What are the weight classes in judo?
I · Intermediate · Competition, judogi and the mat · 8 of 9Judo has seven weight classes for men, from under 60 kg to over 100 kg, and seven for women, from under 48 kg to over 78 kg. Athletes weigh in the day before they compete, once, with no tolerance. A second, random check on the day allows up to 5% above the limit.
How it works
| Categories (kg) | |
|---|---|
| Senior and junior men | -60, -66, -73, -81, -90, -100, +100 |
| Senior and junior women | -48, -52, -57, -63, -70, -78, +78 |
| Cadet men (under 18) | -50, -55, -60, -66, -73, -81, -90, +90 |
| Cadet women (under 18) | -40, -44, -48, -52, -57, -63, -70, +70 |
- "-66 kg" means over 60.0 kg and up to and including 66.0 kg. The heaviest category has no upper limit.
- There is also an open category with no weight limit, used at its own championships.
- The official weigh-in is held the day before the competition, at 16:00 local time at IJF events, and lasts 30 to 60 minutes.
- An athlete may step on the official scales only once. The weight is read to one decimal place.
- Athletes weigh in underwear and may remove it without stepping off to make the weight. Seniors and juniors get no tolerance. Cadets keep their underwear on and are allowed 0.2 kg for it.
- An athlete who does not appear, or weighs outside the limits of the category, is excluded from the competition. That includes being under the lower limit.
- The random weigh-in is held on the day of competition for four athletes drawn in each category, apart from the heaviest. They may not weigh more than 5% over the limit: 69.3 kg in the -66 kg category, for example.
- Men and women do not compete against each other.
Tricky cases
Can an athlete step off the scale, lose a little more and try again?
No. Each athlete may stand on the official scales once. There are test scales and an unofficial weigh-in beforehand for checking.
Can an athlete be too light for their category?
Yes. An athlete who weighs below the lower limit of the category is excluded in the same way as one who is over.
An athlete made weight the day before but is 6% over on the morning of the contest. Does that matter?
It depends on whether they are drawn for the random weigh-in. If they are, and they are more than 5% over the limit, they may not compete.
Why the rule exists
In a sport of throwing another body, weight matters a great deal. The day-before weigh-in gives athletes time to recover, and the random check on the day limits how much weight can be cut and put back.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IJF rules, seniors and juniors | Seven categories each | SOR 2.2.1; SOR 6.1 |
| IJF rules, cadets | Eight categories each, with 0.2 kg allowed for underwear | SOR 2.2.1; SOR 6.1 |
| Mixed team events | Three categories for each sex | SOR 2.2.2 |
From the rule book
International Judo Federation Sport and Organisation Rules, Sections 2.2, 2.5, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3. Version of 24 July 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IJF Sport and Organisation Rules (PDF).