Boxing gloves: what size and weight to choose

Boxing gloves are not sized like ordinary gloves. They are sold by weight in ounces (oz): one ounce is 28.35 grams, so a 10 oz glove weighs about 284 g and a 16 oz glove about 454 g. The higher the number, the more foam, which protects both your hand and whoever you hit. Most gloves come in 4 to 16 oz, with some 18 oz models. Three questions will get you to the right pair: how much you weigh, what you will use the gloves for (bag, pads or sparring) and which discipline you train in.

Start with your body weight

Decathlon's boxing guide gives this chart. 8 oz for women of 35 to 45 kg (77 to 99 lb) or men of 35 to 55 kg (77 to 121 lb). 10 oz for women of 45 to 55 kg or men of 55 to 65 kg (121 to 143 lb). 12 oz for women of 55 to 65 kg or men of 65 to 80 kg (143 to 176 lb). 14 oz for women of 65 to 75 kg or men of 80 to 95 kg (176 to 209 lb). 16 oz above 75 kg for women and 95 kg for men.

No chart is universal. Decathlon Pro, the same retailer's site for clubs, publishes a lighter one: 6 oz under 50 kg, 8 oz from 51 to 63 kg, 10 oz from 64 to 74 kg, 12 oz from 75 to 90 kg and 14 oz above that. Use these figures as a starting point, then adjust for how you train and the size of your hands. A glove that feels snug on a bare hand will squeeze your fingers once your hands are wrapped.

Bag work or sparring

What you do with the gloves matters as much as your weight. On the bag and pads, a lighter glove gives you more speed and feedback. In sparring, the padding is there mainly to protect your partner. Glove maker Hayabusa, for example, recommends 14 oz for bag work and 16 oz for sparring if you weigh 130 to 160 lb, and 16 oz on the bag and 16 to 18 oz for sparring above 175 lb. It adds that most gyms require at least 14 oz for sparring.

If you are only buying one pair as a beginner, buy for sparring: a 14 or 16 oz glove works on the bag too, but not the other way round. If you fall between two sizes, go heavier. Check with your coach what minimum your gym sets for sparring before you buy.

Gloves for children

Decathlon's chart suggests 4 oz under 20 kg (44 lb), 6 oz from 20 to 30 kg (44 to 66 lb), then 8 oz. Kids' gloves are often vinyl, which is light and easy to wipe clean, with a hook-and-loop strap a child can fasten alone.

Competition is a different matter. In France, for example, the national federation's light-contact youth format, where hard punches are banned, requires 10 oz gloves for children up to about 13 years old and 12 oz from the cadet category (around 14) in its 2025-2026 rules. Boxers do not use their own gloves there: the organiser provides them. Whatever you buy is for training. Elsewhere, check your national federation's youth rules.

In competition, the rulebook decides

In Olympic-style boxing, the World Boxing rules in force since March 2026 set gloves at 284 g (about 10 oz) or 340 g (about 12 oz), with a 5% tolerance. 10 oz gloves are used for all women's categories, all under-17 boxers and men from 50 to 65 kg; 12 oz for men from 70 kg up. Only hook-and-loop closures are allowed.

In professional boxing, the WBC's championship rules call for 8 oz gloves up to welterweight (147 lb) and 10 oz from super welterweight up. The promoter supplies them unless the contract says otherwise.

In amateur Muay Thai, the rules of the IFMA (International Federation of Muaythai Amateur) require approved 10 oz (284 g) gloves, the same make and model for both fighters. Kickboxing bodies each set their own rules, so read the rulebook of the event you are entering.

Boxing, Muay Thai and kickboxing gloves

A boxing glove is fine for starting out in Muay Thai or kickboxing, and the reverse is also true. Gloves sold for Muay Thai often have a shorter cuff and a more flexible palm, which helps in the clinch and when blocking kicks. Retailers list them separately: Decathlon Pro sells a dedicated kickboxing and Muay Thai glove alongside its boxing range.

Material and closure

Polyurethane, often sold as synthetic leather, is light and suits occasional training. Vinyl is mostly used for kids' gloves. Leather lasts longest and makes sense if you train several times a week.

A hook-and-loop strap goes on and comes off in seconds without help, which makes it the right choice for beginners. Laces give a closer fit at the hand and wrist, but someone has to tie them for you. Professionals prefer them for fights.

Hand wraps go underneath

Wraps support your wrist and knuckles and soak up sweat. World Boxing uses stretch wraps 3.5 to 4.5 m long and 5.7 cm wide. Always try gloves on with your hands wrapped, since that is how you will wear them.

What they cost

Prices on Decathlon Pro's French site in November 2026: 19.99 euros for the Outshock beginner adult training gloves. The other listed prices are club rates for 12 pairs or more: 22.49 euros for the Adidas Speed 50, 41.24 euros for the Venum Contender 1.5 XT, 71.24 euros for the Venum Elite and 82.49 euros for the Adidas Competition. Expect to pay more at retail. Outshock kids' gloves are listed at 10.49 euros a pair, also from 12 pairs.

Ask your gym before buying: some lend gloves for trial sessions or place group orders at the start of the season.

Care

Take your gloves out of your bag as soon as training ends and let them air dry, open. Wash your wraps after every session: they absorb the sweat the glove cannot get rid of. Sharing gloves raises hygiene issues, which is why many people get their own pair within the first few weeks.