A judo gi size starts from your height in centimeters, which is how many brands label their gis (150, 160, 170 and so on). Then you adjust for weight and shoulder width, and leave a little room if the cotton is not preshrunk. A gi that fits covers your wrists with arms extended, reaches mid-thigh and leaves your ankles clear.
Judo gi size chart by height
Size charts change from brand to brand. Some label in centimeters. Others use a numbered scale that starts around 0, which you will often see in North America. The chart below gives an average match for centimeter labels. Treat it as a starting point, not a rule.
| Your height | Suggested label | If you are heavier than average |
|---|---|---|
| 100 to 110 cm (3'3" to 3'7") | 100 or 110 | 110 or 120 |
| 110 to 125 cm (3'7" to 4'1") | 120 | 130 |
| 125 to 135 cm (4'1" to 4'5") | 130 | 140 |
| 135 to 145 cm (4'5" to 4'9") | 140 | 150 |
| 145 to 155 cm (4'9" to 5'1") | 150 | 160 |
| 155 to 165 cm (5'1" to 5'5") | 160 | 170 |
| 165 to 175 cm (5'5" to 5'9") | 170 | 180 |
| 175 to 185 cm (5'9" to 6'1") | 180 | 190 |
| 185 to 195 cm (6'1" to 6'5") | 190 | 200 |
| over 195 cm (6'5") | 200 and up | check the brand's chart |
The right-hand column matters more than people think. A judoka who is 172 cm and 90 kg swims in the length of a 180 but feels choked across the shoulders in a 170. Build often decides. When a brand offers "slim" or "wide" cuts, read its own chart before ordering.
Measure before you buy
Three checks prevent most returns. Get someone to help, because measuring your own arms alone is unreliable.
Sleeve length
With your arms stretched out in front of you, the sleeve should reach your wrist or sit just above it. Too short, and opponents grab your bare forearm while you lose the benefit of a clean sleeve grip. Too long, and it slides over your hand and gets in the way of your own tsurite (the lifting hand). In a store, put the jacket on, close it and reach forward. That is the only reliable test.
Jacket
The bottom of the jacket should cover your backside and fall to roughly mid-thigh. The lapels should overlap clearly over the stomach without leaving your chest open when you bend forward. If the jacket gapes after your first breakfall, it is too narrow.
Pants
Standing, the pants should stop just above the ankle. Pants that drag on the floor cause silly falls, especially in kids. The waist ties with a drawstring, so check it is long enough for a secure knot.
Shrinkage: how much room to leave
A standard cotton gi shrinks, mostly in the first two or three washes. Sleeves and pants shorten more than the jacket overall. There are three cases.
- Preshrunk gi: buy your real size. It will barely move.
- Non-preshrunk gi: go up one size if you are between two, and wash it cold the first few times.
- IJF-approved competition gi: tolerances are tight, so buy your exact size from the maker's chart.
Washing matters as much as buying. A gi that fits perfectly on day one can end up too short after one trip through the dryer. Our guide on how to wash a judo gi without ruining it covers the right settings.
Kids: buy for this season, not for three
Parents tend to buy two sizes up to "make it last". That is a mistake. A six-year-old in an oversized gi steps on the pants and gets grabbed by dangling sleeves. They also spend the class closing their jacket. One size up, with the sleeves rolled once, is reasonable.
For a first class, a basic light cotton gi is plenty. Kids change size fast, and fabric weight only becomes a question after a few seasons. If you are at the very start, our article on the right age to start judo gives useful pointers. The costs of a first season are also covered in how much judo costs.
Adults and competitors: fit changes the fight
For an adult, the gi is no longer just about comfort. A fitted jacket gives opponents less to grab, which counts as soon as your randori gets serious. On the other hand, a jacket that is too tight limits shoulder movement and stops you from getting under your opponent on seoi-nage.
In official competition, the gi must meet specific sleeve and pant lengths, and some levels require an approved model. The details are in blue and white judogi rules. If you are new to competing, there is no rush to invest. A well-cut training gi is fine for club tournaments.
Fabric weight and cut change how a size feels
Fabric weight tells you how dense the jacket material is. A light gi hangs less and dries quickly. A thick competition gi falls stiffer and feels a size smaller at the same label. The pants on heavy models are also stiffer at the knees. Our judo gi buying guide compares the weave types.
People who train judo and BJJ often ask whether one gi can do both. In practice, a BJJ gi is cut closer to the body with narrower sleeves. A judo gi on a BJJ mat gets grabbed everywhere.
Try one on before you order
Try a gi in a store at least once, even if you then buy online. Note the brand, the label and how it fits after three washes. Next time, you will know exactly if you are a 170 or a 180 with that maker, and you will stop guessing. If your club places a group order, ask to try on a teammate's gi in your build. It is the most telling test there is, and it is free.