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Select your industry and shift length — we'll recommend the right product instantly.

01 — What's your industry?

02 — How long do you wear gloves per shift?

Our Recommendation

6 Mil Black Nitrile

Ideal balance of protection and dexterity for your work environment.

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✓ Free Shipping $99+ ✓ Up to 50% Off Bulk ✓ Same-Day Shipping ✓ FDA Approved ✓ Powder-Free Options

The Complete Guide

Nitrile Glove Mil Thickness Chart

Use the chart below to match mil thickness to your industry and task. Each row links directly to the matching product collection.

Thickness Best For Protection Level Shop
3–4 mil Light Duty Exam Grade High sensitivity tasks requiring precision
Medical Dental Food Handling Lab Work
Low — Light splash protection
Shop 4 Mil
5–6 mil Medium Duty Industrial General protection with good dexterity
Automotive Tattoo Janitorial Painting
Medium — Chemical resistant
Shop 6 Mil
7–8 mil Heavy Duty High Protection Extended wear, chemical exposure risk
Chemical Handling Metalworking Hazmat
High — Puncture resistant
Shop 8 Mil
9 mil+ Maximum Duty Pro Grade Repeated puncture risk, harsh chemicals
Oil & Gas Manufacturing Industrial Lines
Maximum — Pro-grade barrier
Shop 9 Mil
💡 Pro tip: When in doubt, go one mil higher. Thicker gloves reduce hand fatigue during extended use and give you a safety margin if your task involves unexpected contact with sharps or chemicals. The price difference per pair is minimal compared to the cost of a glove failure.

By Industry

Which Mil for Your Job?

Every industry has a default. Here's what professionals in each field actually use — and why.

🏥
Medical & Dental
Recommended: 3–4 mil
Exam gloves need tactile sensitivity above all else. Thinner gloves let healthcare workers feel veins, sutures, and tissue. FDA-approved 4 mil nitrile is the clinical standard for exams, dental procedures, and lab work.
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🍔
Food Service
Recommended: 4 mil
Food-safe, powder-free 4 mil nitrile meets FDA food contact standards. Blue coloring makes contamination visible. Ideal for prep kitchens, catering, and food processing lines where frequent glove changes are standard.
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🔧
Automotive & Mechanics
Recommended: 6 mil
Grease, oil, and solvents demand a stronger barrier. 6 mil black nitrile is the shop standard — thick enough to resist automotive chemicals, thin enough to grip tools and handle small parts without fumbling.
Shop 6 Mil Black →
🎨
Tattoo & Salon
Recommended: 4–6 mil
Tattoo artists need protection from ink and blood-borne pathogens, but also fingertip feel for detail work. Black 4–6 mil nitrile keeps ink invisible while providing the sensitivity needed for precision lines.
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🏭
Industrial & Manufacturing
Recommended: 8–9 mil
Assembly lines, chemical handling, and heavy manufacturing require maximum durability. 8–9 mil nitrile withstands repeated contact with harsh solvents, oils, and sharp materials over full shifts without glove failure.
Shop 9 Mil Industrial →
🧹
Janitorial & Cleaning
Recommended: 6 mil
Cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, and bleach solutions require a reliable chemical barrier. 6 mil offers the right balance — strong enough for harsh cleaners, cost-effective enough for high-volume disposable use.
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Quick Reference

Nitrile vs. Other Glove Materials

Why nitrile over latex or vinyl? Here's how the materials compare for the most common use cases.

Feature Nitrile Latex Vinyl
Latex-Free ✓ Yes ✗ No ✓ Yes
Chemical Resistance ✓ Excellent Good ✗ Poor
Puncture Resistance ✓ High Medium ✗ Low
Tactile Sensitivity ✓ High ✓ High Low
FDA Food-Safe ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Allergy Risk ✓ None High ✓ None
Best For All-purpose, industrial, medical Light medical use Low-risk, short tasks

Common Questions

FAQ

A mil is 1/1000th of an inch. A 6 mil glove is 0.006 inches thick. It's the standard measurement in the disposable gloves industry — not to be confused with millimeters. 1 mm equals roughly 40 mil, which would be an extremely thick glove.
Not always. Thicker gloves offer more puncture and chemical resistance but reduce tactile sensitivity. For precision tasks like medical exams, surgery, or food handling, a 3–4 mil glove is the right call. Match the thickness to what your task actually demands.
Yes. All nitrile gloves are 100% latex-free, making them safe for people with latex allergies. Nitrile is a synthetic rubber that offers superior chemical resistance compared to natural latex — which is why it has largely replaced latex in medical and industrial settings.
Most standard cases contain 1,000 gloves (10 boxes of 100). Some heavier-mil gloves come in 500-count cases. Bulk ordering by the case is the most cost-effective way to buy — we offer up to 50% off on qualifying bulk orders.
Performance is identical — color is purely for identification purposes. Black gloves are industry standard for automotive, tattoo, and industrial use (grease and ink are less visible). Blue is the standard for medical and food service settings, where contamination needs to be visually obvious.
Yes. We offer tiered bulk pricing on cases of 1,000 gloves and above — up to 50% off on qualifying orders. The more you order, the more you save. Browse our bulk nitrile collections or contact us directly for a custom quote on large or recurring orders.

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