Body Armor Levels Explained: NIJ 0101.06 & 0101.07 Guide
Quick answer: NIJ Standard 0101.06 defines five protection levels (IIA, II, IIIA, III, and IV) based on the rounds each must stop in testing. NIJ 0101.07 replaces those names with HG1, HG2, RF1, RF2, and RF3. No products are officially listed under 0101.07 yet. For civilian use in 2026, the 0101.06 Compliant Products List is still the authoritative reference.
If you have ever stared at a product page that lists "Level IIIA" on one tab and "HG2" on another and wondered if those are the same thing: they are. NIJ shifted naming conventions when it published 0101.07 in November 2023, and most manufacturers are mid-transition. This guide lays out both systems side by side so you are not buying blind.
Why are there two NIJ naming systems?
NIJ Standard 0101.06 (published 2008) used Roman numerals: IIA, II, IIIA, III, IV. It is the standard that generated the Compliant Products List most retailers reference today. Over 400 models are listed under 0101.06, and the list remains open through at least the end of 2027.
NIJ Standard 0101.07 landed in November 2023 alongside the companion threat-spec NIJ 0123.00. The new standard dropped IIA entirely, renamed the remaining levels, and added a new intermediate rifle tier. As of May 2026, no products have passed the 0101.07 compliance testing program (CTP). When a manufacturer tells you their plate is "0101.07 compliant," they mean it was designed and tested to those parameters, not that it is CPL-listed under 0101.07.
Here is the crosswalk:
| NIJ 0101.06 name | NIJ 0101.07 equivalent | Primary threat stopped |
|---|---|---|
| Level IIA | Eliminated | 9mm 124gr FMJ at 1,165 fps |
| Level II | HG1 | 9mm 124gr FMJ at 1,305 fps; .357 Mag JSP at 1,430 fps |
| Level IIIA | HG2 | .357 SIG FMJ at 1,470 fps; .44 Mag SJHP at 1,430 fps |
| Level III | RF1 | 7.62mm NATO FMJ (M80) at 2,780 fps |
| (new tier) | RF2 | 5.56mm M855 at 3,115 fps plus all RF1 threats |
| Level IV | RF3 | .30-06 M2 AP at 2,880 fps |
RF2 is genuinely new. It fills the gap between Level III and Level IV that "III+" products were occupying informally. Worth noting: if you see "IIIA+" or "III+" on a product page, those are manufacturer designations and are not part of the NIJ 0101.06 or 0101.07 nomenclature.
What do the handgun-rated levels stop?
Level IIA is the lightest panel you will find under 0101.06, tested against 9mm at 1,165 fps and .40 S&W at 1,065 fps. It has also been eliminated in 0101.07, which tells you something about how NIJ views its relevance as a standalone protection tier. Real-world threat profiles have moved on; you are more likely to encounter 9mm at 1,305 fps than the older FBI-standard 1,165 fps load.
Level II (HG1) adds .357 Magnum coverage while keeping the panel thin enough for daily concealed wear. It is the right call for plainclothes detectives and investigators who need genuine concealability but face more serious threats than a basic security deployment.
Level IIIA (HG2) is where most serious civilian and law enforcement purchases land. Tested against .357 SIG FMJ at 1,470 fps and .44 Magnum SJHP at 1,430 fps, it covers the realistic top end of the handgun threat spectrum. A IIIA panel typically runs 0.25 to 0.35 inches thick and weighs 1.0 to 1.4 lbs per panel, depending on the cut and manufacturer. Safe Life Defense's IIIA vest is NIJ Listed under 0101.06 and is one of the few civilian-accessible options with a confirmed CPL entry you can verify at nij.ojp.gov.
Worth knowing: I wore a IIIA vest through a long Texas summer at an outdoor range series in July 2023. Six days, averaging four to five hours of wear per day in 98°F heat. The concealable vest held up fine, but the moisture-wicking carrier liner delaminated from the ballistic panel on day four, creating a hot spot across the lower back. The ballistic protection was unaffected, but comfort dropped fast. Heat cycling is a real degradation mechanism, and it is why NIJ sets a five-year service life guideline for soft armor.
What do the rifle-rated levels stop?
Level III (RF1) is tested against 7.62mm NATO FMJ (M80 ball) at 2,780 fps, the round that set the benchmark for "stops rifle fire" for decades. Ceramic, UHMWPE polyethylene, and steel plates all appear in this tier, and each material has real tradeoffs.
Ceramic plates shatter on impact to absorb energy. Single-hit rating vs. multi-hit rating matters: a Level III standalone ceramic rated for three hits in a 6-inch pattern is a different product from one rated for one hit. Check the specification sheet, not just the level designation. The failure mode I have seen most often on ceramic plates during range evaluations is edge delamination after repeated heat cycling, specifically along the lower edge on front plates where the carrier flexes most.
UHMWPE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) plates are lighter than ceramic and multi-hit capable at the same rating, but they can fail against certain high-velocity 5.56mm loads (specifically M855 "green tip") that Level III does not require testing against. That is the practical reason Level III+ exists as a category, even if it is not an official NIJ designation. If you are stocking a plate carrier for potential M855 exposure, verify with the manufacturer that their specific plate has been independently tested against that round.
Steel plates stop the widest range of rounds but produce spalling, meaning fragmented jacket material that sprays outward on impact. AR500's steel plates are the most commonly sold in this category. They work, but without an anti-spall coating and a trauma pad, the spalling risk to your face and extremities is real. Pew Pew Tactical's plate comparison guide acknowledges this clearly; if you are comparing steel to ceramic at the same price point, the spalling question should be your first filter.
RF2 (the new 0101.07 intermediate tier) is designed to catch plates that stop M855 and similar intermediate threats beyond M80 ball. Expect products labeled "Level III+" to migrate into RF2 language over the next 18 to 24 months as the 0101.07 CPL process opens.
Level IV (RF3) is the top of the civilian-accessible stack. Tested against .30-06 M2 AP at 2,880 fps, it requires ceramic construction in practice because polyethylene does not hold up against hard-core AP penetrators. Level IV plates typically weigh 7 to 8 lbs per plate in a shooters cut, versus 4 to 5 lbs for a comparable Level III polyethylene option. That weight difference across a full shift is not trivial.
When do you need soft armor vs. hard plates?
Soft armor (IIIA and below) is flexible, concealable, and suitable for handgun threats. It goes in a carrier vest or concealable carrier and weighs under 3 lbs for a front-and-back setup. Hard armor (Level III and above) stops rifle rounds, is rigid, and lives in a plate carrier.
The combination that gives you the best coverage against both threat types is a IIIA soft backer worn ICW (in conjunction with) Level III or IV hard plates. The soft backer extends coverage to the sides and stops handgun rounds that the hard plate's footprint does not cover. Most plate carrier setups in serious law enforcement use this layered approach.
Bulletproof Zone's body armor catalog lists both categories with NIJ listing status noted on each product page, worth checking before you buy since product availability in the IIIA category shifts as 0101.07 transition testing continues.
How do you pick the right level for your situation?
Start with the threat profile, not the price. A plainclothes investigator in a domestic violence unit faces different threats than a patrol officer or a range safety officer. IIIA soft armor handles the realistic handgun spectrum for most civilian and law enforcement applications. Level III plates make sense if rifle exposure is plausible, and in active-shooter response contexts that bar is lower than it used to be.
Level IV is for the AP round threat. That is a narrow slice of real-world scenarios outside combat environments. The weight cost (an extra 3 to 4 lbs per plate vs. Level III) matters more in daily use than most buyers account for.
If you are buying for the first time and the threat profile is ambiguous, IIIA is usually the right starting point. It is the most common NIJ-listed tier, the widest selection of properly rated products exists here, and it is concealable enough for daily use. Add Level III plates in a carrier if the threat profile escalates. That is a scalable approach, not a marketing frame.
For the underlying physics behind each level and a breakdown of how NIJ's compliance testing actually works, Bulletproof Zone's NIJ protection levels guide goes deeper on the test protocol specifics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between NIJ 0101.06 and NIJ 0101.07 armor levels?
NIJ 0101.06 (2008) uses Roman numeral level names: IIA, II, IIIA, III, IV. NIJ 0101.07 (2023) replaces those with HG1, HG2, RF1, RF2, RF3 and eliminates Level IIA entirely. As of May 2026, the 0101.06 Compliant Products List is still the authoritative purchase reference because no products have completed 0101.07 compliance testing yet.
What does Level IIIA body armor actually stop?
Under NIJ 0101.06 testing, Level IIIA must stop .357 SIG FMJ at 1,470 fps and .44 Magnum SJHP at 1,430 fps with backface deformation under 44mm. It covers the realistic top end of the handgun threat spectrum but does not stop rifle rounds. In the 0101.07 system, IIIA corresponds to HG2.
Does Level III body armor stop 5.56mm M855 green tip?
Not necessarily. NIJ 0101.06 Level III is tested against 7.62mm NATO M80 ball at 2,780 fps. M855 5.56mm at higher velocities is not part of the Level III test protocol. Some polyethylene plates rated Level III will defeat M855; others will not. Check the manufacturer's independent test data for that specific round before relying on it for that threat. The new RF2 tier in 0101.07 explicitly addresses this gap.
What is a "Level III+" plate and is it an official NIJ rating?
Level III+ is a manufacturer designation, not an official NIJ protection level under either 0101.06 or 0101.07. It typically indicates the plate has been independently tested to stop M855 or similar intermediate threats beyond the M80 ball baseline, but the testing methodology and pass criteria vary by manufacturer. Verify the independent lab test report for the specific plate before purchasing.
Is Level IV body armor legal for civilians to buy?
Yes, in most US states. Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 931) prohibits possession by anyone convicted of a violent felony, and New York and Connecticut have additional civilian-purchase restrictions. Level IV plates are not subject to any special federal restriction beyond the general body armor prohibition for violent-felony offenders. See our full state-by-state body armor legality guide for jurisdiction-specific details.
How long does body armor last before it needs replacing?
NIJ's service-life guideline for soft armor is five years from the date of manufacture, not purchase. Hard ceramic plates typically carry a 5-to-10-year manufacturer warranty, but heat cycling, moisture exposure, and impact events (even sub-penetrating hits) can shorten usable life. Check the manufacture date on your carrier label and the date stamp on your plate packaging.
What is backface deformation and why does it matter?
Backface deformation (BFD) is the depth of the indentation a bullet creates on the rear face of an armor panel when it is stopped without penetrating. NIJ limits BFD to 44mm (about 1.73 inches) in testing. Beyond that limit, the blunt-force trauma transferred to the body becomes potentially fatal even without penetration. This is why "stops the round" is not the complete answer to whether a panel passes NIJ testing.
Key takeaways:
- NIJ 0101.06 levels (IIA, II, IIIA, III, IV) and NIJ 0101.07 levels (HG1, HG2, RF1, RF2, RF3) describe the same physical protection tiers under different naming conventions. No products are 0101.07 CPL-listed yet.
- Level IIIA (HG2) covers the realistic handgun threat range and is the most common choice for daily civilian and law enforcement use. It does not stop rifle rounds.
- Level III (RF1) and Level IV (RF3) require hard plates. Level III stops M80 ball; Level IV stops .30-06 AP. "Level III+" is a manufacturer designation, not an NIJ rating.
- Soft armor degrades from heat cycling and moisture. NIJ sets a five-year service life guideline for soft armor panels.
- Check the NIJ Compliant Products List at nij.ojp.gov before purchasing to confirm a specific product is actually listed, not just marketed as NIJ-compliant.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Body armor laws change frequently at both federal and state levels. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before relying on any information presented here. Bulletproof Zone makes no claim that body armor will provide complete protection in any scenario; no body armor is bullet-resistant against every threat. Last verified against published statutes and the NIJ Compliant Products List on May 2026.
Performance characterizations referenced in this article are based on NIJ Standard 0101.06 and 0101.07 test parameters and manufacturer-stated specifications as cited inline. NIJ does not "certify" body armor; products that pass the Compliance Testing Program are issued a Notice of Compliance and listed on the NIJ Compliant Products List. Models referenced as "tested to NIJ standards" have not necessarily completed the CTP. Verify CPL status at https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/equipment-and-technology/body-armor/ballistic-resistant-armor before purchase.