What cut level gloves do you need?
The law does not set the number. Your risk assessment, your customer contract and your insurer do. This checker tells you what level buyers normally specify for a given job, in both the EN 388 and the ANSI/ISEA 105 scales — and what to put in the purchase order.
Cut level checker
Pick a market and an application. Get the level usually specified, the glove spec, and a ready enquiry sheet.
EN 388 vs ANSI chart
Convert EN 388 cut letters A–F to ANSI/ISEA 105 A1–A9, and decode a marking like 4X42D.
Gloves by industry
Twelve applications with liner, coating, features and the mistake to avoid in each one.
The number nobody legislated
Ask a plant buyer what cut level they need and you will usually hear "A4" or "A5". Ask where that came from and the answer is rarely a regulation. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138 and Regulation (EU) 2016/425 both stop short of naming a level: one requires protection appropriate to the hazard, the other requires certification and CE marking.
The number arrives from somewhere else — a customer's purchase order, an insurer's condition, a trade union agreement, or a group EHS standard written after an injury. That is why two identical factories in the same country can specify different levels, and why "what does the law require" is the wrong question to bring to a supplier.
Typical levels, by application
Common practice for industrial buyers — a starting point for your own risk assessment.
| Application | EN 388 cut | ANSI/ISEA 105 |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet metal, stamping & press work | D–E | A4–A6 |
| Glass handling, glazing & window assembly | D–E | A4–A6 |
| Automotive assembly, engine & parts handling | C–D | A3–A5 |
| Food processing, meat & poultry | C–E | A3–A6 |
| Warehouse, picking & parcel handling | A–B | A1–A3 |
| Construction, rebar & scaffolding | D–E | A4–A6 |
See all twelve applications, with specifications, on the industry page.
How the two scales line up
Both cut tests measure force on a straight blade (TDM), which is why the scales can be compared at all.
| EN 388 cut | Force (newtons) | Equivalent force (grams) | Overlaps ANSI/ISEA 105 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2–5 N | 204–510 g | A1 |
| B | 5–10 N | 510–1020 g | A2 |
| C | 10–15 N | 1020–1530 g | A3 |
| D | 15–22 N | 1530–2243 g | A4 |
| E | 22–30 N | 2243–3059 g | A5 |
| F | 30+ N | 3059+ g | A6 / A7 / A8 / A9 |
Full explanation, including how to read a marking like 4X42D, on the EN 388 vs ANSI chart.
How to use this site
- Run the checker for your market and application.
- Confirm the level against your own risk assessment and any contract requirement you already have.
- Copy the enquiry sheet into an email, so every supplier quotes against the same specification.
Frequently asked questions
What cut level gloves do I need?
It depends on the task, not on a regulation. The starting point for most industrial work is ANSI/ISEA 105 A4-A5 in the United States (EN 388 cut level D-E in Europe). Sheet metal, glass handling, rebar and waste sorting sit at the high end; warehouse picking sits at A2-A3. Use the checker to see the level usually specified for your application, then confirm it with a risk assessment.
Does OSHA require a specific cut level?
No. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138 requires employers to select hand protection appropriate for the work and the hazards identified, but it does not name a cut level. The numbers buyers actually have to meet come from their own risk assessment, customer contracts, insurers and any applicable trade union agreement.
Is EN 388 level D the same as ANSI A4?
Not exactly. Both cut tests use the same TDM principle, but different edge geometry and load conditions, so the scales overlap rather than match. EN level D covers 15-22 newtons — roughly 1,530-2,240 grams — which lands in ANSI A4, with the top of the band brushing the bottom of A5. Treat any letter-to-letter chart, including ours, as approximate.
What does a marking like 4X42D mean?
It is the EN 388 six-position marking: abrasion 4, blade cut X (not rated), tear 4, puncture 2, TDM cut D, and no impact marking. The X in the second position is normal on high-performance liners, because the rotary blade blunts on hard fibres and the test stops being meaningful. The TDM letter is the number that predicts real cut performance.
Is a higher cut level always better?
No. Higher cut levels usually mean a thicker, stiffer liner, and operators who lose feel and grip take the gloves off — which produces more injuries than a lower-rated glove that is actually worn. Match the level to the hazard and keep the dexterity the job needs.
Are cut-resistant gloves cut-proof?
No. They delay and reduce injury; nothing resists a saw chain or a deliberate blade. The EN 388 puncture test also uses a blunt probe, so it says nothing about hypodermic needles — that is a separate test (ASTM F2878).