How heavy can a bobsleigh be?
Officials' detail · The sled and officials · 2 of 4Bobsleighs have a minimum weight without the crew and a maximum weight with the crew. A 4-man sled must weigh at least 210 kg empty and no more than 631 kg with crew; a 2-man sled 170 kg and 390.5 kg. Lighter crews add ballast to reach the limit. Crews are weighed in the sled after a heat when the jury asks.
How it works
- 2-man minimum: 170 kg sled without crew.
- 2-man maximum: 390.5 kg with crew and equipment.
- 4-man: at least 210 kg empty, at most 631 kg with crew.
- 2-woman: at least 170 kg empty, at most 330.5 kg with crew.
- Monobob: at least 163 kg empty, at most 248.5 kg with the athlete.
- Weighing: with the crew inside, after the heat, on the jury's request.
- Second weigh: the crew may clear snow and ice for up to 5 minutes and weigh again.
- Ballast: may be changed between heats only with the jury's approval; standard weights in monobob.
The glossary has the sled weight limit, the weight check, the two-man / four-man, the monobob, the sled and the runners.
Tricky cases
A crew is 2 kg over after a heat. Can they fix it?
They may ask for a second weigh and have up to 5 minutes to clear snow and ice.
Can a crew change ballast between heats?
Only with the jury's permission, for example when an athlete is replaced.
Who can help clear the sled before the second weigh?
No one. Third-party help is not allowed.
Why are women's limits lower?
The limits are set per discipline in the rules; lighter crews mean lighter maximums.
Why the rule exists
Heavier sleds go faster down a track, so the maximum stops teams from adding weight without limit. The minimum stops flimsy, unsafe sleds.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 4-man | 210 kg empty, 631 kg loaded | IBSF 10.14 |
| 2-man | 170 kg empty, 390.5 kg loaded | IBSF 10.14 |
| Monobob | 163 kg empty, 248.5 kg loaded | IBSF 10.14 |
From the rule book
IBSF, International Rules Bobsleigh (September 2026), article 10.14. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IBSF International Rules, issued each season.