The soccer vs football field question comes up constantly for schools and parks, because the same rectangle of turf often has to host both. An American football field has fixed dimensions. A soccer field has a range, and a regulation adult soccer pitch is typically longer and noticeably wider than a football field. That difference drives how a shared stadium is laid out, which is why multi-sport turf field installation starts with the widest sport you plan to host.
Soccer vs football field dimensions side by side
| Measure | American football (NFL, NCAA, high school) | Soccer (IFAB Laws of the Game) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 120 yd (100 yd field plus two 10 yd end zones) | 100 to 130 yd; international 110 to 120 yd |
| Width | 53 1/3 yd (160 ft) | 50 to 100 yd; international 70 to 80 yd |
| Common stadium size | 360 x 160 ft | About 115 x 74 yd (105 x 68 m) |
| Area | 57,600 sq ft (about 1.32 acres) | About 76,600 sq ft at 115 x 74 yd (about 1.76 acres) |
| Scoring area | End zones and goalposts on end lines | 8 x 24 ft goals on goal lines |
| Key markings | Yard lines every 5 yd, hash marks, numbers | Halfway line, center circle, penalty and goal areas, arcs, corner arcs |
Field sizes for youth soccer are smaller and vary by age group and league. NCAA soccer rules set their own ranges, which are similar to the IFAB ranges for adult play.
Why a soccer field is wider than a football field
Football is played in short bursts down a long, narrow rectangle, and the sideline-to-sideline width has been fixed at 160 feet for over a century. Soccer is continuous and spreads play across the width to stretch defenses, so the laws allow a much wider field. A soccer pitch at 74 yards wide needs about 21 more yards of width than a football field.
Length is closer. A 120-yard football field from back line to back line is close to the length of many soccer pitches, which is why both sports can often share the same stadium length.
How multi-sport turf fields fit both
A shared synthetic field is laid out around the largest footprint. Planners usually set the turf wide enough for the desired soccer pitch, add safety run-off around it, and then center the football field inside. The result is a turf surface wider than football alone needs, with soccer touchlines outside the football sidelines.
Lines are handled two ways:
Painted lines
- Flexible; layouts can change season to season
- Must be repainted and removed regularly
- Good for secondary sports or temporary layouts
Inlaid (tufted or cut-in) lines
- Permanent colored turf seamed into the field
- Stay crisp without repainting
- Use different colors per sport so players can read their lines
A typical approach is white inlaid lines for football, a second color such as yellow for soccer, and other colors for lacrosse or field hockey. Too many permanent lines can look busy, so many schools inlay the primary sports and paint the rest.
Pro tip: settle on the final soccer pitch size before the turf is ordered. Inlaid lines are cut and seamed during installation, so changing a layout later means cutting the carpet.
Talk to an installer who builds it right
Experienced local crews. Every line item in writing.
Fitting other sports on the same turf
Lacrosse, field hockey and rugby are common additions to football-soccer stadiums. Men’s lacrosse is played on a 110 x 60 yard field, which fits inside a wide soccer layout. Baseball and softball need a completely different footprint, so they rarely share a rectangle; see our guide to baseball field dimensions for those layouts.
For a field built mainly around soccer, including turf type and infill choices, see our page on the artificial turf soccer field.
Planning a shared field
- List every sport and levelVarsity football, adult soccer, youth leagues and PE classes may all need different markings.
- Set the largest footprint plus run-offLeave safety space beyond the widest sideline and behind end lines.
- Choose inlaid vs painted lines per sportAssign colors and decide which layouts are permanent.
- Design the base and drainage for the full surfaceThe whole turf area, not just the football rectangle, needs a graded, draining base.
Line accuracy, seam quality and base grading are what make a shared field play well for every team. When you are ready to plan one, talk with an experienced field installer about your layout.
Soccer vs football field FAQ
Is a soccer field bigger than a football field?
Usually, yes. A typical adult soccer pitch is a little shorter or about the same length as a football field from end line to end line, but much wider, so its total area is larger.
What are football field dimensions vs soccer field dimensions in feet?
A football field is 360 x 160 feet. A common soccer pitch of 115 x 74 yards is about 345 x 222 feet, though soccer fields can range from 300 to 390 feet long.
Can soccer be played on a football field?
Yes, but if the turf is only 160 feet wide, the soccer pitch will be narrow. Many high school fields are built wider so a fuller soccer pitch fits.
Why do turf fields have so many lines?
Multi-sport fields carry permanent inlaid lines for several sports, usually in different colors, so each team can follow its own markings.
The complete turf installation guide
What a quality install looks like, the eight installation steps, spec sheets, and how to choose an installer.