40mm Table Tennis Balls

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Top tips to help you choose your ideal table tennis ball.
Part two – What criteria do ITTF approved 40mm balls have to meet

Part One – Introduction & types of balls  |  Part Two – Approved 40mm TT balls

In part one we looked at the different types of table tennis balls and what the Laws (rules) of Table Tennis say about them.

We also looked at the two most recent major changes made to the ball, which affected the size of the ball and the material used to make them.

So let’s now take a look at the standards which need to be met and the tests which are carried out on table tennis balls in order to meet the criteria set by the ITTF and then we’ll view a list of the balls which appear on the current ITTF approved list of balls.

OK, let’s get started…

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The first standard to be met is the…

Appearance

The ball must be white or orange, and matt, and must appear to be uniform and only have one seam.

Balls of the same brand must be identical in appearance, except that the same name may be used for white and orange balls.

The stamp on the ball must cover an area no greater than 280mm2 and be printed in one or two colours, but the same stamp must be used for all balls of the same ball brand, product and colour.

In addition, the country of origin must appear on all balls.

All inscriptions must be easily readable and the trademark or brand name should be the most pronounced inscription, whilst the ITTF logo should stand alone.

You can buy your table tennis balls here…

I recommend Butterfly 40+ 3 Star Table Tennis Balls…

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The balls must also meet the necessary…

Specifications

Each ball must meet the minimum and maximum value that is still acceptable (“conformity”) as well as the maximum acceptable standard deviation (“regularity”).

These include the weight, size, lack of sphericity, bounce, veer, hardness and colour.

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Next is the standard required for the packaging…

Packaging

The balls must be packaged appropriately, for example, in paper or plastic boxes or in a blister pack, and the wording used on the package must contain “40+”.

The packaging of the balls must contain the same information as is on the stamp together with the ITTF logo.

Each ball pack unit, but not the ball itself, must also be marked with a date code corresponding to the date of production.

Let’s now take a quick look at the testing procedures.

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The tests which are carried out on a batch of 24 balls include the following…

Weight

The official rules state that the ball shall weigh 2.7g, but any weight between 2.67 and 2.77g is acceptable for any one ball. No more than 1 ball out of the 24 sampled may be outside this range. The sample mean must be between 2.69 and 2.76g.

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Size

The official rules state that the ball shall have a diameter of 40mm.

This is measured using a calibrated electronic device with a precision of at least 0.001mm and the results are rounded to the nearest 0.01mm.

The minimum diameter of every ball must be at least 40.00mm and its maximum diameter must not exceed 40.55mm.

The sample mean average diameter, i.e. the mean of the average of the maximum and minimum diameters for each ball, must be in the range 40.00-40.40mm.

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Sphericity

The official rules state that the ball shall be spherical.

The sphericity of a ball – or more correctly the lack of sphericity – is the absolute difference between its minimum and maximum diameters.

By rotating the ball about its axes, the minimum and maximum diameters are determined. The difference between the two values gives the lack of sphericity.

The sphericity of any ball must be less than 0.24mm, and the sample mean sphericity must be less than 0.17mm.

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Bounce

All balls must rebound to a height of not less than 240mm or more than 265mm when dropped from a height of 305mm on to a standard steel block.

All 24 balls must meet this test.

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Veer

Veer is a measure of the total sphericity of the ball.

It’s measured by rolling the ball down a slight incline onto a horizontal surface, and measuring the distance by which it deviates from a straight line as it rolls across the surface.

The incline is 100mm long at 14 degrees to the horizontal, and on a table that is 100cm long this gives a rolling time of about 3 seconds.

No more than two balls can deviate by more than 175mm from the center-line and each ball is measured at least three times.

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Hardness

Hardness is measured with a fully automated and computerised tester.

A 20mm diameter pin presses against a pole of the ball and the indentation is recorded to a precision of 0.01mm.

Measurements are made on each pole and the average for the poles provides a measure of the hardness.

Balls with a seam require a tolerance at poles between 0.68mm and 0.81mm.

Balls without a seam require a tolerance at poles between 0.70mm and 0.90mm.

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Colour

The colour of the ball must meet the colour specifations which have been set for either white or orange, measured and calculated according to the CIE Lab system.

The measurements are performed on 3 points, one on the seam and two on other positions on the surface, of 4 balls randomly chosen from different boxes. If no seam is available three random points of measurement have to be taken.

You can buy your table tennis balls here…

I recommend Butterfly 40+ 3 Star Table Tennis Balls…

Here’s a video from 2017 showing how DHS make and test their plastic balls in China…

Here’s a video from 2017 showing how DHS make and test their plastic balls in China…

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The following is a list of ITTF approved 40mm table tennis balls valid from 1st January – 31st December 2025.

ITTF approved 40mm table tennis balls

No
Brand
Product
Type
Stamp Colour 1
Stamp Colour 2
Ball Colour
Equipment Code
Expires On

1
729
40+***
Seamless
Black
Red
White
ITTF-152-B-08/15

2

729

P.S. 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-154-B-01/16

3

729

S40+ ***

Seamless

Black

Blue

White

ITTF-256-B-02/23

4

729

S40+ ***

Seamless

Black

Blue

White

ITTF-256-B-02/23

Dec 31 2025

5

Abros

40+***

With Seam

Black

Pink

White

ITTF-225-B-02/19

6

Andro

3S***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-158-B-04/16

7

Andro

ZeroT*** 40+

With Seam

White

Black

White

ITTF-253-B-01/23

8

Arkhill

40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-257-B-03/23

9

Aurora

D40+***

With Seam

Red

Black

White

ITTF-211-B-06/18

10

Butterfly

A40+***

With Seam

Black

Magenta

White

ITTF-186-B-09/17

11

Butterfly

R40+***

With Seam

Black

Magenta

White

ITTF-234-B-01/20

12

Carlton

GT1 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-184-B-07/17

13

Cornilleau

P-Ball ABS Evolution ***

With Seam

Black

Lime green

White

ITTF-182-B-06/17

14

Counterstrike Table Tennis

40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

15

Decathlon Pongori

C40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-221-B-01/19

16

Donic

P40+***

With Seam

Black

Blue

White

ITTF-163-B-06/16

17

Double Fish

PAR40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-260-B-09/23

18

Double Fish

GT 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-276-B-01/25

19

Double Fish

V40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-165-B-06/16

20

Double Fish

V40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

Orange

ITTF-220-B-01/19

21

Double Happiness / DHS

DJ40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-236-B-12/19

22

Double Happiness / DHS

D40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

Orange

ITTF-203-B-03/18

23

Double Happiness / DHS

D40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-157-B-02/16

24

Dunlop

Fort Tournament 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-198-B-02/18

25

Exercer

40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-272-B-08/24

26

G. Yap

D40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-224-B-02/19

27

Gambler

P40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-192-B-12/17

28

Gewo

Ultra SLP 40+***

Seamless

Black

White

ITTF-168-B-09/16

29

Gewo

Select Pro 40+***

With Seam

Black

Gold

White

ITTF-200-B-02/18

30

Giant Dragon

A40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-207-B-05/18

31

Guoqiu

40+***

Seamless

Black

Red

White

ITTF-162-B-05/16

32

Hanno

***

Seamless

Blue

White

ITTF-126-B-06/14

33

Hirunit

40+***

With Seam

Blue

Black

White

ITTF-255-B-01/23

34

Hurricane

40+***

With Seam

Blue

Black

White

ITTF-259-B-08/23

35

Imaxi

S40+***

With Seam

Red

Purple

White

ITTF-261-B-01/24

36

Joola

Flash 40+***

Seamless

Blue

White

ITTF-146-B-06/15

37

Joola

Prime 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-187-B-09/17

38

Kamito

K40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-262-B-01/24

39

KBS

40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-240-B-05/20

40

Kingnik

Premium 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-201-B-03/18

41

Kinson

K40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-181-B-06/17

42

KTS

Pro 40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-275-B-01/25

43

Liansheng

40+

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-271-B-07/24

44

Lion

L40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-170-B-11/16

45

MIBE

XtrA 40+***

Seamless

Black

Red

White

ITTF-247-B-01/21

46

Naraq

Premium ABS 40+

With Seam

Black

Blue

White

ITTF-263-B-01/24

47

Nexy

Force 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-213-B-08/18

48

Nittaku

Premium 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-116-B-03/14

49

Nittaku

Nexcel 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

Orange

ITTF-189-B-10/17

50

Nittaku

Premium Clean 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-251-B-01/22

51

Nittaku

NSD40+

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-164-B-06/16

52

Nittaku

NSD40+

With Seam

Black

Red

Orange

ITTF-243-B-08/20

Dec 31 2025

53

Otaku

40+***

With Seam

Red

Black

White

ITTF-254-B-01/23

54

Ownwin

40+***

Seamless

Red

White

ITTF-245-B-10/20

55

Ownwin

Premium 40+***

Seamless

Blue

Black

White

ITTF-274-B-09/24

56

Ownwin

Premium 40+***

Seamless

Blue

Black

White

ITTF-274-B-09/24-2

Nov 30 2025

57

Palio

S40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-194-B-12/17

58

Pingpangwang

S40+***

Seamless

Black

Red

White

ITTF-258-B-03/23

59

PRO-SPIN

Elite 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-277-B-01/25

60

Radak Ball

R40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-227-B-02-19

61

Raise

ABS TEC 40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-237-B-01/20

62

Raise

Forsa 40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-266-B-03/24

63

Sanwei

ABS 40+ Pro***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-196-B-01/18

64

Sanwei

ABS HD 40+***

With Seam

Black

Blue

White

ITTF-239-B-04/20

65

Sanwei

40+***

Seamless

Black

Red

White

ITTF-242-B-06/20

66

Schildkröt

Champion 40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-178-B-04/17

67

Stag

Supreme 40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-183-B-07/17

Dec 31 2025

68

Stag Global

Global 40+***

With Seam

Red

Black

White

ITTF-267-B-04/24

69

Stiga

Perform 40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-176-B-03/17

70

Sunflex

SX40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-180-B-05/17

71

Tagro

40+***

With Seam

Blue

Pink

White

ITTF-197-B-02/18

72

The World Connect

40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-228-B-02/19

73

Tibhar

40+ SL***

Seamless

Black

White

ITTF-145-B-06/15

74

Tibhar

40+ SYNTT NG ***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-177-B-04/17-2

Dec 31 2026

75

Tibhar

40+ SYNTT NG***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-177-B-04/17

76

Tibhar

40+ SYNTT NG***

With Seam

Black

Orange

ITTF-2016-B-09/18

77

Tuttle

T40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-172-B-01/17

78

Unrex

Sun 40+

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-250-B-07/21

79

Victas

VP40+***

With Seam

Black

Blue

White

ITTF-241-B-05/20

80

Victorpu

X40+***

With Seam

Blue

Black

White

ITTF-268-B-04/24

81

Winion

W40+***

With Seam

Red

Black

White

ITTF-252-B-04/22

82

Winion

Gold W40+

With Seam

Gold

Black

White

ITTF-273-B-08/24

83

Xiom

40+***

Seamless

Black

White

ITTF-136-B-09/14

84

Xiom

Sensa 40+***

With Seam

Purple

White

ITTF-209-B-06/18

85

Xiom

OZA 40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-222-B-01/19

86

Xiom

V40+***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-235-B-01/20

87

Xiom

Bravo +

With Seam

Blue

White

ITTF-265-B-03/24

88

Xiom

Powertec 40+ ***

With Seam

Black

White

ITTF-270-B-06/24

89

Yasaka

AB40+***

With Seam

Black

Blue

White

ITTF-208-B-06/18

90

Yinhe

H40+***

With Seam

Black

Purple

White

ITTF 217-B-10/18

91

Yinhe

H40+***

With Seam

Black

Purple

White

ITTF 217-B-10/18-3

Dec 31 2028

92

Yinhe

H40+***

With Seam

Black

Purple

White

ITTF 217-B-10/18-4

Dec 31 2028

93

Yinhe

40+***

Seamless

Black

Blue

White

ITTF-132-B-07/14

94

Yinhe

S40+***

Seamless

Black

Red

White

ITTF-159-B-04/16

95

Yinhe

Y40+***

With Seam

Blue

Black

White

ITTF-223-B-01/19

96

Yinhe

X40+***

With Seam

Black

Green

White

ITTF-264-B-03/24

97

Yzj

40+***

With Seam

Black

Red

White

ITTF-269-B-05/24

You can buy your table tennis balls here…

I recommend Butterfly 40+ 3 Star Table Tennis Balls…

Part One – Introduction & types of balls  |  Part Two – Approved 40mm TT balls

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