Interactive hail size chart
Hail size chart: from pea to grapefruit.
See each hail size at scale, how it compares to everyday objects, and what it can mean for a roof.
Selected size
1.75 in · 44 mm
About the size of a golf ball
NWS severe (1 in+)Impact: Severe
Frequently damages asphalt shingles, gutters and vents. A professional inspection is worth considering.
Drawn to relative scale. Roof impact depends on roof age, material, and wind — this is general guidance, not a diagnosis.
The short answer
How big does hail get in Kansas City?
Largest hail in National Weather Service storm reports within 30 miles of downtown Kansas City, by year. In 9 of the 10 full years from 2016 through 2025, National Weather Service storm reports logged hail 1.75 inches (golf ball) or larger. The exception was 2022, when the largest was 1.25 inches.
| Year | Largest hail reported | Nearest size name |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3.0 in | Teacup |
| 2017 | 2.85 in | Baseball |
| 2018 | 2.75 in | Baseball |
| 2019 | 2.5 in | Tennis ball |
| 2020 | 1.75 in | Golf ball |
| 2021 | 1.75 in | Golf ball |
| 2022 | 1.25 in | Half dollar |
| 2023 | 3.0 in | Teacup |
| 2024 | 3.5 in | Teacup |
| 2025 | 2.5 in | Tennis ball |
| 2026preliminary, through Nov 1 | 4.5 in | Grapefruit |
The largest in the record is 4.5-inch (grapefruit) hail reported near Weatherby Lake on March 10, 2026 (preliminary).
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports, through November 1, 2026. Kansas City hail history by year
These are records for the wider area, not for your address. A storm on record doesn’t mean your roof was damaged, and it doesn’t mean your insurance company will accept that storm or date. That’s why an inspection is worth having: a roofing professional looks at the roof itself.
Hail size chart
| Size | Inches | NWS severe? | Impact level (our scale) | What it can mean for a roof |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pea | 0.25 | No | Minor | Too small to harm roofing in good condition. |
| Marble | 0.50 | No | Minor | Rarely damages roofing in good condition. |
| Penny | 0.75 | No | Moderate | Can mark older, brittle, or worn shingles. Newer roofs usually hold up. |
| Nickel | 0.88 | No | Moderate | Can affect aging shingles, soft metals, and screens. |
| Quarter | 1.00 | Yes | Significant | Meets the National Weather Service severe threshold. This is where shingle damage becomes more common. |
| Half dollar | 1.25 | Yes | Significant | Commonly dents gutters and vents and can bruise or crack asphalt shingles. |
| Ping pong ball | 1.50 | Yes | Severe | Can damage asphalt shingles, gutters, siding and soft metals, especially on older roofs. |
| Golf ball | 1.75 | Yes | Severe | Frequently damages asphalt shingles, gutters and vents. A professional inspection is worth considering. |
| Hen egg | 2.00 | Yes | Major | Can damage most roofing materials, including some impact-resistant products. |
| Tennis ball | 2.50 | Yes | Major | Can damage nearly any residential roof covering. |
| Baseball | 2.75 | Yes | Major | Can puncture shingles and break skylights. |
| Teacup | 3.00 | Yes | Major | Destructive hail. Roof, windows, and siding damage are common. |
| Softball | 4.00 | Yes | Major | Destructive hail. Roof, windows, and siding damage are common. |
| Grapefruit | 4.50 | Yes | Major | Destructive hail. Roof, windows, and siding damage are common. |
Sizes and object names follow the NOAA Storm Prediction Center’s hail size table. Pea (0.25 in) appears on some NWS office hail charts but not in the SPC table. The “What it can mean for a roof” notes are Roof Inspectors’ general guidance, not NWS statements.
NWS severe is a yes-or-no line at 1 inch. Impact level is Roof Inspectors’ own five-step scale (Minor, Moderate, Significant, Severe, Major), the same one used in our storm reports; it isn’t an NWS category. The Storm Prediction Center separately calls hail 2 inches or larger “significant severe”, which is a different thing from our “Significant” level.
Hail size questions
What size hail is considered severe?
What size hail damages a roof?
How is hail size measured?
What size hail was recorded near you?
See how many significant storms are on record near your address, free in about 30 seconds. Add your contact details to see each storm’s date and hail size.
Checking storm history doesn’t file an insurance claim, and no roofer gets your details unless you book an inspection.