Two numbers on a glove product page decide whether a box works for your team: the thickness, shown in mil, and the size. Get either one wrong and gloves get torn, doubled up or left in the box. This guide explains what mil means, how to match a thickness to the job, how to get sizing right across a team, and how to order so you don't end up with a case of the wrong glove.
What does "mil" mean on disposable gloves?
A mil is one-thousandth of an inch (0.001"). It describes how thick the glove material is. It is not a grade or a quality rating. A 5 mil glove is thicker than a 4 mil glove, which is thicker than a 3.5 mil glove.
Material matters as much as the number. A 4 mil nitrile glove and a vinyl glove of similar thickness won't feel or wear the same way, so compare thickness within the same material first. If you're still choosing a material, start with Vinyl vs Nitrile: Which Should I Use?
Thin vs thick: the trade-off
- Thinner gloves are lighter and give more fingertip feel. They suit short tasks with frequent glove changes.
- Thicker gloves hold up better on longer or rougher tasks, with a little less fingertip feel.
Neither is "better." The right thickness is the thinnest glove that lasts through the task without tearing.
Which thickness for which job?
| Thickness | What we stock | Commonly used for |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 mil vinyl | Vinyl Examination Disposable Gloves 3.5 Mil (clear PVC) | Quick, light-duty tasks with frequent changes: food prep, light cleaning, salon services, hospitality, retail |
| 4 mil nitrile | Blue Nitrile Powder Free Gloves 4 mil and Blue Nitrile AdvanCare Gloves 4 Mil | All-purpose work: food service, cleaning and janitorial, salons, light industrial and assembly |
| 5 mil nitrile | Black TouchFlex Nitrile Gloves 5 Mil | Longer wear and tougher handling: tattoo and beauty studios, automotive and detailing, cleaning crews |
See every 4 mil option in 4 Mil Nitrile Gloves, or compare colours in Blue Nitrile Gloves and Black Nitrile Gloves. Our clear Vinyl Disposable Gloves are a light-duty option for the same quick-change tasks. Their product page doesn't list a mil thickness, so choose the 3.5 mil vinyl if you need a stated thickness.
Five questions to ask before you pick a thickness
- How long is each glove worn? Gloves swapped every few minutes can be thinner. Gloves worn through a longer task usually need more thickness.
- Is the task rough on gloves? Tools, parts, scrubbing and repeated gripping wear gloves out faster. Step up to 4 or 5 mil nitrile.
- Does the work need fine touch? For small items and detailed work, choose the thinnest glove that still lasts the task.
- Does colour matter? Blue is easy to spot. Black gives a clean, professional look in studios and shops.
- Are chemicals or cleaning products involved? Thickness alone doesn't tell you how a glove handles a specific product. Check the manufacturer's information for that glove, and the label of the product you're using, before you rely on it.
Getting the size right
The gloves in this guide come in Small, Medium, Large and XL, and they're ambidextrous, so each glove fits either hand. A good fit looks like this:
- Snug across the palm without pulling tight
- Fingertips reach the end of the glove without loose material
- Easy to put on, and no bunching when you make a fist
Too small and the glove stretches, is harder to put on and can tear. Too large and the fingertips flop, the glove slips and grip suffers.
For a team: let each person try their own size instead of standardizing everyone on Large. Need extra-small? Contact us to ask about current availability. For how to split a reorder across sizes, see our glove reorder guide.
Box or case? Trial first, then stock up
Every glove in the table above is sold as a box of 100 or a case of 10 boxes (1,000 gloves). A simple way to avoid buying the wrong glove in bulk:
- Order one box in each size your team needs, in the thickness you think fits the job.
- Run a normal shift or two and note any tearing, doubling up or poor fit.
- Move to cases of the size and thickness that worked.
Volume pricing is shown on each product page and applies automatically in your cart. You can mix sizes, and every case counts toward the volume tier. Orders over $149.99 ship free.
Quick checklist
- Material chosen (vinyl or nitrile) for the task
- Thinnest thickness that lasts the task without tearing
- Manufacturer information checked if chemicals or cleaning products are involved
- Sizes tried by the people who will wear them
- One box per size trialled before ordering cases
Find your glove
Browse every option in Disposable Gloves, or answer a few questions in our Glove Finder to narrow it down. Buying for a specific industry? See our guides for cleaning companies, food service and tattoo studios.
