Buying one glove for the whole building is how you end up with the wrong glove in the one place it counted. Here is what each material is actually good at.
The three disposable materials
| Nitrile | Latex | Vinyl | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puncture resistance | Best | Good | Poor |
| Chemical resistance | Best | Moderate | Poor |
| Dexterity and fit | Good | Best | Loose |
| Allergy risk | None | Latex protein allergy | None |
| Relative cost | Mid | Mid | Lowest |
| Best for | Chemicals, food handling, anywhere a tear matters | Fine detail work, short duration | Light, short, low-risk tasks |
Nitrile
The default for most commercial use, and what we recommend unless there’s a reason not to. Nitrile resists punctures and a broad range of chemicals, has no latex proteins so allergies aren’t a concern, and tears visibly when it fails rather than developing pinholes you can’t see.
It costs more than vinyl. In most settings it still works out cheaper per task, because people double-glove with vinyl or change them constantly.
Latex
Still the best fit and tactile sensitivity of the three, which matters for fine detail work. The problem is allergies: latex protein sensitivity is a real occupational issue and it develops with exposure, so an employee who was fine for years can become sensitised.
If you have a mixed workforce and no specific reason to need latex, nitrile avoids the question entirely. If you do run latex, stock a nitrile alternative alongside it.
Vinyl
The cheapest and the weakest. Vinyl has a looser fit, poor chemical resistance, and it tears easily. It’s reasonable for short, clean, low-risk tasks — light food prep, brief handling jobs.
Don’t use vinyl for chemicals, for anything with sharp edges, or for any task where a failed glove creates a contamination problem.
Thickness
Disposable glove thickness is measured in mils (thousandths of an inch).
- 3–4 mil — light duty, short tasks, maximum dexterity
- 5–6 mil — general purpose, the usual choice
- 8 mil and up — heavy duty, longer wear, chemical handling, automotive
Thicker is not automatically better. Dexterity drops as thickness rises, and a glove too clumsy for the task gets taken off.
When you need cut resistance
Disposables don’t protect against blades, glass or sheet metal. That’s a different product, rated on the ANSI/ISEA 105 scale from A1 to A9, where higher means more cut resistance.
Match the level to the task rather than buying the highest. High-level cut gloves are stiffer and more expensive, and a glove too stiff for the work gets removed — which protects nobody. For most shop and warehouse handling, mid-range levels cover it; glass handling and sheet metal justify going higher.
Three mistakes we see
- Buying one glove for the whole site
- The shop floor and the lunchroom have different requirements. Two SKUs cost less than one injury or one contamination incident.
- Sizing by averages
- A glove too large snags; too small, it tears and restricts. Stock at least three sizes.
- Buying on price per box
- A box of 100 vinyl at half the price of nitrile is not cheaper if people use two pairs for every one task.