How to Read Safety Glove Ratings: EN 388 Cut Levels A to F
Every safety glove sold with a European rating carries a code like 4X43D under a small shield symbol. That code tells you exactly how the glove performed against abrasion, cuts, tears and punctures. Once you can read it, you can compare any two gloves in seconds and stop paying for protection your workers don't need, or missing protection they do.
The short answer: look at the letter at the end of the EN 388 code. It is the cut level. A–B suits general handling, C–D suits sharp metal and construction work, and E–F is for glass, sheet metal and blades.
How to read the EN 388 code
The standard is EN 388 (mechanical risks). Since 2016 the code has up to six characters:
| Position | What it measures | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 1st digit | Abrasion: how long the palm lasts against sandpaper | 0–4 |
| 2nd digit | Cut, older "coup" blade test | 0–5, or X |
| 3rd digit | Tear resistance | 0–4 |
| 4th digit | Puncture by a point (not a needle) | 0–4 |
| 1st letter | Cut, newer TDM test (the one to use) | A–F |
| 2nd letter (optional) | P = passed the knuckle impact test | P |
Higher is better in every position. 0 means the glove did not reach level 1. X means that test was not done or does not apply. On cut-resistant gloves the X in second place is normal: the blade in the old test goes blunt on strong fibres, so the newer letter is the real cut result.
So 4X43D reads: top abrasion (4), old cut test not applicable (X), good tear (4), good puncture (3), cut level D.
Cut levels A to F
| Cut level | Force to cut (TDM test) | Typical work |
|---|---|---|
| A | 2 newtons or more | Assembly, packing, light handling |
| B | 5 N or more | Warehouses, general maintenance |
| C | 10 N or more | Construction, handling metal parts, rebar |
| D | 15 N or more | Sheet metal, HVAC ducting, sharp edges |
| E | 22 N or more | Glass handling, metal stamping, recycling |
| F | 30 N or more | Blades, very sharp glass and metal |
Two practical rules:
- Do not over-specify. Higher cut levels mean thicker, stiffer, more expensive gloves. Workers take off gloves that are too clumsy for the job, and then they have no protection at all.
- Older gloves may only show four digits (EN 388:2003). There, the second digit (1–5) is the cut level. A newer glove with a letter is easier to compare.
US gloves use ANSI/ISEA 105 cut levels A1 to A9 instead. The scales are different, so compare roughly: A4 sits around EN level D, and A5 around E.
Matching the glove to the job
Construction and general site work
Rebar, timber, blocks and tools: look for good abrasion (3–4) and cut level B–C. A nitrile or latex-coated palm gives grip on wet or dusty materials. Where hands get knocked, an impact glove (P in the code, or ANSI/ISEA 138 impact rating) protects the back of the hand. See construction PPE.
Factories, workshops and sheet metal
Handling sharp parts and pressed metal needs cut level C–E. For oily parts, a foam-nitrile palm keeps grip where a smooth coating slides. See factory PPE and workshops.
Glass
Cut level E or F, ideally with a cuff or sleeve that protects the wrist and forearm, which is where glass injuries often happen.
Chemicals
A cut glove is not a chemical glove. Chemical gloves are tested to EN ISO 374, marked with a flask symbol and letters for the chemicals they resist (for example AJKLOPT). Type A resists at least six test chemicals, Type B three, Type C one. Choose the material for your chemical: nitrile for oils and many solvents, neoprene for acids and alkalis, PVC for general chemical handling. Read the chemical hazards guide.
Heat and welding
Heat gloves are tested to EN 407 (six digits for flammability, contact heat, convective heat, radiant heat, small splashes and large splashes of molten metal). Welding gloves follow EN 12477: Type A is thicker for MIG and stick welding, Type B is more flexible for TIG. See heat hazards.
Electrical work
Only EN 60903 insulating gloves protect against live electricity, and they are rated by class: Class 00 up to 500 V, Class 0 up to 1,000 V, Class 1 up to 7,500 V, Class 2 up to 17,000 V. Leather or cut gloves give no electrical protection. Insulating gloves should be air-tested for holes before every use, and worn with a leather over-glove where there is a risk of damage. See the electrical hazards guide.
Cold
Cold stores and night work in winter: EN 511 gloves, rated for convective cold, contact cold and water penetration.
Five mistakes we see often
- One glove for the whole site. Different tasks need different gloves. Buy two or three types rather than one compromise.
- Choosing by the highest number. A cut F glove for packing boxes is uncomfortable and expensive, and it ends up in a pocket.
- Using cut gloves for needles or syringes. Puncture in EN 388 is tested with a blunt point, not a needle. Needle-stick protection is a separate rating.
- Wrong size. A glove that is too big snags and slips. One that is too small tears and tires the hand. Order by hand size, not by "large for everyone".
- Wearing gloves near rotating machinery. On drills, lathes and rollers, a glove can be caught and pull the hand in. Follow the machine's safety rules.
Questions buyers ask us
What does X mean in a glove rating?
The test was not carried out, or does not apply to that glove. On cut gloves, an X in the second place is normal and the cut level is the letter at the end.
Is cut level 5 the same as cut level E?
No. Level 5 comes from the older blade test (EN 388:2003), and E from the newer TDM test. The newer letter is more reliable for high-cut gloves, so compare gloves by the letter when both have one.
Can one glove protect against cuts and chemicals?
Some do, and they carry both EN 388 and EN ISO 374 markings. Check both codes against your actual chemical and task. If a glove shows only EN 388, it is not a chemical glove.
Buying for a team
Most sites need two or three glove types: a general handling glove for everyone, a higher cut level for the people who handle sharp material, and a specialist glove (chemical, welding or electrical) where needed. Send us the list through For Companies and we will quote within 24 working hours, with bulk prices from 20 pairs. Not sure what fits your job? Try Help me choose.