The short answer is that a standard professional baseball game has nine innings. The longer answer is that many games are shorter, some are longer, and the number depends on the league, the age group and what happens on the scoreboard. This guide explains what an inning is, how many innings are played at different levels, how extra innings work and why you should always check the rules for your own league.
What is an inning?
An inning is one section of a baseball game in which each team gets a turn to bat and a turn to field. The visiting team bats first, during the "top" of the inning. The home team bats second, during the "bottom." Each half-inning ends when the batting team makes three outs, so a full inning contains six outs, three for each side.
Because baseball has no game clock, the length of a game depends on how quickly outs are made. A game can be short if pitchers dominate, or long if there are many hits and walks. If you are new to the game, our baseball rules for beginners explains outs, strikes and balls in plain terms.
How many innings by level
The usual number of innings differs by level of play.
| Level | Typical number of innings |
|---|---|
| Major League Baseball | Nine |
| Professional minor leagues | Nine, with some shorter games in doubleheaders |
| College baseball | Nine, with shorter games sometimes used in doubleheaders |
| High school baseball | Seven in most places |
| Youth baseball | Often six or seven, and sometimes fewer for younger players |
| Softball | Seven in most standard formats |
These are general patterns, not guarantees. Youth leagues in particular may play five or six innings, set a time limit or use a pitch count, and school associations or tournaments can modify the standard. Always read the local rulebook. For a comparison between the two sports, see softball vs baseball.
What happens when the game is tied: extra innings
If the score is tied after the regulation number of innings, the game continues into extra innings. Each extra inning is played like any other, with a top half and a bottom half, and the game ends when one team is ahead after both teams have had an equal number of turns, except that the home team wins at once if it takes the lead in the bottom half of an extra inning, because the visitors have no further turn.
A modern twist: to shorten extra-inning games, some leagues, including Major League Baseball in recent seasons, place a runner on second base at the start of each extra inning. This is sometimes called the automatic runner or the "ghost runner." The runner is typically the player who made the last out of the previous inning, and the aim is to produce a result faster. Other leagues do not use this rule or use it only after a certain inning, so you should check the rules of the league you are following.
Some amateur and youth leagues also set a time limit, a maximum number of extra innings, or a tie-break format. In those cases a game can end in a tie, or a special tie-break can be used.
When a game ends early
Games sometimes finish with fewer innings than planned:
- Mercy or run rule. If one team leads by a large margin, many leagues end the game early. See our guide to the mercy rule in baseball.
- Weather. Rain, lightning or a lack of daylight can stop a game. Most rules say that a game becomes official after a minimum number of innings, and a game stopped before that point may be restarted or replayed.
- Time limits. Some tournaments set a maximum time, after which no new inning begins.
- Home team ahead. If the home team is ahead after the top of the final inning, the bottom half is not played, because it cannot change the result.
That last point surprises new fans. A game that ends with the home team batting only eight innings is perfectly normal when the home team leads.
Doubleheaders and shortened games
In a doubleheader, two games are played on the same day. Some leagues, particularly in college and the minor leagues, shorten the games to seven innings to fit the schedule. This depends on the league's rules for the season, and the rule can change, so look at the schedule notes. The same applies to some youth tournaments.
How to find your league's rule
- Read the league rulebook or bylaws. It will state the regulation innings, extra-inning procedure and early-ending rules.
- Check the tournament bulletin. Tournaments often override the usual league rules.
- Look at the scoreboard or app. Some apps show the scheduled innings for the game.
- Ask the umpire or coach before the first pitch. It is the fastest way to avoid confusion.
- Learn the terms. Our baseball terms glossary covers the vocabulary used in rulebooks.
Common questions from new fans
Fans often ask why the home team does not always bat in the ninth. The answer is simple: if the home team already leads, there is nothing left to decide. Fans also ask whether a game can end tied. In many professional leagues the answer is no, because games continue until one team wins, though weather and suspended-game rules can create exceptions. Youth and amateur leagues are more varied.
FAQ
How many innings are in a baseball game?
Nine innings at the professional and college levels, unless the game is shortened by league rule. High school games are commonly seven innings, and youth games are often six or fewer.
How many innings are in high school baseball?
Seven in most places, although state associations and tournaments set their own rules, so check locally.
What are extra innings?
Extra innings are additional innings played when the score is tied after the regulation number. They continue until one team leads at the end of a full inning, or the home team takes the lead in the bottom half.
What is the automatic runner in extra innings?
It is a rule in some leagues, including MLB in recent seasons, that places a runner on second base at the start of each extra inning to speed up the finish. Other leagues may not use it.
Does the home team always bat in the last inning?
No. If the home team is already ahead after the top half of the last inning, the game is over and the bottom half is not played.