Tournament-grade bocce uses 107mm composite balls under USBF and CMSB rules, while elite Italian volo competition steps up to 110mm or 114mm metal-cored balls. Bocce is not a medal sport at the Summer Olympics, although the parent body has held International Olympic Committee recognition for decades, so the phrase "Olympic bocce ball size" is more aspirational than literal. Backyard sets run from 73mm metal travel kits up to regulation 107mm.
Picking the right tier matters more than the marketing label on the box. The Italian Bowls Federation (FIB) and the Confédération Mondiale des Sports de Boules write the rule books that nearly every American retailer maps inventory to. Knowing where your game falls saves money and keeps you compatible with leagues or family tournaments.
Key Takeaways
- There is no official "Olympic bocce ball size" because bocce is not on the Olympic Games program as of 2026, although the governing body holds IOC recognition.
- Tournament raffa play uses 107mm composite balls at roughly 920 grams, the standard backed by USBF and CMSB.
- Italian volo competition uses 110mm or 114mm balls weighing about 1100 to 1200 grams, common in pro events and Italian clubs.
- Most North American backyard players use 107mm sets because they match tournament spec and have the widest retail selection.
- Mini 73mm metal sets are pétanque-derived and shine for travel, beach play, kids, and tight yards, but they are not regulation bocce.
Is bocce really an Olympic sport?
Bocce is not currently contested at the Summer Olympics, so the phrase "Olympic size bocce ball" rarely matches anything official. The sport has been pitched for inclusion several times, including ahead of the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris programs, and the World Boules Sport Confederation continues to lobby the International Olympic Committee to add boules disciplines.
What is real is the IOC recognition of the parent federation that oversees bocce, volo, raffa, and pétanque. That recognition lets the sport compete at the World Games, the IOC-sanctioned multi-sport event held the year after each Summer Olympics. Bocce has appeared at every edition of the World Games since 1981, where the standard ball is a 107mm raffa composite or a 110mm volo metal ball.
If you see a set marketed as "Olympic size," read it as tournament size: 107mm composite for raffa or 110mm to 114mm for volo.
Tournament bocce ball size: the actual rule book
Tournament play is where size becomes strict. Under United States Bocce Federation open rules, a regulation set is eight balls measuring 107mm in diameter, evenly split between two colors. Weight is about 920 grams per ball, and the balls are made from a solid composite resin that holds a true line on natural surfaces.
The international raffa rule book, written by the Confédération Mondiale des Sports de Boules, mirrors that 107mm spec. Raffa is the discipline used at the World Games and at most American open tournaments, and it is the size to target if you want one set that covers backyard play and club play.
Volo is the Italian discipline that lifts the size to 110mm or 114mm. According to Encyclopedia Britannica's entry on bocce, volo balls are heavier and often metal-cored, designed for the long-distance throwing style traditional in northern Italian clubs. Unless you are joining a volo league with dedicated 26.5-meter lanes, 107mm is the safer pick. Our 107mm vs 110mm vs 114mm guide goes deeper on the side-by-side.
Backyard bocce ball sizes: what people actually buy
Backyard buyers have more flexibility because no rule book is policing your driveway court. That said, 107mm has become the de facto backyard standard in North America for one simple reason: it matches tournament spec, so the same set can move from a family barbecue to a club night with no equipment swap.
Some backyard sets are marketed at 100mm or 104mm. These are softer phenolic balls aimed at cheaper price points. They roll fine on grass but feel light next to a true 107mm composite, and they are serviceable if you only play on lawn and skip tournaments.
The other backyard category is the 73mm metal set, which is technically a pétanque ball. As The New York Times has documented in its coverage of French pétanque culture, the 73mm size has its own competitive scene under Fédération Internationale de Pétanque rules. For bocce purposes, a 73mm set works as a travel kit, beach kit, kids set, or compact yard set. Treat it as a different sport played with similar mechanics.
Quick reference: Olympic vs Tournament vs Backyard
For Olympic-adjacent play, meaning the World Games where the IOC-recognized federation sends teams, the answer is 107mm raffa composite balls or 110mm to 114mm volo balls. Tournament play in the United States almost always means 107mm raffa, governed by USBF rules that map onto the CMSB international standard.
Backyard play lives on a spectrum. Serious backyard players who might enter a club tournament buy 107mm. Casual hosts also tend to buy 107mm because every set, color, and accessory is built for that diameter. Travelers, beachgoers, and parents of young kids reach for a 73mm metal set because it fits in a tote bag. Our size by age and skill level guide covers the age-specific picks.
Top picks at each tier
114 mm 4 Bocce Ball Set Bundle
Best for: buyers chasing the Italian volo experience or stepping toward club-level play.
The 114mm bundle is the closest you can get on a single shopping trip to the gear used in northern Italian volo competition. Each ball is 114mm in diameter at the heavier end of the FIB volo weight band, which gives the heft serious throwers want on long lanes. Pair it with a regulation pallino for full volo simulation: 114 mm 4 Bocce Ball Set Bundle.
EPCO 107mm Tournament Quality Professional 8 Ball Bocce Ball Set, Black/White
Best for: raffa tournament players, open-tournament entrants, and serious club regulars.
This is the workhorse of American tournament bocce: an eight-ball 107mm composite set in classic black and white that satisfies USBF and CMSB raffa rules, with a carrying bag included. The black-and-white split makes it easy for officials and spectators to track shots from across the lane. Tournament-bound? Start with the EPCO 107mm Tournament Quality 8 Ball Set.
107 mm Red/White/Blue Marble 4-Ball Set
Best for: backyard hosts, family games, and casual league play in two-team format.
This 4-ball set hits the tournament-legal 107mm diameter but ships in a red, white, and blue marble colorway that reads instantly across a lawn at sundown. Pair it with another 107mm 4-ball set in a contrasting colorway to build a tournament-ready 8-ball lineup. Add it to the cart here: 107 mm Red/White/Blue Marble 4-Ball Set.
Why buy from BuyBocceBalls
We carry every regulation size from 73mm metal up to 114mm volo, with replacement balls sold individually so a chipped ball does not retire the set. Our team plays bocce, judges club events, and has helped set up courts from Brooklyn backyards to municipal parks in Northern California.
Browse the full lineup on our complete bocce collection, or jump to our 2026 best-sets roundup for a curated shortlist.
Frequently asked questions
Is bocce in the Olympic Games?
No. Bocce is not currently contested at the Summer or Winter Olympics. The Confédération Mondiale des Sports de Boules holds IOC recognition, which lets the sport compete at the World Games, but the Olympic program itself does not include bocce as of 2026.
What size are tournament bocce balls?
Tournament raffa balls are 107mm in diameter and weigh about 920 grams. This is the standard under USBF open rules and CMSB international rules. Italian volo tournaments use larger 110mm or 114mm balls weighing roughly 1100 to 1200 grams.
What is the difference between volo and raffa bocce?
Raffa is played with 107mm composite balls on standard 18 to 27.5 meter lanes and is the format used at most American clubs and at the World Games. Volo is the Italian discipline that uses heavier 110mm or 114mm balls on longer 26.5 meter lanes, with a running throw style that raffa does not allow.
What size bocce balls should I buy for my backyard?
For almost every American backyard, 107mm is the right answer. It matches tournament spec, has the deepest color and replacement selection, and works on grass, gravel, sand, and crushed stone. If you need a travel or kids set, choose a 73mm metal set instead.
How heavy is a regulation 107mm bocce ball?
A regulation 107mm composite ball weighs roughly 920 grams, or about 2 pounds. USBF rules allow a small tolerance around that weight to account for manufacturing variation. Volo balls at 110mm or 114mm are noticeably heavier, sitting between 1100 and 1200 grams.
