What are the high school wrestling weight classes?
By the Smart Wrestler team · Written from hosting and scoring the events this software runs · Updated 2026-10-12
NFHS publishes three weight lists for boys and three for girls, and each state association picks the one its schools use.
Quick answer
High school wrestling weight classes come from the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), which publishes three options for boys and three for girls with 12, 13 or 14 classes each. Boys' classes run from 106 to 108 pounds at the bottom up to 285 at heavyweight, and girls' classes run from 100 up to 235. Each state association chooses one set per division, so the list at your school or tournament depends on your state.
Find an adjacent weight class
Use the free weight class finder to compare an entered weight with your selected state-adopted list. Open the free tool.
What are the NFHS weight class options?
| Option | Number of classes | Weights |
|---|---|---|
| 12 classes | 12 | 108, 116, 124, 131, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 190, 215, 285 |
| 13 classes | 13 | 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285 |
| 14 classes | 14 | 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, 285 |
| Option | Number of classes | Weights |
|---|---|---|
| 12 classes | 12 | 100, 107, 114, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 165, 185, 235 |
| 13 classes | 13 | 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235 |
| 14 classes | 14 | 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 170, 190, 235 |
Who decides which weight list a state uses?
The state high school association selects one of the three sets for each division, and every member school wrestles that list in dual meets, invitationals and the postseason. Because states choose independently, two neighboring states can use different lists, and a tournament that draws teams from several states needs a list the host announces in advance. Check the state association's current bulletin before registering or building brackets, since the choice is theirs and not the host's.
What changed for 2026-27 that affects weight classes?
For the 2026-27 season NFHS raised the minimum body fat percentage for female wrestlers from 12 to 19 percent, and the committee said this gives girls a safer margin when pursuing a lower weight class. It also modified the process of weighing in contestants and encouraged team-based weigh-ins where practical.
Every verified change for the season, including byes and bleeding recovery time, is covered in NFHS wrestling rule changes for 2026-27.
How should a tournament host set high school weights?
In the weight class step of the tournament wizard, the High School preset loads the boys' 14-class list. A host in a state that uses the 12 or 13 class set, or running a girls' division, should choose a custom list instead, enter that state's weights once, and save it as a preset for reuse. One-off weights and a heavyweight class can be added when the coaches agree on them in advance, and the weigh-in step applies the allowed variance automatically.
Windows, allowances and what happens when a wrestler misses weight are covered in wrestling weigh-in rules for hosts.
Frequently asked questions
How many weight classes are there in high school wrestling?
NFHS publishes options with 12, 13 or 14 classes for boys and for girls. Each state association chooses one set per division.
What is the heaviest high school wrestling weight class?
285 pounds for boys and 235 pounds for girls in the NFHS options.
What is the lowest high school wrestling weight class?
The lowest boys' class is 106, 107 or 108 pounds depending on the set, and the lowest girls' class is 100 pounds in all three sets.
Do high school and college use the same weight classes?
No. College uses a fixed list of ten classes per division, while high school states choose from three lists of 12, 13 or 14 classes.
Sources
- NFHS future-year wrestling rule changes (weight class options)
- NFHS wrestling rules and 2026-27 rule changes
- NFHS: minimum body fat for females highlights high school wrestling rules changes
Sources checked 2026-10-12.
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