Quick lookup: our free safety standards converter maps EN, ANSI/ISEA, CSA and NIOSH ratings side by side — cut levels, respirator classes, hard hats, hi-vis, eye, and hearing.

A glove marked EN 388 4X42C — what ANSI cut level is that?

Short answer: The final letter is the cut grade: EN 388 level C means ≥10 newtons on the ISO 13997 TDM test, which converts to roughly 1,020 grams — ANSI/ISEA 105 level A3. The general map: EN A≈A1, B≈A2, C≈A3, D≈A4, E≈A5, F≈A6 and up.

EN 388 vs ANSI/ISEA 105: Glove Cut Levels Converted

Amazon and European suppliers routinely list gloves with only an EN 388 shield, while US safety programs write specs in ANSI A-levels. Because the 2016 revisions of both standards adopted the same tomodynamometer (TDM) cut test — ISO 13997 in Europe, ASTM F2992 in the US — the two scales measure the same thing in different units: newtons vs grams. This guide converts them honestly and decodes every character in the EN shield. For the US scale itself, start with our ANSI/ISEA 105 A1–A9 explainer.

Why this matters.
Buying on the wrong scale gets workers hurt or overspends the glove budget: an EN 'level 4' coup digit is not ANSI A4, and an EN letter C glove bought as a 'high cut glove' is only mid-scale A3 protection. The conversion table below is the difference between spec and guess.

Part 1: Reading the EN 388 shield, character by character

A current EN 388:2016 marking has up to six characters under the shield, in order: abrasion (1–4), coup-test cut (1–5, or X when the newer TDM test governs), tear (1–4), puncture (1–4), then the TDM cut letter (A–F per ISO 13997), and optionally P for passing the EN 13594 impact test. So 4X42C reads: top-grade abrasion, coup test skipped, mid tear, mid puncture, TDM cut level C. The letter — not the old second digit — is the number your spec should care about, exactly as the A-number is the figure that matters in the US system.

Part 2: The conversion — newtons to grams

Both TDM tests measure the force a blade needs to cut through the material over a standard stroke. Europe reports newtons; the US reports grams-force. One newton is about 102 grams-force, which produces the conversion table below. Two honesty notes: first, the scales' break points don't align perfectly — EN level F starts at 30 N (≈3,060 g), which lands at ANSI A6, but a strong F glove may test into A7 territory; second, a conversion is an approximation of the marketing kind unless the maker publishes both certifications, which quality brands increasingly do. Our stocked cut-resistant gloves list the ANSI level on every product page, with picks ranked in the best cut-resistant gloves guide and the A5-specific guide.

Conversion at 1 N ≈ 102 g-force. Both scales use the same TDM machine test (ISO 13997 / ASTM F2992); equivalences are functional approximations.

Part 3: Impact, chemical, and the other letters

Cut is only one axis. EN 388's trailing P marks back-of-hand impact protection under EN 13594 — the US answers with a separate standard entirely, ANSI/ISEA 138, with its own 1–3 levels; browse tested models in the impact-resistant collection. Chemical protection is likewise separate on both continents (EN 374 vs permeation data — see the chemical-resistant collection). And task categories change the calculus: welding gloves prioritize heat, mechanics gloves add TPR that may not be ANSI 138 tested — a distinction our listings state plainly — and general leather work gloves often publish no cut rating at all.

Part 4: Writing a spec that works on both continents

Spec the test, not the badge: 'TDM cut ≥15 N (EN 388 level D) or ANSI/ISEA 105 A4' names the same protection twice and lets purchasing buy from either market. For US-side compliance context, OSHA 1910.138 requires hand protection matched to the hazard without naming levels — the hazard assessment sets the level, and our choose-by-level how-to maps common tasks to A-numbers (food-service tasks have their own food-grade picks). Disposable nitrile is a different conversation entirely — thickness in mils and chemical splash, not cut — covered in the nitrile collection; needlestick hazards likewise have their own needle-resistant category.

Worked example: decoding 'EN 388: 4X42C' on an import glove listing

A maintenance manager finds well-priced gloves listed only as 'EN 388: 4X42C' and needs to know whether they meet the site's ANSI A4 cut spec. The decode:

1. Split the marking into its six positions. 4 (abrasion) — X (coup cut, not performed) — 4 (tear) — 2 (puncture) — C (TDM cut letter) — no trailing P (no impact rating).
2. Ignore the X correctly. X in the coup position isn't a defect: it means the maker deferred to the newer TDM test, which is exactly the number the ANSI scale also uses.
3. Convert the TDM letter. Level C = ≥10 N ≈ 1,020 g-force, which maps to ANSI/ISEA 105 level A3.
4. Compare to the site spec. The spec says A4 (≥1,500 g). A3 falls short — these gloves are a legitimate mid-cut product but not compliant for this site's sharp-edge tasks.
5. Buy to the spec, either scale. The purchase line becomes 'EN 388 TDM level D or ANSI A4 minimum' — either badge satisfies it, and dual-certified models remove all doubt.

Thirty seconds of decoding prevented an under-spec buy that looked like a bargain.

Frequently asked questions

Is EN 388 'cut level 5' the same as ANSI A5?

No — that's the classic mixup. The old EN coup digit runs 1–5 on a different test; ANSI A5 means ≥2,200 g on the TDM test. Compare the EN TDM letter (A–F) to ANSI A-numbers instead: EN E ≈ A5.

What does the X in an EN 388 marking mean?

The test in that position wasn't performed. Most commonly the coup cut digit is X because the blade dulled on high-performance yarns, and the TDM letter governs instead.

Which is stricter, EN 388 F or ANSI A9?

ANSI's scale runs higher: A9 requires ≥6,000 g (~59 N), nearly double EN F's 30 N threshold. Ultra-high-cut gloves are better differentiated on the ANSI scale.

Are the two TDM tests really identical?

ISO 13997 and ASTM F2992 use the same tomodynamometer principle and produce comparable force values; procedural details differ slightly, which is why conversions are labeled approximate unless a glove is certified to both.

Does the EN 388 P replace ANSI/ISEA 138?

No. EN 13594's P is pass/fail back-of-hand impact; ANSI/ISEA 138 grades impact 1–3 with its own dorsal test. A dorsal-TPR glove without either marking has unverified impact protection.

What are the first four EN 388 digits again?

Abrasion (1–4), coup cut (1–5 or X), tear (1–4), puncture (1–4) — in that fixed order under the shield, followed by the TDM letter and optional P.

What ANSI level do most construction tasks need?

General construction commonly lands at A2–A4; glass, ductwork, and demolition push to A4–A5; blade-adjacent manufacturing goes higher. The hazard assessment, not habit, sets the number.

Do leather work gloves have cut levels?

Usually not — most general leather gloves publish no EN 388 or ANSI cut certification, which means unrated, not zero. Task them accordingly.

Can a glove carry both EN 388 and ANSI markings?

Yes, and quality brands increasingly dual-certify. Both marking blocks must be present (shield + digits/letters for EN, A-level for ANSI) — dual marks remove conversion guesswork entirely.

Does cut level change with glove wear?

Ratings describe new gloves. Abrasion, cuts in the shell, and laundering (for some yarns) degrade protection — inspection and replacement cycles matter as much as the initial level.

Is higher always better?

No — dexterity falls as cut level rises, and an A7 glove a worker removes for fine tasks protects nothing. Spec the level the hazard needs and prioritize fit and feel within it.

How does puncture differ between the systems?

EN 388's puncture digit (1–4) uses a standardized stylus; ANSI 105 has its own puncture and needlestick methods. They're not interchangeable numbers — treat puncture claims per-system.

What about food-service cut gloves?

Same scales apply, plus food-contact compliance. Food-grade A4–A6 knit gloves are their own product family with dedicated picks in our food-grade guide.

Where does OSHA set required cut levels?

It doesn't name levels: 29 CFR 1910.138 requires hand protection appropriate to the hazard. The employer's hazard assessment translates tasks into an A-level or EN letter.

Do cut levels apply to disposable nitrile gloves?

Not meaningfully — disposables are rated by thickness (mil) and chemical performance, not TDM cut force. Cut hazards need knit or coated cut-resistant gloves over or instead of disposables.

Further reading on this site

• ANSI/ISEA 105 Cut Levels A1–A9 Explained — the US scale in depth
• How to Choose Cut-Resistant Gloves by ANSI Level — task-to-level mapping
• ANSI/ISEA 138 Impact Standard — the dorsal-impact system EN 388's P approximates
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138 — the US hand-protection rule itself
• Best Cut-Resistant Gloves — current picks with levels flagged
• Cut-resistant glove collection — ANSI level listed on every product