- Adult gi sizes run from A0 up, by height and weight; L cuts are longer, H cuts are wider.
- Brands differ: the same adult can be an A2 on one chart and an A3 on another.
- Between sizes? Kingz says go by weight; Fuji says pick the larger size.
- IBJJF rules: sleeves and pants within 2 cm of the wrist and ankle bone, and a white, royal blue or black gi.
- Cotton gis shrink, even preshrunk ones: wash cold and hang to dry.
How gi sizes work
BJJ gi sizes combine a letter and a number:
- A sizes (A0–A5) are adult sizes. Some brands add A00 or A6, and many offer long (L) or heavy (H) versions for taller or heavier builds.
- F sizes are women’s cuts, with shorter sleeves and legs and a slimmer jacket.
- Kids’ sizes (often M000–M4, or K or C sizes) go by height and age.
The range keeps growing: Fuji’s chart runs from A00 to A9. An L cut keeps the width of its size with longer sleeves and pant legs, for tall, lean builds; an H cut adds room through the chest and shoulders without longer legs, for broader builds.
BJJ gi size chart
Use this to get close, then check the chart for the exact gi you’re buying. Here are two brands’ published charts side by side:
| Size | Kingz | Fuji |
|---|---|---|
| A0 | 5′3″–5′5″, 140–155 lb | 4′10″–5′1″, 110–120 lb |
| A1 | 5′5″–5′7″, 155–170 lb | 5′2″–5′5″, 110–140 lb |
| A2 | 5′7″–5′10″, 170–190 lb | 5′5″–5′9″, 140–170 lb |
| A3 | 5′10″–6′2″, 190–225 lb | 5′9″–6′1″, 170–200 lb |
| A4 | 6′1″–6′4″, 230–260 lb | 6′–6′4″, 200–250 lb |
| A5 | 6′2″–6′6″, 260–300 lb | 6′–6′4″, 225–275 lb |
Same letters, different sizes: a 5′10″, 180-lb adult is an A2 on Kingz’s chart and an A3 on Fuji’s. That’s why a size you wear in one brand doesn’t carry over to the next.
What if you’re between sizes?
Follow the brand. Kingz says weight comes first, since it decides how the jacket wraps across your torso, and to size up when you’re unsure. Fuji says that when your height and weight fall in different sizes, choose the larger one.
Both point the same way for a reason: a gi that’s a little big can shrink a bit in the wash, but one that’s too small can’t grow. If you’re tall and lean, look at an L cut; if you’re broader for your height, an H cut.
How a gi should fit
- Sleeves: with your arms stretched out in front, they reach close to your wrists. For IBJJF tournaments, no more than 2 cm (about ¾ inch) short of the wrist.
- Pants: the legs end close to your ankle bone. For tournaments, no more than 2 cm above it.
- Jacket: it closes with a comfortable overlap and reaches your thighs without hanging loose.
- Between sizes? Follow the brand’s advice above. A gi that’s too short can’t be fixed; a little extra length can shrink out.
IBJJF tournaments measure your gi before you compete, so a gi that fits this way works for competition too.
IBJJF gi rules
If you ever compete, an inspector checks your gi before your first match, and you get three tries to pass. The main rules from the IBJJF Rules Book, Article 8:
| Item | IBJJF rule |
|---|---|
| Color | Completely white, royal blue or black, with jacket and pants the same color |
| Jacket | Reaches the thigh |
| Sleeves | No more than 2 cm from the wrist, with the arm straight out, parallel to the floor |
| Pants | No more than 2 cm above the ankle bone |
| Width | Sleeves and pants checked with a 7 cm gauge |
| Collar | No thicker than 1.3 cm and no wider than 5 cm |
| Belt | 4 to 5 cm wide, tied in a double knot, ends hanging 20 to 30 cm |
| Condition | No tears, mending, wet, dirty or smelly gis |
Under the gi, men can’t wear pants of any kind, and women must wear a stretchy shirt that hugs the body. Here’s what to wear under a gi for class.
Weaves and fabrics
| Weave | Feel | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Single weave | Light and cool, less durable | Hot days and a budget first gi |
| Gold weave | Between single and double | Everyday training |
| Pearl weave | Light but strong | Everyday training and competition |
| Double weave | Heavy, tough and warm | Durability; harder for partners to grip |
Pants usually come in cotton drill, which is soft and heavier, or ripstop, which is light and dries fast.
Shrinkage
Most cotton gis shrink, mostly in the first few washes and mostly in sleeve and pant length. “Preshrunk” gis shrink less, not zero: Kingz says its partly preshrunk models can shrink 3–5% with heat and its fully preshrunk ones 1–2%, and Fuji says a cold wash and hang dry keeps it to about an inch. To keep shrinking down, wash cold and hang to dry. If a gi runs long on you, a warm wash and one gentle dryer cycle can take a little length out, a bit at a time.
Wash it after every class and let it dry completely. Here’s how to wash a BJJ gi without shrinking it.
Women’s and kids’ gi sizes
Women’s gis (F sizes) are cut with narrower shoulders and a more tapered waist. Use the women’s chart for the gi you’re buying, and if you’re tall for your weight, an adult A size can fit too. Here’s what women wear to jiu jitsu, under the gi and in no-gi.
Kids’ gis run by height and age, often M or K sizes, and are cut to allow room to grow. For a first class, kids don’t need one: comfortable athletic clothes work. More on kids jiu jitsu classes.
Choosing a BJJ gi for beginners
- Start simple. A plain, mid-weight gi from a known brand is enough. You don’t need a competition gi to learn.
- Read the fit notes. Check the brand’s chart and look for reviews that say “runs long” or “shrinks a lot”.
- Ask your coach first. At CJJF Santa Monica we can lend you a gi for your first class, and the coaches will help you choose your own.
- Get a belt if it’s not included. Many gis come without one; you start at white belt. Here are the BJJ belts in order, and how to tie a BJJ belt.
Gi colors
White, royal blue and black are the traditional gi colors, and the only ones allowed at IBJJF tournaments, with jacket and pants in the same color. Ask your coach before you buy any other color.
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Gi size questions
What size gi should I get?
Use the chart for the gi you’re buying. As a rough start, many adults between 5′7″ and 6′2″ wear an A2 or A3, but the same person can be an A2 in one brand and an A3 in another.
Should I size up or down?
If you’re unsure, size up, as Kingz and Fuji both advise. You can take a little length out by washing, but you can’t add it back.
What size is A2L?
An A2 with longer sleeves and pant legs, for tall, lean builds. On Kingz’s chart, 5′10″–6′2″ and 170–190 lb; on Fuji’s, 5′10″–6′ and 140–170 lb.
What size gi for a 5′11″, 165-lb man?
On Fuji’s chart, an A2L (5′10″–6′, 140–170 lb). On Kingz’s, he falls between the A1L and the A2L, and Kingz says to follow weight first. Check the chart for the gi you’re buying.
Do BJJ gis shrink?
Most cotton gis do, mostly in the first few washes. Wash cold and hang dry to keep shrinking down.
What are the IBJJF gi requirements?
A white, royal blue or black gi; sleeves and pants within 2 cm of the wrist and ankle bone; a jacket that reaches the thigh; a collar no thicker than 1.3 cm; and a 4 to 5 cm belt. See the IBJJF gi rules.
Do I need a gi for my first class?
No. Wear a T-shirt and athletic pants with no zippers. At CJJF Santa Monica we can lend you a gi for your trial class.
Sources: Kingz, Size Guide: adult chart (A00 to A5), L and H cuts, weight first, size up when unsure, shrinkage by model. FUJI Sports, Mens BJJ Gi Size Chart: A00 to A9, choose the larger size, preshrunk, about an inch with cold wash and hang dry. IBJJF, Rules Book 6.1 (June 2024), Article 8: rules 8.1.3, 8.1.4, 8.1.6 to 8.1.9, 8.1.11 and 8.1.12.