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When working in different industries, safety is the number one concern everyone should have. Work safety includes foot, head, and eye protection, and, equally important, hand safety. Working without hand protection can cause a lot of damage, in the short and long term, that will impact your overall health and work productivity. Having the right pair of work gloves will prevent such damage and injuries, allowing you to focus entirely on your day-to-day job.
Keep reading this guide to learn how to find your ideal pair of work gloves and how to measure your glove size.
Why Glove Size Matters
Various industries require work gloves to keep your hands protected while operating, that’s why it’s important to purchase a pair of work gloves exclusively designed for your industry. This means that you will consider their specific features so that they do their proper job. For example, if there is water involved, you will probably consider a pair of waterproof gloves. But, besides buying the right gloves for your field, it’s equally important to find a pair that fits your hands perfectly.
The right size of work gloves keeps your hands safe and healthy, allowing you to focus on your job without having to think about your hands’ well-being. On the other hand, the wrong work glove size, especially smaller gloves, can cause hand fatigue or even injury and damage.
Tight work gloves tend to cause injuries, especially while working in industries such as construction, farming, machine operation, and search and rescue. Also, glove material that is stretched more than its capabilities could tear or rip entirely while using it. A work glove that is too large for your hands could also be pulled off while working.
How to Measure Your Glove Size
Gloves that fit properly translate to comfortable gloves; therefore, it is crucial to find the right size for your hands. To find the ideal glove, there are a couple of simple steps you need to follow: measuring your hand and identifying the glove length.
Measuring your hand
To find the right pair of gloves, firstly, you need to know how to measure your hands for glove size. You need to find out the measurement in inches (or millimeters) to then convert it into the right glove size (small, medium, large, etc).
To measure your hands (in inches or millimeters), you will need to:
- Measure around your hand (widthwise): Put a fabric tape measure around your hand’s widest section. Always use your dominant hand. The measuring tape should wrap over the top of your hand and over your palm at its broadest point. When in this position, measure the size of your hand in inches (or millimeters).
- Measure lengthwise: Start by putting the measuring tape at the tip of your middle finger after spreading your hand and fingers. Next, holding the measuring tape taut where your wrist starts, stretch it down to the base of your hand and record the number in inches (millimeters).
- Round up to the next higher number: Now that you have two figures, it is time to round up to the next greater figure. For example, the width of your hand could be 5½ inches, while the length of your hand could be 6¾ inches. In this situation, you would round up to 7 from the value of 6¾. That means you need a size 7 glove.
- Convert to glove size: At this point, it is time to put into use all the previous measurements and convert them into glove sizes properly. Instead of using numbers, many glove manufacturers use small, medium, and large to size their gloves. If you find yourself in this situation when purchasing your work gloves, use a glove size chart in order to convert the measurements properly. We included one below.
Identifying the glove length
Since gloves come in a variety of lengths, it’s crucial to identify what cuff length you need. The optimal glove length will generally vary based on the level of protection needed. Many manufacturers design 9″, 12″, 15″, 18″, 24″, and 31″ gloves, so you have many options to choose from depending on your needs.
Glove Size Charts
We already established that it is very important to purchase the right size of work gloves. Hands come in different shapes and sizes, that’s why, sometimes, it can be quite difficult to find the ideal size. The glove size charts below can help you pick the size that will fit your hands properly.
| US Sizes | EU Sizes | ||
| Hand Width | Glove Size | Hand Width | Glove Size |
| 6 – 7 inches | XS | 152 – 178 millimeters | EU – 6 |
| 7 – 8 inches | S | 178 – 203 millimeters | EU – 7 |
| 8 – 9 inches | M | 203 – 229 millimeters | EU – 8 |
| 9 – 10 inches | L | 229 – 254 millimeters | EU – 9 |
| 10 – 11 inches | XL | 254 – 279 millimeters | EU – 10 |
| 11 + inches | XXL | 279 + millimeters | EU – 11 |
| US Sizes | EU Sizes | ||
| Hand Length | Glove Size | Hand Length | Glove Size |
| 6 5/16 inches | XS | 160 millimeters | EU – 6 |
| 6 ¾ inches | S | 171 millimeters | EU – 7 |
| 7 3/16 inches | M | 182 millimeters | EU – 8 |
| 7 9/16 inches | L | 192 millimeters | EU – 9 |
| 8 1/6 inches | XL | 204 millimeters | EU – 10 |
| 8 7/16 inches | XXL | 215+ millimeters | EU – 11 |
Conclusion
Work gloves are a key safety element while working in different industries, and having them in the right size contributes to your well-being. Choosing the right size and length for your work gloves can be challenging. However, wearing wrong-fitting gloves can lead to injuries on the job site. If you have the possibility to try the gloves on before purchasing, that may be your safest bet for an ideal fit. However, should that not be an option, because, let’s say, you are buying online, then following the steps in this guide, should be helpful enough to get close to what you need.
