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Latex exam gloves are sold in letter sizes, XS to XL, and the ASTM D3578 specification for them defines each size by palm width and minimum length in millimetres. This page sets those figures beside one manufacturer’s own tighter figures so you can read a latex gloves size chart for what it is: a set of tolerances, not a hand measurement. It is general product information, not medical advice.
Latex gloves size chart: palm width and length (ASTM D3578)
The table reproduces the dimensions printed on the spec sheet for Dental City USAdvantage Powder Free Latex Examination Gloves (made by ICP, Inc.), checked 2026-10-30. The “ASTM D3578” columns are the standard’s values as printed on that manufacturer’s sheet, not the text of the standard itself.
| Size | ASTM D3578 palm width (mm) | This maker’s palm width (mm) | ASTM D3578 length (mm) | This maker’s length (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 70 ± 10 | 75 ± 5 | min. 220 | 240 |
| S | 80 ± 10 | 85 ± 5 | min. 220 | 240 |
| M | 95 ± 10 | 95 ± 5 | min. 230 | 240 |
| L | 110 ± 10 | 106 ± 5 | min. 230 | 240 |
| XL | 120 ± 10 | 116 ± 5 | min. 230 | 240 |
Check your product’s labelling and data sheet: the figures that apply to a glove are the ones its maker prints for that product.
How to read the chart
Palm width and length are both dimensions of the glove itself, in millimetres, not measurements of your hand. The “±” is a tolerance band: under ASTM D3578 as printed on this sheet, a Medium may have a palm width anywhere from 85 to 105 mm. This maker holds its own Medium to 90 to 100 mm. The standard sets only a minimum length, so a glove can be longer than the figure shown.
Latex gloves sizes: how to choose
The U.S. FDA states that medical gloves should fit properly so you can wear them comfortably during all patient care activities (FDA, Medical Gloves, checked 2026-10-30). The FDA page does not give a hand-measurement method, and neither does the spec sheet above, so this page does not invent one. Sizes are best compared within one maker’s range rather than across brands.
Equivalence notes: letters, millimetres and surgical numbers
S, M and L are not fixed hand measurements
The same letter can mean slightly different widths. The Large above is 110 ± 10 mm in the standard column and 106 ± 5 mm for this maker. An FDA 510(k) summary from 2003 (K031581, non-sterile powder-free latex exam gloves) citing ASTM D3578-01 prints 111 ± 10 mm for Large, and lists no Extra Large. Editions of the standard and makers differ, which is another reason to read the pack.
Surgical gloves use numbers
Surgical gloves are sized numerically rather than XS to XL. See surgical gloves sizes for that scale. For a facility-level size mix in another material, see nitrile glove sizing.
EN 455
The same spec sheet lists compliance with ASTM D3578 and EN 455 Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4. This page does not reproduce EN 455 dimensions.
Common mix-ups
- Treating palm width as hand circumference. The chart gives glove width in millimetres, so it cannot be compared directly with a hand measured in inches or centimetres around the knuckles.
- Assuming one brand’s Medium equals another’s. The tolerance bands overlap but differ, as the table shows.
- Using numeric glove sizes for exam gloves. Numeric sizing belongs to surgical gloves.
- Ignoring the material. The sheet carries a latex-sensitivity warning, and the FDA requires the materials to be named on the package labelling. See what is a latex glove and nitrile vs latex vs vinyl gloves.
FAQ
What are latex gloves?
Latex gloves are disposable gloves made from natural rubber latex. In the United States, medical gloves are regulated by the FDA as Class I reserved medical devices that require a 510(k) premarket notification, and manufacturers must identify the materials on the package labelling (FDA, Medical Gloves, checked 2026-10-30). A fuller answer is in what is a latex glove, and other materials are covered in types of gloves.
How to put on latex gloves?
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and your facility’s policy; this page does not give a step list. For the broader context of glove use as protective equipment, see bloodborne pathogens PPE.
Where can I find latex gloves sizes for a specific product?
On the product’s data sheet or packaging. Browse medical gloves and open the sheet for the exact product.
Sources
- Dental City, USAdvantage Powder Free Latex Examination Gloves spec sheet (ICP, Inc.), https://dentalcity.com/MSDS/16-110LG.pdf, checked 2026-10-30.
- U.S. FDA, Medical Gloves, https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/medical-gloves, checked 2026-10-30.
- FDA 510(k) summary K031581, Green Prospect Sdn Bhd, decision 2003-07-24, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf3/K031581.pdf, checked 2026-10-30.
