What Length Longbow Do I Need?

The longbow length you need depends mainly on your draw length, and the most reliable guide is the chart for the model you're buying. Black Widow recommends its PL longbows at 60 in for draws of 23–26 in, rising to 66 in for 28–32 in. Draw a bow past its design and the weight can rise sharply near full draw, which archers call stacking.

What longbow makers recommend

There's no single industry chart for longbow length, so start with the maker's guidance for the model you want. Black Widow's FAQ says: "We recommend that you order your bow length based on your draw length, measured to the far side of the shelf." Its PL longbow page lists these lengths:

The overlaps are deliberate. Black Widow says "more than one length may work," and that at your draw you can choose "the shorter limb that is a little more maneuverable or the longer limb that is slightly more comfortable."

Bear's North Branch comes in one 62 in length, sold by 3Rivers in weights of 35 to 60 lb, "all measured at 28" draw." The listing gives no draw-length range, so ask before buying if your draw is well past 28 in.

Forums often say a bow should be at least twice your draw length. That's a rule of thumb, not a maker standard, and Black Widow's chart puts a 28 in draw on a 62–66 in bow, well above it.

Draw length is the driver

Measure your draw length before you shop; our draw length guide shows how. Check each maker's method, though. Black Widow measures to the far side of the shelf, which it says is "1 3/4 inches longer than so-called 'true draw'" to the throat of the grip.

Draw length also changes the weight you actually hold. Bear's manual says its traditional bows are weighed at 28 in, measured from the deepest part of the grip to the string plus 1¾ in. Bear's FAQ says to "add or subtract 2 pounds" per inch, while the manual and 3Rivers' North Branch listing give about 2½ lb. So a bow marked 50 lb draws roughly 52–52.5 lb at 29 in and 47.5–48 lb at 27 in.

Stacking with short longbows

Tim van Rooijen of ImproveYourArchery defines stacking as "the exponential draw weight increase when a bow is drawn further than it's designed to." He explains that it happens once the angle between string and limb passes 90 degrees, and that "longer bows stack later in the draw because you must draw further to reach the 90 degrees."

His advice: don't draw past a bow's design, choose a longer bow for a long draw, and check the weight at several draw lengths on a bow scale. Our longbow vs recurve comparison explains why recurves tend to stack less.

AMO length and string length

"AMO length" is a bow's nominal length under the standard of AMO, the trade body now called the Archery Trade Association. 3Rivers lists the North Branch as "62" AMO length".

Bear's manual says to "subtract approximately 3" from the overall length of your bow" to find the right string length, so a 62 in bow takes a string of about 59 in. For takedowns, our ILF longbow guide explains how riser length changes bow length and draw weight.

You can browse traditional longbows on Amazon, and you'll need a stringer too: browse bow stringers. Bear's North Branch, quoted above, is one example to consider. Check the length and the draw it's rated at before ordering.

Frequently asked questions

What length longbow should I get for a 28 inch draw?

On Black Widow's PL chart, a 28 in draw (measured to the far side of the shelf) fits the 62, 64 or 66 in bow, because the ranges overlap. Bear rates its 62 in North Branch at a 28 in draw. Other models differ, so check the chart for your bow.

Is "twice your draw length" a real longbow rule?

No. It's a rule of thumb from archery forums, not a maker standard. At best it sets a minimum: for a 28 in draw it suggests 56 in, while Black Widow's chart recommends 62 to 66 in. Use the bowyer's own guidance for the model instead.

Will a longbow draw its marked weight?

Only at the draw length it's rated at, usually 28 in. Bear's FAQ says to add or subtract 2 lb per inch, and its manual says about 2½ lb. So a 45 lb bow drawn to 26 in pulls roughly 40–41 lb, and drawn to 30 in about 49–50 lb.