Jump rope length calculator for double unders
A rope that is too long is slow, and a rope that is too short catches your toes. Put in your height and how your doubles are going, and get a length to start from.
Honest bit: rope sizing charts disagree with each other, and this one is a rule of thumb too — not measured on athletes. It gets you close. Your own jumping does the rest.
Not sure which rope to buy? Compare rope types for your doubles.
Jump rope size chart for double unders
Cable length by height, with 15 cm handles, rounded to 5 cm. It is the calculator above, one row per height.
| Height | First doubles | Steady doubles | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 cm · 4′11″ | 240 cm 7′10″ | 225 cm 7′5″ | 210 cm 6′11″ |
| 155 cm · 5′1″ | 245 cm 8′0″ | 230 cm 7′7″ | 215 cm 7′1″ |
| 160 cm · 5′3″ | 250 cm 8′2″ | 235 cm 7′9″ | 220 cm 7′3″ |
| 165 cm · 5′5″ | 255 cm 8′4″ | 240 cm 7′10″ | 225 cm 7′5″ |
| 170 cm · 5′7″ | 260 cm 8′6″ | 245 cm 8′0″ | 230 cm 7′7″ |
| 175 cm · 5′9″ | 265 cm 8′8″ | 250 cm 8′2″ | 235 cm 7′9″ |
| 180 cm · 5′11″ | 270 cm 8′10″ | 255 cm 8′4″ | 240 cm 7′10″ |
| 185 cm · 6′1″ | 275 cm 9′0″ | 260 cm 8′6″ | 245 cm 8′0″ |
| 190 cm · 6′3″ | 280 cm 9′2″ | 265 cm 8′8″ | 250 cm 8′2″ |
| 195 cm · 6′5″ | 285 cm 9′4″ | 270 cm 8′10″ | 255 cm 8′4″ |
| 200 cm · 6′7″ | 290 cm 9′6″ | 275 cm 9′0″ | 260 cm 8′6″ |
Between two rows? Take the longer. Longer handles: take about a centimetre of cable off for every centimetre of handle over 15.
Test it on yourself
Stand on the middle of the rope with one foot and pull the handles straight up. For a first double they reach about your armpits or chest. As you get faster, they reach lower: towards the bottom of your ribs.
Then skip some singles. The rope should clear your head by about a hand for first doubles, and only a few fingers once you are fast.
Signs your rope is too long
- It slaps the floor well in front of you, or you hear it land late.
- Your hands drift out wide to take up the slack. That ishands flying out wide, and it is often the rope's fault.
- You jump high and still miss the second turn. A long rope is slow, and that looks a lot like not enough air.
Signs your rope is too short
- It catches your heels or the top of your head.
- You hunch or bend your knees to let it pass.
- Singles feel fine but every double ends on your toes. Let a little out.
Questions
Which rope should I buy for double unders?
Try PVC or beads while learning timing, then consider coated cable for linked doubles. Our brand-free buying guide compares rope types by ladder rung; choose a type before using this calculator to size it.
How long should a jump rope be for double unders?
A common rule of thumb is your height plus 2 to 3 feet of cable (about 60–90 cm), depending on how new double unders are to you. At 5′7″ (170 cm) that is about 230–260 cm. Charts disagree, so treat it as a starting point and trim from there.
Should a beginner use a longer rope?
Yes, a bit longer. A longer rope turns a bigger, slower loop with more room above your head, which forgives timing that is still new. Shorten it as your doubles get steady: a shorter rope is faster, and less forgiving.
Does handle length matter?
Yes. Part of each handle sticks out past your fist and acts as rope, so longer handles need less cable. This calculator assumes 15 cm handles and takes cable off for longer ones.
How do I check my rope length?
Stand on the middle of the rope with one foot and pull the handles up. For first doubles they reach about your armpits; steadier and faster jumpers go shorter: the chest, then the bottom of the ribs.
Add this calculator to your website
Sell ropes, or run a box with a sizing guide? Put this calculator on your own page, free. It is the same calculator as above, smaller, and it gives the same answers. No account, no camera, nothing to download. It is yours to use, not a partnership — no need to ask.
Where it goes, and what it does
- Put it in your rope sizing guide or size chart, in a column at least 300 px wide, and keep the height at 1300 px: that fits the longest answer on a small phone without cutting anything off.
- Use the address as it is. It is fixed, so the answer is always the one on this page.
- It sets no cookies, has no sign-in, and runs no analytics or ads. The height a visitor types is worked out in their browser and sent nowhere.
- It credits dulike with a “Free sizing tool by dulike” link, and offers filming a set for a count and a cue. Both open in a new tab, so your page stays where it was.
- The sizes are a rule of thumb, and the calculator says so. If your ropes run long or short, say that beside it — your chart knows your ropes better than ours does.
What it looks like
Not sure? Film a set, and if your hands are flying out, dulike will say so. It counts your doubles too.
Got doubles in today's workout and they're not there yet?How to scale double unders.