Quick answer: wrestling weight classes depend on the level and style. NCAA college wrestling has 10 weight classes, from 125 lbs up to a 285 lb heavyweight. High school wrestling (NFHS) has up to 14 classes, from 106 lbs to 285 lbs, though states may run 12, 13 or 14. International wrestling (United World Wrestling) uses kilograms: 10 senior categories per style, of which 6 are contested at the Olympics. Men wrestle freestyle and Greco-Roman; women wrestle freestyle only. So there is no single set of wrestling weight classes — the number and limits change with the governing body.
Last updated: July 26, 2026. This guide lists every current wrestling weight class — NCAA college, NFHS high school, and United World Wrestling international freestyle and Greco-Roman — with the exact limits for each. Weight classes are set by each governing body and can be adjusted between seasons, so always confirm the limit for your specific competition and division.
NCAA college wrestling weight classes
NCAA Division I wrestling is contested in 10 weight classes, measured in pounds. These are the classes crowned at the NCAA Championships each March.
| # | Weight class | Upper limit |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 125 lbs | up to 125 lbs |
| 2 | 133 lbs | up to 133 lbs |
| 3 | 141 lbs | up to 141 lbs |
| 4 | 149 lbs | up to 149 lbs |
| 5 | 157 lbs | up to 157 lbs |
| 6 | 165 lbs | up to 165 lbs |
| 7 | 174 lbs | up to 174 lbs |
| 8 | 184 lbs | up to 184 lbs |
| 9 | 197 lbs | up to 197 lbs |
| 10 | Heavyweight | 183 to 285 lbs |
The heavyweight class has a floor as well as a ceiling: a wrestler must weigh more than 183 lbs to compete, and no more than 285 lbs. NCAA women’s wrestling, now a growing championship sport, uses its own set of weight classes in kilograms closer to the international format.
High school wrestling weight classes (NFHS)
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) sets the framework for high school wrestling. The standard boys’ set has 14 weight classes in pounds, though the NFHS now lets each state choose a 14-, 13- or 12-class structure, so the exact classes can vary slightly by state.
| # | Weight class | # | Weight class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 106 lbs | 8 | 150 lbs |
| 2 | 113 lbs | 9 | 157 lbs |
| 3 | 120 lbs | 10 | 165 lbs |
| 4 | 126 lbs | 11 | 175 lbs |
| 5 | 132 lbs | 12 | 190 lbs |
| 6 | 138 lbs | 13 | 215 lbs |
| 7 | 144 lbs | 14 | 285 lbs |
Girls’ high school wrestling — one of the fastest-growing sports in the country — uses its own NFHS weight classes, which most states also offer in a 12-to-14-class structure. Because states adopt different options, always check your state association’s current list before a season.
International and Olympic wrestling weight classes (UWW)
United World Wrestling (UWW), the sport’s global governing body, runs weight classes in kilograms. Each style has 10 senior world-championship categories, and a subset of 6 is contested at the Olympic Games. Men compete in both freestyle and Greco-Roman; women compete in freestyle only.
| Style | Senior world categories (kg) | Olympic categories (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s freestyle | 57, 61, 65, 70, 74, 79, 86, 92, 97, 125 | 57, 65, 74, 86, 97, 125 |
| Men’s Greco-Roman | 55, 60, 63, 67, 72, 77, 82, 87, 97, 130 | 60, 67, 77, 87, 97, 130 |
| Women’s freestyle | 50, 53, 55, 57, 59, 62, 65, 68, 72, 76 | 50, 53, 57, 62, 68, 76 |
The Olympic categories are the ones most fans recognise, but the full 10-class sets are used at the World Championships in non-Olympic formats. Greco-Roman is the only style with no women’s division; it is also men-only at the Olympics.
Why wrestling has so many weight-class systems
Wrestling is really several sports under one name, and each has its own governing body and rulebook. American scholastic and college wrestling is folkstyle, run by the NFHS and NCAA in pounds. International wrestling is freestyle and Greco-Roman, run by UWW in kilograms. Because these bodies are independent, their weight classes were never standardised — which is why a college wrestler at 157 lbs and an Olympic wrestler at 74 kg are near neighbours in size but compete under entirely different numbers.
| System | Style | Units | Classes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA (college) | Folkstyle | Pounds | 10 |
| NFHS (high school) | Folkstyle | Pounds | 12–14 |
| UWW (international) | Freestyle & Greco-Roman | Kilograms | 10 per style (6 Olympic) |
Wrestling vs BJJ and judo weight classes
Wrestling’s weight-class systems are tighter and more numerous than most grappling sports because cutting weight is deeply woven into the culture and competition is single-elimination by division. Judo runs seven Olympic categories per sex in kilograms; Brazilian jiu-jitsu uses broader divisions and often adds an open-weight absolute where any size can enter — something folkstyle and international wrestling do not offer.
For the grappling comparisons, see our guides to judo weight classes and BJJ weight classes, and our comparison of judo vs wrestling. See also our wrestling moves, wrestling rules and types of wrestling guides.
Frequently asked questions
How many weight classes are there in wrestling?
It depends on the level. NCAA college wrestling has 10 weight classes, high school (NFHS) has up to 14, and international wrestling (UWW) has 10 senior categories per style, six of which are Olympic. There is no single universal number.
What is the heaviest weight class in wrestling?
In American folkstyle it is heavyweight, capped at 285 lbs (with a 183 lb floor in the NCAA). Internationally it is 125 kg in men’s freestyle and 130 kg in Greco-Roman — roughly 275 to 287 lbs.
Are college and high school wrestling weight classes the same?
No. NCAA college has 10 classes starting at 125 lbs; NFHS high school has up to 14, starting lower at 106 lbs to fit younger, lighter athletes. Both are folkstyle and measured in pounds, but the class limits differ.
What are the Olympic wrestling weight classes?
Six per style: men’s freestyle 57, 65, 74, 86, 97 and 125 kg; men’s Greco-Roman 60, 67, 77, 87, 97 and 130 kg; women’s freestyle 50, 53, 57, 62, 68 and 76 kg. Women wrestle freestyle only at the Olympics.
Are wrestling weight classes in pounds or kilograms?
Both, depending on the system. American folkstyle (NCAA and NFHS) uses pounds; international freestyle and Greco-Roman (UWW) uses kilograms. This is one reason the numbers look so different across levels.
What is the difference between folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman?
They are the three main wrestling styles. Folkstyle is the American scholastic and college style; freestyle and Greco-Roman are the international Olympic styles, with Greco-Roman banning all holds below the waist. Each uses its own weight classes.
