Short answer. For sparring, most adults need 16oz gloves; for bag and pad work, 12 to 14oz is usual. Everlast's chart gives 14–16oz for sparring at 45–68 kg, 16oz at 68–80 kg and 16–18oz above 80 kg. If you can only buy one pair and plan to spar, buy for sparring. Amateur bouts in England use 10oz (65 kg and under) or 12oz gloves supplied at ringside.
Ounces measure padding, not hand size
Boxing gloves are sold by weight in ounces. As Everlast puts it, more ounces means more padding and less speed, fewer ounces means less padding and more speed. That is why the right weight depends on two things: what the gloves are for (bag and pads, or sparring) and how heavy you are. Hand size decides the fit inside the glove.
Size chart by bodyweight and use
Everlast's chart splits each weight band into bag and mitt work versus sparring. Sparring always sits one step heavier, because the extra padding protects your partner as well as your hands.
| Your weight | Bag and mitts | Sparring |
|---|---|---|
| Under 45 kg (100 lb) | 6–10oz | 12–14oz |
| 45–68 kg (100–150 lb) | 10–12oz | 14–16oz |
| 68–80 kg (150–175 lb) | 12–14oz | 16oz |
| Over 80 kg (175 lb) | 14–16oz | 16–18oz |
Quick size check
Some UK guides are stricter for sparring: Fightgear's amateur boxing guide calls 16oz the adult standard below 90 kg, 14oz only for adults under 65 kg with the coach's or gym's permission, and 18oz from 90 kg. If your gym has a sparring minimum, that rule wins.
12oz vs 14oz vs 16oz
| Weight | Typical use | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| 12oz | Bag, pads, drills | Everlast calls 12–14oz the general training range; at 45–68 kg it is a bag-and-mitts weight |
| 14oz | Training, light sparring for lighter people | A one-pair compromise for people around 45–68 kg, whose sparring range is 14–16oz |
| 16oz | Sparring, and all-round for heavier people | Everlast calls 16oz the standard for sparring; over 80 kg it also covers bag work |
Only buying one pair? Buy for the heaviest thing you will do with it. If you plan to spar, that means 14oz at the light end and 16oz for most adults. A lighter pair for bag and pads can come later; Everlast suggests one pair for speed work and another for sparring.
Check the fit with wraps on
Everlast says hand wraps add about an inch around your hand, so try gloves on with wraps. Your fingers should reach the top of the glove without being squashed, and the wrist strap should be snug without pinching. Everlast also sizes by knuckle circumference, measured around the palm without the thumb or wraps:
| Glove range | Hand circumference | Bodyweight |
|---|---|---|
| 8–12oz (S) | 12.75–15.25 cm (5–6 in) | Up to 45.5 kg |
| 12–14oz (S/M) | 15.25–19 cm (6–7.5 in) | 46–68 kg |
| 14–16oz (M/L) | 19–21.5 cm (7.5–8.5 in) | 68.5–79.5 kg |
| 16–18oz (L) | 21.5–24.75 cm (8.5–9.75 in) | Over 79.5 kg |
Brand charts differ
Brands publish their own charts, and they do not agree. Blitz, a UK fight-gear store, sizes its club training gloves by bodyweight alone, and its bands run lighter than Everlast's sparring column. Blitz also notes that these gloves are made for club training, not competition, so the actual weight can vary slightly from the label.
Blitz chart (training gloves)
| Glove | Bodyweight |
|---|---|
| 8oz | 38–44 kg (81–97 lb) |
| 10oz | 45–51 kg (98–113 lb) |
| 12oz | 52–64 kg (114–140 lb) |
| 14oz | 65–73 kg (141–160 lb) |
| 16oz | 74–82 kg (161–180 lb) |
Blitz recommends 8oz and 10oz for children up to 14. Use the chart of the glove you actually buy, and go up a weight for sparring if your gym asks for it.
UK picks: Blitz training gloves
Blitz is a UK store and one of our partner stores. Its own gloves are multi-purpose training gloves that Blitz lists for boxing, kickboxing, semi and full contact. The order below follows the weight range and features. It is not a score.
Blitz Training Boxing Gloves
The widest weight range of the four, from 8oz for juniors to 16oz.
- Weights 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16oz (Blitz)
- Blitz's Nama Hide material, padded thumb, velcro wrist strap (Blitz)
- Listed for pad work, bag work, sparring and club training (Blitz)
Blitz Omega Boxing Gloves
Blitz pitches the Omega as an entry-level glove for beginners, with a mesh lining for airflow and grip.
- Weights 8 to 16oz (Blitz)
- Pre-curved, multi-layer foam-injected padding; cool mesh lining; curved padded thumb (Blitz)
- Wide velcro wrist strap (Blitz)
Blitz Centurion Boxing Gloves
A pre-curved glove with a thicker wrist strap, for people who want more wrist support from the closure.
- Weights 10 to 16oz (Blitz)
- Pre-curved, multi-layered, foam-injected padding (Blitz)
- Thick velcro strap, Nama Hide material, carbon-look finish (Blitz)
Blitz Pro Boxing Gloves
The same multi-purpose design as the Training glove in a leather and PU mix.
- Weights 10 to 16oz (Blitz)
- Leather/PU mix, padded thumb, velcro wrist strap (Blitz)
Blitz also sells kids' training gloves in 4oz and 6oz: see kids' boxing gloves. To compare Blitz glove prices across colours and weights, see the gloves on GloveWatch.
On Amazon (US)
Search by weight and check the brand's own chart before you buy. Prefer listings sold by the brand or by Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Competition gloves are a different thing
You don't buy gloves for an amateur bout. England Boxing's 2026 rules set them by weight: 10oz for boxers at 65 kg and under, 12oz above 65 kg, and 12oz for both if one boxer is over 65 kg. Only sanctioned brands are allowed, and gloves are supplied at ringside. Train and spar in your own heavier gloves.
Boxing or Muay Thai?
If you kick, catch and clinch, a Muay Thai glove has a more flexible wrist; see boxing vs Muay Thai gloves for the differences and best Muay Thai gloves for Fairtex's and Yokkao's charts. Either way, wear hand wraps under every pair, add sparring headgear if your gym asks for it, and see the boxing starter kit or the Muay Thai starter kit for the rest.
Buying in the US
Revgear, a US store and one of our partner stores, sells its own boxing gloves. Check the weights it offers on each product page.
FAQ
Are 16oz gloves good for beginners?
Yes, if you will spar or weigh over about 68 kg. Everlast calls 16oz the standard for sparring, and over 80 kg its chart puts 14–16oz even for bag work. Lighter beginners who only hit bags and pads can start at 12 to 14oz.
12oz or 14oz for bag work?
Everlast's chart gives 10–12oz for bag and mitts at 45–68 kg and 12–14oz at 68–80 kg. Go with your weight band; if the same pair will also be used for sparring, take the heavier option.
What size gloves for a 70 kg person?
Everlast's chart gives 12–14oz for bag and mitts and 16oz for sparring at 68–80 kg. Blitz's training chart puts 65–73 kg at 14oz, so the brand's own chart matters.
Do I need different gloves for sparring?
Many people use a separate, heavier pair for sparring. Everlast recommends one pair for speed work and another for sparring, and some UK guides treat 16oz as the adult sparring standard below 90 kg.
What gloves are used in amateur boxing in England?
Under England Boxing's 2026 rules, boxers at 65 kg and under wear 10oz and boxers over 65 kg wear 12oz; if one boxer is over 65 kg, both wear 12oz. Only sanctioned brands are used.
Sources
- Everlast, How to choose your boxing glove sizing
- Everlast, Boxing gloves size chart
- England Boxing, Technical and Competition Rules 2026 (8.2 Competition Gloves)
- England Boxing, Updated rule book published for 2026
- Fightgear, Amateur boxing equipment for competitions (2026)
- Blitz, Training Boxing Gloves (size chart)
- Blitz, Omega Boxing Gloves
- Blitz, Centurion Boxing Gloves
- Blitz, Pro Boxing Gloves
More buying guides
- Muay Thai starter kitWhat to buy first, in order, and what can wait.
- Boxing starter kitWhat to buy for your first boxing class, in order, with UK picks.
- Best Muay Thai gloves 2026Five leather Thai gloves by use, plus Fairtex and Yokkao size charts.
- Boxing vs Muay Thai glovesPalm, padding and cuff differences, one-glove options, and which to buy.
- Kids' boxing glovesWhat size gloves for children and juniors, 4oz to 10oz, and UK picks.
- Sparring headgear guideOpen-face vs cheek vs full face, a head-size check, and UK picks.
- Best Muay Thai shin guardsThai-style vs adjustable vs sleeve, size charts and a shin-length size check.
- Best heavy bag for homeHanging vs freestanding, how heavy, and how to set it up.
- Heavy bag workout for beginnersA 20-minute round-by-round plan, what you need, and UK picks.
- Muay Thai at home aloneA 35-minute solo round plan, with or without a bag, and what you need.
- Jump rope workout for boxingThe basic bounce, the boxer skip in five steps, a 15-minute round plan.
- Best Thai padsCurved vs straight, leather vs synthetic, and Fairtex's pad sizes.
- Focus mitts vs Thai padsWhich pads to buy for boxing, kickboxing or Muay Thai, and UK picks.
- Hand wraps guide180 vs 120 inches, a length check, elastic vs cotton, and how tight to wrap.
- How to wrap your handsThe standard wrap step by step, a Muay Thai version, how tight, and washing.
- Groin guard guideCup types, the competition rules, Blitz's size table, and UK and US picks.