Tricks of the Trade
4 easy steps to finding the right work glove size
by Frank Hohman
Safety should always come first on the jobsite, and that includes making sure your hands are safe when working with material that could cause injury. Having the proper hand protection is not only a simple safety precaution to take, but also a requirement of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. According to OSHA standard 1910.138, employers “shall select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when employees' hands are exposed to hazards...” Combined with the fact that hand injuries accounted for 43% of nonfatal workplace injuries resulting from time off work in 2018, it's clearly a smart investment to have well-fitting work gloves.
Glove sizes may vary from one manufacturer to another, but you can follow these steps to help you understand work glove sizes.
Step 1
Open your dominant hand so that your fingers are extended upright and your thumb and pointer finger make an "L" shape.
Step 2
Measure the distance from the base of your palm to the top of your middle finger. This is your hand length.
Step 3
Next, measure the widest area of your hand, which is the space just below your knuckles. Measure from side to side to find your hand width.
Step 4
Use the hand chart below to see how you measure up.
Need to buy gloves for your whole crew? Check out the printer-friendly hand measuring chart to help you find your right glove size.
Check your printer settings to make sure it’s set to Do Not Scale or Scale 100%, depending on your printer. Printer settings vary.Unisex Hand Chart
See which measurement range your hand falls in to determine your glove size. Round up to the nearest half inch. If one hand measurement is in a different size range than the other, go with the largest glove size to ensure a comfortable fit.
| Hand width in inches | Hand length in inches |
|---|---|
| XS: 2.0 - 2.5 | XS: 5.5 - 6.0 |
| S: 2.5 – 3.0 | S: 6.0 – 6.5 |
| M: 3.0 – 3.5 | M: 6.5 – 7.0 |
| L: 3.5 – 4.0 | L: 7.0 – 7.5 |
| XL: 4.0 – 4.5 | XL: 7.5 – 8.0 |
| XXL: 4.5+ | XXL: 8.0+ |
*Glove sizes may vary depending on manufacturer.
Find other tips to help you select the appropriate work gloves for the job, and explore Safety Matters to learn what other steps you can take to protect your crew and put safety first.