As someone with big hands, you know that gloves are definitely not one-size-fits-all. For you, gloves can be a frustrating and uncomfortable experience.
Here’s the thing: gloves shouldn’t be tight and uncomfortable. Certainly not disposable gloves, where the irritation of donning and shedding a new glove reminds you of the discomfort all over again. Your gloves should be a tool to keep you comfortable and safe.
It’s all about buying the right gloves for your hands. Here’s how to buy the best gloves for big hands, and what makes the best disposable gloves for people with larger hands.
At a glance:
How to Find The Right Glove Size For Your Hands
Let's start with the basics: how do you figure out what size gloves you should be buying? You know you have bigger hands than most, but do you need a Large, XL, or 2XL?
The answer is based on the universal measurement for glove sizing. To find your size, get a soft tape measure (you can also use a string and a ruler if you don’t have one). Wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your hand (excluding your thumb).
The result, in inches, is your glove size. This is usually between 6 and 9 but will be higher for people with large hands. If you’re between two sizes, glove makers usually recommend rounding down to the lower one, though this can make the gloves uncomfortable for people with larger hands.
Of course, most disposable gloves are sized by category rather than number. The average glove size in the US is Medium, which translates to 8-9 inches using the measurement above. Since your hands are larger than most, you'll probably want either:
- Size L: 9-10 inches
- Size XL: 10-11 inches
- Size XXL: 11 inches or bigger
Finding Glove Lengths
Since you have larger hands than many people, it’s also important to find the right glove length. You can do this by measuring the length of your hand and checking the length of your index finger.
Glove makers base length on the middle finger measurement, so start there. To do this, simply measure the distance from the base of your palm to the tip of your middle finger. From there, take a look at a U.S.-based sizing chart to translate your finger length into a glove size.
However, while glove length is based on the middle finger, glove makers assume that the index finger is an average amount shorter than the middle finger. This isn’t always the case, and it can lead to an awkward fit.
With large hands, if your index finger is shorter than your middle finger by half an inch, you should go down a glove size. Otherwise, use the measurement from your middle finger.
Choosing Your Glove Thickness
You should also give some thought to how thick your gloves will be. No matter the size, thicker gloves offer a bit more protection but a bit less dexterity. If you have large hands but have to work with small, delicate tools, you may want a slightly thinner pair.
We've created an in-depth guide to glove thickness to help you choose. As a general rule, though, gloves 3 mils thick or less are best for low-risk tasks where you only need a thin barrier against contamination. 4-6 mils are more typical for medical or lab settings, while 8 mils and above are often suitable for heavy-duty industrial tasks.
What’s Most Important in Glove Sizing?
While glove width is the standard measurement for glove sizing, glove length may actually be more important, especially if your hands are heavy and muscular. In that case, choosing gloves based on width may push you up a size and leave you with gloves that are too long in the fingers.
If you’re concerned with manual dexterity and grip, it’s more important to avoid excess material in the fingertips. That means you should choose gloves based on finger length, not hand width.
This is especially true if you're buying industrial gloves for jobs involving heavy equipment. The last thing you want is for the tip of a glove to get caught in a machine or snagged on a tool. It may be worth putting up with a slightly tight glove to make sure the fingers aren't too long.
Features of the Best Disposable Gloves For Larger Hands
For individuals with large hands, there’s an art to buying disposable gloves. In general, you should look at three things: stretchy fit, loose cuff, and material.
Stretchy Fit
If you have heavy hands or fingers with a larger diameter, you may be tempted to size up your gloves for comfort. Here’s the thing: size isn’t actually what’s important, and it’s not what will make disposable gloves comfortable.
What makes gloves comfortable is their stretch.
If you opt for a larger size, you’ll get a glove that’s too loose through the fingers and doesn’t provide the dexterity you need. But if you opt for a very elastic glove, it does a much better job accommodating larger fingers without excess material getting in the way of manual dexterity.
For this reason, it’s important to look at the stretchiness of the material and the design of the glove you buy. If the material is stretchy, you may get a better fit without needing to size up.
Loose Cuff
Unfortunately, if you have larger hands, putting on and taking off disposable gloves is usually the least comfortable part of the whole process. To that end, you have to pay attention to how the glove is designed — specifically, the cuff.
You should always use a disposable glove with a looser cuff, as this makes it much easier to put on and take off your disposable gloves correctly. Plus, it will make it much easier for the cuff to slide over your hand, which will make the fit more comfortable as you pull the glove on.
It's also a good idea to choose gloves with "rolled" or "beaded" cuffs, which have a thicker ring around the bottom. This helps avoid snagging and tearing when you pull the glove on or off.
Disposable Glove Materials For Big Hands
As we explained above, stretchiness is the key to comfort, so you should opt for a highly elastic glove material. The best candidate on that front is latex, which is designed to stretch over the hand and fit closely. It has a great balance of strength and flexibility.
However, due to allergy concerns, not everyone can use latex gloves. If you have a latex allergy, or you'll be in contact with patients or customers who might be allergic, nitrile gloves are often the next best choice for people with large hands.
Nitrile is a little less elastic than latex, but it can still stretch quite a bit. And once it's warmed by your body heat, it conforms nicely to your hands. Plus, nitrile offers better resistance to punctures, rips, and chemicals.
Top 5 Disposable Gloves For Big Hands
Here are the best gloves for people with larger than average hands:
#1: Polysilk by Shamrock Black Latex Gloves
Available in sizes from Medium to XL, these medical-grade gloves are made of high-quality latex that will easily flex to accommodate bigger hands. At a thickness of 4 mils, they strike an excellent balance between durability and dexterity. Their black color also helps to conceal a huge variety of stains, helping you maintain a professional appearance while doing even the dirtiest jobs. The lightly textured surface will also help your grip.
#2: WellBefore Endeavor Nitrile Examination Gloves
Slightly thicker than the Shamrock gloves above, and made of tough, puncture-resistant nitrile, these are great gloves for those handling tasks on the rougher side. Since they're latex-free, you can wear them without fear of an allergic reaction. They're great if you need more strength and protection than latex can offer.
#3: Curad Comfort Disposable Medical Latex Gloves
If you prefer the feel latex gloves but still want something thicker than average, Curad's latex exam gloves may be perfect for you. They have an impressive satisfaction rating on Amazon, with several reviewers specifically mentioning how well they fit on large hands. The rolled cuffs make them easy to change without ripping them by mistake.
#4: SureCare Latex Powder Free Gloves
It can be hard to find latex gloves in an XXL size, but these powder-free exam gloves from SureCare should fit even the biggest hands. They've also been processed to minimize latex proteins, reducing the chances of allergic reactions (though nitrile gloves are still better if you know you're latex-sensitive). Like the other top gloves we listed, they also feature beaded cuffs and textured fingertips.
#5: Ammex Exam Nitrile Polymer Coated Powder Free Gloves
The polymer-coated interior of these nitrile gloves reduces friction, letting you slide them on and off quickly. But since they're still made of nitrile, they'll conform to your hands for a snug, comfortable fit. This retailer offers them in sizes up to XL.
Shop for the Best Disposable Gloves at Any Size
Disposable gloves should be comfortable for your whole team, no matter what size you need. That’s why we stock a huge variety of gloves, from XS to XXL. Thousands of happy customers across the country rely on us for quality hand protection, from individuals to corporations to major government agencies. Browse our collection to find a fantastic fit!
