Guide · Gloves
What Size Boxing Gloves Do I Need? The Chart by Weight, Use and Age
Boxing gloves are sized in ounces of padding, and the right number depends on your body weight and what you'll do in the glove — not your hand. Here is the cross-brand chart, the kids' chart, and how to handle the brands that also size the hand.
Written by Mike M. · Owner, Iron Mako Media
Published
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Part of the Gloves hub.
The adult chart
| Body weight | Bag and pad work | Sparring | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 100 lb | 8–10 oz | 12 oz | Teens and small adults; see the kids' chart below 100 lb |
| 100–120 lb | 10–12 oz | 14 oz | Many women land here |
| 120–150 lb | 12–14 oz | 14–16 oz | Everlast's chart: 12–14 oz at 101–150 lb |
| 150–175 lb | 14 oz | 16 oz | Everlast's chart: 14–16 oz at 151–175 lb |
| 175–200 lb | 14–16 oz | 16 oz | Everlast's chart: 16–18 oz over 175 lb |
| Over 200 lb | 16 oz | 16–18 oz | Gym rules may require 18 oz |
Read the chart across, not down. Find your weight, then the column for what you will mostly do. If you will do both, buy the sparring weight — extra padding on a bag never hurts, and every gym will ask for 16 oz the day you spar. The 12 vs 14 vs 16 oz page explains what each weight is designed for.
The kids' chart
| Child's weight | Typical age | Glove |
|---|---|---|
| Under 45 lb | 3–5 | 4 oz |
| 45–70 lb | 5–8 | 6 oz |
| 70–100 lb | 8–12 | 8 oz |
| Over 100 lb | 12+ | 10–12 oz — use the adult chart |
Age is a starting point; weight decides. A parent's full guide — bag, wraps, headgear, supervision — is at boxing gear for kids, and the picks are on best gloves for kids.
Hand size: the part the ounce chart misses
Most gloves use one hand compartment across all weights, so a 12 oz and a 16 oz of the same model fit the hand identically and differ only in padding. A few brands size the compartment too — Hayabusa's S4 ties 10 oz to XS, 12 oz to S, 14 oz to M, 16 oz to L; some bag gloves are sold S/M and L/XL with no ounce at all. For those, measure your hand circumference around the knuckles (no thumb) and use the brand's chart.
The fit test, with wraps on: fingertips reach the end of the compartment, knuckles sit under the thickest padding, and the strap closes snug with the wrist straight. If your fingers float, the compartment is too big; if the strap will not close over wraps, it is too small.
Why weight, not hand size, decides the ounce
Heavier people hit harder, so their knuckles and their partners need more padding. That is the whole logic. A small adult in 16 oz is not wrong — just carrying more foam than they need for bag work. A large adult in 10 oz is wrong: thin padding on a heavy bag is how knuckles get hurt. When in doubt, heavier.
Mistakes beginners make
- Buying 8 or 10 oz because they look like “real” boxing gloves. Those are competition weights.
- Buying by hand length and ignoring body weight.
- Buying laces for a first pair — see lace vs velcro.
- Sizing without wraps on. Always size with the wraps you will train in.
Picks
Gloves that make sizing easy
One with a published weight chart, one that ties ounces to a hand size, and one sold in every kids' weight.
Key specs
- Weights
- 8 · 12 · 14 · 16 oz
- Closure
- Full-length hook-and-loop, splint-style wrist
- Padding
- Triple-layer C3 foam
Scores · editorial, out of 10
- Wrist support
- 8
- Knuckle padding
- 8
- Fit & closure for beginners
- 9
- Materials & durability
- 6
- Value for a first pair
- 9
Pick 01 · Boxing gloves
Everlast Elite Boxing Gloves
Everlast
The safe default first pair: a full-length hook-and-loop strap with a splint-style wrist, triple-layer foam, and a published weight chart to size it by.
Best for
A first pair for bag work, sized by body weight
Pros
- Everlast publishes a weight-to-ounce chart for this glove (12–14 oz at 101–150 lb, 14–16 oz at 151–175 lb, 16–18 oz over 175 lb)
- EverShield wedge-shaped strap runs the full length of the wrist — easy to close one-handed
- Mesh palm and soft lining make it comfortable for the 30-minute sessions a beginner actually does
- Attached thumb and a foam grip bar encourage a correct fist
Cons
- PVC outer shell rather than leather — expect it to show wear sooner than a leather pair
- No 10 oz option; the jump from 8 oz to 12 oz skips the size some smaller adults want
Specs from Everlast — Elite Boxing Gloves (specs and size chart).
Key specs
- Weights
- 10 (XS) · 12 (S) · 14 (M) · 16 (L) oz
- Closure
- Single strap
- Wrist
- Single-layer foam splinting
Scores · editorial, out of 10
- Wrist support
- 8
- Knuckle padding
- 8
- Fit & closure for beginners
- 9
- Materials & durability
- 6
- Value for a first pair
- 8
Pick 02 · Boxing gloves
Hayabusa S4 Boxing Gloves
Hayabusa
Hayabusa's own beginner glove: splinted wrist, injection-molded knuckle foam, a single strap you can close alone.
Best for
A beginner who wants a splinted wrist without T3 money
Pros
- Hayabusa lists the intended user as beginners starting boxing, kickboxing and fitness classes
- Splinted wrist padding aligns the wrist — rare at this price
- Injection-molded knuckle foam and an aerated mesh palm
Cons
- Sizes are named XS–L rather than by weight, so read the ounce equivalents before ordering
- PU shell and nylon lining — a fitness glove, not a leather investment
Specs from Hayabusa — S4 Boxing Gloves (specs and intended user).
Key specs
- Weights
- 4 · 6 · 8 oz
- Closure
- Large hook-and-loop with elastic
- Padding
- Triple-density foam
Scores · editorial, out of 10
- Wrist support
- 5
- Knuckle padding
- 7
- Fit & closure for beginners
- 10
- Materials & durability
- 6
- Value for a first pair
- 8
Pick 03 · Boxing gloves
Venum Challenger 2.0 Kids Boxing Gloves
Venum
The kids' glove with three real sizes (4, 6, 8 oz), an elastic-backed strap a child can close alone, and a fully attached thumb.
Best for
Fitting a small child properly rather than buying up
Pros
- Three weights — the widest kids' run on this list
- 100% attached thumb, which is the one spec parents should insist on
- Breathable interior mesh; PU shell wipes clean
Cons
- No age or weight chart from Venum — size by hand and use
- Strap is soft; wrist support is minimal
Specs from Venum — Challenger 2.0 Kids Boxing Gloves (specs).
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What size boxing gloves do I need?
By body weight: 12 oz under 120 lb, 14 oz to 175 lb, 16 oz above — and 16 oz for sparring at any weight. Ounces are padding, not hand size.
What size boxing gloves for a 12-year-old?
Usually 8 oz if under 100 lb; 10–12 oz if over. Check the child's weight against the kids' chart above and the brand's own chart.
Do boxing gloves come in hand sizes?
Most models have one hand compartment across all ounces. A few (Hayabusa S4, some bag gloves) size the compartment S/M/L — use the brand's chart for those.
Should beginners get 14 or 16 oz?
14 oz for bag and pad work; 16 oz if sparring is likely within months. If between two, go heavier.
How should boxing gloves fit?
Snug with wraps on: fingertips at the end of the compartment, knuckles under the thickest padding, strap closed with a straight wrist.
Next in your kit
Best boxing gloves for beginners →Keep reading
Related guides
- Best boxing gloves for beginners →
The pairs, once you know the ounce.
- 12 vs 14 vs 16 oz →
What each weight is for.
- Best boxing gloves for women →
Pairs sold in 10 and 12 oz.
- Best boxing gloves for kids →
4, 6 and 8 oz picks.
- Boxing equipment for beginners →
The whole first kit.
Sources
- —Everlast — Prospect 2 Youth Boxing Gloves (ages 8–12, up to 100 lb) · everlast.com
- —Sanabul — Youth Essential Gel Boxing Gloves (under 100 lb) · sanabulsports.com
- —Everlast — Elite Boxing Gloves (specs and size chart) · everlast.com
- —Hayabusa — S4 Boxing Gloves (specs and intended user) · hayabusafight.com
- —Venum — Challenger 2.0 Kids Boxing Gloves (specs) · venum.com