Suggested needle length for intramuscular injection

Age group, sex, weight	Needle length (inches)	Needle length (millimeters)
Anterolateral thigh muscle injections
0 to 28 days (term or preterm)	⅝*	16*
1 through 11 months	1	25
1 through 10 years	1 to 1¼	25 to 32
11 through 18 years	1 to 1½	25 to 38
≥19 years	1½^¶	38^¶
Deltoid muscle injections
1 through 18 years	⅝* to 1	16* to 25
≥19 years
Male or female
<70 kg (152 lbs)	1^Δ	25^Δ
Female
70 to 90 kg (152 to 200 lbs)	1 to 1½	25 to 38
>90 kg (200 lbs)	1½	38
Male
70 to 118 kg (152 to 260 lbs)	1 to 1½	25 to 38
>118 kg (260 lbs)	1½	38

* If skin is stretched tightly and subcutaneous tissues are not bunched.

¶ Some experts recommend a 1-inch (25 millimeter) needle if the skin is stretched tightly and subcutaneous tissues are not bunched.

Δ Some experts recommend a ⅝-inch (16-millimeter) needle for adults who weigh <60 kg (130 lbs); if used, skin must be stretched tightly (do not bunch subcutaneous tissues).

Data from: Kroger AT, Bahta L, Hunter P. General best practice guidelines for immunization. Best practices guidance of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/index.html (Accessed on March 1, 2022).

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Suggested needle length for intramuscular injection