How Much Does A Bulletproof Vest Weigh?

Whether you are a civilian, a police officer, or belong to the military, self-defense always comes first when dealing with firearms. Bulletproof vests are perfect for protecting against bullets and shells fired at you. You might be thinking about this protection gear that how much does a bulletproof vest weigh?

Bulletproof vest weight varies depending on different factors upon which its weight is measured. At the same time, a standard bulletproof vest weighs around 5 to 6 pounds. There are a certain number of plates in them which determine their weight. Even though there are light weigh vests, there are a bit expensive.

Here we will discuss how much a bulletproof vest weighs, including the factors determining its weight. If you want to know more about this protective gear, read it until the end.

Weight Of Bulletproof Vest

Bulletproof vests’ weight ranges from 5 to 6 pounds and can be increased depending on the material used in its production. Basically, there are plates in them that stop the bullet from reaching your skin; these plates are usually made from steel. But the body armor made a decade ago was way heavier than the armor made nowadays. Let’s discuss the weight of armor and plate carrier.

Related Post: How Tight Should A Plate Carrier Be?

Weight Of Body Armor

Weigh of body armor depends on several plates, collars, and groin protectors. If you want armor for upper body protection, it will be much lighter while the plates used to increase their weight.

Weight Of Plate Carrier

Plates used in body armor increase their weight up to 30 pounds and sometimes more. These plates are used at the armors’ front, back, and side to ensure complete protection. Usually, a plate weighs around 2 pounds, but it varies depending on the thickness and the material. Side plates are lighter as they weigh approximately 1 pound, while front and back plates weigh around 2 to 4 pounds.

Bulletproof vests used for rifles with a longer range are a bit heavier because they need more protection and can penetrate your body easily.

Factors On Which Bulletproof Vest’s Weight Depends

Bulletproof vests’ weight depends on numerous factors. Some o these vests are lighter, while some of them are heavier. If you are a bodybuilder, then the weight won’t affect while a civilian might feel hefty. You must not buy a vest with beautiful styles; they can compromise your protection. Check out the following factors that determine the bulletproof vest weight; it might help you to get the best vest for yourself with a higher protection level.

NIJ Vest Protection Level

The US National Institute of Justice has categorized these vests into 4 different levels that are as follows:

Level I is not included in this list because they don’t meet the requirements of NIJ for bulletproof vests and aren’t safe enough to use against firearms.

NIJ classifies these levels depending on the durability of the vest. Level II vest will be lighter and used against 9mm and other guns with a shorter range. Level III vests are heavier and used against 7.62mm and other rifles. They have more number of plates.

While the last one, the Level IV vest, is the highest-rated and safest used against any rifle. They aren’t much heavier, but they can be cheap material used in the manufacturing process and have cheap plates.

You can also Read: Best IFAK for Plate Carrier

Number Of Plates

A decade ago, heavy steel was used in bulletproof vests, but now lighter and inexpensive material that works the same as the old one is used. Steel and Ceramic are two different materials used in it, among which ceramic is lighter and offers the same protection level.

Size Of Bulletproof Vest

The bigger the size is, the heavier the vest will be because a large vest has big plates increasing its weight. An average-sized vest weighs around 5 pounds, while the bigger one will have more than this, which could be up to 40 pounds. So, you must try it on when buying a vest to avoid the extra wait and get a perfect vest for yourself with a higher protection level.

Cost Of Bulletproof Vest

All the protective gears are available in different quality and sizes, but they will cost you a lot. Armors with collars and groin protectors will be expensive. Their price also depends on their level as Level IV armor will be more expensive than the others as they are the best and ensure protection against any gun.

Types Of Plates Used In Vests

Bulletproof vests’ weight mostly depends on the carrier plates used in them that prevent the bullet. These plates significantly affect the weight and protection level of the vest. There are two different types of plates used in armors that are as follows:

Please read our reviews on Best Plate Carrier for Deployment

Ceramic Plates

Ceramics plats have been introduced in bulletproof vests thanks to the advanced technology that makes it possible to manufacture a lightweight material for vests. Ceramic plates weigh around 5 pounds each and offer the same protection level as steel. But in some cases, it might not be a good option because some specific bullets with more precision cause more damage. So to get the same result as the steel, you need more ceramic plates, which might be heavier. These plates are perfect for civilians as they aren’t trained to use heavy armors having steel plates.

Steel Plates

Steel plates have been used in bulletproof vests for decades as their durability and toughness don’t let the bullet pass through them. They are the most popular and preferable by everyone. Steel plates weigh around 10 pounds, double the ceramic steel weight. Though steel plates have downfalls, they are still tougher than ceramic and have think plates to ensure the complete protection level.

Level IV armors are included in hard armors that ensure higher protection levels and have several plates. They are heavier, making them harder to wear the whole day. You can wear soft armor under clothes while hard armor can’t be as they are thick and heavier.

The vest’s weight also matters in the case of the wearer and the situation. If you are in trouble and want to be the same while running toward safety, you must have the highest-rated armor. If you are athletic, this weight won’t affect you at all, but others might slow down, so they must buy expensive armors with lighter weight and higher protection levels.

You can use them if you are living in dangerous areas like at borders where armies from both countries shoot fire at each other or in an area where the crime rate is higher. Body armors can protect your organs from serious injuries during an off-roading trip. Other than this, shopkeepers, homeowners, abusive victims, and other professionals need protection against foes.

Final Words

Bulletproof vests’ weight varies greatly depending on the material, size, and number of carrier plates. You must buy body armor for your family and yourself despite your profession because these are also for civilians. But remember that these vests can increase your body temperature in warm weather, so you must not wear them the whole day.

I hope the above information will be helpful to you and help you buy the best armor with specific specs. So, choose the best armor depending on its weight.