Karate gi sizing runs on height first, then chest: find your height on the size chart, buy that size, and only use the chest column to double-check if you are between two rows. If you are between sizes and still growing, go up a size. Broad or heavier build? Size by chest and have the sleeves and trousers shortened — length is easy to alter, width is not. The full chart, how to measure, and what happens when the uniform is washed are all below.
The size chart
This is the same chart on our full size guide, reproduced here for uniforms only.
| Height (cm) | Numeric | Alpha | Rough age | Chest (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100–110 | 0000 | — | 4–5 | 55–60 |
| 110–120 | 000 | — | 5–6 | 60–65 |
| 120–130 | 00 | XXS | 7–8 | 65–70 |
| 130–140 | 0 | XS | 9–10 | 70–75 |
| 140–150 | 1 | XS | 10–11 | 75–80 |
| 150–160 | 2 | S | 12–13 | 80–86 |
| 160–170 | 3 | M | 14–15 | 86–92 |
| 170–180 | 4 | L | Adult | 92–100 |
| 180–190 | 5 | XL | Adult | 100–108 |
| 190–200 | 6 | XXL | Adult | 108–116 |
| 200+ | 7–8 | 3XL | Adult | 116+ |
Buy on height first, then check the chest measurement. Height gets you the right size in almost every case. The “rough age” column is exactly that — rough. Children of the same age vary by 20 cm in height, so measure rather than guess from a birthday.
You will see this same uniform advertised four different ways — height in centimetres, the numeric size (0000 up to 7–8), the alpha size (XXS to 3XL), or a rough age band. They all describe the same garment. Height is the clearest of the four, and the one we lead with.
What size karate gi do I need?
Find your height on the chart above and buy that size. If you fall between two rows, use your chest measurement to decide between them — and if you are still growing, choose the larger of the two.
How to measure
- Height. Stand against a wall, no shoes, heels together, looking straight ahead. Have someone else read the measurement.
- Chest. Wrap the tape around the fullest part of the chest, under the armpits, tape level, arms relaxed at the sides. Keep it snug but not tight — you should be able to slide a finger under it.
- Compare to the chart above. If height and chest point to two different rows, buy on height when the gap is one close size. If your chest clearly needs a bigger size, see broad or heavier build below.
Self-measuring around the chest is unreliable — ask someone else to do it if you can.
Reading the size label
Every gi has its size printed inside the jacket, usually near the collar or the hem — the numeric size (for example “3”), sometimes with the height in centimetres alongside it (for example “160”). That is what a row in the chart above looks like on the actual garment.
Does a karate gi shrink?
Most cotton karate uniforms shrink 3–5% in the first few washes. Bleached-cotton and heavyweight kata uniforms shrink the most; polycotton blends barely shrink at all.
- If the product page says the uniform is pre-shrunk, buy your measured size.
- If it does not say pre-shrunk and the uniform is 100% cotton, either size up, or buy your measured size and wash cold only — never tumble dry.
- Wash cold, hang to dry, never bleach, never tumble dry. Heat is what shrinks a cotton uniform.
Between two sizes, or a growing child
If you are between two sizes and still growing, go up. A uniform one size too large gives room to grow into and shortens as the child does; a uniform one size too small is simply too small. Sleeves and trousers on a new, unshrunk cotton uniform should sit slightly long — correct length after shrinking is jacket sleeves between the wrist and mid-forearm, and trousers between the ankle and mid-calf.
Two honest caveats. Going up more than one size makes a uniform swim on a child, which is a trip hazard and looks wrong at grading — one size up is sensible, two is not. And if your child competes, federation rules on sleeve and trouser length are specific and checked at the tatami; we cover the fit and approval side of competition suits in our guide to choosing a karate suit — this page is about getting the size right, not the weight or the federation label.
Broad or heavier build: size by chest, then shorten
If your chest measurement is bigger than the row your height points to, buy the size that fits your chest, then have the sleeves and trousers shortened. Most karate uniforms are cut for a slim build, so a broad-shouldered or heavier student often finds the height-correct size will not close properly across the chest, or pulls tight across the back when they punch.
Length is easy to fix; width is not. Any tailor or alterations shop can take up jacket sleeves and trouser hems — nobody can add width to a jacket that is too tight. So when your height and your chest disagree, let the chest decide.
- Measure your chest as described above and find the size on the chart that fits it.
- Wash it before it goes to the tailor. A cotton uniform shrinks in the first few washes — alter it before that and the sleeves and trousers end up too short.
- Shorten to the fit rule below: jacket sleeves between the wrist and mid-forearm, trousers between the ankle and mid-calf.
One honest limit: sleeves and trousers shorten easily, but a jacket body that is too long is much harder to alter well — and competitors must meet their federation’s rules on jacket length (see the fitting rules in our guide to choosing a karate suit). If you are worried the size your chest needs will be too long in the body, ask us — we will measure the actual jacket before you order.
How should a karate gi fit?
On a shrunk, worn-in cotton uniform: jacket sleeves should sit between the wrist and mid-forearm, and trousers between the ankle and mid-calf. On a brand-new unshrunk cotton uniform, both should sit slightly longer than that, since washing will bring them in. The jacket should close comfortably across the chest with the belt tied twice around — see our belt guide for how a belt itself should be sized and tied.
Jacket and pants
A karate gi is sold as a set — jacket and trousers together, in one size — rather than sized separately. The chart above applies to the set as a whole. If a jacket and trousers ever need to be bought separately (for example, replacing a worn-out jacket only), match the replacement to the same row you originally bought from, by height first.
What is the best gi for a beginner?
For a beginner, sizing matters far more than weight or brand. A lightweight uniform in the correct size, bought at the current height and re-measured before the next size is needed, is the right choice — a heavier or “better” gi in the wrong size is not an improvement. See our guide to choosing a karate suit for weight and competition-approval questions once size is sorted.
Trying one on
Charts get you close. Trying a uniform on gets it exact — especially for a first gi, or a child who is between sizes.
Not sure which size to order, or between two rows on the chart? Come try one on at 107 Klip Street, Hennopspark, Centurion, or WhatsApp us on 072 392 7306 and we will measure the actual suit before you order. We courier nationwide.
Sizing varies slightly between brands and ranges — always check the specific product page, and ask us if a chart and a product page ever disagree. We would rather answer a question than process a return.
