with the leg slightly bent — plus knee to desired thigh height.
- Vaughn: publishes no measuring method and directs buyers to an in-person retailer fitting.
FTK includes your foot and ankle height, so it is always several inches longer than ATK. Feeding an ATK value into an FTK chart (or the reverse) produces a pad one or more sizes wrong.
What you need
- A flexible tape measure marked in inches or centimetres. A piece of string measured afterwards against a rigid ruler also works.
- A wall or firm chair, depending on whether the chart describes a standing or seated measurement.
- A helper to hold the tape straight and read the endpoint — self-measuring bends the tape.
Floor-to-knee (Bauer, CCM, TRUE, Warrior)
- Remove skates and shoes. Measure in bare feet or thin socks on a flat floor.
- Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and a slight, relaxed bend in the knee. (Warrior's official chart diagram shows this measurement taken while sitting — follow the posture your brand's chart describes.)
- Find the centre of the kneecap — not its top or bottom edge.
- Run the tape vertically from the floor straight up to that centre point. Do not follow the curve of the shin.
- Record the value with its unit, then measure once more to confirm.
CCM and Warrior charts also use your standing height next to floor-to-knee, so record height too. CCM additionally publishes a seated tibia-length alternative measured with the skate on; our reviewed CCM rows use the floor-to-knee and height columns of the published chart.
Ankle-to-knee and knee-to-thigh (Brian's)
- With the leg slightly bent, place the tape at the ankle bone.
- Measure straight up to the centre of the kneecap. That is ATK.
- Then measure from the centre of the kneecap up to your desired thigh height. Brian's chart pairs each stock size with an ATK value and a thigh-rise length.
- Record both values and their units together.
What each brand's chart actually asks for
Scroll the table horizontally on smaller screens.
| Brand | Chart input | Published measuring detail | Also required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bauer | Floor-to-knee (“shin height”) | Soft tape from the floor to the centre of the knee. | Age/level category (Youth–Senior) |
| CCM | Floor-to-knee | Bare foot on the floor, straight up to the middle of the kneecap, knee slightly bent. | Standing height |
| TRUE | Floor-to-knee | Bare feet, slight knee bend, tape to the middle of the knee. | Level category (JR/INT/SR) |
| Warrior | Floor-to-knee | Official chart diagram: taken while sitting, floor to knee pivot point. | Standing height; thigh measurement for the “+” extension |
| Brian's | Ankle-to-knee | Leg slightly bent, ankle bone to the centre of the knee. | Knee-to-thigh length |
| Vaughn | None published | Vaughn directs buyers to an in-person retailer fitting. | — |
The same measurement maps to different sizes across brands — a 19.5 in floor-to-knee lands in different rows on the Bauer, CCM, Warrior and TRUE charts. That is why the calculator asks for your brand first and never reuses a number across chart systems.
About “ATK × 2” and “ATK + skate size + thigh” formulas
Older retailer guides estimate pad size by doubling ATK, or by adding ATK, skate size and a thigh measurement. These are rules of thumb, not any current manufacturer's published method — none of the six brands above instructs an arithmetic step like that. A formula estimate can be a sanity check, but the size decision should come from the brand's own chart row and, above all, from the on-ice knee-block check.
Common mistakes
- Measuring to the top or bottom of the kneecap instead of its centre.
- Following the curve of the shin rather than the straight vertical line.
- Measuring floor-to-knee with skates or shoes on.
- Using an ATK value in a floor-to-knee chart, or converting between the two with a guessed offset.
- Sizing from standing height or age alone.
- Buying oversized pads “to grow into” beyond the knee-cradle limit — oversize pads rotate poorly and punish developing technique.
- Cranking every strap down to force a wrong size to feel right. If a pad only fits when over-tightened, the size or model is wrong.
No tape? Do not estimate from height or age. Wait until you can measure, or ask a qualified retailer/fitter to measure.
Frequently asked questions
Do I measure for goalie pads with skates on or off?
Take floor-to-knee and ankle-to-knee measurements in bare feet or socks, not skates. CCM and Bauer describe the floor-to-knee measurement without footwear. The only common exception is CCM's alternative seated tibia-length method, which is taken with the skate on, measured from the middle of the knee to the top of the skate boot.
Do I stand or sit while measuring?
It depends on the brand chart. Bauer, CCM and TRUE describe a standing floor-to-knee measurement with a slight knee bend. Warrior's official chart diagram says to take floor-to-knee while sitting. Brian's ankle-to-knee is taken with the leg slightly bent. Use the posture the chart you are matching describes.
What is the difference between floor-to-knee and ankle-to-knee?
Floor-to-knee (FTK) runs from the floor to the centre of the kneecap and includes the height of your foot and ankle. Ankle-to-knee (ATK) starts at the ankle bone, so it is several inches shorter. They are different inputs for different charts and cannot be converted into one another with a fixed formula.
Can I size goalie pads from height or age alone?
No. Height appears in some charts (CCM and Warrior use it alongside floor-to-knee), but no current manufacturer chart sizes leg pads from height or age alone. Two goalies of the same height can need different pad sizes because leg proportions differ.
How much growing room is acceptable for a young goalie?
Retail fitting guides converge on the same limit: in the butterfly, the knee may land slightly low in the knee cradle — no more than about one inch below its centre — but must never slide off the block. Oversizing beyond that hurts movement and technique more than it saves money.
Manufacturer sources
The measuring instructions above come from the manufacturers' own published guides and charts:
- Bauer goalie pad size guide
- CCM goalie pad sizing (product sizing section)
- Warrior goalie leg pad sizing chart
- Brian's fit guide
- Vaughn FAQ (retailer-fitting policy)
Each reviewed chart row keeps its source reference on the brand chart pages.
Use your measurement in the calculator · Next: thigh rise and physical fit checks