Glove Sizing Guide: How to Measure Hand Size (2024)

The majority of people wear the wrong glove size. When you’re wearing gloves just to keep warm, it may not be the worst thing in the world if they’re off by a size. But if you need gloves for working in the yard or using power tools, or if you work in an industry that requires good, specialized work gloves, you need them to fit — and fit well.

Unfortunately, it’s pretty tough to find good and accurate information about how to determine the right size of glove to fit your hand. We’re here to change that with this fool-proof glove sizing guide with instructions on how to correctly measure your hands and ensure your gloves fit properly.

Why Glove Size Matters

If you’re looking for a solid pair of work gloves, it’s absolutely vital you know your hand size so you can buy gloves that fit them perfectly. The wrong size glove can cause hand fatigue or even injury for the wearer, especially in vital industries like farming, construction, search and rescue, and many others.

Lots of jobs necessitate work gloves, and it’s important that you not only buy work gloves designed for your industry, but that they fit your hands as they’re supposed to. The right gloves in the right size protect your hands, health, and your ability to work.

Average Hand Sizes

The anatomy of the human hand is complex and delicate. We have 27 bones in each hand. On top of that, we’re constantly moving our hands and using the many muscles and tendons in them to perform tasks throughout the day. With all this complexity, it’s no surprise there’s more to hand size than meets the eye.

The average hand size is different for adult men, women, and children, and there’s quite a bit of hand-size variety within each group too. Generally, hand size is determined by length, breadth, and palm circumference. More on how to measure your hands accurately later.

What is the average hand size?

Hands come in all shapes and sizes, but here’s a hand size chart showing the average hand sizes for adult men and women:

What is the average glove size?

Any good range of work gloves includes a variety of sizing options, with sizes available to fit the vast majority of people’s hands. That’s why the average person’s glove size is medium, although sizing depends on whether gloves are sold separately to fit men and women’s hands or sold for unisex use.

Is glove size the same as shoe size?

Glove sizes and shoe sizes are generally indicated differently. While shoe sizes are typically given numerically (e.g. Size 9 or 9.5), glove sizes are most frequently expressed in terms of small, medium, large, extra-large, etc. But although the sizing methods may be different, there is a pretty strong correlation between glove size and shoe size!

Here’s an approximate guide to using your shoe size to determine your glove size.

How to Measure Hand Size for Gloves

The absolute best way to determine the right glove size for you is to measure your hand carefully and use a sizing chart to select the right size for your hands. Cestus Armored Gloves makes work gloves with superior performance for diverse purposes and offers a wide range of sizes to fit just about any hand.

We’re transparent and clear about sizing. Here’s how to accurately measure your hand and determine your glove size:

1. Measure the circumference of your palm on your dominant hand using a flexible measuring tape.
2. Place the beginning of the measuring tape (at 0 in.) just above the inside of your thumb, in the crevice between your thumb and index finger.
3. Wrap the measuring tape all the way around your palm (from its starting point above your thumb to the outside of your pinky finger and back again).
4. Check where the measuring tape overlaps itself at the starting point.
5. Write down the total number of inches, to the nearest quarter of an inch.
6. Use your measurement to refer to the glove size chart below and determine your Cestus glove size.

Glove Size Chart

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Does glove sizing change with different materials?

Work gloves are made using a variety of different glove materials, including natural and synthetic fabrics, to provide warmth and/or protection from the elements and risk of injury. Fortunately, the properties of these materials are factored in during the manufacturing process, so Cestus’s sizing chart is accurate for all the gloves we offer.

2. How do glove cuffs affect sizing?

There’s a range of glove cuff styles available to serve different purposes in work gloves. Some gloves are designed with longer cuffs to fit loosely over jacket sleeves for added forearm protection. Others have short cuffs that are meant to fit snugly over the wearer’s wrist to prevent debris from entering.

Cestus gloves are designed with various cuff styles to fit your wrist, while also matching the sizing guide. If your purposes require a tighter, more specific cuff size, consider opting for gloves that have an elastic/spandex cuff, like the Deep III Barrier gloves, or are adjustable, like the HandMax Black gloves.

3. Should I go up a size for gloves with liners?

If you’re buying Cestus gloves with built-in lining, you can rely on our sizing guide. If instead you have your own detached glove liners that you plan to wear underneath your work gloves, consider going up a size or two, depending on the thickness of the liners you have.

Strong, Durable, and Usable Work Gloves to Stand Up to Any Challenge

Whether you need tough impact and moisture protection, specific material that can stand up to high temperatures, or a durable pair of all-around work gloves for yard or construction work, Cestus Armored Gloves has got you covered. We offer specialized collections of strong work gloves, categorized by series, industry, and feature. When the work you do is tough, you need gloves just as tough.

Check out our catalog to find the right gloves for you, and feel free to contact us online or by phone at (503) 894-8549 with any questions.