A new equation of state is presented for hard-spheres, which can reproduce the exact values of the first seven virial coefficients. These values are in agreement with the molecular dynamic calculations of Alder and Wainwright [J. Chem. Phys. 33, 1439 (1960)]. Comparisons with the existing equations of state show that the new equation possesses superior ability to describe the hard-sphere phase behavior. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.