What does the EN 388 rating on a glove mean?

Short answer: EN 388 is the European standard for gloves against mechanical risks, and its shield mark is followed by a string of digits and letters that rate four to six properties in fixed order: abrasion (0-4), cut by the coupe test (0-5), tear (0-4), puncture (0-4), then an EN ISO 13997 cut letter (A-F) and an impact result (P). Reading EN 388 means knowing what each position measures.

EN 388 glove standard explained: decoding the abrasion, cut, tear, and puncture rating (2026)

If you buy work gloves, you will see two competing rating systems: the U.S. ANSI/ISEA 105 scale and the European EN 388 standard. Many gloves carry both. EN 388:2016 is published by CEN and tests mechanical performance against abrasion, cut, tear, puncture, and impact, expressing the results as a code beneath a shield-and-hammer pictogram. This guide is written for procurement teams and safety managers who need to compare gloves across brands and standards, and for anyone holding a glove wondering what "4543CP" means. We decode every position, explain the 2016 revision, and map EN 388 to the ANSI scale.

Why this matters.
Misreading a glove rating means under-protecting hands against the leading cause of recordable lost-time injuries. OSHA's hand-protection rule, 29 CFR 1910.138, requires gloves matched to the hazard, and that match depends on correctly reading either EN 388 or ANSI/ISEA 105. A glove with a high abrasion score but a low cut score is the wrong choice for blade work, no matter how tough it feels.

Part 1 — The EN 388 pictogram and code structure

EN 388 results appear as a shield pictogram followed by up to six characters, always in the same order. The first four are always digits; the fifth and sixth, added in the 2016 revision, are letters:

EN 388 → 4 5 4 3 C P
abrasion · cut(coupe) · tear · puncture · ISO 13997 cut · impact

A digit shown as X means the test was not performed or does not apply; this is common for the coupe-test cut digit on high-cut gloves (see Part 3).

Part 2 — EN 388 decode table

What each position measures and the score range:

Positions 1-4 are the original four digits; positions 5-6 were added in EN 388:2016. Browse rated gloves in our Cut-Resistant Gloves and Impact-Resistant Gloves ranges.

Part 3 — Why the cut rating changed in EN 388:2016

The original coupe-test cut score (position 2) blunts quickly against high-cut yarns like steel and glass fiber, producing unreliable readings. The 2016 revision added the EN ISO 13997 "TDM" cut test (position 5), an A-F letter scale that uses a fresh blade and a single long stroke, giving a dependable result for high-cut gloves. When a glove relies on the TDM letter, the coupe digit is often shown as X. For the U.S. equivalent of this high-cut measurement, see the A1-A9 scale in our ANSI/ISEA 105 cut-level guide.

Part 4 — EN 388 cut letter vs ANSI/ISEA 105 cut level

Both the EN ISO 13997 letter and the ANSI A-scale derive from a TDM-style test measured in newtons, so they map closely:

The mapping is approximate — the standards use different newton bands — so use it to compare, not to certify. The EN 388 impact "P" corresponds to passing a separate impact test, the depth of which the U.S. covers under ANSI/ISEA 138; see our ANSI impact gloves (ISEA 138) guide.

Part 5 — How to read an EN 388 mark

1. Find the shield pictogram. Locate the hammer-in-shield symbol on the cuff or packaging; the code follows it.
2. Read the four digits in order. Abrasion, coupe cut, tear, puncture — left to right, each 0-4 (cut 0-5).
3. Read the fifth character if present. A letter A-F is the EN ISO 13997 cut rating; trust it over the coupe digit for high-cut gloves.
4. Check for a final P. A trailing P means the glove passed the optional impact test.
5. Match to the hazard. Prioritize the position that matches your risk — cut for blades, puncture for wire and glass, impact for struck-by work.

Part 6 — Worked example: choosing a glove by its EN 388 code

A fabricator handles sheet metal with sharp edges and occasional pinch points. The target is high cut plus impact. Here is the selection on real SKUs:

1. Prioritize the cut letter. Look for a high EN ISO 13997 letter (D-F) or the ANSI equivalent A5-A9; confirm against the cut-level guide.
2. Pick a high-cut shell. The MCR Safety 92785NF CutPro A5 gloves cover sustained edge work; browse the full cut-resistant gloves range for higher letters.
3. Add impact protection. For the pinch-point risk, an impact glove with a trailing P such as the MCR Safety PD6901 Predator impact gloves from the impact-resistant gloves range adds back-of-hand defense.
4. Size for dexterity. Order the right fit with our glove size chart so the shell does not bunch.
5. Cross-check chemical exposure. If cutting fluid is present, verify material compatibility in the chemical-resistant glove guide, and pick the disposable film with the nitrile vs latex vs vinyl guide.

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Frequently asked questions

What does EN 388 mean on gloves?

EN 388 is the European standard for gloves against mechanical risks. The shield mark is followed by a code rating abrasion, cut, tear, puncture, and (since 2016) an ISO 13997 cut letter and impact result.

How do I read the EN 388 numbers?

Read left to right in fixed order: abrasion (0-4), coupe cut (0-5), tear (0-4), puncture (0-4), then a cut letter A-F and an optional P for impact. See the Part 2 decode table.

What does the letter after the EN 388 numbers mean?

The fifth-position letter (A-F) is the EN ISO 13997 cut rating added in EN 388:2016, where F is the highest cut resistance. It is more reliable than the coupe-test digit for high-cut gloves.

What does X mean in an EN 388 rating?

An X means that test was not performed or is not applicable. It commonly appears for the coupe cut digit on gloves whose cut resistance is reported by the ISO 13997 letter instead.

What is a good EN 388 cut rating?

It depends on the hazard, but for blade and sheet-metal work look for a cut letter of D or higher (or coupe level 4-5). Match the rating to the task using the cut-level guide.

What changed in EN 388:2016?

The 2016 revision added the EN ISO 13997 TDM cut test (the A-F letter) and an optional impact test (the trailing P), because the original coupe test is unreliable against high-cut yarns.

What does the P at the end of EN 388 mean?

A trailing P indicates the glove passed the optional EN 388 impact-protection test. The depth of impact protection is graded separately in the U.S. under ANSI/ISEA 138.

How does EN 388 compare to ANSI/ISEA 105?

EN 388 is European and ANSI/ISEA 105 is North American; both rate cut, puncture, and abrasion but with different test methods and scales. The cut letters map approximately as shown in Part 4.

What is the coupe test in EN 388?

The coupe test (position 2) measures cut resistance with a rotating circular blade. It blunts against high-cut materials, which is why the ISO 13997 letter was added for reliable high-cut readings.

Does a higher EN 388 number mean a better glove?

A higher number means better performance in that specific property, not overall. A glove can score high on abrasion but low on cut; match the position that matches your hazard.

Is EN 388 required in the United States?

No. U.S. workplaces follow OSHA 1910.138 and typically reference ANSI/ISEA 105, but many imported gloves carry EN 388 marks, so reading both is useful.

What is the highest EN 388 rating?

The strongest mechanical glove would read high digits in positions 1-4, a cut letter of F, and a trailing P for impact. No single glove maxes every category, so prioritize by hazard.

Does EN 388 cover chemical resistance?

No. EN 388 covers mechanical risks only. Chemical permeation is a separate standard; see our chemical-resistant glove guide.

Which glove material gives the best EN 388 cut score?

High-cut scores come from engineered yarns such as HPPE, steel, and glass-fiber blends, not the coating. Choose the shell yarn for cut and the coating for grip; see the nitrile gloves guide for coating options.

Does glove fit affect EN 388 protection?

Yes. A correctly rated glove that is too loose bunches and loses dexterity, undermining protection. Order the right size with the glove size chart.

Further reading on this site

• ANSI/ISEA 105 cut levels — the U.S. A1-A9 cut scale.
• ANSI impact gloves (ISEA 138) — decoding the impact level.
• Glove size chart — measure and order the right fit.
• Chemical-resistant glove guide — the standard EN 388 does not cover.
• Cut-resistant gloves — full lineup by cut level.
• Impact-resistant gloves — back-of-hand protection.
• Material-handling gloves — coated grip for general work.
• Chemical-resistant gloves — for permeation hazards EN 388 does not rate.
• Heat-resistant gloves — for thermal hazards.
• Nitrile gloves — disposable grades for light tasks.
• Trade gloves — general-purpose work gloves by application.