Cut levels decoded
ANSI Cut Levels Explained (A1-A9)
Most coated work gloves are A1. An A5 looks almost identical on a shelf and is a different product.
Cut resistance is the one hand-protection property with a clean, measurable standard behind it, which should make glove shopping easy. The complication is that the overwhelming majority of work gloves sold are rated A1 - the lowest level - and on a shelf an A1 glove and an A5 glove can look nearly identical. The rating is the only thing that distinguishes them, so it is worth understanding properly once.
How the rating is measured
ANSI/ISEA 105 uses the ASTM F2992 test method, often called the TDM-100. A straight blade is drawn across the glove material under increasing load, and the result is the gram load required to cut through at a fixed 20 mm distance. The levels are bands of that measured load, which is why the scale is objective and comparable between manufacturers.
Two things follow. First, the rating is about a slicing blade - which is why it does not predict puncture resistance at all. Second, because it is a load measurement, every level can be cut with enough force. A high rating buys you resistance and reaction time, not immunity.
The full table
| Level | Protection | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Minimal - treat as none for cutting hazards | General handling, scrapes. Most nitrile-coated work gloves |
| A2 | Light | Light assembly, small parts, packaging, general trades |
| A3 | Light to moderate | Light material handling, warehouse with some edges |
| A4 | Moderate - start of the useful band | Sheet metal, light glass, HVAC duct, banding |
| A5 | Moderate to high - the common sweet spot | Glass, metal fabrication, blade handling, food processing |
| A6 | High | Heavy glass and metal, meat processing |
| A7 | High | Heavy fabrication, blade-intensive work |
| A8 | Very high | Blade changing, severe laceration risk |
| A9 | Highest | Extreme laceration hazards |
Note how far apart A1 and A5 are in real terms despite being four steps apart. Someone handling sheet metal in an A1 coated glove has, functionally, no cut protection - which is the single most common hand-protection error in the trades.
Quick picks
Ranked by our published scoring rubric. Tap any row for the full write-up.
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  COOLJOB A5 Cut-Resistant Gloves (Fiberglass-Free)A genuine A5 - the band for glass, sheet metal, banding and blade work. | The level most people actually need | 8.8 | |
| 2 |  MaxiFlex Cut Level A2 Nitrile-Coated Gloves (34-8743)A stated A2 in a glove thin enough for fine work - the honest middle ground. | Light cut protection you will keep on | 8.4 | |
| 3 |  MaxiFlex Ultimate 34-874 Nitrile-Coated GlovesAn excellent glove - and an illustration that A1 is essentially no cut protection. | Showing what A1 actually is | 8.0 |
#ad Prices pulled from Amazon and stamped as of October 6, 2026; they change, and we show no number we cannot verify. How we are funded.
Right level for most · The level most people actually need
COOLJOB A5 Cut-Resistant Gloves (Fiberglass-Free)
A genuine A5 - the band for glass, sheet metal, banding and blade work.
If you handle anything that cuts, A4 or A5 is where you should be, and the gap between that and the A1 gloves most people wear is enormous despite being four steps on a nine-step scale. This is a real A5 rating at a low price.
The fiberglass-free yarn matters: many cheap cut gloves use fiberglass in the blend, and loose fibers cause the skin irritation that makes people stop wearing them. A cut rating is not a puncture or impact rating.
Specs that matter
- Cut rating:
- ANSI/ISEA 105 level A5
- Yarn:
- Fiberglass-free HPPE blend
- Grip:
- Coated palm
- Pack:
- Multi-pair
Our scoring
- Cut level
- 9.2
- Dexterity
- 7.0
- Skin comfort
- 8.6
- Grip
- 7.8
- Value
- 9.5
What works
- A5 is genuine cut protection, two full levels above a typical coated glove
- Fiberglass-free yarn avoids the skin irritation cheap cut gloves cause
- Cheap enough to keep several pairs around
What to know
- Cut rating is not impact or puncture protection — different hazard
- Thicker than a nitrile glove, so dexterity drops
- No warmth and no waterproofing
No. 2 · Light cut protection you will keep on
MaxiFlex Cut Level A2 Nitrile-Coated Gloves (34-8743)
A stated A2 in a glove thin enough for fine work - the honest middle ground.
The practical problem with cut gloves is thickness: a high-level glove gets removed for the delicate part of the task. An A2 glove with MaxiFlex's dexterity stays on all day, and for trades whose cut exposure is occasional rather than constant that is the better real-world outcome.
A2 is light protection - do not mistake it for enough for glass or blades. Sold by the dozen, and the coating wears quickly on abrasive work.
Specs that matter
- Cut rating:
- ANSI/ISEA 105 level A2
- Coating:
- Microporous nitrile palm
- Liner:
- Seamless knit, 15 gauge
- Pack:
- Sold as 12 pairs
Our scoring
- Cut level
- 6.0
- Dexterity
- 9.0
- Skin comfort
- 9.0
- Grip
- 9.0
- Value
- 8.8
What works
- A stated cut rating in a glove thin enough for fine work
- Same micro-foam grip and breathable knit back as the uncoated MaxiFlex
- Dozen packs make per-pair cost low enough to replace them properly
What to know
- A2 is light cut protection - not enough for glass or blade handling
- No impact protection
- Coating wears quickly on abrasive work
No. 3 · Showing what A1 actually is
MaxiFlex Ultimate 34-874 Nitrile-Coated Gloves
An excellent glove - and an illustration that A1 is essentially no cut protection.
Included deliberately as the reference point. This is one of the best general work gloves made, and its cut rating is A1 - which in practical terms means it will not stop a blade. Most coated work gloves people assume are protective sit here.
That is not a criticism of the glove; it is excellent at grip and dexterity, which is what it is for. It is a criticism of assuming any coated glove offers cut protection.
Specs that matter
- Coating:
- Micro-foam nitrile, palm and fingers
- Liner:
- 15-gauge seamless knit
- Pack:
- Sold as 12 pairs
- Cut rating:
- ANSI A1 — minimal
Our scoring
- Cut level
- 3.0
- Dexterity
- 9.5
- Skin comfort
- 9.2
- Grip
- 9.0
- Value
- 9.4
What works
- Dexterity close to bare hands — you can pick up a washer
- Breathable back, so hands do not swim in sweat
- Buying by the dozen drops the per-pair cost dramatically
What to know
- Almost no cut protection and no impact protection
- Nitrile coating fails within weeks on abrasive work
- Not waterproof and no warmth
Do not over-specify
The temptation is to buy the highest level available, and it usually backfires. Higher cut levels mean thicker, stiffer gloves, which cost dexterity - and a glove removed for the delicate part of a task is not protecting you during the delicate part. That is the most common way cut gloves fail in practice, and it is a behavioral failure rather than a material one.
Buy the level your real hazard requires, which for most trades handling edges is A4 or A5. Going to A7 because it sounds safer typically produces a glove that lives in a toolbox: cut-resistant work gloves.
The three separate ratings people conflate
- Cut (A1-A9, ASTM F2992) - resistance to a slicing blade.
- Puncture (rated separately under the same standard) - resistance to a point. A nail goes through a high-level cut glove because the yarn resists slicing, not piercing.
- Impact (ANSI/ISEA 138, levels 1-3) - crush and pinch protection from TPR armor. Entirely separate: impact gloves.
A glove can be excellent at one and useless at the others, and combination gloves always compromise dexterity. For most trades the practical answer is to choose for the dominant hazard and carry a second pair - which is the conclusion gloves for construction reaches too.
The fiberglass problem
One material note worth acting on. Many budget cut gloves use fiberglass in the yarn blend, because it is cheap and cuts well. Loose fiberglass fibers cause real skin irritation and itching, and it is a common reason people abandon cut gloves entirely. Fiberglass-free HPPE blends cost slightly more and get worn, which makes them the better buy at any level.
Frequently asked
What ANSI cut level do I need?
A1 to A3 for general handling where the risk is scrapes and nicks. A4 to A5 for glass, sheet metal, banding and blade work - the band most people who think they need cut protection actually need. A6 and above for heavy glass, metal fabrication and blade changing.
How are ANSI cut levels tested?
Using the ASTM F2992 TDM-100 method: a straight blade is drawn across the material under increasing load, and the rating reflects the gram load needed to cut through at a fixed 20 mm distance. Because it is a measured load, the scale is objective and comparable between manufacturers.
Is A5 cut resistance good?
Yes - A5 is the common sweet spot for glass, sheet metal, banding and blade handling, offering substantial protection while remaining wearable. Going higher costs dexterity, which has its own safety consequence if it means the glove comes off for fine work.
Do cut-resistant gloves stop punctures?
Not reliably. ANSI/ISEA 105 rates cut and puncture resistance separately, and the yarns that resist a slicing blade do little against a nail or needle, which pushes between the fibers. If puncture is your hazard, buy a glove rated specifically for it.
Why do my cut-resistant gloves make my hands itch?
Most likely fiberglass in the yarn blend - it is cheap and cuts well, and loose fibers cause irritation. Fiberglass-free HPPE blends cost a little more and are far more wearable, which matters because an itchy glove is a glove you stop using.
Sources
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