Hail Size Chart — Sizes in Inches, mm and Common Objects

Every hail size from pea (0.25 in.) to softball, in inches and millimeters with the everyday object it matches — plus a true-to-scale visualizer and the damage each size can do to roofs, vehicles, windows, siding, fences, and soft metals. Free, no account or sign-in.

True-Scale Hail Visualizer

Pick any hail size from pea (0.25 in.) to softball (4.50 in.) and the guide draws it at true physical scale next to everyday objects, with the damage each size can do to roofs, vehicles, windows, siding, fences, and soft metals. Free, no signup.

Hail size chart in inches and millimeters

Hail is reported by diameter, matched to familiar objects. The National Weather Service treats hail of 1.00 in. (quarter size) or larger as severe, and 2.00 in. (hen egg) or larger as significant severe.

Hail size	Inches	Millimeters	About the size of	NWS note
Pea	0.25 in.	6 mm	a pea
Marble / Mothball	0.50 in.	13 mm	a marble or mothball
Penny	0.75 in.	19 mm	a U.S. penny
Nickel	0.88 in.	22 mm	a U.S. nickel
Quarter	1.00 in.	25 mm	a U.S. quarter	NWS severe threshold (1.00 in.)
Half Dollar	1.25 in.	32 mm	a half-dollar coin	NWS severe
Ping-Pong Ball	1.50 in.	38 mm	a walnut or ping-pong ball	NWS severe
Golf Ball	1.75 in.	44 mm	a golf ball	NWS severe
Hen Egg	2.00 in.	51 mm	a hen egg	NWS significant severe (2.00 in.+)
Tennis Ball	2.50 in.	64 mm	a tennis ball	NWS significant severe (2.00 in.+)
Baseball	2.75 in.	70 mm	a baseball	NWS significant severe (2.00 in.+)
Tea Cup	3.00 in.	76 mm	a tea cup	NWS significant severe (2.00 in.+)
Grapefruit	4.00 in.	102 mm	a grapefruit	NWS significant severe (2.00 in.+)
Softball	4.50 in.	114 mm	a softball	NWS significant severe (2.00 in.+)

Sizes follow the NWS hail size descriptors used by NWS offices such as Binghamton, Burlington, and Lincoln (grapefruit 4.00 in., softball 4.50 in.); the Storm Prediction Center's conversion table swaps those two names (softball 4.00 in., grapefruit 4.50 in.), so the diameters are what count. StormAuditor's Free Report Snapshot screens at 0.75 in. — a StormAuditor screening threshold, below the NWS severe size.

Hail sizes at a glance

Pea (0.25 in.) — common, rarely damaging to modern roofing.
Penny to quarter (0.75–1.00 in.) — StormAuditor's 0.75 in. screening threshold up to the NWS 1.00 in. severe size: soft metals, vents, and aged shingles become vulnerable.
Golf ball (1.75 in.) — shingle fractures possible on many roofs; vehicle body dents.
Tennis ball to baseball (2.50–2.75 in.) — broken windows, cracked siding, significant roof damage.
Grapefruit to softball (4.00–4.50 in.) — rare and destructive; radar values this large are worth checking against ground reports.

Why size categories matter

The NWS severe threshold is 1.00 in. (quarter size); 0.75 in. is the StormAuditor screening threshold the Free Report Snapshot checks. Radar-estimated size (MESH) drives the Hail Explorer and hail reports — this guide translates those numbers into physical size. How estimates are made: Hail Methodology.

Hail size damage chart — every size, every surface

Size	Diameter	NWS class	Roof (asphalt)	Vehicles	Windows	Siding	Fences	Soft metals / HVAC
Pea	0.25″ (6.35 mm)	Sub-severe	No damage expected	No damage expected	No damage expected	No damage expected	No damage expected	No damage expected
Marble / Mothball	0.5″ (12.7 mm)	Sub-severe	No damage expected	No damage expected	No damage expected	No damage expected	No damage expected	Minor marks possible on AC fins, gutters, screens
Penny	0.75″ (19.05 mm)	Sub-severe (approaches severe)	Possible granule loss on aged or brittle asphalt shingles	Typically no damage	Typically no damage	Possible marks on soft aluminum or vinyl	Typically no damage	Possible dents on AC fins, gutters, or screens
Nickel	0.88″ (22.35 mm)	Sub-severe	Possible granule loss on aged asphalt shingles	Minor dings possible on soft panels	Typically no damage	Possible dents on soft aluminum or vinyl	Typically no damage	Possible dents on AC fins, gutters, or screens
Quarter	1″ (25.4 mm)	Severe (NWS threshold)	Possible shingle bruising or granule loss on aged asphalt roofs	Possible minor body dents	Typically no damage	Possible cracking of aged vinyl siding	Possible cracked fence slats	Possible dents on soft metals
Half Dollar	1.25″ (31.75 mm)	Severe	Possible shingle bruising on many asphalt roofs	Body dents possible	Cracks possible on aged or single-pane glass	Possible cracks in aged vinyl siding	Possible cracked fence slats	Denting possible on soft metals
Ping-Pong Ball	1.5″ (38.1 mm)	Severe	Possible shingle fractures on aged asphalt roofs	Body dents possible; hood/roof most exposed	Possible cracked windows or damaged skylights	Possible cracked siding	Possible broken fence slats	Heavier denting possible on soft metals
Golf Ball	1.75″ (44.45 mm)	Severe	Shingle fractures possible on many roofs	Body dents possible; some panels may be significantly affected	Possible cracked or broken windows and skylights	Cracked vinyl or aluminum siding possible	Possible broken fence slats	Heavy denting possible on soft metals
Hen Egg	2″ (50.8 mm)	Significant severe (NWS threshold)	Shingle fractures possible on most asphalt roofs	Significant dents possible; cracked windshields possible	Broken windows or skylights possible	Cracked or broken siding possible	Broken fence sections possible	Severe denting possible
Tennis Ball	2.5″ (63.5 mm)	Significant severe	Possible deck exposure on aged roofs	Cracked windshields possible; significant body damage	Broken windows or skylights possible	Cracked or broken siding possible	Broken fence sections possible	Severe denting or fin failure possible
Baseball	2.75″ (69.85 mm)	Significant severe	Possible roof-deck penetration on vulnerable roofs	Severe body damage; totaled panels possible	Broken windows or skylights possible	Broken siding possible	Broken fence sections possible	Severe damage possible
Tea Cup	3″ (76.2 mm)	Significant severe (extreme)	Possible structural roof penetration on aged roofs	Totaled panels possible; broken glass possible	Broken windows and skylights possible	Broken siding possible	Broken fence sections possible	Possible destruction of exposed units
Grapefruit	4″ (101.6 mm)	Significant severe (extreme)	Structural roof penetration possible	Totaled panels possible; broken glass possible	Broken windows and destroyed skylights possible	Broken siding possible	Destroyed fence sections possible	Possible destruction
Softball	4.5″ (114.3 mm)	Significant severe (extreme)	Structural roof penetration possible; hazard to anything outdoors	Vehicles may be totaled	Widespread breakage possible	Widespread destruction possible	Widespread destruction possible	Possible destruction

Damage descriptions are typical possibilities for each size: roof age, material, installation quality, hail density, and wind all change outcomes. The NWS severe criterion is 1.00 in. (quarter); significant severe begins at 2.00 in. This table is part of StormAuditor's free reference data — free to reuse, no credit required.

Sources for damage guidance: size/speed classes follow official NWS severe criteria; damage possibilities are synthesized from IBHS building-performance research and product test standards — UL 2218 for hail impact classes, ASTM D3161 and ASTM D7158 for shingle wind ratings. Real-world performance varies with product rating, age, installation, and exposure.

How to use this guide

Click any size chip or drag the slider to select a hail size from pea (0.25 in.) to softball (4.50 in.).
Calibrate the visualizer with a standard credit or ID card so sizes render at true physical scale on your device.
Review the illustrated property scene and the per-surface damage cards for that size.
Share a size with a colleague using its URL — each size has its own link (e.g. /hail-guide?size=1.75).
Use the Free Report Snapshot to check whether hail of 0.75 in. or larger reached any U.S. address.

Free downloads

Hail size and possible-damage reference data. Free, no signup, no credit required.

JSON: https://www.stormauditor.com/datasets/hail-size-damage-reference.json
Download hail-size-damage-reference.csv

Hail size questions

What size hail damages roofs?

Hail 1.00 in. and larger (quarter size, the NWS severe threshold) can bruise or fracture asphalt shingles on most roofs. Aged or brittle shingles can show granule loss from hail as small as 0.75 in. (penny size).

What size hail dents cars?

Vehicle body dents can start around 1.00 in. (quarter size). Cracked windshields become possible at about 2.00 in. (hen egg) and above.

Is my hail size "severe"?

The National Weather Service classifies hail 1.00 in. or larger as severe, and 2.00 in. or larger as significant severe.

How is hail size measured?

Ground reports match hail to familiar objects (coins, balls, produce) or measure it with a ruler. Radar-derived estimates such as NOAA MRMS MESH estimate the maximum expected hail size from radar signatures.

Does small hail cause damage?

Hail below 0.75 in. is usually cosmetic at most, though soft metals — AC fins, aluminum gutters, and window screens — can still show marks.

Is this hail size guide free to use?

Yes — the Hail Size Guide is free with no account required, and the reference dataset is free to download and reuse with no credit required (see the data license). Weather Reports for a specific address are $2.99, or included with Pro and higher.

How do I check if hail hit my address?

Run the Free Report Snapshot for an instant YES/NO on estimated hail of 0.75 in. or larger at any U.S. address, and open the Address Lookup for warnings and storm reports by date — both free with an account. The Weather Report lists every date with estimated hail of 0.50 in. or larger: $2.99, or included with Pro and higher.

Disclaimer. Damage descriptions are general possibilities based on public research, not predictions or determinations. Hail at a location does not by itself establish that damage occurred; an inspection does.

Sources

Related reading: Hail size chart explained.