Short answer. Buy boxing gloves if you only box, and Muay Thai gloves if you kick, catch and clinch. Muay Thai gloves have a more open palm, padding spread down the side of the hand for blocking, and a shorter, more flexible cuff; boxing gloves are moulded into a fist with denser knuckle padding and a longer, stiffer cuff. Thai gloves work well for boxing too, so if you do both, one Thai-style or all-round pair covers it. Sizes are the same: 16oz for sparring for most adults.
The difference in one table
From the outside they look alike, and both are sold by weight in ounces. The difference is what the hand has to do inside. In boxing it only punches, parries and covers up. In Muay Thai it also catches kicks, blocks kicks, knees and elbows, and grips in the clinch. Fairtex, which makes both, sums it up: Muay Thai gloves usually have a slightly wider palm, a more flexible wrist and padding spread for catching, blocking and clinching; boxing gloves have denser knuckle padding and stiffer wrist support for punching.
| Boxing gloves | Muay Thai gloves | |
|---|---|---|
| Palm and fingers | Moulded into a closed fist, often with a grip bar | More open palm, so the hand can catch, parry and grip |
| Thumb | Tucked close to the fist, behind the knuckle padding | Often a little less tucked in, which helps grip when catching and clinching |
| Padding | Concentrated over the knuckles | Spread more evenly, with a thick bar down the side of the hand for blocking kicks, knees and elbows |
| Cuff | Longer, close-fitting, keeps the wrist straight on punches | Shorter and thicker, so the wrist can bend in the clinch |
| Shape | More elongated, especially Mexican-style gloves | Slightly wider at the palm; Fairtex describes its BGV1 as more squared off at the fingertips |
| Built for | Punching and a tight guard | Punches plus catching, blocking and clinching |
Sources: Fairtex's comparison, the Fairtex Store's comparison and Fight Quality's breakdown, all linked under Sources. Fight Quality's own caveat is worth keeping: every brand has its own fit, and the line between the two is often blurry.
Why the palm and cuff matter in Muay Thai
Catching and clinching. Fight Quality puts the biggest difference down to the palm: in boxing it is only used to parry, while a Thai boxer needs to grip in the clinch and catch and hold kicks. Boxing gloves are rounded at the fingers to make a natural fist; Thai gloves keep the palm more open. Some Thai gloves, such as the Fairtex BGV1, leave out the grip bar for the same reason.
Blocking kicks. Kicks, knees and elbows land on the side and back of the hand, so Thai gloves usually carry a thick bar of padding down the side. Boxing gloves often have little or no padding there, because nothing hits it.
Wrist. In boxing the cuff's job is to stop the wrist bending on a punch, so it runs long and close. In Muay Thai the wrist gets knocked when blocking kicks and needs to bend to lock around the neck in the clinch, so the cuff is usually shorter and thicker, and a tight strap gives the support.
Can one glove do both?
Often, yes. The Fairtex Store calls using Muay Thai gloves for boxing very common, for bag work, pads and sparring, as long as the glove has enough foam over the knuckles. The other way round works less well: it says rigid boxing gloves are fine for heavy bag work and boxing drills but make it almost impossible to catch kicks or work in the clinch. Many brands now make all-round gloves aimed at both: Fairtex says its Thai-style BGV1 still works for boxing pad rounds, and Revgear says its S5 All Rounder's mid-length cuff suits both boxing and Muay Thai.
Which to buy
- Boxing club or boxing fitness class. Boxing gloves. You only punch, so the fist shape, knuckle padding and longer cuff all help.
- Muay Thai. Muay Thai gloves, or an all-round glove with a Thai-style palm. You will catch kicks and clinch, and a rigid boxing glove fights you there.
- Kickboxing. Either works. If your class catches kicks or allows clinching, lean Thai; if it is mostly punches and kicks on pads, a multi-purpose training glove is fine.
- Boxing and Muay Thai. One Thai-style or all-round pair covers both; add a boxing-shaped pair later only if boxing becomes your main sport.
- Mostly bag work at home. Shape matters less than weight and wrist support. Any well-fitting training glove does the job.
Size works the same way
Both kinds are sold in the same ounces, and weight means padding. Everlast's chart puts most adults in 16oz for sparring (14–16oz at 45–68 kg) and a step lighter for bag and pads. Charts differ by brand, so use the boxing glove size guide (Everlast and Blitz charts) or the Fairtex and Yokkao charts in best Muay Thai gloves. Whatever the shape, try gloves on with hand wraps on.
UK picks: Blitz multi-purpose gloves
Blitz is a UK store and one of our partner stores. It does not sell a separate adult Thai-cut glove: its own gloves are multi-purpose training gloves that it lists under both its boxing and its Muay Thai gloves, for boxing, kickboxing, semi and full contact. They have a reinforced grip bar for a closed fist, which puts them closer to the boxing side of the table, so they suit boxing, kickboxing and beginner Muay Thai classes best. If your gym clinches and catches kicks a lot, see the Thai-cut gloves in best Muay Thai gloves. The order below is by weight range and features. It is not a score.
Blitz Training Boxing Gloves
The widest weight range, from 8oz to 16oz, for pad work, bag work, sparring and club training.
- Weights 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16oz (Blitz)
- Listed for boxing, kickboxing, semi contact, full contact and ring work (Blitz)
- Reinforced bar grip, padded thumb, adjustable velcro wrist strap, Nama Hide leather (Blitz)
Blitz Centurion Boxing Gloves
A multi-purpose glove with a thicker wrist strap, for people who want more support from the closure.
- Weights 10 to 16oz (Blitz)
- Listed for boxing, kickboxing, semi and full contact sessions and ring work (Blitz)
- Pre-curved, multi-layer foam-injected padding; thick velcro strap; Nama Hide leather (Blitz)
Blitz Carbon Boxing Gloves
A training glove with an extra cushioned wrist support panel, which Blitz pitches at boxing and kickboxing students and instructors.
- Weights 10 to 16oz (Blitz)
- Cushioned wrist support panel; wide hook-and-loop strap (Blitz)
- Pre-curved padding, curved padded thumb, reinforced bar grip, mesh lining, Nama Hide leather (Blitz)
Blitz Omega Boxing Gloves
Blitz's entry-level pick for people new to combat sports, with a mesh lining for airflow and grip.
- Weights 8 to 16oz (Blitz)
- Listed for boxing, kickboxing, semi and full contact and ring work (Blitz)
- Pre-curved, multi-layer foam injection padding; curved padded thumb; wide velcro strap (Blitz)
For children, Blitz lists its Kids Firepower gloves under Muay Thai: 6oz, for young children training in Muay Thai, kickboxing and boxing (Blitz). See kids' boxing gloves for sizes by age.
To compare Blitz glove prices across colours and weights, see gloves on GloveWatch.
US picks: Revgear, one of each kind
Revgear, a US store and one of our partner stores, sells a Thai-cut glove, an all-rounder and boxing gloves, all its own brand. The order goes from Thai to boxing. It is not a score.
Revgear Thai Original
Revgear's traditional Thai glove, handmade in Bangkok.
- Weights 12, 14 and 16oz (Revgear)
- Traditional Thai glove profile; cowhide leather; vented palms (Revgear)
- Crossover Ultra-Lock wrist straps (Revgear)
Revgear S5 All Rounder
An all-round glove that Revgear says suits both boxing and Muay Thai, for pads, bag and sparring.
- Weights 12, 14 and 16oz (Revgear)
- Slim, Mexican-style shape with a rounded knuckle area; mid-length hook-and-loop cuff (Revgear)
- Full leather; ventilated palm mesh; extra padding above the thumb (Revgear)
Revgear Elite Leather Boxing Gloves
A boxing glove built around knuckle protection.
- Weights 10 to 16oz (Revgear)
- Extra high-density padding across the punching area; pre-curved; attached thumb (Revgear)
- Ultra-Lock hook-and-loop closure; water-resistant lining (Revgear)
On Amazon (US)
Search by the kind and weight you need, and compare the listing with the brand's own page. Prefer listings sold by the brand or by Amazon.
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The rest of the kit
Wear hand wraps under either kind. For Muay Thai add shin guards before you spar; for boxing, a head guard if your club asks. The boxing starter kit and Muay Thai starter kit cover the full list.
FAQ
What is the difference between boxing gloves and Muay Thai gloves?
Muay Thai gloves usually have a more open palm, padding spread down the side and back of the hand, and a shorter, more flexible cuff, so you can catch kicks, block and clinch. Boxing gloves are moulded into a closed fist, with denser knuckle padding and a longer cuff that keeps the wrist straight when punching.
Can I use Muay Thai gloves for boxing?
Yes. The Fairtex Store calls it very common, for bag work, pads and sparring, as long as the glove has enough foam over the knuckles.
Can I use boxing gloves for Muay Thai?
For bag work and punching drills, yes. For full Muay Thai training they are harder to catch kicks and clinch in, because the palm is closed and the cuff is longer and stiffer.
Which gloves should I buy for kickboxing?
Either kind works. If your class catches kicks or clinches, a Muay Thai or all-round glove is easier; if it is mostly punches and kicks on pads, a multi-purpose training glove such as Blitz's is fine.
Are Muay Thai and boxing gloves the same size?
Yes, both are sold in ounces, and Everlast's chart puts most adults in 16oz for sparring. Brand charts differ, so check the chart of the glove you buy; our boxing glove size guide has the Everlast and Blitz charts.
How can I practise Muay Thai combinations at home?
On a heavy bag, in rounds. FightNome (iPhone and Android) calls each strike out loud on the beat of the music and runs the rounds, so you can drill combinations on the bag without a pad holder.
Sources
- Fairtex, Muay Thai gloves vs boxing gloves: key differences (2026)
- Fairtex Store, Muay Thai gloves vs boxing gloves: the real differences
- Fight Quality, The difference between boxing gloves and Muay Thai gloves
- Blitz, Muay Thai gloves (category)
- Blitz, Training Boxing Gloves
- Blitz, Centurion Boxing Gloves
- Blitz, Carbon Boxing Gloves
- Blitz, Omega Boxing Gloves
- Blitz, Kids Firepower Muay Thai Boxing Gloves
- Revgear, Thai Original Muay Thai gloves
- Revgear, S5 All Rounder boxing gloves
- Revgear, Elite Leather 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 glove size guide12 vs 14 vs 16oz: size charts by weight and use, and UK picks.
- 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.