What are the weight classes in weightlifting?
B · Beginner · Categories and the weigh-in · 6 of 6Lifters compete in a bodyweight category, men and women separately, so that people of similar size lift against each other. The rule book read for this page has eight categories for each, from 60 kg to over 110 kg for men and from 49 kg to over 86 kg for women. International categories must be checked separately.
How it works
Senior, under-23, junior and Masters categories in the British rule book from 1 August 2026:
| Categories (upper limits in kg) | |
|---|---|
| Men | 60, 65, 70, 75, 85, 95, 110, +110 |
| Women | 49, 53, 57, 61, 69, 77, 86, +86 |
- What the number means: the upper limit. A lifter in the 75 kg category weighs no more than 75 kg at the weigh-in and more than the limit of the category below. The rule book lists the categories and does not spell this out.
- The "+" category: has no upper limit.
- Younger lifters: youth and development age groups have their own, lighter sets of eight.
- One category per competition: a lifter enters one category, and the weigh-in confirms it.
- They change: the same rule book lists a different set that applied up to 31 July 2026 (men 60, 65, 71, 79, 88, 94, 110, +110; women 48, 53, 58, 63, 69, 77, 86, +86).
Tricky cases
Are these the Olympic weight classes?
No, not necessarily. These are the categories in the British national rule book. The IWF sets the international categories and the Olympic programme uses fewer of them. The IWF document was not available for this page.
Can a lifter choose to lift in a heavier category than their body weight?
It depends on the competition's entry rules. At the weigh-in a lifter must be within the limits of the category entered, so a lifter who weighs less than the lower limit is outside it too.
Does a lifter's exact body weight matter once they are in the category?
No, not in the rule book read. It records the body weight but gives it no part in deciding the result.
Why the rule exists
A bigger body can lift more, so an open competition would be won by the heaviest lifters every time. Categories let a 60 kg lifter be a champion. The governing bodies redraw them from time to time, which also resets the records.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The rule book read | As above | BWL 1.2; BWL Appendix 1 |
| British under-17 | Men 55 to +95, women 45 to +77 | BWL 1.2.3 |
| British under-15 | Men 51 to +85, women 41 to +69 | BWL 1.2.3 |
| International and Olympic categories | Set by the IWF. Not read | C |
From the rule book
British Weight Lifting Technical and Competition Rules and Regulations (updated 22 July 2026), rules 1.1, 1.2, 6.4 and Appendix 1. A national rule book that follows the IWF rules. The IWF document itself was not read. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: BWL Technical and Competition Rules and Regulations 2026 (PDF).