Wrestling weight classes


In most styles of wrestling, opponents are matched based on weight class.

Olympic and international weight classes

In international competition, men's freestyle wrestling, men's Greco-Roman wrestling, and female wrestling utilize the following weight classes as of 2018:

Men's freestyle wrestling

  • 57 kg
  • 61 kg
  • 65 kg
  • 70 kg
  • 74 kg
  • 79 kg
  • 86 kg
  • 92 kg
  • 97 kg
  • 125 kg

    Men's Greco-Roman Wrestling

  • 55 kg
  • 60 kg
  • 63 kg
  • 67 kg
  • 72 kg
  • 77 kg
  • 82 kg
  • 87 kg
  • 97 kg
  • 100kg+

    Women's wrestling

  • 50 kg
  • 53 kg
  • 55 kg
  • 57 kg
  • 59 kg
  • 62 kg
  • 65 kg
  • 68 kg
  • 72 kg
  • 76 kg
  • 76 kg

    International youth weight classes

For men's freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling

As of 2019, international freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling for male youths are divided into three age categories: U15, cadets, and juniors.
U15 compete in freestyle and/or Greco-Roman wrestling in the following 10 weight classes:
  • 34–38 kg
  • 41 kg
  • 44 kg
  • 48 kg
  • 52 kg
  • 57 kg
  • 62 kg
  • 68 kg
  • 75 kg
  • 85 kg
Cadets compete in freestyle wrestling and/or Greco-Roman wrestling in the following 10 weight classes:
  • 41 to 45 kg
  • 48 kg
  • 51 kg
  • 55 kg
  • 60 kg
  • 65 kg
  • 71 kg
  • 80 kg
  • 92 kg
  • 110 kg
Juniors compete in freestyle wrestling and/or Greco-Roman wrestling in the following weight classes:
  • 57 kg
  • 61 kg
  • 65 kg
  • 70 kg
  • 74 kg
  • 79 kg
  • 86 kg
  • 92 kg
  • 97 kg
  • 125 kg
Juniors over the age of 18 are allowed to participate in senior competitions with a medical certificate.

For women's freestyle wrestling

As of 2019, female youth compete in freestyle wrestling on an international level in one of four age categories: U15, cadets, and juniors.
U15 compete in freestyle wrestling in the following 10 weight classes:
  • 29 to 33 kg
  • 36 kg
  • 39 kg
  • 42 kg
  • 46 kg
  • 50 kg
  • 54 kg
  • 58 kg
  • 62 kg
  • 66 kg
Cadets compete in freestyle wrestling in the following 10 weight classes:
  • 36 to 40 kg
  • 43 kg
  • 46 kg
  • 49 kg
  • 53 kg
  • 57 kg
  • 61 kg
  • 65 kg
  • 69 kg
  • 73 kg
Junior compete in freestyle wrestling in the following eight weight classes:
  • 50 kg
  • 53 kg
  • 55 kg
  • 57 kg
  • 59 kg
  • 62 kg
  • 65 kg
  • 68 kg
  • 72 kg
  • 76 kg

    Scholastic weight classes in the United States

Elementary school

students competing in wrestling have multiple ways weight classes are determined.
  1. "Madison system" - This is a popular tournament format where there are no weight classes and the tournament director pairs wrestlers into brackets based on weight at weigh-ins. This is a popular method because it discourages "weight cutting" in young athletes.
  2. Division-based system - In this system, the tournament director separates athletes by age, and by weight class. Weight class and division is at the tournament director's discretion.
  3. Pure-weight based system - In this system, the athletes are not divided by age but rather just by weight class. This is rarely used because it pairs younger, less experienced athletes with older, more experienced athletes.

    Middle school

Wrestling weight classes for middle school in the United States vary from state to state and are not regulated by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The weight classes regulated by the Ohio High School Athletic Association are the following:
  • 80 lbs
  • 86 lbs
  • 92 lbs
  • 98 lbs
  • 104 lbs
  • 110 lbs
  • 116 lbs
  • 122 lbs
  • 128 lbs
  • 134 lbs
  • 142 lbs
  • 150 lbs
  • 160 lbs
  • 172 lbs
  • 205 lbs
  • 245 lbs

    High school

Beginning 2023-2024 season

As of the 2023-2024 season, each state must select one of three sets of weight classes provided by the National Federation of State High School Associations for high school competition in the United States, one for boys competition and another for girls competition.
Boys competition weight classes
If a state chooses to use twelve weight classes for boys competition, the weight classes are as follows:
  • 108 lbs
  • 116 lbs
  • 124 lbs
  • 131 lbs
  • 138 lbs
  • 145 lbs
  • 152 lbs
  • 160 lbs
  • 170 lbs
  • 190 lbs
  • 215 lbs
  • 285 lbs
If a state chooses to use thirteen weight classes for boys competition, the weight classes are as follows:
  • 107 lbs
  • 114 lbs
  • 121 lbs
  • 127 lbs
  • 133 lbs
  • 139 lbs
  • 145 lbs
  • 152 lbs
  • 160 lbs
  • 172 lbs
  • 189 lbs
  • 215 lbs
  • 285 lbs
If a state chooses to use fourteen weight classes for boys competition, the weight classes are as follows:
  • 106 lbs
  • 113 lbs
  • 120 lbs
  • 126 lbs
  • 132 lbs
  • 138 lbs
  • 144 lbs
  • 150 lbs
  • 157 lbs
  • 165 lbs
  • 175 lbs
  • 190 lbs
  • 215 lbs
  • 285 lbs
    Girls competition weight classes
If a state chooses to use twelve weight classes for girls competition, the weight classes are as follows:
  • 100 lbs
  • 107 lbs
  • 114 lbs
  • 120 lbs
  • 126 lbs
  • 132 lbs
  • 138 lbs
  • 145 lbs
  • 152 lbs
  • 165 lbs
  • 185 lbs
  • 235 lbs
If a state chooses to use thirteen weight classes for girls competition, the weight classes are as follows:
  • 100 lbs
  • 106 lbs
  • 112 lbs
  • 118 lbs
  • 124 lbs
  • 130 lbs
  • 136 lbs
  • 142 lbs
  • 148 lbs
  • 155 lbs
  • 170 lbs
  • 190 lbs
  • 235 lbs
If a state chooses to use fourteen weight classes for girls competition, the weight classes are as follows:
  • 100 lbs
  • 105 lbs
  • 110 lbs
  • 115 lbs
  • 120 lbs
  • 125 lbs
  • 130 lbs
  • 135 lbs
  • 140 lbs
  • 145 lbs
  • 150 lbs
  • 155 lbs
  • 170 lbs
  • 190 lbs
  • 235 lbs
    Exceptions
In boys' wrestling, New York uses a modified 13 weight class set, that uses the same weight classes of the 12 weight class set with the addition of a 101 pound weight class.

Before 2023-2024 season

Prior to the 2023-2024 wrestling season high school students in the United States competing in scholastic wrestling did so in the following 14 weight classes set by the National Federation of State High School Associations :
  • 106 lbs
  • 113 lbs
  • 120 lbs
  • 126 lbs
  • 132 lbs
  • 138 lbs
  • 145 lbs
  • 152 lbs
  • 160 lbs
  • 170 lbs
  • 182 lbs
  • 195 lbs
  • 220 lbs
  • 285 lbs
  • * Heavyweight class was unlimited before 1988–89; capped at 275 lb from 1988–89 through 2005–06.
Other states had additional or modified weight classes, such as:
  • 99 lbs
  • 98 lbs
  • 105 lbs in Montana.
  • 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, and 215 lbs in New Jersey.
  • 172, 189 and 215 lbs in Pennsylvania.
  • 103, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 171, 189, 215 and 285 are the weight classes used in Michigan.
  • 106 lbs/48 kg, 113 lbs/51 kg, 120 lbs/54 kg, 126 lbs/57 kg, 132 lbs/59.87 kg, 138 lbs/62.59 kg, 144 lbs/65 kg, 150 lbs/68 kg, 157 lbs/71 kg, 165 lbs/74.84 kg, 175 lbs/79 kg, 190 lbs/86 kg, 215 lbs/97.52 kg and 285 lbs/129 kg are the weight classes used in Kansas.

    Collegiate weight classes in the United States

and university students in the United States competing in collegiate wrestling do so in the following 10 weight classes set by the National Collegiate Athletic Association :
  • 125 lb
  • 133 lb
  • 141 lb
  • 149 lb
  • 157 lb
  • 165 lb
  • 174 lb
  • 184 lb
  • 197 lb
  • Heavyweight
Also:
  • 235 lb
The NCWA has also approved the following eight weight classes for its women's division, which uses collegiate rules instead of the freestyle ruleset used in NCAA-recognized women's wrestling:
  • 105 lb
  • 112 lb
  • 121 lb
  • 130 lb
  • 139 lb
  • 148 lb
  • 159 lb
  • 200 lb
Women's college wrestling is also governed by the Women's Collegiate Wrestling Association, an arm of the National Wrestling Coaches Association. The WCWA uses freestyle rules instead of collegiate rules. Freestyle wrestling became an NCAA-recognized sport as part of the Emerging Sports for Women program in 2020–21. The WCWA currently has 10 weight classes:
  • 101 lb
  • 109 lb
  • 116 lb
  • 123 lb
  • 130 lb
  • 136 lb
  • 143 lb
  • 155 lb
  • 170 lb
  • 191 lb