Batter's Box Dimensions and Guidelines

Figuring out a new sport, even one as old as baseball, can be a challenge. You have to familiarize yourself with all sorts of technical jargon, such as “batter’s box.” So, what is a batter’s box and how big is it?

A batter’s box is a box located on either side of home plate. It’s where the batter stands while the pitcher throws their pitch. Each of the batter’s boxes measures 6 or 7 feet in length and 4 feet in width, and their centers are perfectly aligned with the center of home plate.

While the concept of a batter’s box might be easy to understand, there are a set of rules that baseball players must follow when standing in or around the box. I’ll explain what those rules are in more detail down below.

What Is the Purpose of a Batter’s Box?

If you take a look at a baseball field, whether it’s an MLB field or on a high school campus, you’ll undoubtedly notice the white rectangular markings around home plate. Those markings are what is known as a batter’s box.

First of all, there are two batter’s boxes located around home plate. The box on the left is used for right-handed batters, and the box on the right is where left-handed batters stand.

The batter’s box indicates where the batter can and cannot stand while swinging the bat. Usually, when a batter is out of the box, the pitcher will not throw the ball. This gives the batter ample time to practice their swing.

How Big Is a Batter’s Box?

While there is a required size for a baseball bat, surprisingly enough, the MLB’s official rulebook doesn’t explicitly state how large and wide the batter’s box should be. However, MLB-regulation fields, as well as university and college ballparks, stick to the same measurements—i.e., 6 or 7 feet long and 4 feet wide.

The batter’s box is drawn using the same type of chalk used to draw the baselines. The centers of both boxes should be aligned with the center of the home plate.

When drawing the batter’s box, the line should measure 6 inches away from the left and right sides of the plate. The 6-foot-long lines should be perfectly parallel to the corner of the home plate pointing toward the pitcher’s mound.

What Is a Next Batter’s Box?

Don’t confuse the batter’s box with the next batter’s box! Not only are they drawn in completely different locations of the field, but they also serve completely different purposes.

The next batter’s box is the box where the next batter in line stands in preparation for their turn. It’s also worth noting that the next batter’s box isn’t a box at all; it’s a 5-foot circle located roughly 37 feet to the right of home plate and about 12 feet down.

Baseball Rules Involving the Batter’s Box

If you have time to go through 188 pages of baseball rules, I urge you to check out the official MLB rulebook. If you don’t, I’ll break down the basics of the batter’s box per pro-league guidelines.

Starting Gameplay

Before the match begins, the home team takes their defensive positions while the visiting team gets ready to bat. The first batter must step inside the batter’s box before the umpire-in-chief (UIC) can officially start the match. All of this must be done in an orderly, timely fashion per the UIC’s requests.

Batting

The player whose turn it is to bat must step into the batter’s box in a timely manner.
The batter must have both feet remain inside the batter’s box at all times during the swing.
Before the batter steps into the batter’s box, they are allowed to practice their swing. After stepping a foot into the batter’s box, the batter is not allowed to exit the box unless:
The batter’s request to call a timeout has been approved by the umpire.
There is a delay in gameplay that can benefit both teams.
The batter swings at a pitch in such a way that forces one foot out of the box.
The batter loses their balance by trying to avoid getting hit by the pitch.
The offensive team tries to run a play on a runner.
The catcher exits the catcher’s box to give defensive instructions to their teammates.
There is a potential risk of injury.
One of the teams makes a substitution.
If the batter doesn’t step inside the batter’s plate in a timely fashion, the umpire can call a strike.
If the umpire calls three strikes on a batter who is intentionally delaying gameplay by avoiding the batter’s box, the batter will be struck out.

Pitching

Quick pitching—the act of pitching a ball before the batter is in position—is illegal. If a quick pitch is thrown, the umpire may ask that the pitch is redone from scratch or issue a warning or penalty to the offending player.

Prohibited Batting Actions

If the batter manages to hit the ball while both of their feet are outside the batter’s box, the batter will automatically be struck out.
The batter cannot jump, hop, or leap while batting. If both of their feet are removed from the batter’s box for any reason, they will be struck out.
The batter cannot move from one batter’s box to the other after the pitcher has already assumed a set position.
The batter cannot make any sudden movements that can throw the pitcher or batter off, even with their feet firmly planted inside the batter’s box.

How Big Are Batter’s Boxes in Little League Games?

While the little league and pro-league athletes play baseball, there are considerable differences in rules and field specifications. A batter’s box in little league ballparks will typically measure 3 feet wide and 6 feet long. You can find a set of rules of regulatory differences between the leagues in this guide.

In terms of field specifications, high school, college, and MLB bases are spaced 90 feet apart, whereas, in the little leagues, the bases are only 60 feet apart. As such, many of the other size specifications, including those of the batter’s box, will be adjusted to suit the players’ stature.