Boys weight classes
| # | Class (lb) | With growth allowance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 106 | 108 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 2 | 113 | 115 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 3 | 120 | 122 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 4 | 126 | 128 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 5 | 132 | 134 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 6 | 138 | 140 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 7 | 144 | 146 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 8 | 150 | 152 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 9 | 157 | 159 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 10 | 165 | 167 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 11 | 175 | 177 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 12 | 190 | 192 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 13 | 215 | 217 lb after January 1, 2027 |
| 14 | 285 | 287 lb after January 1, 2027 |
Girls weight classes
| # | Class (lb) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 100 |
| 2 | 107 |
| 3 | 114 |
| 4 | 120 |
| 5 | 126 |
| 6 | 132 |
| 7 | 138 |
| 8 | 145 |
| 9 | 152 |
| 10 | 165 |
| 11 | 185 |
| 12 | 235 |
Growth allowance
- +2 lb starting January 1, 2027
Consecutive day allowance: +1 lb on the second day of back to back competition.
Weight certification and hydration
- Hydration test limit: 1.025 specific gravity or lower
- Retest after a failed hydration test: 24 hours
- Descent plan ends: not listed in the handbook
How weight classes work in New Jersey wrestling
New Jersey boys wrestling uses the standard 14 NFHS weight classes for 2026-27, beginning at 106 pounds and ending at 285 pounds. The NJSIAA oversees high school wrestling and weight certification. The official boys divisions are listed in its 2026-27 regular season rules.
The girls table on this page shows 12 classes, from 100 through 235 pounds. However, the handbooks we checked did not confirm a separate official 2026-27 girls class list. Check with your coach before treating that table as final.
New Jersey has separate girls wrestling competition. Girls cannot participate in both the boys and girls seasons.
Your class choice must also fit your certified minimum weight and descent plan. Making a weigh-in number does not override your certification.
New Jersey growth allowance and weigh-in rules
NJSIAA lists a 2-pound growth allowance beginning January 1, 2027.
New Jersey no longer requires a wrestler to make scratch weight first to receive an allowance. You must still follow your descent plan.
Older New Jersey competition rules describe other allowances. These details come from 2025-26 materials and should not be assumed unchanged for 2026-27.
| Allowance | What the handbook says |
|---|---|
| Growth | 2 lb, January 1, 2027 |
| Consecutive days | 1 lb in prior girls regulations |
| Monday or weather | Additional 1 lb in prior rules |
| December 26 and January 2 | Additional 1 lb in prior rules |
| Combined competition allowances | Prior rules capped them at 2 lb |
| Clothing at certification | 1 lb in prior instructions |
Ask your coach which additional allowances remain valid for this season.
Rule check: An allowance is not a shortcut around the descent plan. A permitted weigh-in adjustment does not automatically make a lower weight class available.
Weight certification in New Jersey
New Jersey uses a refractometer to measure urine specific gravity. A reading of 1.025 or lower passes.
If you fail, you must wait 24 hours before retesting. Retesting is allowed once per day, with no fixed limit on the number of attempts.
Body fat is measured using BodyMetrix ultrasound equipment.
The 2026-27 female minimum body fat standard increased from 12% to 19%. One paragraph of the certification instructions still says 12%, creating an internal inconsistency. Confirm the current requirement with your assessor rather than relying on that older paragraph. These testing procedures are described in the NJSIAA Weight Certification Instructions.
The handbooks we checked do not identify a confirmed final descent-plan date for New Jersey.
Planning your season in New Jersey
Build your season around your actual certification results, not the allowance you expect to receive later.
Use the weight certification calculator to estimate your minimum wrestling weight. Then use the descent plan calculator to see whether your target class fits the time available.
January’s growth allowance may help at a weigh-in, but your descent plan still controls your progress. Keep track of both rather than treating them as the same rule.
Safety: Do not restrict water to change your hydration result. Normal hydration, steady meals, and proper recovery support better wrestling than last-minute weight manipulation.
Girls should verify the current body fat requirement and official division list before committing to a class. For any special allowance, ask which season’s NJSIAA regulation the event is using.
Source
NJSIAA Weight Certification Instructions (2026-27 text) + NJSIAA Wrestling-Boys page (Important Dates) + Boys Wrestling Regular Season Rules 2026-27 (NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association)). Last checked October 28, 2026.