Age Divisions & Weight Classes
Powerlifting is organized so you only ever compete against lifters your own age and size. Nine age divisions and nine weight classes cover every competitor from age 8 up.
Find Your Division // By Age
The Divisions
8
Youth8–11
12
Pre-SJ12–13
14
Sub-Jr14–18
19
Junior19–23
24
Open14+
40
M140–49
50
M250–59
60
M360–69
70
M470+
Open is available to every lifter aged 14 and over, in addition to their age division.
From Sub-Junior up, competition age is the age you turn this calendar year, whatever the date of your birthday. Youth and Pre-Sub-Junior are different: those divisions go by your actual age on competition day, with a minimum of 8 years old.
Youth athletes compete without weight classes and skip the scale entirely. Pre-Sub-Junior athletes weigh in like everyone else, which lets their totals count toward Sub-Junior national qualification.
Your division is set by your birth year, not your birthday.
Age in powerlifting is counted by calendar year. Whatever age you turn during the year is your competition age from January 1 to December 31. Turn 40 in November? You lift as a Masters I athlete starting January 1 of that year.
Find Your Class // By Bodyweight
Weight Classes
Your weigh-in on competition day decides your class. All classes in kilograms, drawn to scale.
Women
43
47
52
57
63
69
76
84
84+
Men
53
59
66
74
83
93
105
120
120+
Dashed classes (43kg women, 53kg men) are contested in Pre-Sub-Junior, Sub-Junior, and Junior divisions only. Red marks the superheavyweights: no upper limit.
Good to Know // Crossover
Competing in Open
The Open division is open to every eligible lifter aged 14 and over, regardless of age division. A 17-year-old Sub-Junior or a 55-year-old Masters II athlete can enter Open events and chase Open records at any time. National championships are held for every division, every year.