The best garden football goal is the one that fits your garden, suits the age of the players and matches how you want to use it. For most families that means a goal between 6x4' and 12x6': a Q-FOLD if you want a goal that stays up all year, a KICKSTER if you want to pack it away after every game, and a KICKSTER PRO or RHINO if space is tight or the players are under 7. This guide explains each choice and links goal sizes to the FA's FutureFit youth formats.
Quick picks
- Best for small gardens and under-7s: KICKSTER PRO Football Goal 4x2.5'. The FA size for U7 3v3, ready in 20 seconds.
- Fastest setup: RHINO Instant Football Goal 5x3'. Opens in 1 second with a pull cord: the world's fastest goal to set up.
- Best all-round family goal: KICKSTER Portable Football Goal 6x4' or KICKSTER Portable Football Goal 8x5'. Up in under 2 minutes, packed into a carry bag after.
- Best goal to leave out all year: Q-FOLD Folding Football Goal 8x5'. All-weather uPVC that folds flat and goes back up in 30 seconds.
- Best for 5v5 and 7v7 practice at home: Q-FOLD Match Folding Football Goal 12x6'. The FA size for U8 to U11, with 70mm posts.
- Best club-feel goal for the garden: GS Series Football Goal 8x5'. Galvanised, powder-coated steel with a caged net.
- Best aluminium match goal for the garden: PRO ALU Match60 Football Goal 8x5'. A rigid, match-style 60mm aluminium frame that folds flat for storage, sized for maximum garden compatibility.
- Best goal and rebounder in one frame: TEKKERS GS Trainer 3-in-1 7x5'. Goal, angled rebounder and ground-pass wall in one.
QUICKPLAY garden football goals compared
| Goal | Sizes | Frame | Setup | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KICKSTER PRO | 4x2.5', 5x3' | Welded box steel base with an internal weight, solid fibreglass uprights, pre-attached net | 20 seconds, folds with the net on | Small gardens, under-7s, artificial turf and hard ground |
| RHINO | 4x2.5', 5x3' | 50mm powder-coated aluminium, rubber feet | 1 second with a pull cord | The fastest setup, small gardens, indoor halls |
| KICKSTER | 5x3' to 18.5x6.5' | Steel tubes with welded corners, fibreglass Flexi-Post posts | Under 2 minutes | Families who put the goal away after play |
| KICKSTER Elite | 5x3' to 18.5x6.5' | Weighted steel base with rubber feet, fibreglass uprights, knotted net | Under 2 minutes | Grass, artificial turf and hard courts |
| Q-FOLD | 3x2.5' (Mini) to 16x7' | All-weather uPVC, UV-treated 2mm HDPE net | First build, then 30 seconds from folded flat | A goal that stays in the garden all year |
| Q-FOLD Match | 6x4' to 16x7', 3x2m futsal | Higher-grade all-weather uPVC, 70mm posts, UV-treated 2mm HDPE net | About 10 minutes first build, then 30 seconds | A match-feel goal that lives outside |
| GS Series | 6x4' to 16x7', 3x2m futsal | Galvanised, powder-coated steel, 42mm crossbar and uprights | About 30 minutes first build | Year-round training with a club feel |
| PRO ALU Training | 5x3', 6x4' | 50mm aluminium frame with aluminium joints | 10 seconds once assembled | Junior training on grass and hard surfaces |
| PRO ALU Match60 | 6x4' to 24x8', 3x2m futsal | 60mm aluminium post and crossbar, galvanised steel brackets, braided HDPE net | Opens and locks from folded; folds flat between sessions | A match-feel aluminium goal that stores flat |
| TEKKERS GS Trainer 3-in-1 | 6x4', 7x5', 8x6' | Galvanised, powder-coated steel, 42mm crossbar | About 30 minutes first build | Solo training: goal, rebounder and pass wall |
What size football goal do you need for a garden?
Start with the players' age, then check the space. The FA's FutureFit youth formats set these goal sizes in England:
- U7, 3v3: 4x2.5' (120 x 75cm)
- U8 to U9, 5v5: 12x6' (370 x 180cm)
- U10 to U11, 7v7: 12x6'
- U12 to U13, 9v9: 16x7'
- U14, 11v11: 21x7'
- U15 and older, 11v11: 24x8'
Most gardens are too small for a 16x7' goal, and even a 12x6' goal is about 3.7m wide. 6x4' (180 x 120cm) and 8x5' (240 x 150cm) goals fit most gardens. They are not FA match sizes, but they give a real target without taking over the lawn.
Under-7s and small gardens
Choose a 4x2.5' or 5x3' goal. The KICKSTER PRO Football Goal 4x2.5' and the RHINO Instant Football Goal 4x2.5' are both the U7 3v3 size. For the youngest players, the Q-FOLD Mini Football Goal 3x2.5' is a fold-flat starter goal. See all small football goals.
Ages 7 to 11
A 6x4' or 8x5' goal suits most gardens and gives growing players a bigger target. If your garden has the room, a 12x6' goal matches the FA size for 5v5 and 7v7, so home practice carries straight over to match day. The KICKSTER Portable Football Goal 12x6', the Q-FOLD Folding Football Goal 12x6' and the Q-FOLD Match Folding Football Goal 12x6' are all this size.
Teenagers and adults
Older players rarely need a full-size goal at home. A smaller 5x3' or 6x4' target makes finishing more precise. For a large garden, KICKSTER and KICKSTER Elite go up to 18.5x6.5'.
Portable goal or leave-out goal?
Pack it away after play. KICKSTER goals are made for quick setup and takedown, not for leaving out all year. The garden stays clear between games, and the carry bag goes in the car boot for the park. KICKSTER PRO and RHINO fold in seconds and suit the same way of playing. See all portable football goals.
Leave it up all year. Q-FOLD, Q-FOLD Match and GS Series goals are built to live outside. Q-FOLD goals are made from all-weather uPVC with a UV-treated net, and they fold flat against a wall or fence when you need the lawn back. After the first build, a folded Q-FOLD goes back up in 30 seconds. The GS Series steel frame is galvanised and powder-coated for year-round rust protection, but it takes about 30 minutes to build, so it suits a spot where the goal can stay. See all folding goals.
Want the top of the range? For a premium garden goal with a real stadium feel, consider the PRO ALU Match60: a rigid 60mm aluminium match frame that stays rust-free season after season and still folds flat for storage.
Frame materials: uPVC, steel, aluminium or fibreglass
uPVC (Q-FOLD and Q-FOLD Match)
uPVC does not rust and handles the UK climate, so it suits a goal that stays outside. The Q-FOLD Match uses a higher-grade uPVC with 70mm posts and angled stanchions for a deeper net, and it conforms to the BS EN 16579 match standard. Q-FOLD and Q-FOLD Match are patented in the UK.
Steel with fibreglass Flexi-Post uprights (KICKSTER range)
KICKSTER goals combine steel tubes with welded corner joints and flexible fibreglass posts that bend under impact and spring back into shape. The Flexi-Post design is patented. KICKSTER was the original Flexi-Post goal, and QUICKPLAY has made it since 2007.
Galvanised steel (GS Series and TEKKERS GS Trainer 3-in-1)
Steel is the heaviest and stiffest option. The GS Series frame is galvanised and powder-coated, with 42mm tubes and aluminium spring pins that lock the frame without tools. Choose steel for a goal that stays up all season.
Aluminium (RHINO, PRO ALU Training and PRO ALU Match60)
Aluminium does not rust and is light for its strength. RHINO and PRO ALU Training goals use a 50mm aluminium frame and fold for storage. The PRO ALU Match60 steps up to a 60mm aluminium post and crossbar with galvanised steel brackets, and still folds flat for storage in a shed or garage.
Grass, artificial turf or patio: keeping the goal in place
- KICKSTER: ground stakes are included for grass. On artificial turf, hard ground or indoors, use QUICKPLAY Base Weights.
- KICKSTER Elite and KICKSTER PRO: a weighted steel base with rubber feet grips artificial turf and hard courts. KICKSTER Elite also comes with ground stakes for grass.
- Q-FOLD Mini: use the included ground stakes on grass, and sandbags over the base frame on patios.
- RHINO: rubber feet grip grass, 3G/4G and indoor floors. Add QUICKPLAY Dual Sandbags when you need extra ballast.
Always fix the goal as its instructions describe.
Want a goal that trains skills too?
Two garden goals double as rebounders. The KICKSTER 2-in-1 Football Goal / Rebounder 8x5' swaps between a goal net and a rebounder panel for passing and first touch, and suits players aged 5 and up. The TEKKERS GS Trainer 3-in-1 7x5' is a goal, an angled rebounder for chest and volley returns, and a flat ground-pass wall. See all combo goals and rebounders.
Garden football goal FAQs
What size football goal is best for a garden?
For most gardens, 6x4' or 8x5' is the best size. Both give children a real target without filling the lawn, and 8x5' (240 x 150cm) is a highly popular size in the UK because it balances challenge and garden space. If you have more room and the players are aged 7 to 11, a 12x6' goal matches the FA size for 5v5 and 7v7. For under-7s or small gardens, pick a 4x2.5' or 5x3' goal such as the KICKSTER PRO or RHINO.
What size goal does an under-7 need?
Under-7s play 3v3 with 4x2.5' goals under the FA's FutureFit formats. The KICKSTER PRO Football Goal 4x2.5' and the RHINO Instant Football Goal 4x2.5' are both this size, so a young player practises at home against the goal they see on match day. For toddlers and very small spaces, the Q-FOLD Mini Football Goal 3x2.5' is a fold-flat starter goal.
Can you leave a football goal out in the garden all year?
Yes, if you choose a goal made for it. Q-FOLD and Q-FOLD Match goals are all-weather uPVC with a UV-treated net, and GS Series goals have a galvanised, powder-coated steel frame. KICKSTER goals are different: they are made to be packed away after each use, which keeps the garden clear and reduces weather wear.
Which garden football goal is quickest to put up?
RHINO is the quickest: pull the release cord and it opens in 1 second. KICKSTER PRO is next at 20 seconds, with the net already attached. PRO ALU Training goals take 10 seconds once fully assembled, KICKSTER goals take under 2 minutes, and a folded Q-FOLD goes back up in 30 seconds after the first build.
Is a plastic or metal football goal better for a garden?
It depends on whether the goal stays up. uPVC goals such as Q-FOLD do not rust and are designed to live outside all year, then fold flat when you need the space. Steel goals such as GS Series are heavier and stiffer, with a club feel, but take longer to build. Steel and fibreglass KICKSTER goals are lighter and pack into a bag. Aluminium goals such as RHINO fold fast and do not rust.
How do you stop a garden football goal from moving?
Use the fixings made for your goal and surface. KICKSTER goals come with ground stakes for grass, and QUICKPLAY Base Weights hold them on artificial turf, patios or indoors. KICKSTER Elite and KICKSTER PRO have weighted steel bases with rubber feet for grip on hard surfaces.
Is a 12x6 goal too big for a garden?
A 12x6' goal is about 3.7m wide and 1.8m high, so it needs a larger garden with room to shoot. It suits players aged 7 to 11, the FA 5v5 and 7v7 ages. If space is short, an 8x5' goal gives a similar feel in a smaller footprint.
QUICKPLAY was established in 2007 and designs portable and folding football goals for gardens, schools and clubs. Browse all garden football goals or the full range of football goals.