Bocce balls are the larger balls used in the team rolling sport of bocce. A standard set includes 8 bocce balls, split into two teams of 4 in contrasting colors, plus a smaller target ball called the pallino. Regulation balls measure 107mm in diameter and weigh roughly 920 grams; recreational variants run 110mm and 114mm for slightly heavier play. Most modern bocce balls are tournament-grade resin; 73mm hollow steel sets serve the French pétanque tradition. Pricing ranges from $25 for mass-market plastic kits up to $325 for engraved tournament sets with carry bags.
This guide covers everything you need to choose the right bocce ball set: what they are, what sizes exist, what materials matter, who they're for, and what to buy across budget and use-case tiers. It's the foundational reference for first-time buyers, gift shoppers, and anyone moving from a $30 backyard set to a $275 regulation tournament kit. According to the United States Bocce Federation, the modern bocce ball specification has held since FIB-era codification in the mid-twentieth century, so what you buy today is mechanically identical to what Italian-American club players used in 1960.
Key Takeaways
- A standard bocce set has 9 balls: 8 bocce balls (4 per team) plus 1 smaller pallino target ball.
- Three common sizes: 107mm (USBF/FIB regulation), 110mm (Italian recreational), 114mm (Italian volo tradition).
- Modern bocce balls are resin; older sets were wood or composite. 73mm hollow steel sets are pétanque (French rolling tradition).
- Pricing tiers: mass-market plastic $25-$50, regulation resin 8-ball bundles $273-$304, tournament EPCO sets $275, engraved sets $325.
- For most adult backyard buyers, the 107mm 8-ball bundle at $273 is the right first purchase.
What are bocce balls made of?
Modern regulation bocce balls are tournament-grade resin, formed in molds and cured to a hard finish that holds round shape across thousands of impacts. Resin is the post-1970s standard and is what every active brand (EPCO, Perfetta, Crown) uses today. Older bocce balls were hardwood (carved by hand in Italian villages), stone (the original Roman bocci material), and various composite blends from the early twentieth century. According to Encyclopedia Britannica's entry on bocce, the material evolution from stone to resin is one of the game's defining modernizations.
The 73mm metal pétanque tradition uses hollow steel balls rather than resin. The metal lineage is French and traces from boules-de-pétanque codification in the early twentieth century. Both materials are still in active commercial production. For modern American backyard and league play, resin is the default; for players who specifically want the French pétanque experience, the 73mm hollow steel sets are the right choice.
Bocce ball sizes: 107mm vs 110mm vs 114mm vs 73mm
Four diameters dominate the active market:
107mm: the FIB and USBF regulation raffa size. Weight roughly 920 grams. Used in all sanctioned North American league play and the standard for adult backyard tournament-grade sets.
110mm: the Italian recreational size, slightly heavier at around 1,100 grams. Holds line better on grass and rough surfaces. The default backyard pick when you don't plan to join a sanctioned league.
114mm: the Italian volo size, heaviest at around 1,200 grams. Used in volo (aerial-throw) play and on uneven grass. Italian-tradition households favor 114mm.
73mm: the metal pétanque size. Hollow steel at 650 to 800 grams. The French equivalent and lighter than any resin option, which makes it suitable for senior players, kids, and pétanque-style throwing-from-a-circle play. According to the Federazione Italiana Bocce, the 107mm raffa size is the international tournament standard while 110mm and 114mm are recognized recreational variants.
Pricing tiers: what to pay for a bocce ball set
Bocce balls span a wide price range, and the difference between tiers is meaningful:
$25-$50: mass-market plastic sets sold at big-box stores. Sportcraft, Halex, Franklin Sports, Triumph, AmazonBasics. Play acceptably for one or two casual summers but degrade quickly in sun and impact. The right tier for very occasional play.
$150-$170: 107mm or 110mm 4-ball half-sets in solid colors. The minimum tier for regulation-quality resin. Pair two half-sets in contrasting colors for full 8-ball play.
$225: 107mm 4-ball half-sets in marble colorways. Same regulation diameter as the $150 tier, with premium marbled finishes.
$273-$304: full 107mm, 110mm, or 114mm 8-ball bundles with pallino included. The first complete-team purchase tier.
$275: EPCO tournament 107mm 8-ball sets with carry bag. USA-made, USBF and FIB tournament-recognized.
$325: engraved EPCO tournament sets with personalization (name, date, milestone text). Premium gift tier. Coverage of bocce equipment buying decisions in Outside Magazine has noted that the under-$50 plastic tier and the $275+ tournament tier are the two reliable price points; the middle is dominated by mismatched half-sets that need careful selection.
Who should buy what
Match the purchase to the use case:
Occasional casual play (1-3 times a year): mass-market plastic $25-$50. Acceptable but won't last.
Regular backyard play (monthly): 107mm 8-ball bundle $273 or 110mm bundle $273. Regulation-quality, lasts decades.
League player or serious enthusiast: EPCO 107mm tournament set $275 with carry bag. USBF-recognized for sanctioned play.
Italian-tradition household or 114mm volo enthusiast: 114mm 8-ball bundle $304. Larger and heavier, matches Italian heritage.
Pétanque player or senior who wants lighter balls: 73mm metal bocce/pétanque sets $36-$96. Lighter weight, French tradition.
Gift recipient or milestone occasion: engraved EPCO 107mm set $325 with personalization. The matched-team-with-name configuration.
The top picks for 2026
1. 107 mm 8 Bocce Ball Set Bundle
Best for: first-time adult buyers who want regulation 8-ball play in the FIB raffa size.
The 107mm 8-ball bundle at $273 covers everything: 4 balls in one color, 4 in a contrasting color, pallino. USBF regulation raffa diameter and weight. The cleanest first purchase for new adult buyers.
2. EPCO 107mm Tournament Set, Pink/Blue
Best for: league players and gift buyers who want a complete tournament-tier set with carry bag.
The EPCO Pink/Blue tournament set at $275 is USA-made, USBF and FIB tournament-recognized, with the green-and-maroon carry bag included. The right upgrade from a basic 8-ball bundle for any buyer who plans to play more than once a month.
3. 73 mm Metal Bocce/Petanque 8-Ball Set
Best for: pétanque players, senior players, and households that prefer lighter metal balls over resin.
The 73mm metal 8-ball set at $90 covers French pétanque format in hollow steel construction. Lighter than 107mm resin (650 to 800 grams per ball vs 920 grams), the 73mm size suits senior players, kids, and anyone who finds the regulation 107mm balls too heavy.
4. 114 mm 8 Bocce Ball Set Bundle
Best for: Italian-tradition households and rough backyard surfaces where heaviest ball powers through inconsistencies.
The 114mm 8-ball bundle at $304 is the heaviest active option, sized to the Italian volo tradition. Best on uneven grass and for players who want the heaviest deliberate-feel release.
Why buy from BuyBocceBalls
We carry every active size from 30mm mini to 114mm volo, in solid color and marble colorways, plus engraved customization. Most US orders ship in two to four business days from US warehouses. Browse the full bocce ball collection for every active configuration.
Frequently asked questions
What are bocce balls?
Bocce balls are the larger balls used in the Italian rolling sport of bocce. A standard set has 8 bocce balls (4 per team in contrasting colors) plus 1 smaller pallino target ball. Regulation diameter is 107mm; recreational variants run 110mm and 114mm.
How many bocce balls are in a set?
A full 8-ball regulation set has 9 balls total: 8 bocce balls (4 per team) plus the pallino. 4-ball half-sets contain only one team's worth and are meant to pair with a contrasting half-set.
What size bocce balls should I buy?
For backyard play: 110mm. For league or tournament play: 107mm (USBF regulation). For Italian volo tradition: 114mm. For pétanque or lighter hands: 73mm metal. The 107mm regulation size is the most versatile.
How much does a good bocce ball set cost?
Plastic mass-market sets $25-$50. Regulation 8-ball bundles $273-$304. EPCO tournament sets with carry bag $275. Engraved tournament sets $325. The $273 bundle is the sweet spot for most adult buyers.
