"What size boxing gloves do I need?" That is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive from people who are just starting out with boxing or kickboxing.
It is also a valid question, because boxing gloves have a completely different size scale than we are used to.
What is oz?
Before we talk about what size you need, it is important to understand the size scale. In general, the size of boxing gloves is given in ounces (oz). Ounces are a British-American unit of weight.
To illustrate: one ounce is approximately 28.35 grams.
The heavier the glove, the larger the size. This is mainly because the weight of the glove corresponds to the amount of padding in the gloves.
Children normally have gloves of 4 oz, 6 oz, 8 oz or 10 oz. Adults generally have 12 oz, 14 oz or 16 oz.
There are also heavier boxing gloves than 16 oz, but 95% of the population are fine with 16 oz or less.
What size boxing gloves do I need?
Now that we know how the size scale works, the question remains which boxing gloves you need. We choose the size of boxing gloves 9 out of 10 times based on your body weight. Although the fit varies greatly depending on the brand, you can often go by the size based on body weight.
Should you have smaller or larger hands than average, we also consider hand circumference.
If you have average-sized hands, use the following table to determine the correct size.
| Body weight | Boxing gloves size |
| 40-50 kg | 8 oz |
| 50-60 kg | 10 oz |
| 60-75 kg | 12 oz |
| 75-85 kg | 14 oz |
| 85+ kg | 16 & 18 oz |
Determine your boxing glove size based on your hand circumference
It sometimes happens that your body weight is not the right measure for determining the size of your boxing gloves. If your hands are smaller or larger than average, there is a possibility that you are walking around with the wrong size boxing gloves.
A reliable method to find out your size in this case is to measure your hand circumference. This may sound complicated, but it is not at all.
To measure your hand circumference, you use a simple tape measure. Place the tape measure at the widest part of your hands, just below your knuckles, and wrap it around your palm.
Attention: do not include your thumb.
If you do not have a tape measure, you can also measure it with a piece of string and a ruler.
After you have measured your hand circumference, you can use the following table to determine the correct size of boxing gloves.
| Hand circumference (in cm) | Boxing gloves size |
| 14-16.5 cm | 8 oz |
| 16.5-19 cm | 10 oz |
| 19-21.5 cm | 12 oz |
| 21.5-24 cm | 14 oz |
| 24-26.5 cm | 16 oz |
| 26.5+ cm | 16 & 18 oz |
What size boxing gloves for men?
Men are generally heavier than women. Most adult men therefore also have 14 oz or 16 oz. Apart from the size, it is also comfortable to have a bit more padding around the knuckles when punching. Even if you weigh slightly under 75 kg, men are recommended to buy 14 oz instead of 12 oz.
What size boxing gloves for women?
Most women wear boxing gloves from 10 oz to 14 oz. The average woman is of course generally lighter than the average man and can therefore easily wear lighter gloves. The lighter you are, the less weight is also behind your punches. Slightly less padding therefore does no harm either.
Need new boxing gloves?
Now that you know how to determine the correct size boxing gloves for you, it is time to choose your new set.
Do you already know roughly what you are looking for, or would you like to browse a bit yourself? Have a look at our entire collection of boxing gloves.
Would you rather speak to an adviser? Call +31 85 06 06 340.