Cut Resistant Gloves

ANSI/ISEA 105 Levels A1–A9 · EN 388 Cross-Reference · Food-Grade & Coated Options · Every Level A1 Through A9 Reviewed

Which cut resistant gloves should you buy in 2026?

Short answer: A4 and A5 cover the large majority of real tasks. For general handling with good dexterity the PIP MaxiFlex Cut 34-8743 is the reference — thin enough that people keep it on. Where the edges are sharper, step up to A5 cut resistant gloves such as the Ergodyne ProFlex 7040. Glass, metal stamping, and blade-change work justify the top of the scale — the MCR CutPro A9 sits there. Levels below come from each manufacturer's listing.

Editor's pick: the MaxiFlex Cut 34-8743 — the best-balanced glove here on the axis that actually decides outcomes, which is whether the glove stays on the hand for fiddly work.

Affiliate disclosure: WC Safety is an independent review site. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We do not sell products directly, and no brand paid for placement.

Our methodology: how this collection was curated

We record the ANSI/ISEA 105 level exactly as the manufacturer states it, and we never silently convert an EN 388 rating into an ANSI one — the two scales come from different tests and are not interchangeable. Where a glove carries both, we say so. We note coating and gauge because dexterity is the deciding factor in whether protection is actually worn, and we flag food-grade and FDA-accepted status separately from cut level, since they answer different questions. Levels we cannot trace to the maker's documentation are excluded, and we do not restate gram-force figures as our own measurements.

Cut Resistant Gloves (2026)

Lacerations are the most common serious hand injury in industry, and they are also the most preventable — the glove either resists the blade or it does not. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138 requires hand protection matched to the assessed hazard without naming a level, so the specification is yours to set. The scale that does the naming is ANSI/ISEA 105, published through ANSI, which grades cut resistance from A1 to A9. This collection inside our hand protection hub reviews gloves at every level of that scale from PIP, Ansell, HexArmor, MCR Safety, Ergodyne, Magid, and NoCry.

What this collection covers

• PIP MaxiFlex Cut 34-8743 — the dexterity benchmark for everyday handling.
• Ansell HyFlex 11-518 and 11-561 — thin-gauge precision work.
• HexArmor Helix 3033 A5 food-safe and ProFlex 7040 A5 food-grade — processing and kitchens.
• HexArmor Helix 2076 — cut plus puncture resistance in one shell.
• Magid A6 and the MCR CutPro A9 — the high end of the scale.
• NoCry premium food-grade — home kitchen and light workshop.

Different hazard? Back-of-hand blows belong in impact resistant gloves, solvents in chemical resistant gloves, hot work in heat resistant gloves, and general handling in leather work gloves. Unsure of the level? Use the cut resistance level selector.

ANSI cut level comparison

How to choose cut resistant work gloves

ANSI A1–A9 and EN 388 A–F are not the same scale

This is the single most common error in the category, and it is worth being blunt about. ANSI/ISEA 105 grades cut resistance A1 through A9 based on the grams of load needed to cut through the material. EN 388:2016 reports two cut results: a coup-test number from 1 to 5, and a TDM letter from A to F. So a shopper searching for cut level 5 gloves is describing two different products depending on which standard the seller means — an EN 388 coup 5 and an ANSI A5 come from different tests, and neither converts cleanly into the other. Always read which standard a listing is quoting before comparing two gloves. Our EN 388 explainer decodes the European string, and choosing by ANSI level covers the American one.

Are cut proof gloves a real thing?

No — and the distinction matters more here than the wording suggests. There is no such thing as cut proof gloves. Every product in this category is cut resistant, rated by how much force it withstands before a blade gets through, and a sharp enough edge with enough load will cut any of them. What the rating buys you is time and margin: an A5 glove turns a laceration into a scratch far more often than an A2, but none of them makes a hand invulnerable. Treat the level as risk reduction, and keep hands out of the blade path regardless.

Does a higher cut level mean less dexterity?

Generally yes, and this is where most selection goes wrong. Higher levels use denser or thicker yarns, which costs finger feel. Buying A9 for a task that needs A4 produces a glove people peel off to handle small parts — and a glove in a pocket has a protection level of zero. Modern high-performance yarns have narrowed the gap considerably, so check the gauge and coating rather than assuming, but the trade has not disappeared. The A4 vs A5 comparison covers the most common decision point.

What about punctures, needles, and blades held in anger?

Cut resistance is tested with a blade drawn across the material under load. That does not describe a puncture, where a point concentrates force in one spot — puncture is rated separately, and the Helix 2076 carries both ratings. Hypodermic needle protection is different again and needs a specifically needle-rated glove, and no glove reviewed here carries that rating — see the needle-resistant guide for that requirement. And stab resistance is a separate standard aimed at body armour entirely; no work glove on this page is stab-rated.

Regulatory context: what the levels are and are not

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.138 requires employers to select hand protection based on the hazards identified in the assessment required by 29 CFR 1910.132. It names no cut level, which is why the standard matters: ANSI/ISEA 105 gives you A1 to A9 measured by grams of cutting load, so specifying "A4 minimum for sheet metal handling" is a defensible written control while "heavy-duty gloves" is not. Two further cautions. First, the cut level describes the material, not the glove's weakest point — a seam, cuff, or uncoated back can fail before the palm does. Second, ANSI/ISEA 105 also grades abrasion, puncture, and needlestick separately, so a high cut level tells you nothing about those. Where a listing shows an EN 388 string instead, read it against our explainer rather than translating by feel.

What pairs with cut resistant gloves

Sizing is the quiet failure mode here: a loose cut glove bunches and exposes skin at the fingertips, so check the glove size chart before ordering a crew's worth. For the full category treatment see the complete guide and our best cut-resistant gloves picks. Tasks that cut usually also strike — rigging and glass work commonly need impact protection as well, which is a separate rating under ANSI/ISEA 138 and never implied by a cut level.

Total cost of ownership

Cut gloves are washable and that is where the savings live — most shells survive repeated laundering, and a crew that washes rather than discards can cut consumption sharply. Two caveats worth knowing. Coated palms degrade faster than the shell, so a glove can look fine while its grip is finished, and heat or bleach can damage high-performance yarns; follow the maker's care instructions rather than the site laundry default. Retire any glove with a hole, a frayed seam, or a cut through the coating — a compromised glove no longer performs at its rated level, and the rating is the only reason it is on the hand.

Cut resistant gloves FAQ

What ANSI cut level do I need for my task?

A1–A2 for light assembly and warehousing, A3–A4 for sheet metal and general fabrication, A5 for food processing and glass edges, and A6–A9 for glass handling, stamping, and blade changes. Specify from the task, not from the highest number available.

Are ANSI cut levels and EN 388 ratings the same thing?

No. ANSI/ISEA 105 grades A1 to A9 by grams of cutting load. EN 388:2016 reports a coup-test number 1–5 plus a TDM letter A–F. They come from different tests and do not convert cleanly, so always check which standard a listing quotes.

Are there such things as cut proof gloves?

No. Everything in this category is cut resistant, not cut proof. A sharp enough blade under enough load will cut through any glove; the rating tells you how much force it takes, which is risk reduction rather than immunity.

Does a higher cut level mean less dexterity?

Usually. Higher levels use thicker or denser yarns, which costs finger feel — and a glove removed for fine work protects nothing. Modern yarns have narrowed the gap, so compare gauge and coating rather than assuming.

Will cut-resistant gloves protect against punctures or needles?

Not automatically. Cut and puncture are rated separately, and hypodermic needle protection is different again, requiring a specifically needle-rated glove. None of the gloves reviewed here carry a needlestick rating.

Are cut-resistant gloves stab proof?

No. Stab resistance is a separate standard developed for body armour, and nothing in this collection is rated to it. Do not treat a high cut level as protection against a stabbing motion.

Can cut-resistant gloves be washed and reused?

Most shells launder well, which is the main way to control cost in this category. Follow the manufacturer's care instructions — heat and bleach can damage high-performance yarns — and retire any glove with a hole, frayed seam, or damaged coating.

What is the difference between cut resistant and impact resistant gloves?

Different standards for different hazards. Cut is ANSI/ISEA 105 (A1–A9); impact is ANSI/ISEA 138 (Levels 1–3) covering blows to the back of the hand. A glove needs both ratings stated if you face both hazards.

Are Kevlar gloves the same as cut resistant gloves?

Kevlar is one material used to achieve cut resistance, not a rating in itself. What matters is the stated ANSI level, since a Kevlar blend can land anywhere on the scale depending on construction.

Are any of these cut resistant gloves food-grade?

Yes — the HexArmor Helix 3033 is A5 food-safe and the Ergodyne ProFlex 7040 is A5 food-grade, with the MCR CutPro A9 listed as FDA accepted. Food-grade status is separate from cut level and both should be checked.

Does the cut level apply to the whole glove?

It describes the tested material, not the weakest point of the finished glove. Seams, cuffs, and uncoated backs can fail before the palm, so inspect construction as well as the rating.

What size should I order?

Use the manufacturer's size chart rather than a general guess — a loose cut glove bunches and exposes the fingertips, which is where most lacerations land. Our glove size chart reference covers measuring.

Why trust WC Safety on cut protection?

WC Safety reviews workplace PPE full-time as an independent affiliate site — we do not sell products, hold no inventory, and accept no paid placements. In this category the common failure is quoting a bare "Level 5" without saying which standard produced it, and we do not: ANSI/ISEA 105 (A1–A9) and EN 388 (coup 1–5 plus TDM A–F) are reported separately and never converted by eye. We also state what these gloves are not — nothing here is cut-proof, stab-rated, or needle-rated. Standards above trace to ANSI/ISEA 105, ANSI/ISEA 138, EN 388, and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 and 1910.138. Reviewed by Steven Eaton, WC Safety editor. Last reviewed: July 2026.