Baseball is often called “America’s pastime,” and for good reason—it’s a sport rich in tradition, strategy, and passion. But if you’re new to the game or just brushing up on your knowledge, you might find yourself asking a common question: How many innings are in a baseball game?
In this guide, we’ll break it all down, from standard innings to extra innings, and even the differences between professional, college, and youth games. Whether you're watching Major League Baseball (MLB) or attending your kid’s Little League game, we’ve got you covered.
⚾ What Is an Inning in Baseball?
An inning is a basic unit of play in baseball. Each inning is divided into two halves:
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Top half: The visiting team bats.
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Bottom half: The home team bats.
Each team has a turn to bat and try to score runs, while the other team plays defense. An inning ends when the defensive team records three outs.
🧮 How Many Innings in a Professional Baseball Game?
In Major League Baseball (MLB), a standard game consists of:
✅ 9 Innings
Each team gets nine turns at bat, unless the home team is ahead after the top of the ninth—then the game ends without the bottom half.
🔁 What if the score is tied after 9 innings? If the game is tied after nine innings, extra innings are played until a winner is determined. This can make games last significantly longer.
🔁 What Are Extra Innings?
Extra innings are additional innings played when a game is tied after the standard nine innings. Starting in the 2020 MLB season (and continuing in 2025), a runner is placed on second base at the start of each half-inning during extras to help speed up the game and create scoring opportunities.
There’s no limit to how many extra innings can be played—games go on until a winner emerges.
Famous example: The longest MLB game in history (in terms of innings) was 26 innings, played in 1920 between the Brooklyn Robins and Boston Braves!
⚾ How Many Innings in College Baseball?
College baseball, governed by the NCAA, also plays 9-inning games, just like MLB. However, doubleheaders (two games played in one day) sometimes use 7-inning games to ease scheduling and player fatigue.
⚾ How Many Innings in High School Baseball?
In high school baseball (under NFHS rules):
✅ 7 Innings
High school games are shorter to accommodate the physical development and academic schedules of student-athletes.
Mercy Rule: If a team is leading by 10 or more runs after 5 innings, the game may be ended early.
⚾ How Many Innings in Little League Baseball?
In Little League Baseball (ages 4–12), the games are typically:
✅ 6 Innings
This shorter format keeps games more engaging for younger players and ensures safer, more manageable playing times.
🕒 How Long Does a Baseball Game Last?
The number of innings doesn’t always tell the whole story. Here's a rough idea:
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MLB Game (9 innings): ~3 hours
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College Game: 2.5–3 hours
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High School Game: 1.5–2.5 hours
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Little League Game: ~1.5 hours
Rain delays, pitching changes, and extra innings can all impact the duration of a game.
🚨 Special Rules to Know
Here are a few scenarios where the inning count might change or the game might end early:
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Weather Delays: MLB games can be called official after 5 innings if the weather makes it unplayable.
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Suspended Games: Sometimes games are paused and resumed another day if conditions force a stop.
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Doubleheaders: In both MLB and amateur levels, these sometimes use shortened 7-inning games (rules vary by league).
🧠 Final Thoughts: Knowing Your Innings
So, to sum it all up:
| Level of Play | Standard Innings |
|---|---|
| MLB / Pro Baseball | 9 innings |
| College Baseball | 9 innings (7 in doubleheaders) |
| High School | 7 innings |
| Little League | 6 innings |
Understanding how innings work—and how many to expect—helps you appreciate the pace and structure of baseball, whether you're catching a game at the ballpark, on TV, or at your local field.
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