How ANSI cut levels are measured
ANSI/ISEA 105 rates cut resistance from A1 to A9. The test drags a blade across the glove material under load and records the weight in grams needed to cut through at 20 millimeters of travel. Higher number, more grams, more protection.
The scale is not linear. A1 starts at 200 grams and A9 starts at 6,000. Most of the useful range for industrial work sits between A2 and A6.
If you are still working from the old five-level scale, it was replaced in 2016. An old Level 3 is roughly an A3 or A4 depending on where it fell in the band. Anything still labeled Level 1 to 5 is either old stock or an EN 388 rating, which is the European standard and uses a different test.
Choosing a level by the actual task
Over-specifying is the most common error, and it backfires. A9 gloves are stiff. Workers doing fine assembly in A9 will take them off, and a glove in a pocket protects nobody. The right level is the lowest one that covers your hazard.
A1 and A2 handle general assembly, warehousing, packing and light material handling. A3 and A4 cover automotive work, metal stamping, appliance handling and sheet goods. A5 and A6 are for glass handling, sharp metal fabrication, and HVAC ducting. A7 through A9 are for blade contact: meat processing, box cutter work, and anything with an exposed edge under pressure.
Coatings, and what each one grips
The coating determines grip, and grip is what stops the slip that causes the cut. It also determines how the glove handles oil and how long it lasts.
Polyurethane, or PU, is thin and gives excellent dry grip and fingertip feel. Best for precision work and light assembly. It does not handle oil well.
Nitrile handles oil, fuel and grease and resists abrasion better than PU. Foam nitrile adds micro-pockets that channel oil away, which makes it the standard for automotive and machining. Sandy or micro-foam nitrile grips harder still in wet oil.
Latex grips well wet and dry and is cheap, but it presents an allergy risk that rules it out of most large programs.
Uncoated string knit gloves suit clean, dry work like glass and food handling where a coating would contaminate or reduce feel.
Cut protection is not impact protection
These are separate ratings and separate hazards. A cut rating tells you nothing about what happens when a pipe rolls onto the back of a hand. That is measured under ANSI/ISEA 138, on a 1 to 3 impact scale, and it needs TPR armor molded onto the back of the glove.
Oil and gas, pipeline, mining and heavy rigging crews generally need both. Look for gloves carrying an ANSI cut level and an ANSI 138 impact level on the same cuff.
Fit, sizing and touchscreens
A loose glove catches. A tight glove tires the hand and gets removed. Gauge is the useful number here: 13 and 15 gauge knits are thin and dexterous, 10 gauge is heavier and warmer. For most industrial work, 13 gauge is the balance point.
Touchscreen conductive fingertips are worth specifying wherever crews use scanners, tablets or phones. Without them, workers pull gloves off dozens of times a shift, and every removal is an exposure.
Buying cut resistant gloves in bulk
Standardize the level across a site wherever the hazard allows. Two SKUs, one general purpose and one high cut, covers most operations and makes the audit conversation simple.
Track cost per worker per month rather than cost per pair. A more durable glove at a higher unit price often lands cheaper across a quarter. Send us your task list and headcount and we will recommend levels and quote volume breaks across the range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ANSI cut level do I need?
Choose the lowest level that covers your hazard. A2 to A3 for general handling, A4 to A6 for metal and glass, A7 to A9 for blade contact. Over-specifying makes gloves stiff and they stop being worn.
What is the difference between A4 and A5 cut resistant gloves?
A4 withstands 1,500 to 2,199 grams of cutting load. A5 withstands 2,200 to 2,999. The step matters most in sharp metal fabrication and glass work.
Are cut resistant gloves cut proof?
No. They resist a blade dragged across the material. No glove stops a puncture or a deliberate slice under force. Treat the rating as a margin, not a guarantee.
What is the difference between ANSI and EN 388 cut ratings?
ANSI/ISEA 105 uses grams on an A1 to A9 scale. EN 388 is the European standard and uses a different blade and scale. The two do not convert directly, so compare gloves on the same standard.
Which coating is best for oily work?
Foam nitrile. The micro-pockets channel oil away from the contact surface, so grip holds where PU would slip.
Do you sell cut resistant gloves in bulk?
Yes. Case quantities with volume break pricing across every level from A1 to A9, plus single pairs with no minimum order.
