Choosing the right work gloves comes down to matching the glove to your job's biggest hazard, then dialing in material and fit. This guide covers cut protection, materials, sizing, and the best glove type by job. WorkGlovesDepot has manufactured and supplied work gloves since 1985.
1. Start with your biggest hazard
Choose your glove around your sharpest risk, not your average task:
- Cuts (blades, glass, sheet metal) → ANSI-rated cut-resistant gloves
- Abrasion & durability → leather work gloves
- Grip on wet or oily parts → latex- or nitrile-coated gloves
- Cold → insulated winter work gloves
- Heat → EN407-rated heat-resistant gloves
2. ANSI cut levels (A1–A9) explained
The ANSI/ISEA 105 standard rates cut resistance from A1 (lowest) to A9 (highest), based on the grams of force needed to cut through the material. Match the level to your hazard:
- A1–A2: light assembly and general handling
- A3–A4: moderate hazards, light glass and metal
- A5–A9: blades, sheet metal, glass, and demolition
Need forearm protection too? See our cut-resistant sleeves.
3. Glove materials compared
Leather
Cowhide, pigskin, and goatskin offer the best abrasion resistance and durability. Cowhide is the all-purpose standard; pigskin breathes well and stays soft after getting wet; goatskin is the strongest and most dexterous. Shop leather work gloves.
Coated
A knit shell dipped in latex, nitrile, or polyurethane gives excellent grip and dexterity for assembly, warehouse, and wet or oily work. Nitrile resists oils and abrasion; latex offers strong grip; polyurethane stays thin and touchscreen-friendly.
Cut-resistant knit
Kevlar, HPPE, and CUTShield knits deliver ANSI A3–A9 cut protection while staying lightweight. Shop cut-resistant gloves.
Insulated
Thinsulate and fleece linings trap warmth without bulk for cold-weather work. Shop winter work gloves.
4. How to size work gloves
Measure around the widest part of your palm, just below the knuckles, in inches — that number is roughly your glove size (about 9 inches equals a Large). For length, measure from the base of your palm to the tip of your middle finger. Most work gloves run Small through 2XL; size up if you wear liners, or down for fine dexterity.
5. Best work gloves by job
- Construction gloves — leather-palm, coated-grip, and cut-resistant for the jobsite
- Cut & heat resistant gloves — Kevlar, CUTShield, EN407 heat
- Leather gloves — cowhide, pigskin, goatskin, drivers
- Winter gloves — insulated and waterproof
- Mechanics gloves — dexterity, grip, touchscreen tips
- Cut-resistant sleeves — forearm protection
- Browse all work gloves
Why WorkGlovesDepot
We're a family-owned U.S. glove manufacturer (G & F Products) operating since 1985, with bulk pricing for crews and free shipping on qualifying orders.