wave heights for surfing

This list measures surfable wave face heights from the base to the lip. These are "standard" Non-Hawaiian wave heights. Hawaiians measure wave heights from the back of the wave, so their heights are typically about half that of the front face. A wave with a 9-foot face might be called a 3- to 4-foot wave in Hawaii.

wave height in feet	distance from base to lip of wave measured on front of wave
1 – 2	ankle to knee high
1 – 3	ankle to waist high
2 – 3	knee to waist high
2 – 3+	knee to chest high
2 – 4	knee to shoulder high
3 – 4 ft.	waist to chest high
3 – 4 ft.	waist to shoulder high
3 – 5 ft.	waist to head high
4 – 5 ft.	shoulder to head high
4 – 6 ft.	shoulder high to 1 foot overhead
4 – 7 ft.	shoulder high to 2 feet overhead
5 – 7 ft.	head high to 2 feet overhead
5 – 8 ft.	head high to 3 feet overhead
6 – 8 ft.	head high+ to 3 feet overhead
6 – 10 ft.	head high+ to double overhead
8 – 10 ft.	3 feet overhead to double overhead
8 – 12 ft.	3 feet overhead to double overhead+
10 – 15 ft.	2 to 3 times overhead
12 – 15 ft.	triple overhead
15 – 18 ft.	triple overhead+
15 – 20 ft.	3 to 4 times overhead
18 – 20 ft.	4 times overhead
20 – 25 ft.	4 to 5 times overhead
25 – 30 ft.	5 to 6 times overhead
30 – 35 ft.	6 to 7 times overhead
30 – 40 ft.	6 to 8 times overhead
35 – 40 ft.	7 to 8 times overhead
35 – 50 ft.	7 to 10 times overhead

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