The short answer
Body armor levels are the protection ratings set by the US National Institute of Justice (NIJ). Each level names the bullets an armor model has been tested to stop. Under the current standard, NIJ 0101.07 with the threat list in NIJ 0123.00, there are five levels: HG1 and HG2 for handgun rounds, and RF1, RF2 and RF3 for rifle rounds. They replace the old names: Level II became HG1, Level IIIA became HG2, Level III became RF1 and Level IV became RF3. RF2 is new and adds the 5.56 mm M855 round, which old Level III plates never had to stop. Level IIA was dropped. Armor certified under the old standard, NIJ 0101.06, stays valid, and NIJ expects to keep that list through at least the end of 2029.
This guide is for police officers, security staff, procurement officers and private buyers who need to read a body armor label or a product listing and know what it actually means. It explains what each level is tested against, what the new names change, what the levels do not tell you, and how to check that a vest or plate is really certified. We sell Safariland and Protech armor to police, military and security customers in Europe, so we have an interest in the subject. Everything about the levels below comes from NIJ's own documents, which we link at the end.
Key facts, checked on 3 November 2026
- NIJ published Standard 0101.07 and the threat-level specification 0123.00 in November 2023. Industry summaries report that NIJ stopped accepting new models for testing under 0101.06 on 5 January 2024.
- The first list of armor found compliant with 0101.07 was published on 23 June 2026, according to Safariland. NIJ's page says it has published an initial 0101.07 list.
- NIJ "anticipates maintaining the 0101.06 Compliant Products List through at least the end of calendar year 2029" and tells officers: "keep wearing the armor you have now."
- HG1 and HG2 are handgun levels and are usually soft armor. RF1, RF2 and RF3 are rifle levels and are usually hard plates.
- "Level III+", "Level IIIA+" and "special threat" are not NIJ levels. They are manufacturers' own claims.
- A level says what was tested, not what is safe. It does not cover knives or spikes, which have a separate NIJ standard.
What are body armor levels?
A body armor level is a short name for a list of test bullets and speeds. To earn a level, an armor model has to stop every round on that list, fired at a set velocity, at set positions and angles, without a bullet going through and without denting a clay backing deeper than the standard allows. The US National Institute of Justice writes the standard and runs the Compliance Testing Program; accredited labs do the shooting. A model that passes is put on NIJ's Compliant Products List (CPL), and only then is it "NIJ certified" in the sense buyers mean.
That makes armor levels different from the "levels" used elsewhere in duty gear. Holster retention levels, for example, are each maker's own rating on its own test; an NIJ armor level is a government standard tested by accredited labs, and it means the same thing whichever company made the armor.
Two things follow from that. First, a level is about specific rounds. A vest rated against a 9 mm round at 1,470 ft/s has not been tested against a rifle round, whatever it looks like. Second, the rating belongs to a model, not to a brand. Two vests from the same maker can carry different levels, and a carrier on its own has no level at all, because the protection is in the panels and plates inside it.
NIJ levels are also widely quoted outside the US, including in Europe, alongside national schemes such as Germany's VPAM classes and the UK Home Office standard. This guide covers NIJ only; the other schemes use different rounds and are not one-to-one equivalents.
The NIJ body armor levels at a glance
The table lists every current level with the test rounds from NIJ Standard 0123.00 and the old 0101.06 name it replaces. Velocities are NIJ's reference velocities.
| New level (0123.00) | Old level (0101.06) | Test rounds | Typical form | Stops rifle rounds? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HG1 | Level II | 9 mm 124 gr FMJ at 1,305 ft/s; .357 Magnum 158 gr JSP at 1,430 ft/s | Soft, thin, concealable | No |
| HG2 | Level IIIA | 9 mm 124 gr FMJ at 1,470 ft/s; .44 Magnum 240 gr JHP at 1,430 ft/s | Soft; the usual police patrol vest | No |
| RF1 | Level III | 7.62x51 mm M80 ball at 2,780 ft/s; 7.62x39 mm mild steel core at 2,400 ft/s; 5.56 mm M193 at 3,250 ft/s | Hard plate, or a plate worn with soft armor (ICW) | Yes, the listed ones |
| RF2 | none (new) | All RF1 rounds plus 5.56 mm M855 at 3,115 ft/s | Hard plate, or plate with soft armor | Yes, the listed ones |
| RF3 | Level IV | .30-06 M2 armor piercing at 2,880 ft/s | Hard plate, usually the heaviest | Yes, the listed one |
| retired | Level IIA | (was 9 mm and .40 S&W at lower speeds) | No longer tested under 0101.07 | No |
What each level stops
HG1 (formerly Level II)
HG1 armor is tested against a 9 mm 124-grain full metal jacket round at 1,305 ft/s and a .357 Magnum 158-grain jacketed soft point at 1,430 ft/s. It is the lightest and thinnest level still certified, which is why it is chosen for concealable vests worn under a shirt all day. Our view: with HG2 vests now light enough to wear under a uniform, HG1 makes sense mainly when comfort decides whether the vest gets worn at all. A vest left in a locker stops nothing.
HG2 (formerly Level IIIA)
HG2 armor is tested against the same 9 mm 124-grain round, but faster, at 1,470 ft/s, and a .44 Magnum 240-grain jacketed hollow point at 1,430 ft/s. It is the highest handgun level and the standard choice for police patrol vests. One detail matters if you compare old and new labels: under 0101.06, Level IIIA was tested with a .357 SIG round at 1,470 ft/s, while HG2 uses a 9 mm round at that speed. The names map across, but the test round changed.
Does Level IIIA stop rifle rounds? No. NIJ requires handgun armor labels to warn in large type that the armor is not intended to protect against rifle fire. The RF1 test rifle rounds are 1.6 to 2.2 times faster than the HG2 test rounds, and much heavier or harder.
RF1 (formerly Level III)
RF1 armor is tested against three rifle rounds: 7.62x51 mm M80 ball at 2,780 ft/s, 7.62x39 mm with a mild steel core at 2,400 ft/s and 5.56 mm M193 at 3,250 ft/s. The old Level III was tested with the M80 round alone. Adding the 7.62x39 and M193 rounds closes a gap: under 0101.06, a plate could be certified Level III without ever having been shot with either of these two very common rifle rounds.
RF2 (new, no old equivalent)
RF2 armor must stop every RF1 round plus 5.56 mm M855 at 3,115 ft/s. M855, often called "green tip", has a steel penetrator in its tip and is widely sold. A plate certified only to Level III never had to stop it, so makers sold "Level III+" plates that claimed to, with no NIJ definition behind the plus. RF2 turns that claim into a certified level. For anyone buying plates for a patrol active-shooter kit, our opinion is that RF2 is the level to ask for first.
RF3 (formerly Level IV)
RF3 armor is tested against one round: .30-06 M2 armor piercing at 2,880 ft/s, the same threat as the old Level IV. It is usually the heaviest and thickest plate. Higher is not automatically safer in every case: RF3 is tested only with the M2 AP round, not with the RF1 and RF2 rounds. If you need RF3, read the maker's own test claims for the other rifle rounds and make sure the model is listed for the level you are paying for.
What changed in NIJ 0101.07
NIJ 0101.07 is the first update to the body armor standard since 0101.06 in 2008. Beyond the new names, NIJ lists these changes:
- The threat list moved into its own document. The rounds and speeds now live in NIJ Standard 0123.00, so NIJ can update threats without rewriting the whole standard.
- The test methods are ASTM methods. 0101.07 references a suite of ASTM test methods and lab practices, where 0101.06 was self-contained.
- Women's armor is tested on its own shape. New clay appliques and shot requirements apply to armor shaped for women.
- Extra shots. Soft armor gets an added shot at the top centre at 45 degrees. Curved hard plates get a shot on the crown of the curve.
- New rifle rounds. RF1 adds 7.62x39 mm and 5.56 mm M193, and the new RF2 adds M855.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 2008 | NIJ Standard 0101.06 published (levels IIA, II, IIIA, III, IV) |
| November 2023 | NIJ Standard 0101.07 and the threat specification 0123.00 published |
| 5 January 2024 | NIJ stops accepting new armor models for testing under 0101.06 (as reported by industry summaries) |
| November 2024 | Addenda to the new standards released (per Safariland); one changed the M80 test bullet weight from 147 to 149 grains |
| 13 May 2025 | NIJ removes some armor models and listees from its program "in response to federal criminal enforcement actions" |
| 23 June 2026 | First 0101.07 Compliant Products List published (per Safariland) |
| at least end of 2029 | NIJ expects to keep the 0101.06 Compliant Products List active |
Is my Level IIIA vest still valid?
Yes, if it is on the 0101.06 Compliant Products List and still inside its warranty period. NIJ's guidance is direct: "Most importantly, keep wearing the armor you have now." The 0101.06 list stays active through at least the end of 2029, and a model certified to Level IIIA does not lose its certification because the names changed. What changes is that new models are no longer being added to the 0101.06 list, so newly designed armor will be certified to 0101.07.
When you replace the vest, the new one will probably be labelled HG2 instead of Level IIIA. For the question of when to replace it, which depends on the warranty, the label dates and how the armor was stored, see our guide does body armor expire.
Soft armor, hard plates and ICW: which is which?
The level tells you the threat. The form tells you how the armor is built and worn. The three forms below are how the market is split.
| Form | What it is | Usual levels | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft armor panel | Layers of aramid or polyethylene fabric in a sealed cover, worn in a carrier | HG1, HG2 | Flexible and wearable all shift; handgun rounds only |
| Stand-alone plate (SA) | A rigid ceramic, polyethylene or steel plate certified on its own | RF1, RF2, RF3 | Stops rifle rounds without anything behind it; heavier, covers less area |
| In conjunction with (ICW) | A plate certified only when worn in front of a named soft armor model | RF1, RF2, RF3 | Often lighter than a stand-alone plate; useless at its level without the exact soft panel listed on its label |
The ICW trap is the one we see most. NIJ requires an ICW label to name the soft armor model it was tested with, and NIJ's sample label reads: "This armor provides the rated protection stated above ONLY when used in conjunction with soft armor model XYZ123." Put that plate in front of a different vest, or in a plate carrier with no soft armor at all, and it is no longer the armor that was certified. If you are choosing a carrier to hold plates, our best plate carrier ranking covers fit, plate cuts and weight.
What "Level III+" and "special threat" really mean
Neither is an NIJ level. Under 0101.06 there was a big gap between Level III (one 7.62 mm round) and Level IV (armor-piercing .30-06), and makers filled it with their own ratings: "Level III+", "Level IIIA+", "special threat", "multi-threat". Each meant that the maker had tested extra rounds, often M855 or M193, at its own lab or an independent one, and the results are not on any NIJ list. Some of these plates are excellent. The problem is that "plus" means whatever the seller says it means.
Under 0101.07, most of that gap is filled: RF1 adds M193 and 7.62x39 mm, and RF2 adds M855. So when a listing says "III+", ask which rounds, at which speeds, tested by which lab, and whether the model is on the 0101.07 list as RF1 or RF2. Protech's IMPAC Special Threat Plates, which we offer, are sold under that kind of name, so treat them the same way: ask us for the threat list and the test report for the variant you are considering.
What a level does not tell you
- Blunt trauma. Stopping a bullet is half the test. The other half is backface deformation: the dent the armor makes in clay behind it. NIJ has used a 44 mm (1.73 in) limit since 1978, derived from US Army research into the upper limits of tolerable blunt injury. Armor that stops the round can still bruise or break ribs.
- Knives and spikes. Ballistic armor is not stab armor. NIJ has a separate standard, 0115.00, for edged blades and spikes, and handgun-armor labels must warn when the armor is not intended to protect against sharp-edged or pointed instruments. In our view, most corrections officers need both.
- Coverage. A rifle plate covers the heart and upper lungs, roughly 10 by 12 inches. The level says nothing about what is left uncovered, which is why soft armor, side plates and the cut of a plate matter as much as the rating.
- Rounds not on the list. A level covers the rounds tested. Rifle calibres not on the list, or a listed round fired at a higher speed than the reference velocity, are outside what the level promises.
- Age and care. Certification applies to the model when new and, under 0101.06, after a conditioning test of heat, moisture and mechanical wear. NIJ is explicit that this conditioning "will not predict the service life of the vest". How long your armor lasts is a separate question.
How to check that armor is really certified
- Read the label on the panel or plate, not the carrier. It must give the model designation, the level and the edition of the standard, for example "Type IIIA in accordance with NIJ Standard-0101.06" or "HG2" under 0101.07.
- Look the model up on NIJ's Compliant Products List. Search by the model designation on the label, not the marketing name. NIJ's own guidance is to ignore a salesperson's "just like" or "identical to" a listed model: only armor listed on the current CPL is NIJ compliant.
- Check its status. On 13 May 2025 NIJ removed some armor models and listees from its program in response to federal criminal enforcement actions. A model that was listed when you bought it may not be listed now.
- For ICW plates, check the named soft armor. The plate is certified only with the soft armor model printed on its label.
- Be wary of very cheap armor sold online with a level and no model designation. No model designation means nothing to look up.
Which level do you need?
NIJ's advice to agencies is to pick armor officers will actually wear, at a level that matches the threat they face. The table is our reading of that for common roles. It is a starting point, not a substitute for your agency's threat assessment or policy.
| Role | Typical choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Patrol officer, daily wear | HG2 soft armor in a covert or overt carrier | Highest handgun level that is still wearable for a full shift |
| Patrol officer, active-shooter response | HG2 vest plus RF2 plates in a quick-don plate carrier in the car | Rifle threat is rare but decisive; RF2 covers M855 |
| Tactical team | RF2 or RF3 plates, often ICW with soft armor, plus side plates | Planned entries against known rifle threats |
| Corrections officer | Stab and spike armor (NIJ 0115.00), often combined with HG1 or HG2 | Edged weapons are the main threat inside |
| Armed security, cash in transit | HG2 soft armor | Handgun threat, long hours, vehicle work |
| Private buyer, home or vehicle | Check the law first; then HG2 or RF2 depending on the threat | Possession and sale are restricted in some places |
Armor is only one layer. If you carry plates for an active-shooter response, carry the means to stop bleeding with them: our guides to the IFAK and the CAT tourniquet cover what to pack, and we stock Blue Force Gear trauma kits. On the belt side, our best duty belt and best battle belt guides cover what sits under the vest. A plate carrier changes where the holster and pouches can go: our duty belt setup and battle belt setup guides explain how to mount the holster low enough that the grip clears a vest or carrier, and how to move the radio and rifle magazines onto it. For the holster itself, see our best duty holster ranking.
The armor we offer
We supply Safariland soft armor panels (the Summit, SX, SXHP Level IIIA, Xtreme, Matrix and Prism MT lines), Safariland carriers from covert to the HyperX platforms, and Protech hard armor, including the DT306P (NIJ 0101.06 Type III stand-alone), the SN106C (0101.06 Type IV stand-alone), the X-CAL ICW plates and the IMPAC Special Threat Plates. These are supplied to agencies and professional users on request rather than sold through the online shop, so contact us with your role, the level you need and your sizes, and we will confirm the current certification and list status of each model before you order.
One honest note on our own catalogue: one Protech plate we list, the 9812-R1, is named as certified to NIJ 0101.04, the standard before 0101.06. That does not make it bad armor, but it is not a current-standard certification, and we would point most buyers to a plate listed under 0101.06 or 0101.07 instead.
For the carrier itself, the accessories below are available to order online:
-
HYPERX® krátky predný panel na tri zásobníky M4
Cena na dopyt -
TP24 bočné vrecko na plát 6" x 6"
Orientačná cena 44,00 € s DPHKonečná cena na dopyt -
PROTECH® Tactical Spacer-Mesh™ vetracia vložka
Cena na dopyt
Common mistakes when reading armor levels
- Buying a "Level IIIA" vest for rifle protection. It is a handgun level. No soft vest sold as IIIA or HG2 is rated against rifle rounds.
- Treating "Level IV" as the best for everything. RF3 is tested against one armor-piercing round. RF2 may suit a patrol rifle threat better, at less weight.
- Using an ICW plate on its own. Without the named soft armor behind it, it is not at its rated level.
- Trusting "III+" without a test report. Ask for the rounds, the speeds and the lab.
- Checking the carrier instead of the panel. The label that matters is on the ballistic panel or plate.
- Assuming the old names are invalid. 0101.06 armor on the CPL remains compliant; you do not need to replace good armor because of the new names.
Frequently asked questions
What are the levels of body armor?
Under the current NIJ standard there are five: HG1 and HG2 for handgun rounds, and RF1, RF2 and RF3 for rifle rounds. Under the older NIJ 0101.06 standard the levels were IIA, II, IIIA, III and IV. Level II became HG1, IIIA became HG2, III became RF1 and IV became RF3; RF2 is new and IIA was dropped.
What is the highest level of body armor?
RF3, formerly Level IV, is the highest NIJ level. It is tested against .30-06 M2 armor-piercing rounds at 2,880 ft/s. It is tested only with that round, so it is not automatically the best choice against every rifle threat.
Does Level IIIA body armor stop rifle rounds?
No. Level IIIA, now HG2, is a handgun level tested with 9 mm and .44 Magnum rounds. NIJ requires handgun armor to carry a warning that it is not intended to protect against rifle fire. To stop rifle rounds you need a plate certified to RF1, RF2 or RF3.
What is RF2 body armor?
RF2 is a rifle protection level introduced by NIJ in 2023. RF2 armor must stop all RF1 rounds (7.62x51 M80, 7.62x39 mild steel core and 5.56 M193) plus 5.56 mm M855 "green tip" at 3,115 ft/s. It has no equivalent in the old Level III and IV system.
Is Level III+ an official NIJ level?
No. "Level III+" was a manufacturer term for plates that claimed to stop rounds beyond the old Level III test, usually M855 or M193. It has no NIJ definition. Under the new standard, the certified equivalents are RF1 and RF2.
What is the difference between NIJ 0101.06 and 0101.07?
0101.07, published in November 2023, renames the levels (HG1, HG2, RF1, RF2, RF3), moves the test rounds into NIJ Standard 0123.00, adds rifle rounds, uses ASTM test methods, adds shots for soft armor and curved plates, and tests women's armor on its own shape. Armor certified to 0101.06 stays valid.
Will body armor stop a knife?
Not unless it is certified for it. Ballistic armor is tested against bullets. Protection against knives and spikes is covered by a separate standard, NIJ 0115.00, and NIJ requires handgun armor labels to warn when the armor is not intended to protect against sharp-edged or pointed instruments.
Do I need to replace my Level II or IIIA vest because of the new standard?
No. NIJ advises officers to keep wearing their current armor and expects to keep the 0101.06 list through at least the end of 2029. Replace armor when its warranty ends, when it is damaged or shot, or when it no longer fits, not because the level names changed.
A note on law
In most US states adults may buy and own body armor, with limits. Federal law, 18 U.S.C. 931, makes it unlawful for a person convicted of a violent felony to buy, own or possess body armor, with a narrow employer-certification defence. Some states go further: since July 2022, New York has banned the sale or delivery of body armor to anyone not in an eligible profession, with the eligible professions set by the state's Department of State. In Europe the rules differ by country. Check the law where you live and where the armor will be used before you buy, and ask us if you are unsure what we can supply to you.
About the authors
This guide was written by Matúš Koleják and Braňo Hrivňák of Combat Defender in Bratislava, Slovakia. We supply Safariland, Protech, Blue Force Gear, HATCH and TCI equipment, including body armor, to police, military and security customers in Europe.
How we wrote it: the levels, test rounds, velocities, dates and label rules come from NIJ's own documents (Standard 0123.00, the 0101.07 overview page and the Selection and Application Guide to 0101.06), checked on 3 November 2026. The date of the first 0101.07 list comes from Safariland's blog, which we cite because NIJ's page does not give the date. We have not ballistic-tested any armor ourselves; nothing here is a test result of ours. Opinions, such as which level suits which role, are labelled as ours. The illustration was generated with an AI image model from Safariland and Protech product photos and checked by us; it is not a photograph. The diagram is ours, drawn from the NIJ threat table. The video is by a third party and is not sponsored by us. If something here is wrong or out of date, tell us and we will correct it.
Last reviewed: November 2026.
Sources
- NIJ: Specification for NIJ Ballistic Protection Levels and Associated Test Threats, NIJ Standard 0123.00
- NIJ: Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor, NIJ Standard 0101.07
- NIJ: Selection and Application Guide to Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor, 0101.06 (December 2014, PDF)
- NIJ: Body Armor Selection, Care, and Maintenance (PDF)
- Safariland: NIJ body armor levels explained, 0101.06 vs 0101.07
- 18 U.S.C. 931: Prohibition on purchase, ownership, or possession of body armor by violent felons
- New York Department of State: Body armor
- Free Field Training: The NIJ is Changing How You Buy Body Armor (YouTube)