BJJ Gi Size Chart Guide: How to Choose the Right Gi Size

Quick answer: Most adult BJJ gis use a letter-and-number code such as A2 or F3 instead of S, M and L. Start with your height to choose the number, use your weight and build to decide whether you need a standard, long (L) or heavy (H) cut, then allow for a little shrinkage if the gi is cotton. Every brand cuts its sizes slightly differently, so treat any general chart as a starting point and confirm against the chart of the gi you are actually buying.

Buying your first gi is surprisingly confusing. You are used to choosing a T-shirt in a medium, and suddenly you are faced with A1L, A2H, F2 and M00. This guide explains how gi sizing works, how to measure yourself properly, what to do when you fall between sizes, and how to keep a gi fitting the way it did on day one.

Contents

• How BJJ gi sizes work
• Approximate adult gi size guide
• Long, heavy, short and fitted variants
• Women's and kids' gi sizes
• How to measure yourself for a gi
• What to do if you're between sizes
• Shrinkage, pre-shrunk gis and washing
• Competition fit and uniform rules
• Sizing gis for a whole academy
• Frequently asked questions

How BJJ gi sizes work

A gi size has two parts: a letter that tells you which range the size belongs to, and a number that tells you how big it is within that range. As the number goes up, the jacket gets longer and wider, the sleeves get longer and the trousers get longer and roomier.

The letters you will see most often are:

• A – adult sizes, usually cut for men but worn by anyone they fit. They typically run from A0 (smallest) to A5 or A6.
• F or W – women's sizes, often running from F0 or F1 up to F4 or F5.
• M, K, C or Y – kids' and youth sizes. Many brands use M000, M00, M0 and then M1 to M4, with M000 the smallest.

The key point is that this is a naming convention, not a regulated standard. One brand's A2 might suit someone at 175 cm while another's suits someone closer to 183 cm. Some brands also cut their gis slightly oversized on purpose to allow for shrinkage. That is why the brand's own chart always beats a general one.

Approximate adult gi size guide

The table below shows the kind of height and weight ranges many brands use for their standard adult sizes. It is an approximate guide only. Ranges overlap and vary from brand to brand, so use it to narrow your search and then check the exact chart for the gi you want.

Size	Typical height	Typical weight	Common fit notes
A0	150–163 cm	45–57 kg	Smaller adults and older teens
A1	160–173 cm	55–72 kg	A1L suits taller, leaner builds
A2	170–183 cm	68–86 kg	The most common adult size
A3	180–191 cm	82–100 kg	A3L and A3H variants are common
A4	188–198 cm	95–113 kg	Check sleeve length carefully
A5 and up	193 cm and over	110 kg and over	Availability varies by brand

Approximate only – figures vary by brand, cut and fabric. Always check each brand's own size chart before ordering.

If you are buying CYPHR Combat gear, use our CYPHR size guide, which lists the measurements for our own cuts.

Long, heavy, short and fitted variants

Plenty of people do not fit neatly into a standard size. To cover the gaps, many brands add a second letter after the number, giving sizes such as A1L, A2H or A3S. The exact meaning depends on the brand, but these are the common ones:

Suffix	Usually means	Who it suits
L	Long or tall	Taller, leaner people who need extra sleeve and trouser length without extra width
H	Heavy, husky or wide	Broader or heavier people who need more room through the chest, waist and hips without extra length
S	Short	Shorter, stockier builds who need the width of a size but less length
F	Fitted or slim	Slim builds who want less loose fabric for opponents to grab
C	Curvy	Women who need more room through the hips, usually in women's ranges

Not every brand offers these variants, and some use their own codes, so read the brand's sizing notes. A handful of makers also offer mixed sizing, where you buy the jacket and trousers in different sizes, or custom lengths.

Women's and kids' gi sizes

Women's F sizes

Women's gis are usually labelled F or W and are cut with a narrower shoulder, a more shaped waist and room through the hips, with sleeves and trousers proportioned for a typical female frame. Many women find an F size fits better than the nearest A size, which can be too long in the arms and too wide in the shoulders. Others, particularly taller or broader athletes, prefer adult A sizes. There is no right answer: compare the measurements on both charts and pick whichever matches your body, not the label.

Kids' M sizes

Kids' ranges commonly start at M000 for the youngest children and step up through M00, M0 and M1 to M4 for older kids and young teens. Because children grow fast, sizing is usually based on height. It is tempting to buy a size or two up, but a gi that is far too big gets in the way of learning technique and can be a safety issue if sleeves and trousers trail. Going one size up for growing room is usually the sensible limit. Once a child outgrows the top kids' size, they typically move into A0 or a small women's size.

How to measure yourself for a gi

Guessing from your street clothes rarely works. Take five minutes and a tape measure, preferably with someone to help.

1. Height: stand barefoot against a wall, heels together, and measure to the top of your head. Height is the main driver of gi size.
2. Weight: weigh yourself in light clothing. Weight tells you whether you need a standard, heavy or long cut.
3. Chest: measure around the fullest part of your chest with your arms relaxed. Compare this with the jacket width on the brand's chart if it is listed.
4. Arm length: with your arm extended straight in front of you, measure from the centre of the back of your neck, across the shoulder and down to the wrist bone. This is the measurement that tells you whether sleeves will be long enough.
5. Waist and inseam: useful if the chart lists trouser measurements, especially if you have long legs or a larger waist.

Then compare your numbers against the brand's chart rather than just the suggested height and weight ranges. If a chart only gives height and weight, prioritise height and use weight to pick the variant.

What to do if you're between sizes

Falling across two sizes is common. Work through it like this:

• Tall but light for that size? Look for a long variant of the smaller size, such as A1L or A2L.
• Short but heavy for that size? A heavy variant such as A2H, or a short variant of the larger size, will usually fit better than going up a full size.
• Cotton gi, not fully pre-shrunk? Lean towards the larger size and let the first few washes bring it in.
• Pre-shrunk gi and you like a trim fit? The smaller size is usually fine.
• Still unsure? Contact the brand with your measurements. Most will happily give a recommendation, and it is far easier than returning a gi.

Remember that sleeves and trousers can be shortened by a tailor, but they cannot be lengthened. If in doubt, a little too long is easier to fix than a little too short.

Shrinkage, pre-shrunk gis and washing

Most gis are made from cotton or a cotton blend, and cotton shrinks when it gets hot and wet. Many gis are sold as pre-shrunk, which means the fabric has been treated during manufacture to reduce shrinkage. Pre-shrunk does not mean zero shrinkage, though: expect a small amount of change in sleeve and trouser length over the first few washes, and more if the gi is washed hot or tumble dried. Some brands deliberately cut their gis slightly long to allow for this, so read the product notes.

To keep your gi the size you bought it:

• Wash in cold water, inside out, as soon as possible after training.
• Air dry it in the shade rather than using a tumble dryer.
• Avoid hot washes unless you are deliberately trying to shrink a gi that is too long, and even then do it gradually and check after each wash.
• Follow the care label, as fabrics and weaves behave differently.

Some older or cheaper gis are sold as shrink-to-fit, meaning they are deliberately oversized and expected to shrink noticeably. If you buy one of these, size up and shrink it carefully.

Competition fit and uniform rules

If you plan to compete in the gi, fit matters beyond comfort. Organisations such as the IBJJF set uniform rules, and officials can check your gi before you step on the mat. In general terms, the rules have required that:

• the jacket sleeves reach to within about 5 cm of the wrist when the arms are extended straight out in front of the body;
• the jacket is long enough to reach the thighs;
• the trousers reach no higher than about 5 cm above the ankle bone;
• the gi is not so tight that an opponent cannot grip it, and is an approved colour, usually white, blue or black.

Rules are updated from time to time and other organisations have their own versions, so always check the current IBJJF uniform rules, or those of the event you are entering, well before competition day. A gi that has shrunk a few centimetres in the sleeves can fail a check, which is one more reason to size carefully and wash cold. If you are new to the gi and wondering how it compares with grappling without one, our gi vs no-gi guide covers the differences.

Sizing gis for a whole academy

Sizing one person is simple enough. Sizing a whole club, from kids' classes through to heavyweight black belts, takes more planning. Collect height, weight and preferred fit from each member, offer a size run so people can try before ordering, and include kids' sizes and long or heavy variants where they are needed.

CYPHR Combat makes custom BJJ gis for academies and teams in a 450 GSM pearl weave with reinforced stitching, finished in your club's colours and branding. Each order is quoted by enquiry, and we can help you work out the right size mix for your members.

New to training? Our guide to the basics of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and BJJ belt progression explained are good next reads once your gi is sorted.

Frequently asked questions

What size gi should I get if I'm between two sizes?

Look at height first, because sleeve and trouser length are hardest to fix. If your height sits in the larger size but your weight sits in the smaller one, a long or tall variant such as A1L is often the best fit. If you are still unsure, take the larger size for a cotton gi that may shrink, or the smaller size if the gi is fully pre-shrunk and you like a trim fit.

Do BJJ gis shrink?

Most cotton gis shrink a little even when they are sold as pre-shrunk, mainly in sleeve and trouser length. Washing in cold water and air drying keeps shrinkage to a minimum, while hot washes and tumble dryers cause the most. Check the brand's care label and its stated shrinkage allowance before you choose a size.

What does the L or H mean after a gi size?

The extra letter marks a modified cut. L usually means long or tall, with extra length in the sleeves, jacket and trousers. H usually means heavy, with extra width through the body for the same length. Other common letters include S for short, F for fitted or slim, and C for curvy, but meanings vary between brands.

Are gi sizes the same across every brand?

No. A0 to A6 is a shared naming convention rather than a fixed standard, so an A2 from one brand can fit noticeably differently from an A2 from another. Always check the specific brand's size chart and measurements, and read its notes about shrinkage, before you order.

How should a BJJ gi fit for competition?

Competition rules generally require the sleeves to reach close to the wrist with the arms extended, the jacket to cover the hips and the trousers to reach close to the ankle, without being so tight that they are hard to grip. Rule details change, so check the current uniform rules of the organisation you are competing with before the event.