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How Many Innings in Baseball?

Official MLB rules, extra innings, and how the game is structured

Updated March 23, 2026 7 sources cited

innings in a regulation baseball game

Official MLB rule since 1857

Quick answer: 9 innings in a regulation baseball game. Keep reading for the full breakdown.

A standard Major League Baseball (MLB) game consists of 9 innings. Each inning is divided into two halves: the top (away team bats) and the bottom (home team bats). Each half-inning continues until three outs are recorded against the batting team.

If the score is tied after 9 innings, the game goes into extra innings, which continue until one team leads at the end of a complete inning. There is no limit to how many extra innings can be played. The longest MLB game in history lasted 26 innings (Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Boston Braves, May 1, 1920).

Since 2023, MLB uses the ghost runner rule in extra innings: each half-inning starts with a runner on second base to speed up resolution. This rule was introduced during COVID-19 in 2020 and made permanent in 2023.

Innings breakdown

Innings 1-3: Early game. Managers typically use their starting pitcher and standard lineup. Strategic bunting and base-stealing are less common.
Innings 4-6: Middle game. Starting pitchers may begin to tire. Pinch hitters and defensive substitutions become more common.
Innings 7-9: Late game. Relief pitchers enter. The 7th inning features the traditional seventh-inning stretch. The 8th and 9th innings are high-leverage, with closers typically pitching the 9th.

How long does a baseball game last?

The average MLB game in 2024 lasted approximately 2 hours and 36 minutes, down significantly from 3 hours and 4 minutes in 2022. This reduction was largely due to the pitch clock introduced in 2023 (15 seconds with bases empty, 20 seconds with runners on).

Other levels of baseball

Minor League Baseball (MiLB): 9 innings (same as MLB)
College baseball (NCAA): 9 innings
High school baseball: 7 innings
Little League: 6 innings
Softball (fastpitch): 7 innings
MLB Spring Training: 9 innings (but some split-squad games are shortened)
MLB All-Star Game: 9 innings
World Baseball Classic: 9 innings

MLB extra innings records

Longest game by innings: 26 innings, Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Boston Braves (May 1, 1920), ended 1-1 (called due to darkness)
Longest game to a decision: 25 innings, Chicago White Sox vs. Milwaukee Brewers (May 8-9, 1984), 7-6
Longest game by time: 8 hours 25 minutes, Chicago White Sox vs. Milwaukee Brewers (above)
Longest postseason game: 18 innings, 2018 World Series Game 3 (Dodgers vs. Red Sox), 7 hours 20 minutes

Why 9 innings?

Baseball originally had no fixed number of innings. In the 1840s-1850s, games were played to 21 runs (called "aces"). In 1857, the National Association of Base Ball Players standardized the game to 9 innings, as it typically produced games of a reasonable length. The rule has remained unchanged for over 165 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many innings are in a baseball game?

A regulation MLB baseball game has 9 innings. Each inning has two halves (top and bottom), and each half continues until 3 outs are recorded.

What happens if the game is tied after 9 innings?

The game goes into extra innings, which continue until one team leads at the end of a complete inning. Since 2023, MLB places a 'ghost runner' on second base at the start of each extra half-inning to speed up resolution.

What is the longest baseball game ever?

The longest MLB game by innings was 26 innings (Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Boston Braves, 1920). The longest by time was 8 hours 25 minutes (White Sox vs. Brewers, 1984, 25 innings).

How many innings in high school baseball?

High school baseball games are 7 innings. Little League games are 6 innings. College and professional baseball (MLB, MiLB) play 9 innings.

How long does a baseball game last?

The average MLB game in 2024 lasted about 2 hours 36 minutes, down from over 3 hours before the pitch clock was introduced in 2023.

Why are there 9 innings in baseball?

The 9-inning format was established in 1857 by the National Association of Base Ball Players. Before that, games were played to 21 runs. Nine innings produced games of reasonable length and the rule has remained unchanged for over 165 years.