Glove size conversion chart
Glove sizes come from the circumference of your palm around the knuckles (excluding the thumb). Measure in inches for US sizes or centimetres for EU sizes. Long-fingered or wide-palm hands may need to go up.
| Hand circumference | Inches | US size | EU size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17.8 cm | 7 | XS | 6 |
| 19.0 cm | 7½ | S | 7 |
| 20.3 cm | 8 | S | 8 |
| 21.6 cm | 8½ | M | 9 |
| 22.9 cm | 9 | M | 10 |
| 24.1 cm | 9½ | L | 11 |
| 25.4 cm | 10 | L | 12 |
| 26.7 cm | 10½ | XL | 13 |
Notes
- Measure the dominant hand around the knuckles, palm flat, thumb out of the loop.
- For work gloves with lining, size up one; for tight cycling gloves, stay true to size.
- Glove length = middle-finger tip to wrist crease; long fingers may need a size up even with a narrow palm.
The one measurement that matters
Glove sizing comes down to the circumference of your dominant hand measured around the knuckles, with the palm flat and the thumb left out of the loop. Use a soft tape, or wrap a piece of string and measure it against a ruler. That single figure drives both scales: in inches it maps to US letter or number sizes, and in centimetres it approximates the European size, which is why an 8-inch hand (20.3 cm) is usually a US S / EU 8. Measuring with the fingers spread or the thumb included inflates the number and leads to a loose, clumsy fit, so keep the hand relaxed and the loop snug but not tight.
Reading US, EU and UK scales together
Glove charts run three parallel scales and they do not advance in step. US sizes may be letters (XS to XL) or numbers close to the inch measurement; EU sizes are numbered in centimetres and run roughly two higher than the equivalent US number; UK sizes sit between the two and vary by brand. That is why the same hand can be "M" in one column and "9" in another, as the chart's 21.6 cm row shows (US 8½ / M / EU 9). If you only have a brand's size chart and no conversion table, find your hand circumference in centimetres first, then match it to the closest row rather than guessing from a size you own.
Lining, use and how the glove should feel
The same hand needs different sizes for different jobs. A work or winter glove with a thermal lining takes up internal space, so sizing up one is normal; a technical cycling or driving glove should fit like a second skin with no bunching at the palm. Leather gloves stretch a little with wear and mould to the hand, while synthetic shells generally do not. As a rule, a glove that is comfortable but slightly snug when new is a better choice for leather, and one with a little room in the fingers is better for a lined glove. If your hands are between sizes, the intended use decides the direction.
Palm width versus finger length
Circumference captures how wide your hand is, not how long your fingers are, and the two do not always match. Glove length is measured from the tip of the middle finger to the wrist crease, and a hand with long fingers but a narrow palm may need a size up so the fingertips are not pinched, even though the palm feels roomy. Conversely, short, broad hands may fit a size down with the fingers still fully covered. For specialist gloves — motorcycle, surgical, industrial — check whether the manufacturer sizes by palm circumference, finger length or both, because the same nominal size can differ noticeably.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I measure my glove size?
- Wrap a tape around your dominant hand across the knuckles, palm flat and thumb excluded. Inches give the US size; centimetres approximate the EU size.
- What glove size is an 8-inch hand?
- 8 inches (20.3 cm) around the knuckles is US size S / EU 8 in most brands.
- Do men's and women's glove sizes differ?
- The measurement scales are the same; women's ranges typically start smaller (6–7.5 in) and men's run 7.5–10 in, but the charts are unisex.