Riot & Ballistic Shield Sizes Guide

How do you decide which is the right shield size for you? We detail everything you need to know in our riot and ballistic shield sizes guide so that you can purchase vital protective equipment with confidence. If you need any assistance, we’re only a phone call or email away.

Before purchasing a riot or ballistic shield, you should familiarise yourself with all the different sizes and designs available. While some heavy-duty shields offer overhead protection and can be rolled along the floor, others are designed with superior mobility in mind and protect only your head and vital organs.

 

Riot shield vs. ballistic shields: key differences

Before looking into shield sizes, you should first figure out which type of shield you need. Riot shields are designed to provide you with protection against blunt-force traumas, which can include projectiles and batons. Ballistic shields, on the other hand, are purposed to protect you against blasts, bullets and fragments. Naturally, ballistic shields tend to be heavier and larger than riot shields, but they’re more challenging to manoeuvre and operate for extended periods.

 

How much does a riot shield weigh?

Riot shields are designed to give the user maximum mobility and manoeuvrability, which is why – compared to ballistic shields – they’re usually compact and lightweight. While the weight of a riot shield varies depending on its size, thickness and materials used, rectangular shields usually weigh 6–12 lbs (2.7–5.4 kg). Circular shields, on the other hand, usually weigh between 4–5 lbs (1.8 – 2.3 kg).

 

How much does a ballistic / bulletproof shield weigh?

As ballistic shields need to be much more hard-wearing and resistant to impacts than riot shields, they tend to be heavier. In fact, as recently as a couple of decades ago, typical Level III rectangular ballistic shields with flat fronts weighed around 50 lbs (23 kg), making them challenging to manoeuvre and even hold for extended periods. Consequently, even though these shields were effective, many law enforcement departments chose not to use them.

Fortunately, the use of more advanced materials in modern ballistic shields has seen their weight drop significantly. While older shields that provided Level III protection once weighed 50 lbs, today’s models weight as little as 14 lbs (6 kg). This impressive weight loss means you can now move around much faster with a ballistic shield in dynamic threat scenarios without compromising your level of protection.

 

Riot shield size (typical)

Nowadays, most round or rectangular riot shields are made of a durable and transparent plastic or polycarbonate. Rectangular shields usually measure 36 to 48 inches (91 cm to 121 cm) in length and 20 to 24 inches (51 to 61 cm) in width, protecting your head to your knees. Round shields tend to have a diameter of 24 inches (61 cm).

 

Ballistic/bulletproof shield size (typical)

Ballistic shields are available in a broad array of sizes, depending on the shield’s intended use and the manufacturer’s unique design specifications. The most compact ballistic shields can be as small as 16 inches (41 cm) in width and 20 inches (53 cm) in length, protecting your vitals, torso, face and neck while being easy to manoeuvre. They’re ideal for use in situations where you have nearby ballistic protection in the form of walls or trees. They’re also useful for establishing a perimeter when you have a vehicle for additional cover.

Ballistic shields that offer full-body protection usually measure 24 inches (61 cm) in width and 48 inches (122 cm) in length. These shields are often vital in situations where you face dynamic threats in an environment with little additional cover.

In between the most compact designs and those that offer full-body cover are the most common shield sizes that offer a balance of mobility and effective ballistic protection. These shields usually measure between 20 and 24 inches (51 and 61 cm) in width and 30 and 36 inches (76 and 91 cm) in length.

The largest ballistic shields are the Level IV rolling systems that provide overhead protection for multiple people simultaneously. However, this increased ballistic protection comes with trade-offs, most notably in the form of decreased speed and manoeuvrability.

 

Shapes of Shields

Last but not least, you need to consider shape when deciding which shield to purchase. Here’s an introduction to the most common shapes of riot and ballistic shields.

 

Riot shield shapes

As mentioned above, almost all riot shields are either rectangular or circular. As they’re designed to deflect hazards such as thrown liquids and projectiles, most riot shields have either a flat or concave face. However, shields that are designed to pin aggressors against the wall can have a convex face. Many riot shields have an interlocking design that provide multiple law enforcement offices with maximum protection against large-scale violent disturbances.

Besides concave and convex riot shields, you can also choose shields with a bubble design that curves outwards. These shields provide protection for the officer against liquids while also giving the user space between themselves and the aggressors.

 

Ballistic shield shapes

Here’s what you need to know about the most common ballistic shield shapes:

•         Flat shields

Flat ballistic shields are usually the most affordable because it’s the cheapest shape to manufacture. Affordable as they may be, they often interlock vertically or horizontally, providing protection for multiple officers.

•         Curved shields

Compared to flat shields, curved shields offer improved side and angle shot protection. They can also dissipate energy efficiently, allowing the user to comfortably use wraparound techniques.

•         Rectangular shields

The most traditional shape for ballistic shields is rectangular. Most rectangular shields allow the user to extend their arm around the side to discharge their weapon.

•         Dynamic shields

Dynamic shields come in a range of shapes, but they have features such as mounting platforms that enable you to return fire without compromising your cover.

•         V-shape shields

The bottom section of a V-shape shield is usually tapered to divert fire away from the centre, making them ideal for linear assaults.

 

Find Your Perfect Riot or Ballistic Shield at The Survival Island

Regardless of the level of protection you require or its intended use, you’ll find the perfect shield for your needs here at The Survival Island. We’re a team of survival and wilderness entrepreneurs that’s committed to sourcing the most advanced and hard-wearing survival equipment on the market and making them available to you at unbeatable high-value prices. Browse our range of riot and ballistic shields today or contact us with any queries.