Hand-Safety Guides
Cut-Resistant Gloves: ANSI & EN 388 Cut Levels, Explained
Every cut glove carries a rating. Here's how to read it, and how to pick the right level for the job — from a family-owned safety-glove maker.
ANSI-rated safety gear · Family-owned since 1985 · G & F Products / Philadelphia
A cut-resistant glove is only as good as the rating you can read on it — an ANSI level like A4, or an EN 388 code like 4 X 4 3 D P. This guide decodes both, and shows you exactly which level fits your work.
Why cut levels matter
Thick doesn't mean cut-resistant. A heavy leather glove can shrug off scrapes yet offer little against a blade, while a thin engineered-yarn glove can stop a knife edge and still let you feel a screw. Cut ratings let you compare gloves objectively instead of guessing.
Two standards run the market: ANSI/ISEA 105 (North America) and EN 388 (Europe, used worldwide). Plenty of gloves carry both. Five minutes here can save a trip to the ER.
ANSI cut levels (A1–A9)
ANSI/ISEA 105 rates cut resistance on nine steps, A1 (lightest) to A9 (highest). The score comes from the TDM-100 test: a blade is drawn across the material under rising weight, and the grams of force needed to cut through set the level. More grams, more protection.
| Level | Grams to cut | Hazard | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 200–499 g | Light | General handling, small-parts assembly, packaging |
| A2 | 500–999 g | Light | Material handling, general purpose, light assembly |
| A3 | 1,000–1,499 g | Light–med | HVAC, auto assembly, light glass, logistics |
| A4 | 1,500–2,199 g | Medium | Metal fabrication, appliance/auto, drywall |
| A5 | 2,200–2,999 g | Med–heavy | Food & meat processing, sharp metal/glass, sheet metal |
| A6 | 3,000–3,999 g | High | Heavy metal fabrication, glass manufacturing |
| A7 | 4,000–4,999 g | High | Pulp & paper, extreme metal & glass |
| A8 | 5,000–5,999 g | High | Heavy metal/glass, blade changing, die cutting |
| A9 | 6,000 g+ | Extreme | Extreme cut hazards, heavy blade & sharp-metal handling |
Which level do you need?
It's a trade-off between protection and feel. Over-glove a fine task and you lose dexterity; under-glove a sharp one and you get hurt. Start here, then step up if your edges are sharper than average.
| If your work involves… | Start around |
|---|---|
| General handling, assembly, packaging, warehouse | A1–A2 |
| Automotive, HVAC, construction, light glass/metal | A3–A4 |
| Sheet metal, food/meat processing, sharp parts | A4–A5 |
| Heavy metal fabrication, glass manufacturing | A6–A7 |
| Blade handling, die cutting, extreme edges | A8–A9 |
Reading an EN 388 rating
EN 388:2016 packs several mechanical scores into one code. Left to right, each character is a separate test:
Two of those are cut scores. The coupe test (1–5) uses a spinning blade compared to a reference fabric — but tough yarns dull that blade, so the digit often reads "X" and the glove relies on the letter instead. The ISO 13997 test (A–F) is the newer, more reliable straight-blade test, scored in newtons:
| ISO 13997 | Force |
|---|---|
| A | 2–4.9 N |
| B | 5–9.9 N |
| C | 10–14.9 N |
| D | 15–21.9 N |
| E | 22–29.9 N |
| F | 30 N+ |
A final "P" means the glove passed the optional impact test — common on mechanic and impact gloves.
ANSI vs. EN 388: quick cross-reference
Because the ANSI TDM (grams) and EN 388 ISO 13997 (newtons) tests use a similar straight blade, the scales line up roughly — useful when a glove lists only one. Approximate, not exact:
| ANSI level | ≈ EN 388 (ISO) |
|---|---|
| A1–A2 | A–B |
| A3 | B–C |
| A4 | C |
| A5 | D |
| A6 | E |
| A7–A9 | F |
Materials & picks
Cut resistance comes from the yarn, not the bulk. The workhorses:
HPPE (engineered polyethylene)
Light, comfortable, great dexterity — the base for most modern cut gloves (A2–A6). See our A5 HPPE glove.
Aramid (Kevlar®)
Cut and heat resistance — the reason it's in welding and foundry gloves. See our Kevlar cut gloves with PVC grip.
Steel & glass-fiber core
Fibers wrapped on a steel or glass filament reach the top levels (A5–A9) while staying flexible.
Coatings (nitrile, PU, latex)
Added to the palm for grip and better abrasion/puncture scores — they don't raise the cut level but make gloves work in oil and wet.
FAQ
Does "cut-resistant" mean cut-proof?
No glove is cut-proof. Cut-resistant gloves sharply reduce the risk and severity of a laceration, but a determined blade, a sawing motion, or a puncture can still get through.
What does A4 mean?
It withstands 1,500–2,199 grams of blade force before cutting through — solid medium-duty protection for metal work, auto, drywall, and general sharp edges.
Is a higher level always better?
Not always. Higher levels can be thicker and stiffer with less feel. An A9 glove on a light line just slows the worker down. Match it to the real hazard.
Cut vs. puncture vs. abrasion?
Separate hazards, separate tests. A high cut level won't stop a needle (puncture) or wear-through (abrasion) — read the full EN 388 code when all three matter.
My glove shows "X" for cut — bad?
No. "X" just means the coupe test was inconclusive (often because the yarn dulled the blade). Read the ISO 13997 letter instead.
Get the right cut-resistant gloves
G & F Products has made durable, affordable work and safety gloves in Philadelphia since 1985 — from everyday A2 handling gloves to A9 blade protection.
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