What is a nitrile glove? The short answer

A nitrile glove is a disposable glove made from nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), a synthetic, latex-free rubber. Nitrile gloves are stronger and more puncture- and chemical-resistant than latex or vinyl, and because they contain no natural rubber latex they are safe for people with latex allergies. They are the most widely used disposable glove in medicine, automotive, food service and industry. This guide answers the core questions — what nitrile is, what nitrile gloves are made of, what they are used for, and what makes an exam-grade nitrile glove different — and links to our "+il("/blogs/guides/nitrile-gloves-complete-guide","complete nitrile gloves buyer's guide")+" when you are ready to choose.

What Are Nitrile Gloves? Material, Uses & Exam-Grade Explained

Nitrile gloves are everywhere — in hospitals, repair shops, kitchens and labs — but "nitrile" itself is widely misunderstood. Below we break down exactly what the material is, how a nitrile glove is made, the jobs it is built for, and what separates a medical exam-grade nitrile glove from an industrial one. For hands-on product picks, pair this with our "+il("/blogs/guides/nitrile-gloves-complete-guide","nitrile gloves complete guide")+".

Part 1: What is nitrile?

Nitrile is a synthetic rubber called nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) — a copolymer produced by combining two monomers, acrylonitrile and butadiene. First developed in the 1930s (originally as Buna-N), it was engineered as an oil- and chemical-resistant alternative to natural rubber. The ratio of the two components is what gives nitrile its signature behavior:

• Acrylonitrile (ACN) content — higher ACN means greater resistance to oils, fuels and solvents, but a stiffer feel.
• Butadiene content — provides flexibility, stretch and tear resistance.

Glove makers tune this ratio to balance chemical resistance against comfort. Critically, nitrile contains no natural rubber latex, so it carries none of the Type I latex-allergy proteins that made natural rubber gloves a workplace hazard. That single property — latex-free protection — is why nitrile overtook latex as the dominant disposable-glove material.

Part 2: What is a nitrile glove?

A nitrile glove is a thin, disposable, single-use glove made from nitrile butadiene rubber. It is one of the three main disposable-glove materials — nitrile, latex and vinyl — and it sits at the top for durability and chemical resistance. Compared with the alternatives:

• vs latex — nitrile is latex-allergy-safe and roughly three to five times more puncture-resistant. ("+il("/blogs/guides/nitrile-vs-latex-gloves","full comparison")+")
• vs vinyl — nitrile is far stronger and more chemical-resistant; vinyl is cheaper but only suited to low-risk, short tasks. ("+il("/blogs/guides/nitrile-vs-vinyl-gloves","full comparison")+")

For a three-way breakdown see our "+il("/blogs/reference/nitrile-vs-latex-vs-vinyl-gloves","nitrile vs latex vs vinyl reference")+" and "+il("/blogs/how-to-guide/how-to-choose-disposable-gloves-nitrile-vs-latex-vs-vinyl","how to choose a disposable glove")+".

Part 3: What are nitrile gloves made of?

Nitrile gloves are made of nitrile butadiene rubber latex emulsion plus a small set of processing additives, shaped by an industrial dip-molding process. The components:

How nitrile gloves are made (dip-molding):

1. Hand-shaped ceramic formers are cleaned and dipped in a coagulant.
2. The formers are dipped into liquid NBR latex emulsion, building a thin film.
3. The film is leached (washed) to remove residual chemicals and proteins.
4. The gloves are cured/vulcanized in ovens to cross-link the rubber.
5. They are chlorinated or polymer-coated for easy, powder-free donning.
6. Gloves are stripped from the formers, then sampled and tested to an AQL.

Because the rubber is cured with accelerators, a minority of wearers can develop Type IV allergic contact dermatitis — which is why "+il("/blogs/guides/best-accelerator-free-nitrile-gloves","accelerator-free nitrile gloves")+" exist for sensitive skin.

Part 4: What are nitrile gloves used for?

Nitrile gloves are used wherever a strong, latex-free, chemical-resistant disposable barrier is needed. Their versatility is why one material spans so many industries:

A few stocked examples by use:

As an Amazon Associate, WC Safety earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are accurate as of the date shown and subject to change. Full affiliate disclosure.

Part 5: What are nitrile exam gloves?

Nitrile exam gloves (nitrile examination gloves) are medical-grade nitrile gloves that meet ASTM D6319 and are FDA-cleared as medical devices. "Exam-grade" is a regulated quality tier — it means the glove has been tested to an acceptable quality level (AQL) for pinholes and barrier integrity, so you can rely on it as an infection-control barrier. Key points:

• Standard: ASTM D6319 governs nitrile examination gloves; exam gloves are FDA 510(k)-cleared Class I/II medical devices.
• AQL: the acceptable quality level (often 1.5 or lower) caps the allowable pinhole rate — lower AQL means a more reliable barrier.
• Powder-free: the FDA banned powdered exam gloves in 2017, so exam nitrile is powder-free.
• vs industrial-grade: industrial nitrile gloves skip the medical certification — fine for shop work, not for clinical barriers.

Exam gloves serve clinics, dentistry, labs, tattoo studios and any task needing a verified barrier. Chemo-rated exam gloves (tested to ASTM D6978) add protection for handling hazardous drugs. Compare options in our "+il("/blogs/guides/best-nitrile-exam-gloves","best nitrile exam gloves guide")+", and for skin-sensitive users see "+il("/blogs/guides/best-accelerator-free-nitrile-gloves","accelerator-free exam nitrile")+".

Further reading

• Nitrile gloves: the complete buyer's guide
• Nitrile glove thickness (mil) guide · Nitrile glove sizing guide
• Nitrile vs latex · Nitrile vs vinyl · Powdered vs powder-free
• Shop: nitrile gloves · all hand protection

Nitrile gloves: frequently asked questions

Is nitrile a latex or a rubber?

Nitrile is a synthetic rubber — specifically nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) — but it contains no natural rubber latex. That distinction matters: "latex" in glove terms means natural rubber latex from the rubber tree, which carries Type I allergy proteins. Nitrile is latex-free, so it is safe for people with natural rubber latex allergies. See our nitrile vs latex (latex-free) guide.

Are nitrile gloves latex-free?

Yes. Nitrile contains zero natural rubber latex protein, so every nitrile glove is latex-free and will not trigger a Type I (natural rubber latex) allergy. This is the main reason healthcare and food operations switched from latex to nitrile.

What does nitrile mean?

Nitrile refers to nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), a synthetic copolymer made by combining acrylonitrile and butadiene. The acrylonitrile content gives it chemical and oil resistance; the butadiene gives it flexibility. In everyday use, "nitrile gloves" just means disposable gloves made from this material.

What are nitrile gloves made of?

Nitrile gloves are made from nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) latex emulsion, shaped by dip-molding hand-form molds, then cured (vulcanized) and finished with a chlorination or polymer coating for easy donning. Colorants (black, blue, orange, purple) and curing accelerators are added during manufacturing. They contain no natural rubber latex.

Are nitrile gloves toxic or safe to wear?

Nitrile gloves are safe for normal skin contact and are used billions of times a year in medicine and food service. A small percentage of people develop Type IV allergic contact dermatitis from the chemical accelerators used in curing — for them, accelerator-free nitrile gloves solve the problem. The gloves themselves are not toxic.

Are nitrile gloves food safe?

Some are. A nitrile glove is food-safe only if it is rated for food contact under FDA 21 CFR 177 — check the box. Many black industrial nitriles are not food-certified, while dedicated food-service nitriles are. See our best food-safe nitrile gloves guide.

What is the difference between nitrile exam gloves and industrial nitrile gloves?

Exam (medical-grade) nitrile gloves meet ASTM D6319 and an FDA-cleared acceptable quality level (AQL) for pinholes and barrier integrity; industrial-grade gloves do not carry that medical certification. Exam gloves are for clinical, lab and any task needing a verified barrier; industrial grade is fine and cheaper for shop work. Compare picks in our best nitrile exam gloves guide.

Why are nitrile gloves better than latex?

Nitrile is latex-allergy-safe, three to five times more puncture-resistant than latex, and far more resistant to oils, fuels and many chemicals. Latex still wins slightly on raw tactile sensitivity and elasticity. For most modern uses nitrile is the default — details in our latex-free buyer's guide.

What is nitrile gloves' shelf life?

Unopened nitrile gloves typically last about five years from the manufacture date when stored cool, dry and out of direct sunlight and ozone. Nitrile resists degradation better than latex. Check the box for a printed expiration or manufacture date.

What thickness are nitrile gloves and which do I need?

Nitrile gloves run from about 3 mil (light, dexterous) to 8 mil (heavy, protective). Food service and exam tasks use 3–5 mil; automotive and chemical work use 6–8 mil. Our nitrile glove thickness (mil) guide breaks down every tier.

Can nitrile gloves protect against chemicals?

Nitrile resists many oils, greases, fuels and solvents well, and disposable nitrile is good for incidental chemical splash. It is not for prolonged immersion in aggressive chemicals — that needs a thicker glove rated to EN 374 with a breakthrough chart. See our chemical-resistant nitrile gloves guide.

Are nitrile gloves powdered or powder-free?

Nearly all modern nitrile gloves are powder-free. The FDA banned powdered patient-examination and surgeon's gloves in 2017 (21 CFR 878.4460) because the powder carried contamination and allergy risks. See powdered vs powder-free.

What colors do nitrile gloves come in and does color matter?

Nitrile gloves come in blue, black, orange, purple, green and more. Color is pigment only — it does not change strength. Color signals use: black hides grease (black nitrile), blue is the food/general standard, orange is high-visibility, purple is the exam/chemo convention (purple nitrile).

Are nitrile gloves biodegradable?

Standard nitrile is not readily biodegradable, but a few biodegradable nitrile formulations exist that break down faster in landfill conditions. Nitrile cannot be conventionally recycled with household plastics. Dispose of used gloves per your facility's waste rules.

What size nitrile gloves should I buy?

Nitrile should fit snugly without pinching the fingertips. Most lines run XS–XXL. Measure across your palm to pick a size; size up in thick textured gloves and true-to-size in thin ones. Our nitrile glove sizing guide and full glove size chart walk through measuring.

What are nitrile gloves used for?

Nitrile gloves are used in healthcare and dentistry, automotive and mechanical work, food handling, janitorial and cleaning, laboratories, tattooing, painting, manufacturing and chemical handling. Their latex-free, puncture- and chemical-resistant build makes them the most versatile disposable glove. Browse the full nitrile gloves collection.