Choosing the right muay thai glove size for different areas of your muay thai training, sparring and fighting is crucial for a long and healthy training journey.
Ideally, you should follow the general guidelines below for choosing the right muay thai glove size for each purpose:
- Sparring – 12-14oz and heavier
- Bag/Pad work – 10-12oz
- Fighting – 8-10oz
How heavy or light you are will also determine the size of the glove you use.
I personally use 14 oz Top King gloves (Made in Thailand) most of the time for pads, sparring and bag work.
I am around 225 pounds/100 kg so if you are lighter 12 oz gloves should be fine.
If you are fortunate enough to train at a gym with gloves provided then your trainer can give you good advice on the best size for you also.
However it is good to buy your own pair or two of gloves for hygiene reasons.
General guidelines with regards to bodyweight are as follows:
| Bodyweight (lbs/kgs) | Muay Thai gloves weight (oz) |
| Below 100 lbs/46 kg | 8-10 oz |
| 101-120 lbs/46-54 kg | 10 oz |
| 120-150 lbs/55-68 kg | 12 oz |
| 151-180 lbs/69-82 kg | 14 oz |
| More than 180 lbs/83 kg | 16 oz |
If you are not fighting/competing, it is still recommended that you have a lighter pair of gloves for pad and bag work and heavier gloves for sparring.
The weight and size difference for muay thai gloves is important for the different aspects of muay thai training.
If you are on the lighter side then it is fine to use smaller gloves and vice versa for the heavy weights.
For the majority of people who train and are looking for a good pair of gloves for pads, bag work and sparring a 12 or 14 ounce pair would be the perfect option.
Best Gloves to Choose for Muay Thai
I would highly recommend the top Thai brands for their quality and workmanship.
But even within Thailand there are varying degrees of quality.
Still, you can’t really go wrong with Fairtex, Yokkao, Top King or Twins for muay thai gloves.
International brands also provide even more options and at lower cost while still providing great quality and value.
I use Venum 14 oz gloves as an additional pair to my Top King 14 oz gloves.
1. Sparring – 14-16oz is recommended
The reason for the extra weight is protection.
Protection for your hands as well as your sparring partners head and body from your punches.
Sparring is a big part of muay thai training and done almost every session in pro gyms in Thailand.
So, it is very important to protect both your hands and sparring partner as light sparring is done very regularly.
Light sparring is very common among pro gyms in Thailand and does not require a lot of speed or power.
As Thai boxers fight so regularly, they cannot afford to be injured or hurt in sparring.
So Thai gyms are known for more technical and ‘playful’ sparring.
But heavier gloves are still recommended for sparring.
2. Bag/Pad work – 12oz is ideal
You will be fighting with lighter gloves if you are planning on competing, but the heavier 12oz gloves will protect your hands more for bag and pad work.
They will still also allow for throwing power in your strikes when you are training.
12oz gloves also provide less weight than sparring gloves for to allow for good speed in your punches as well.
Even 14oz gloves are fine for the heavy bag and pad work as they are overall safer for your hands and your pad holder in case there are mistakes in your striking.
3. Fighting – 8-10oz gloves
Going full power and full speed does require lighter gloves and 8-10oz are the regulation gloves for muay thai fights.
8oz is the usual standard though 10oz gloves are used by heavier weight fighters in competition.
You have your hand wraps for the best protection as well.
And your fight team will have ‘pro’ hand wrap men, so you can punch hard with lighter gloves knowing the protection is there for your hands.
Recommendation for a Beginner
If you can only afford to get one pair of gloves for your training then 12-14oz is probably the best option.
14oz would be ideal as they provide good weight and padding for sparring and you can still strike with power and speed with them for your bag and thai pad work.
Over time you could invest in a heavier or lighter pair depending on your needs.
Having an extra pair of gloves will extend the life of both of the gloves as you rotate use of them.
So it is recommended that you do, at some stage invest in a second pair of gloves even if they are a cheaper set.
You really cannot go wrong with any of the top Thai brands such Yokkao, Twins, Top King or Fairtex.
Thai brands provide quality synthetic or genuine leather options. The famous Thai brands also have a established history of quality handmade workmanship.
All required sizes can be found with the top Thai brands.
If you are on a budget then Venum is another high quality glove with a range of prices to suit different budgets but still providing quality.
I would definitely check them out if you are on a tighter budget.
Best Muay Thai Glove Size – Wrap Up
There are different options when it comes to the best muay thai glove size for you.
Sparring requires heavier gloves but those lighter in bodyweight can use lighter gloves and vice versa according to the situation.
Overall 12oz and above are recommended for general training which includes, bag and pad work and sparring.
Bag and pad work requires a bit of a lighter glove to allow for hand speed but padding is still necessary to protect your hands. 12oz is ideal.
In Thailand fighters wear 8 oz gloves in competition and 10oz for heavyweights which is generally followed across all muay thai competitions globally.
I would recommend a pair of 14oz gloves for sparring and a pair of 12oz for bag work if you can afford to buy more than one pair of gloves and you plan on training muay thai for a long time into the future.
If you can only afford one then 14oz is good for both.
It is highly recommended that you do invest in a second pair of gloves.
This will keep your hands healthy in the long run and extend the life of both of your gloves also as you swap them in and out for different training sessions.
Especially if you are training 5 times or more per week.
