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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Cut-resistant glove levels run from A1 to A9 under ANSI/ISEA 105, and a higher number means the glove material needs more force to be cut through. The level describes one laboratory cut test. It does not describe puncture, abrasion, chemical or needlestick protection. Who uses it: workers and buyers in clinical, laboratory and supply settings whose hands are exposed to cuts or lacerations, the hazard category named in 29 CFR 1910.138.
What cut-resistant gloves are
Cut-resistant gloves are hand protection made or lined with materials that resist being cut by a sharp edge. Their purpose is to reduce the chance of cut and laceration injuries when hands handle blades, glass edges, sheet metal or other cutting hazards. The cut level printed on a glove, or on its packaging, is a rating from a standardized test, not a promise that the glove cannot be cut. MCR Safety, a glove manufacturer, states in its published guide that there is no such thing as cut-proof or puncture-proof gloves.
What the A1 to A9 levels mean
ANSI/ISEA 105 is the American hand protection classification standard published by the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA). ISEA describes the cut rating as classified by the weight needed to cut through the material with 20 mm of blade travel. The levels are therefore expressed as a force in grams-force (gf). The thresholds below come from ISEA’s published key to hand classifications (November 2024).
| Cut level | Cut force threshold (gf) |
|---|---|
| A1 | 200 |
| A2 | 500 |
| A3 | 1,000 |
| A4 | 1,500 |
| A5 | 2,200 |
| A6 | 3,000 |
| A7 | 4,000 |
| A8 | 5,000 |
| A9 | 6,000 |
The 2024 edition of the standard adds marking requirements intended to standardize how key protective properties are shown on the product. Read the marking on the glove you are actually handling rather than relying on older packaging or a catalog description.
Ratings versus standards
ANSI/ISEA 105 is the US standard. MCR Safety notes that EN 388 is the standard used in Europe, so a glove sold internationally may carry a different rating system on its label. Treat the two as separate systems and read each label on its own terms.
Cut, puncture and abrasion are separate ratings
ISEA describes three distinct properties in its summary of the 2024 edition:
- Cut: classified by the weight needed to cut through the material with 20 mm of blade travel.
- Puncture: assessed by the force required to puncture the material with a sharp probe.
- Abrasion: measured by the number of abrasion cycles the material can withstand before failure.
ISEA’s key lists puncture levels for a non-hypodermic probe. A hypodermic needle is a different hazard, so a puncture rating should not be read as needlestick protection.
| Puncture level | Force threshold (N), non-hypodermic probe |
|---|---|
| 0 | below 10 |
| 1 | 10 or more |
| 2 | 20 or more |
| 3 | 60 or more |
| 4 | 100 or more |
How to choose cut-resistant gloves
The only selection rule that comes from a regulator is a process, not a number. Under 29 CFR 1910.138(a), employers must select and require employees to use appropriate hand protection when hands are exposed to hazards that include severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, punctures, chemical burns and thermal burns. Under 1910.138(b), selection must be based on an evaluation of the performance characteristics of the hand protection relative to the tasks to be performed, the conditions present, the duration of use, and the hazards and potential hazards identified.
In practice that means:
- Identify the cutting hazard in the task first, then compare it with the cut level on the label. A higher level is not automatically the right answer; the evaluation is task-based.
- Check the other hazards in the same task. Cut level says nothing about chemical exposure; see chemical-resistant glove selection and how to read glove permeation data.
- Record the assessment. The site’s guide to the PPE hazard assessment written certification covers the documentation side.
Safe use and handling basics
- Use the glove for the hazard it was assessed for, and replace it if it is cut, worn through or contaminated.
- Do not treat any cut level as cut-proof; keep hands clear of the cutting edge.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use for fit, care and replacement.
- Put on and remove gloves in the order your facility’s procedure requires; see PPE donning and doffing sequence and what lab PPE is.
For disposable examination and procedure gloves, see medical gloves.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a higher level means broader protection. The level reflects one cut test only.
- Reading a cut rating as sharps or needlestick protection. The puncture probe in the standard’s key is non-hypodermic; for sharps handling see sharps disposal regulations for laboratories.
- Mixing up rating systems. ANSI/ISEA 105 levels (A1 to A9) and EN 388 markings are different systems.
- Skipping the task assessment. 1910.138 ties selection to the task, conditions, duration and hazards, not to a single number.
FAQ
How do I choose cut-resistant gloves?
Start with a hazard evaluation of the task, as 29 CFR 1910.138(b) requires: the tasks, conditions, duration of use and identified hazards. Then compare the cut level (and the puncture and abrasion ratings) on the label with that evaluation, and check for any other hazard the same task involves.
What are cut-resistant gloves?
They are hand protection made with materials that resist cutting by a sharp edge, rated under ANSI/ISEA 105 on a scale from A1 to A9 based on the force needed to cut through the material.
What are cut-resistant glove ratings and standards?
In the US, ANSI/ISEA 105 sets the A1 to A9 cut classification, along with puncture and abrasion ratings. EN 388 is the standard used in Europe, per MCR Safety.
Sources
- International Safety Equipment Association, 5 Facts About ANSI/ISEA 105-2024, checked 2026-10-29.
- International Safety Equipment Association, Key to Hand Classifications (November 2024), checked 2026-10-29.
- eCFR, 29 CFR 1910.138, Hand protection, checked 2026-10-29.
- MCR Safety, All About Cut Resistant Glove Levels (manufacturer guide; EN 388 note and the statement that no glove is cut-proof), checked 2026-10-29.
