Skate Sharpening Chart: Radius of Hollow by Weight and Skill

A skate sharpening chart matches your radius of hollow (RoH) to your weight and skating. A smaller number cuts a deeper hollow with more grip; a larger number glides more. Most hockey players start at 1/2 inch, the most common cut, and heavier players move to 5/8 inch. Many figure skaters start at 7/16 to 1/2 inch.

Last updated: October 30, 2026 · By the Skates.com Editorial Team

What is radius of hollow in skate sharpening?

Radius of hollow (RoH) is the curve of the groove ground into the bottom of an ice skate blade. That groove creates an inside edge and an outside edge. A sharpener shapes the grinding wheel to a radius, such as 1/2 inch, and the wheel transfers that curve to the blade (Wissota).

• Smaller radius (for example 3/8″) = deeper hollow: more bite for tight turns and quick starts, but more drag and more fragile edges.
• Larger radius (for example 3/4″) = shallower hollow: more glide and speed with less effort, but less grip in turns.

Every sharpening produces sharp edges, whatever the radius. The radius only decides how much edge you get. Speed skaters, who want maximum glide, use blades honed flat with no hollow at all (Skaters Landing).

Skate sharpening chart: which radius of hollow should I get?

Chart compiled from Wissota, Skaters Landing, Sparx Hockey and The Mad Spinner. Millimeters are converted at 25.4 mm per inch. Skaters Landing warns that no sharpener should cut a radius smaller than 1/4 inch.

Hockey skate sharpening chart: what radius for players and goalies?

Start youth hockey players at 1/2 inch and most high school and adult players at 5/8 inch, then adjust by feel. Sparx says 1/2 inch is the most common cut in retail shops and suits most youth players, and it recommends moving to 9/16 or 5/8 inch as a player gets bigger (Sparx).

Pros skate flatter than you might expect. One NHL team told Sparx that more than half its players skate on 5/8 inch or larger, with many at 3/4, 7/8 and 1 inch (Sparx).

Learning to hockey stop? Wissota and Skaters Landing both note that beginners can learn most skills, especially the hockey stop, more easily on a large radius, then move to a smaller one as they progress.

Figure skate sharpening chart: what hollow do figure skaters use?

Most figure skaters use a 7/16 or 1/2 inch hollow. The Mad Spinner calls 7/16 inch the standard starting point for figure skaters and 1/2 inch a forgiving choice for beginners and adult recreational skaters. Skaters Landing adds that 5/8 inch suits most recreational skaters, and that many ice dancers skate on 7/16 to 3/8 inch.

Two cautions for figure skates: the grinding wheel should never touch the toe pick, and skaters in a serious program should ask their coach which hollow to use. Learn more about figure blades in the Riedell Ice Skate Blade Guide.

How does body weight change your skate sharpening?

The heavier the skater, the larger the radius they need. Wissota explains that a heavy skater on a small radius bites so hard they can chatter or go over the top of their skates when stopping, while a very light skater can handle a deep hollow because they put less weight on the ice.

Bauer PROSHARP gives a metric formula as a starting point: body weight in kilograms ÷ 3.14 = radius of hollow in millimeters (for example, 80 kg ÷ 3.14 ≈ 25 mm). PROSHARP’s approach pairs a shallower hollow with a blade profile chosen for grip, so its numbers run flatter than traditional charts (Bauer PROSHARP FAQ).

Our math: pounds × 0.4536 = kilograms; millimeters ÷ 25.4 = inches.

Does ice temperature affect which hollow to choose?

Yes. Most rinks aim for ice around 25°F. Ice at 17–23°F is considered hard hockey ice, and 25–26°F is good figure skating ice. Wissota and Skaters Landing suggest a slightly smaller radius on colder, harder ice and a slightly larger one on softer ice.

What are the different skate sharpening cuts?

A flat-bottom cut is less common for figure skates, and not every shop offers it. The Mad Spinner suggests trying one only after you know how your standard hollow feels.

How do you pick your sharpening and know it was done right?

1. Start with the chart above for your weight and sport, or ask for the shop’s default (usually 1/2″).
2. Skate a full session or two before judging. A fresh sharpening can feel grabby at first.
3. Too much bite, or chattering on stops? Go one step larger (for example, 1/2″ to 5/8″). Sliding out on turns? Go one step smaller.
4. Check that the edges are level. Shops verify this with an edge gauge; uneven edges make one edge grab while the other slides.
5. Write your radius down and ask for the same cut every time.

Once you know your cut, see How Often Should You Sharpen Your Ice Skates? for sharpening intervals, signs of dull blades, cost and at-home touch-ups.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best radius of hollow for beginners?

Most beginners do well on a 1/2 inch radius of hollow, the most common cut at rinks and pro shops. Heavier adult beginners often prefer 5/8 inch. Beginners can learn the hockey stop more easily on a larger radius and move to a smaller one as they progress.

Is 1/2 or 5/8 hollow better?

Neither is better for everyone. A 1/2 inch hollow gives more grip and suits lighter and youth skaters. A 5/8 inch hollow gives more glide and suits heavier high school and adult players, according to Sparx.

What does 3/8 vs 5/8 mean in skate sharpening?

The numbers are the radius of the curve ground into the blade. A 3/8 inch radius cuts a deeper hollow with more bite and drag, while a 5/8 inch radius cuts a shallower hollow with more glide and less grip.

What radius of hollow do NHL players use?

Many NHL players skate flatter than recreational players. One NHL team told Sparx Hockey that more than half its players use 5/8 inch or larger, with many at 3/4, 7/8 and 1 inch, though some still prefer 3/8 inch.

What hollow should figure skates be sharpened to?

Most figure skaters start at 7/16 inch, and beginners often use 1/2 inch. Recreational and heavier skaters may prefer 5/8 inch, and some advanced skaters and ice dancers use 3/8 inch. Make sure the sharpener never grinds the toe pick.

How do I calculate my radius of hollow?

Bauer PROSHARP suggests dividing your body weight in kilograms by 3.14 to get a starting radius of hollow in millimeters. For example, 80 kg divided by 3.14 is about 25 mm. PROSHARP pairs these flatter hollows with a blade profile, so traditional charts start deeper.

What radius of hollow do goalies use?

Most goalies use a large radius of about 1 to 1 1/4 inches so they can slide and kick out without catching an edge, according to Wissota and Skaters Landing. Some goalies prefer a deeper cut for pushing off.