Vinyl record size guide: How big is a vinyl record?

Vinyl Records come in a few sizes, this can affect how much the record can store, how fast it plays on the record player, and how it can be used. Below we explain the sizes of vinyl records and their sleeves.

Vinyl record standard sizes

Vinyl Records come in three sizes: 7 inch (18 cm), 10 inch (25 cm) and 12 inch (30 cm).

7-inch (18 cm) Vinyl Records

The smallest of all records. Being the smallest the playback and storage aren’t nearly as much as the other sizes. Usually used to distribute singles, both sides can be used to have a single as well as a B-side remix, variation, or a track that didn’t make the album. 7-inch vinyl records tend to have a playback time of 5 minutes.

These are usually found in jukeboxes where multiple singles can be lined up and played.

Note* – 7-inch records usually have a playback speed of 45 RPM which differs from the other formats.

10-inch (25cm) Vinyl Records

This is the rarest size and didn’t last very long in the market due to the high speed in which they were run at – 78RPM. The increased speed improved the sound quality which meant the longevity of the record decreased due to requiring the record to spin faster.

Most 10-inch records stopped being printed in the 1950s, however in the 70s and 80s some record labels in the US and Australia re-issued versions of 10-inch records as a marketing ploy.

12-inch (30 cm) Vinyl Records

The largest and the most common of sizes that you’ll see today is the 12-inch record. These are often used for LPs / Albums with both sides being able to hold roughly 22 minutes of music.

12-inch records don’t always equal albums, traditional DJs who use vinyl tend to use singles of larger records, the extra space on the disc means extra quality and more opportunity for creative mixes.

12-inch vinyl records usually play at 33 RPM which is a lot slower than the 10 Inch records listed above. This means they genuinely last longer when well cared for.

Vinyl record weights

Vinyl records come in a variety of sizes as well as weights. The weight usually indicates quality i.e. a heavier record will last longer as the record itself is more robust.

How does the weight affect the sound quality of the record?

Records weighing around 180 grams are the most resistant to warping or breaking. Also, because needles are less likely to bounce around on a heavier record, the record’s grooves will remain intact longer so you can enjoy years of scratch-free playback.

180-gram vinyl

As mentioned above this is on the heavier side and the usual weight you’ll see for a more robust record. If you want your record to last and intend to play it a lot then it’s best to seek out a heavier 180-gram vinyl edition.

Size of a vinyl record cover

If you are looking to store vinyl records in their covers you will want to know the rough sizings of each of the record sleeves.

Below gives estimates for the record sleeves, use these and measure against the storage space.

7-inch record cover size

Inner sleeve: 7” x  7”

Outer sleeve: 7.25″ x 7.25″

10-inch record cover size

Inner sleeve: 10” x 10”

Outer sleeve: 10.25” x 10.25”

12-inch record cover size

Inner sleeve: 12” x 12”

Outer sleeve: 12.25” x 12.25”

Vinyl Record Lengths and Digital File Sizes

We’ve put together a table below which displays the vinyl record size, avg minutes and digital archive size.

78 RPM