You can shrink a BJJ gi on purpose by washing it in hot water (60°C / 140°F) and drying it on medium heat. Most gis drop about half a size per cycle. Go one wash at a time — check the fit after each one, because you can’t un-shrink a gi once it’s gone too far.
Got a roomy A2 when you really wanted a snug one? Here’s how to close that gap without wrecking the collar.
- Pearl weave shrinks fastest — one hot wash is often enough. Single weave and ripstop are much slower.
- Medium dryer heat, not high — high heat warps collars and can yellow white gis permanently.
- Try it on warm — the fit you feel right out of a medium dryer cycle is roughly what you’ll have when it’s fully dry.
Stylso — BJJ gis and combat-sports apparel, built for athletes who train.
When Does Shrinking on Purpose Make Sense?
You ordered the right size. It fits mostly right. But the jacket sleeves hang a little long, or the pants are baggy at the ankle. You’re not in the wrong size — you’re just between cuts. That happens a lot in BJJ.
One controlled hot wash can close that gap. That’s completely different from throwing a brand-new A1 into boiling water hoping to make an A0 out of it. Controlled shrinkage for a minor fit tweak is a legitimate move. Trying to drop a full size is how you ruin a gi.
Don’t do this if your gi already fits well. A gi that fits now can end up too tight across the shoulders or too short in the sleeves after even one hot wash.
How to Shrink a BJJ Gi: 3 Steps
- Check your weave type first. Pearl weave shrinks the most and fastest — one hot wash usually does it, and sometimes it’s almost too much. Gold weave and single weave are slower; you might need two cycles. Ripstop panels (common on gi pants) barely shrink at all. If you’re not sure what weave you have, check the gi’s label or the Amazon product listing.
- Wash in hot water. Machine wash on the hot setting — 60°C (140°F). Skip fabric softener. It coats the fibres and actually slows shrinkage. If you can, wash the gi solo so it doesn’t bunch up and shrink unevenly. Cold wash gives you almost nothing; hot wash gives real, measurable shrinkage.
- Dry on medium heat — then check the fit while it’s warm. Tumble dry on medium, not high. High heat is faster but wrecks collars and sets permanent creases. Pull the gi out after 20–25 minutes and try it on right away, while it’s still slightly warm. What you feel now is basically what you’ll have. If it needs another round, run one more medium-heat cycle. If it’s right, hang dry the rest of the way.
A tip nobody mentions: do this off-season, not during competition prep. A too-tight gi is a DQ at weigh-in.
How Much Will a BJJ Gi Shrink? (By Weave)
| Weave Type | Est. Shrinkage per Hot Wash | How Many Cycles | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl weave | ~3–5% | Usually 1 | Minor fit tweak on a slightly roomy gi |
| Gold weave | ~2–4% | 1–2 | Gradual adjustment — easier to control |
| Single weave | ~1–3% | 2–3 | Very minor adjustment only |
| Ripstop (pants) | ~0–2% | Minimal change | Hem the pants instead |
These are estimates based on typical pre-shrunk gi fabric — individual gis vary. Check your fit after every wash, not after a set number of cycles.
If your Stylso gi is already fitting well and you want to replace it with a better size, use the size guide below to find your exact cut.
Shop the Stylso Men’s Gi on Amazon
Sizing a Stylso Gi (A Series)
Before you shrink anything, check that you actually have the right size to start with. Stylso’s A-series uses height and weight as the primary guide. If you’re between sizes, size up — then hot-wash once to take it in slightly.
| Size | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | Height (ft/in) | Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A0 | 162–168 | 64–70 | 5’4″–5’6″ | 141–154 |
| A1 | 168–170 | 70–77 | 5’6″–5’7″ | 154–170 |
| A2 | 170–178 | 77–86 | 5’7″–5’10” | 170–190 |
| A3 | 178–188 | 86–102 | 5’10″–6’2″ | 190–225 |
| A4 | 185–193 | 104–118 | 6’1″–6’4″ | 229–260 |
| A5 | 190–200 | 118–136 | 6’3″–6’7″ | 260–300 |
Source: Stylso BJJ Gi Size Guide — real garment dimensions for every A-size.
What NOT to Do
- Don’t boil it. 100°C warps the rubberized collar lining, cracks reinforced stitching, and permanently yellows white gis. Hot (60°C) and boiling are completely different outcomes.
- Don’t use high dryer heat. Faster shrink, but at the cost of the collar. The collar is the most expensive part to damage. Medium heat only.
- Don’t expect a full size drop. Stylso gis are pre-shrunk pearl-weave gis — most of the initial shrink is already done at the factory. You’ll get about half a size out of a hot wash, not a full size.
- Don’t do this during competition prep. A too-tight gi means a DQ at weigh-in. Shrink outside comp season, when you have time to test the fit at training.
If your current gi still doesn’t fit right after a hot wash, it’s probably the wrong size. Check the measurement guide — getting your actual height and span measurements takes two minutes and eliminates guessing.
A Quick Note on the Opposite Problem
If your gi keeps shrinking when you don’t want it to, that’s a different issue. Cold wash only, no dryer, hang dry damp and reshape. The sister guide — How to Stop a BJJ Gi From Shrinking — covers that in full.
Free: BJJ Gi Shrink & Size Quick Guide
A printable one-pager — 3-step shrink method, weave shrink chart, Stylso A-series sizing table, and the 4 things that ruin a gi. Get it instantly.
Gi Shrunken Too Much? Or Just Wrong Size?
If you over-shrank it — collar’s too tight, sleeves too short — it’s time for a replacement. Start with the correct size from the chart above, size up if you’re in between, and do a single controlled hot wash if you want to bring it in slightly.
Shop the Stylso Men’s Gi on Amazon
FAQ
Can I shrink a BJJ gi that’s already been washed a few times?
Yes, but less than a brand-new one. Most shrinkage happens in the first 1–3 washes. After that, the fabric settles. You might still get a small amount from a hot wash, but don’t count on a big change if the gi’s been washed a dozen times already.
How much can a BJJ gi shrink in total?
Over its full life, a gi typically shrinks an estimated 4–8% from its brand-new measurements — mostly in the first few washes. Pearl-weave gis hit the top of that range; single-weave gis sit at the lower end. These are estimates; check your fit after every cycle.
Will shrinking a gi ruin it?
One controlled hot wash on medium dryer heat won’t ruin a quality gi. Where people go wrong is boiling water, high dryer heat, or too many extreme washes in a row. Go slow and check after every cycle.
Can I shrink just the pants without the jacket?
Technically yes — wash just the pants. But gi pants are often ripstop or a lighter weave, so they shrink less than the jacket. If the pants are too long, hemming is usually a better fix than trying to shrink them.
What size Stylso gi should I buy if I’m between sizes?
Size up. Stylso’s sizing notes say to go up a size if you’re between measurements — the gi will settle with washing. You can always take it in half a size with a hot wash, but you can’t add fabric back once it’s gone. See the full size chart at the BJJ Gi Size Guide.
Do Stylso gis shrink much?
Stylso gis are pre-shrunk pearl-weave, so the big initial shrink is already done at the factory. You’ll get about half a size out of a deliberate hot wash, not a full size. That’s actually what you want — controllable, predictable adjustment.
