Skip to content 
Let’s get one thing straight: there’s no perfect poi length for everyone. But there is a right length for you—based on your height, style, goals, and how often you like to dramatically drop into a warrior lunge mid-flow.
Poi tether lengths typically range anywhere from 12 inches to 30 inches, and each length affects your spinning style in a big way. So, let’s break it down into the three most common categories: short poi, standard poi, and long poi—with pros, cons, and why you might want to lean one way or the other.
Heads up: when we talk about poi length, we’re referring to the total length—head + tether + handle, measured end to end (this might vary from company to company).
Standard Poi (aka The Sacred Length)
If you’re just getting started, 20–24 inches is the most common range for standard poi. This is heavily dependent on height though, so here’s our formula:
Measure from the center of your palm to the inside of your shoulder crease.
That measurement should give you a length that’s flowy, functional, and (most importantly) won’t have your poi slapping the ground when your arms are down at your sides.
Standard poi give you room to explore all the basics, and if you need to shorten things mid-spin—for moves like buzzsaws, inversions, or horizontal flowers—you can always wrap the tether around your fingers or hand.
Short Poi (Sub-20”)
Short poi used to be much more popular in the past. Now? Not so much. They’re still fun, but definitely more niche.
Why choose short poi?
- More control at high speeds
- Less chance of smacking yourself
- Easier to keep things tight in tight spaces
But short poi come with tradeoffs:
- Contact moves? Not really an option.
- Isolations? Tough.
- Slower moves? Good luck.
Honestly, unless you’re going for a very specific style, there’s not much reason to size your poi this short anymore. You can achieve the same functionality by wrapping standard poi shorter for buzzsaws, corkscrews, and other tight tech moves—without committing to shorter length 24/7.
Long Poi (25–30”+)
Long poi are great if:
- You like contact poi
- You want slower, floatier rotations
- You spin huge fire heads
- Or you like mixing in juggling, isolations, or theatrical moves
Long poi slow everything down, giving you more time to transition between moves. That’s awesome if you’re big on style and fluidity—but the tradeoff is precision. Long poi can drag, catch the ground, or throw off your timing if they’re not properly matched to your height.
And if you flow like I do—lots of warrior lunges and aggressive direction changes—you’re going to be clipping the ground every time unless your poi are sized just right.
TL;DR: Long poi are cool, but unless you have a good reason, stick with standard.
Final Thoughts
You can always adjust your poi length a bit by how you grip or wrap the tether—but the smoother your default length fits your style, the less you’ll have to fight your gear mid-flow.
So here’s the takeaway:
- Standard length poi are the most versatile and beginner-friendly
- Short poi are fast and good for buzzsaws or horizontal plane moves
- Long poi are floaty and theatrical but are more likely to hit the ground
Most poi come in a slightly longer length that can be shortened by retying a knot, so it’s worth experimenting to find your perfect length.
Need a set you can size to your specs? Shop our poi collection →
