Safety & Protection · 6 min read
Cut levels explained: how to read ANSI A1-A9 and EN 388 without guessing
The rating on the back of a glove tells you exactly how much blade it will stop. Here is how the two standards map to each other and to real work.
By OUTROOM Field Desk · Updated
Key takeaways
- ANSI A1-A9 and EN 388's second digit measure the same thing on different scales.
- Most general trade work is covered by A3-A5; glass and sheet metal handling starts at A6.
- Cut resistance says nothing about puncture, abrasion or impact - those are separate digits.
- A glove that does not fit is a glove that gets taken off, and no rating protects a bare hand.
Two standards dominate work-glove labelling, and they look nothing alike. ANSI/ISEA 105 uses A1 to A9. EN 388 prints a four or five character code inside a small shield. Both are testing the same basic question: how many grams of force does a standard blade need to cut through this material over a fixed distance.
/ The scale, in grams of cutting force
| ANSI level | Grams to cut | Typical work |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 200-499 | Light assembly, general handling |
| A2 | 500-999 | Packaging, warehousing, light construction |
| A3 | 1,000-1,499 | General construction, timber, fencing |
| A4 | 1,500-2,199 | Metal fabrication light duty, HVAC |
| A5 | 2,200-2,999 | Sheet metal, glass handling, food processing |
| A6-A9 | 3,000-6,000+ | Heavy glass, blade changes, meat processing |
EN 388's five characters read: abrasion (0-4), circular blade cut (0-5), tear (0-4), puncture (0-4), then an ISO 13997 cut letter (A-F) that lines up closely with the ANSI scale. An EN 388 letter D sits around ANSI A4-A5; an F is A7 and above.
/ The numbers people ignore
- Puncture resistance is a separate digit and a different failure. A high-cut glove can still be pierced by wire, staples or a nail.
- Impact protection (EN 388's final P) covers back-of-hand padding for rigging and drilling, not blade work.
- Abrasion resistance decides how many days the glove lasts, not how safe it is.
- Grip coating - nitrile, polyurethane, latex - changes dexterity and oil handling far more than any rating.
/ Fit is a safety spec
A loose glove snags in rotating tools; a tight one causes fatigue and gets removed for fiddly jobs. Measure the circumference of your palm just below the knuckles in centimetres - that number is roughly your European size. Check that you can touch thumb to little finger and pick a screw off a flat surface while wearing them.
Protection from our catalogue
Level 5 Cut-Resistant Work GlovesSave -28%Safety Helmet With Built-in LampAnti-Fog Safety Glasses/ Frequently asked
Does a higher cut level mean a better glove?+
Only against blades. High-level gloves are thicker and less dexterous, which makes people take them off. Pick the lowest level that genuinely covers your hazard.
Can cut-resistant gloves be washed?+
Most can, at 40C without fabric softener, which clogs the coating. Check the inside label; heat can destroy high-performance fibres.
How often should gloves be replaced?+
As soon as the coating wears through, a seam opens, or the liner shows fibre damage. The rating applies to an undamaged glove only.