How Big Can Hail Be?

An ice crystal with a diameter of >5 mm (0.20 in) is considered a hailstone. Hailstones can grow to 15 cm (6 in) and weigh more than 0.5 kg (1.1 lb). Unlike ice pellets, hailstones are layered and can be irregular and clumped together.

What is the biggest size of hail?

The largest hailstone ever measured in the U.S. was 8 inches in diameter in Vivian, South Dakota, on July 23, 2010. The Vivian hailstone was also the nation's heaviest (1.94 pounds). The world's heaviest hailstone was a 2.25-pound stone in Bangladesh in April 1986.

Is 2 inch hail big?

Anything larger, say a dime or a quarter (3/4 to one inch) can cause serious and severe damage. Golf ball-sized hail is 1 ¾ inch and softball-sized hail is 4 ½ inches according to NOAA.