How much does a full body armor cost?

Equipping yourself with a personal bulletproof vest can be an excellent idea, whether for professional use or as a personal precaution. This allows you to choose the equipment best suited to your needs, both in terms of comfort, level of protection, and discretion.

But many people wonder: is it really necessary to invest a fortune?
In reality, the price of a full vest depends on two main elements:
🔹 The vest (or textile cover)
🔹 The ballistic elements that are inserted inside (plates or soft inserts)

At the end of this article, we will provide you with a summary of estimated prices for different ranges: low cost, mid-range and premium.

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1. The vest (the textile cover)

The vest itself does not yet contain any protection: it is a textile structure designed to accommodate ballistic plates.
And on this point, the offer is extremely varied.

You will find vests:

• Entry level around €50 to €80

• Mid-range, often more ergonomic and robust: €150 to €300

• High-end tactical or reinforced products that can exceed €500

Remember: the choice of vest depends mainly on the intended use.

• For a civilian who rarely wears a vest, a basic model will suffice.

• For a professional (law enforcement, private security, military), it is essential to opt for a more robust model, with solid seams, designed for prolonged wear and heavy loads.

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2. Ballistic protection

This is the heart of the matter… and often the most unclear part.

Choosing your plates involves balancing three criteria:
Protection – Weight – Price (the famous ballistic triangle).

For civilians:

You will rarely encounter weapons of war in the city.
➡️ NIJ IIIA is therefore an excellent option: it protects against handguns (9mm, .44 magnum, etc.). Coupled with a discreet vest, it allows for lightweight and low-visibility wear, ideal for traveling in urban environments.

For more advanced protection:
➡️ NIJ III or III+ stops long weapons, but requires heavier rigid plates.

Good to know:
NIJ IIIA often covers a larger area (chest, back, sides).
A possible combo: NIJ IIIA soft + NIJ III rigid, for total and adaptable protection.

For professionals:

A police officer or gendarme must wear at least NIJ IIIA, because threats related to handguns are the most frequent.

➡️ Some professionals (RAID, gendarmerie, intervention units) opt for NIJ IV plates, capable of stopping war-piercing munitions.

The choice therefore depends on the level of exposure and the missions.

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In conclusion:

The price of a full body armor depends primarily on your actual needs. There's no point in over-equipping a casual civilian, just as it would be irresponsible for a professional to neglect textile or ballistic quality.

At Pangolin Tactical Gear, we help you make the right choice based on your profile.
Do not hesitate to contact us for a personalized recommendation or to discover our ready-to-use vest + plate packs.