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Surgical glove sizes are numeric half sizes, commonly 6 to 8.5, not the extra-small to extra-large letters used on examination gloves. The chart below gives the width, width tolerance and minimum length for each size as published in one named catalogue specification, so you can see how the numbers relate to millimetres.
Surgical gloves size chart (6 to 8.5)
Source: the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) item catalogue specification for sterile surgical gloves, item MMREGLOV02, checked 2026-10-29. The catalogue page is marked as no longer updated, with data last updated 2018-12-31, so treat the figures as that specification’s published values.
| Glove size | Width (mm) | Minimum length (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 77 ± 5 | 270 |
| 6.5 | 83 ± 5 | 270 |
| 7 | 89 ± 5 | 280 |
| 7.5 | 95 ± 5 | 280 |
| 8 | 102 ± 6 | 290 |
| 8.5 | 108 ± 6 | 290 |
Check your product’s labelling. Manufacturers publish their own size tables. Use the figures on the product’s pack or data sheet when they differ from this chart.
How to read the chart
Each row pairs a numeric size with a width in millimetres and a minimum length. Width rises by about 6 mm per half size in this specification (77, 83, 89, 95, 102, 108). Length does not rise with every step: sizes 6 and 6.5 share a 270 mm minimum, 7 and 7.5 share 280 mm, and 8 and 8.5 share 290 mm.
The tolerance is part of the specification. Here it is ±5 mm for sizes 6 to 7.5 and ±6 mm for sizes 8 and 8.5.
How to choose a size
The FDA says to make sure medical gloves fit properly so you can wear them comfortably during all patient care activities (FDA, Medical Gloves, checked 2026-10-29). The size marked on the pack is the reference point. The IFRC specification has labels showing the size, which hand each glove is for and the sleeve position, so the size is on the pack before it is opened.
Equivalence notes: numbers, letters and millimetres
- Numeric size to millimetres: use the width column above, or the manufacturer’s own table. The number is a label, not a measurement in itself.
- Numeric size to S/M/L: there is no standard conversion for surgical sizes, so check the maker. Letter sizes are used on examination gloves; see nitrile glove sizing.
- Standards: the IFRC specification cites EN 455-1, EN 455-2 and EN 455-3 (holes, physical properties, biological evaluation). One manufacturer, Kossan, lists both ASTM D3577 and EN 455 on a powder-free latex surgical glove (checked 2026-10-29). This page does not reproduce the standards’ contents.
Common mix-ups
- Surgical versus examination gloves. Surgical gloves are supplied sterile, as right and left pairs in individual peel packs (IFRC specification). Examination gloves use XS to XXL. See nitrile vs latex vs vinyl gloves for materials.
- Sterile versus non-sterile. Sterility is stated on the pack along with the method; the IFRC specification names ethylene oxide gas or gamma radiation. Our sterile vs non-sterile guide covers the difference.
- Material. The FDA requires manufacturers to identify the materials on the package labeling. Natural rubber latex is one option; see what is a latex glove.
- Treating one chart as universal. This chart is one specification’s published values; use the maker’s table for the product in hand.
What the pack label shows
In the IFRC specification, the primary pack carries the manufacturer’s name and address, the size, the word sterile with the sterilisation method, the lot, the expiry (year and month), a single-use statement and the CE mark. The specification’s unit is one pair, and cartons hold 50 pairs. Look for the size on the pack before relying on any chart.
FAQ
What is a surgical glove?
A sterile medical glove supplied as a right and left pair, sized in numeric half sizes. In the United States, the FDA regulates medical gloves as Class I reserved medical devices that require a 510(k) premarket notification. Related: what is a surgical gown and bloodborne pathogens PPE.
How do you put on surgical gloves?
Follow your facility’s policy and the manufacturer’s instructions for use printed in or on the pack; sterile gloving is a technique taught and assessed in practice. This page gives size information only. For the general order of PPE, see PPE donning and doffing sequence.
How do you remove surgical gloves?
Use the same sources: facility policy and the manufacturer’s instructions. The PPE sequence guide linked above covers removal as part of a full PPE ensemble.
What is the difference between a surgical glove size chart and an exam glove size chart?
Surgical charts use numbers such as 6 to 8.5 with a width in millimetres. Exam charts use XS to XXL. The two scales are not interchangeable without the maker’s table.
Sources
- IFRC item catalogue, Gloves, surgical (MMREGLOV02), checked 2026-10-29.
- U.S. FDA, Medical Gloves, checked 2026-10-29.
- Kossan, latex powder-free surgical glove, checked 2026-10-29.
Product categories for reference: medical gloves.
