A mandoline slices a potato in a second, and it can do the same to a fingertip. A cut-resistant glove is cheap insurance for that kind of work, and for graters, shucking and boning. It is resistance, though, not armor. Mercer says plainly on its gloves that they are not cut proof or point puncture resistant, and that they should not be used with moving or serrated blades.
So read this guide with two ideas in mind. The rating tells you how a glove performs in a standard test, and a good fit decides whether you can use it safely at all. We list the ANSI rating as each maker states it and say where a listing is unclear.
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Quick verdict: the best cut resistant gloves for most kitchens
Buy the Mercer Culinary MercerGuard. America’s Test Kitchen named it its favorite after testing six models, calling it the thinnest it tried and the one that fit the most hand sizes. Mercer rates it ANSI A4. For more protection, Mercer’s MercerMax is rated A7. Whatever you buy, keep moving and serrated blades away from it.
Five cut gloves compared by rating
One pick for each kind of task, with ratings as stated by each maker or listing.
| Glove | Best for | Stated cut rating | Material | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mercer Culinary MercerGuard Cut Glove, LargeBest overall
|
Mandolines and graters | ANSI A4 | UHMWPE | View on Amazon |
Mercer Culinary MercerMax Cut Glove, MediumBest high rating
|
Heavier knife work | ANSI A7 | Steel, UHMWPE, fiberglass | View on Amazon |
HexArmor Helix 3033 Food Safe Glove, MediumBest documented
|
Serious prep, under-glove use | ANSI A6 | HPPE, fiberglass, polyester | View on Amazon |
Microplane Cut Resistant GloveBest for graters
|
Graters and zesters | ANSI Level 4 | Wire-free knit | View on Amazon |
Schwer A9 Stainless Steel Mesh Glove, MediumBest for butchery
|
Butchery and oysters | ANSI A9 | 316L stainless | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Ratings are the maker’s or listing’s statement; check the current listing, and the maker’s warnings, before you buy.
Our picks for the best cut resistant gloves
Seven picks. Every one states an ANSI figure or standard. Listings that gave only a European rating were left out. NoCry and Schwer are the two Amazon-first brands here.
1. Mercer Culinary MercerGuard Cut Glove, Large – Thin, With a Clear Rating
America’s Test Kitchen bought six gloves, used them to halve avocados, grate cheese and carrots and slice potatoes on a mandoline, and washed each 10 times. Its favorite was this one. It called it the thinnest of the group, with the broadest fit across hand sizes, and it is machine washable.
Mercer’s own page gives ANSI Level A4 and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, with the caution that it is not cut proof or point puncture resistant and should not be used with moving or serrated blades. The Amazon listing’s color field also says Level A4, but its feature text looks generic and even mentions gardening, so we go by Mercer’s page.
ATK’s other finding is worth noting: every glove it tested kept fingers safe in these tasks, and rating differences made no practical difference. Design and fit did. Long fingers could catch on blades, and testers preferred thin fabric of 1 mm or less. The Small was short of stock when we checked; this Large listing was in stock.
Why we like it
- ATK’s favorite among six gloves
- ANSI A4, per Mercer
- Thinnest in ATK’s test
- Machine washable, per ATK
Key specifications
| Model | M33411L / M33411LB |
|---|---|
| Stated cut rating | ANSI A4 |
| Where the rating comes from | Mercer page; listing color field |
| Material | Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene |
| Fit | Ambidextrous; Large |
| Food contact statement | Not stated |
| Care | Machine washable, per ATK |
| Warranty | 1 year manufacturer |
Why we recommend it
This suits home cooks using a mandoline, box grater or knife for routine prep, where dexterity is what keeps you safe.
Skip it if you are working with oysters or a boning knife, where a higher rating makes more sense. This one is not puncture resistant.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Independent test winner
- Thin and dexterous
- Clear maker warning
Cons
- Listing text is generic
- Lowest rating here, with Microplane
2. Mercer Culinary MercerMax Cut Glove, Medium – A7 From the Same Maker
If you want more margin than the A4 glove, Mercer rates the MercerMax at ANSI A7. It adds stainless steel and a fiberglass core to ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, which Mercer says gives greater cut and abrasion resistance.
It carries the same caution as the other Mercer glove: not cut proof or point puncture resistant, and not for moving or serrated blades. Those materials may make it stiffer or thicker, and ATK’s test suggests extra fabric can cut dexterity, so try it with your own task in mind.
The Amazon listing shows almost nothing itself, so the details here come from Mercer’s product page. It was sold by a third party, Lovely Experience, at our check. Confirm the size and seller before you buy. Mercer’s page also shows other sizes of this glove.
Why we like it
- ANSI A7, per Mercer
- Steel and fiberglass add resistance, per Mercer
- Clear maker warning
- Known kitchen maker
Key specifications
| Model | M33412MB |
|---|---|
| Stated cut rating | ANSI A7 |
| Where the rating comes from | Mercer page |
| Material | Stainless steel, UHMWPE, fiberglass core |
| Fit | Medium |
| Food contact statement | Not stated |
| Care | Not stated |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
Good for a cook who bones and trims meat or wants a stronger glove for hard-to-control cuts, from a known kitchen knife maker.
Skip it if you want the thinnest feel for a mandoline. The MercerGuard is the better choice.
Pros and cons
Pros
- High stated rating
- Known maker
- Explicit warnings
Cons
- Third-party seller at our check
- Thin listing details
3. HexArmor Helix 3033 Food Safe Glove, Medium – Food Safety Paperwork Named
HexArmor is an industrial safety glove maker, so this is a different world from kitchen shop gloves. Its own page gives CUTA6 with 360-degree cut resistance, stating ratings comply with ANSI/ISEA 105-2024. The Amazon title says A5 and other listing fields say A6, so we go with the maker’s page and point that out here.
Its food statements are also more specific than others’. HexArmor says the knit is engineered to keep glove particles from food, and the outer layer is tested to US FDA 21 CFR 177.1630 food-contact standards. It can be worn alone or as an under-glove with an appropriate top glove.
It has an inner HPPE and fiberglass blend with a polyester outer shell, in a 13-gauge knit, and it is ambidextrous. HexArmor’s page says the FDA claim has a disclaimer on its spec sheet, which we could not read, so check the sheet if that matters for your use.
Why we like it
- CUTA6 under ANSI/ISEA 105-2024, per HexArmor
- Named FDA food-contact standard for the outer layer
- Can go under a top glove
- Ambidextrous
Key specifications
| Model | 3033-M / 6066808 |
|---|---|
| Stated cut rating | ANSI A6 (listing title says A5) |
| Where the rating comes from | HexArmor page |
| Material | HPPE and fiberglass, polyester shell |
| Fit | Ambidextrous; Medium |
| Food contact statement | Outer layer tested to FDA 21 CFR 177.1630, per HexArmor |
| Care | Not stated |
| Warranty | Manufacturer |
Why we recommend it
For someone who wants the most specific safety information, or who processes a lot of meat at home and wears a top glove over it.
Skip it if you are bothered by a fiberglass core. Schwer’s SlicePro below states no glass fiber.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Best maker documentation
- Under-glove option
- Industrial maker
Cons
- Listing rating conflict
- Fiberglass blend
4. Microplane Cut Resistant Glove – From the Grater People
Microplane makes the rasps and graters that remove a knuckle if you lose focus, so a glove is a natural extra. The listing gives EN388 Level 5 and ANSI Level 4, with a wire-free knit fabric and compliance with FDA food-contact standards.
It is one size and ambidextrous, weighing 5 ounces according to the listing. One size can be a concern, since ATK found gloves with fingers too long can catch on blades, so if you have small hands, check the fit straight away.
It is a straightforward, unfussy option from a real kitchen tool maker, with a one-year warranty. Treat the Level 4 wording with some care, since it may use an older scale than the A-ratings above, and the listing does not make that clear.
Why we like it
- ANSI Level 4 and EN388 Level 5, per the listing
- Wire-free knit
- FDA compliant, per the listing
- One-year warranty
Key specifications
| Model | 34007 |
|---|---|
| Stated cut rating | ANSI Level 4; EN388 Level 5 |
| Where the rating comes from | Listing |
| Material | Wire-free knit fabric |
| Fit | Ambidextrous; one size |
| Food contact statement | FDA compliant, per listing |
| Care | Not stated |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Why we recommend it
An easy add-on if you already use Microplane graters, or if you want one glove from a recognizable kitchen name.
Skip it if your hands are small. One-size fingers may be long on you.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Trusted kitchen tool maker
- Clear stated rating
- Wire-free
Cons
- One size only
- Rating scale not specified
5. NoCry CutGuard Cut Resistant Gloves, Large – Long-Selling Mandoline Glove
NoCry is the name you will see first on Amazon, and it is an Amazon-first brand. This is the same glove our mandoline guide links in Medium, so we link the Large here because hand size is the whole point of buying one. The listing says it is EN388:2016 Level 5 and ANSI 105-2016 rated, without giving the ANSI level number.
It is sold as food safe and ambidextrous, is machine washable and has a limited lifetime warranty. The listing’s wording goes well beyond the evidence, with terms such as cut proof and comparisons to leather and steel. We do not repeat those. No glove is cut proof, as Mercer makes clear.
Without an A-number, you cannot compare it directly with the Mercer and HexArmor gloves. It is here because it is a common choice with a stated standard and an easy-to-reach warranty.
Why we like it
- States EN388:2016 Level 5 and ANSI 105-2016
- Ambidextrous
- Machine washable
- Limited lifetime warranty
Key specifications
| Model | CutGuard, NC-CRG-Grey-L |
|---|---|
| Stated cut rating | ANSI 105-2016 rated; level not given; EN388:2016 Level 5 |
| Where the rating comes from | Listing |
| Material | Not stated |
| Fit | Ambidextrous; Large |
| Food contact statement | Food safe, per the listing |
| Care | Machine washable |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime |
Why we recommend it
A sensible choice if you want a widely available glove in a clear size and a generous warranty, and do not need a stated A-number.
Skip it if you want the ANSI level in writing. Choose Mercer or HexArmor.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Wide size range
- Machine washable
- Long warranty
Cons
- No ANSI level number
- Overheated listing language
6. Schwer SlicePro A9 Food Grade Glove, Medium – Top Stated Rating, No Glass Fiber
Schwer is a work-glove brand sold mainly through Amazon, and the SlicePro is its food-grade model. It claims ANSI A9, built from ultra-high-strength fibers and stainless steel. Its listing states no glass fiber, a relevant point for users with sensitive skin, and notes these gloves provide cut resistance only.
It is sold as food-grade certified, without naming a certifier, so read that as a seller’s statement. Schwer lists food prep, oyster shucking, meat cutting and mandoline slicing as uses.
A rating this high does not make it a puncture glove. If you shuck oysters, an oyster knife can still find a gap. A heavier glove like this also suits repeated work better than the occasional slice, so buy it for the task rather than the number.
Why we like it
- ANSI A9, per Schwer
- No glass fiber, per Schwer
- Named food uses
- Notes it gives cut resistance only
Key specifications
| Model | PR1501-G |
|---|---|
| Stated cut rating | ANSI A9 |
| Where the rating comes from | Listing |
| Material | Ultra-high-strength fibers and stainless steel |
| Fit | Medium |
| Food contact statement | Food-grade certified, per listing; certifier not named |
| Care | Not stated |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
For someone doing regular fish filleting or trimming, who wants the highest stated rating in a fabric glove without fiberglass.
Skip it if you only use a mandoline now and then. ATK found thinner gloves work better for that.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Highest stated rating in a fabric glove
- No glass fiber
- Lists food tasks
Cons
- Amazon-first brand
- Certifier not named
7. Schwer A9 Stainless Steel Mesh Glove, Medium – Chain Mail for Butchery
This is a metal mesh glove, the style you see on butchers. Schwer describes individually welded rings of 316L stainless steel, rated A9, with significant protection against stabs that a knit glove does not offer. It fits either hand and has an adjustable stainless wrist clasp.
Mesh is a poor match for delicate work like a mandoline, but it is a sensible match for boning a big cut or shucking oysters by the dozen, where a point is the main risk. Schwer says metal mesh gloves should be cleaned daily in food-processing settings.
It comes as a single glove, so you wear it on the hand holding the food, not the one with the knife. Our guide to the best boning knife covers the matching blade. Schwer gives a limited lifetime warranty with a 30-day contact window in its listing, which is worth reading first.
Why we like it
- ANSI A9, per Schwer
- Protects against stabs, per Schwer
- 316L stainless steel rings
- Adjustable wrist clasp
Key specifications
| Model | PM5201 / Mesh-004 |
|---|---|
| Stated cut rating | ANSI A9 |
| Where the rating comes from | Listing |
| Material | 316L stainless steel |
| Fit | Reversible; Medium; wrist clasp |
| Food contact statement | Food grade material, per listing |
| Care | Clean daily, per Schwer |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime; read terms |
Why we recommend it
For someone breaking down large cuts or shucking oysters in volume, where puncture risk matters more than dexterity.
Skip it if you mainly use a mandoline or grater. A knit glove is far more nimble.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Only mesh glove here
- Stab protection stated
- Wrist adjustment
Cons
- Less dexterity
- One glove in the pack
How to choose a cut glove
Read the rating with care. Current ANSI/ISEA 105 ratings use A-numbers, and a higher number means better results in the standard’s cut test. Listings that say Level 4 or Level 5 may refer to an older scale or the European EN388 scale, so they do not line up neatly with A4 or A5.
Put fit first. ATK found that rating differences made no practical difference in its kitchen tasks, while fit did. Fingers that are too long can catch on mandoline and grater blades. Buy your true size, and return a glove that bunches.
Know what it will not do. Mercer says its gloves are not cut proof or point puncture resistant, and are not for moving or serrated blades. That rules out food processors, slicers with motors and bread knives. Honeywell’s mesh-yarn fillet glove carries similar warnings.
Choose the glove for the job. Thin knit suits mandolines and graters. Heavier knit suits regular filleting and trimming. Mesh suits butchery and oysters. Our guide to the best mandoline slicer has more on using that tool safely.
Keep it clean. Treat it like a cutting board. ATK preferred machine-washable gloves for stains and food safety, and it washed each model 10 times. Check the maker’s care line, and replace a glove that shows cuts or worn patches.
How we chose these seven cut gloves
Because this is safety gear, we required a stated US standard: an ANSI figure or a named ANSI standard from the maker or listing. That ruled out listings giving only EN388, like TruChef, and listings giving no figure at all, like Update International’s. We then looked for gloves meant for food work, in stock and sold New. We read America’s Test Kitchen’s review on Cook’s Country and the maker pages from Mercer and HexArmor directly, and we relied on the listing for Microplane, NoCry and Schwer. We checked CPSC recall records by brand and found nothing on these gloves. We have not used these gloves ourselves, and we cannot verify any maker’s rating independently. See also our guides to kitchen gloves and food handling gloves, which cover different jobs.
Cut glove questions, answered
Are cut resistant gloves cut proof?
No. Mercer says plainly they are not cut proof or point puncture resistant. A glove reduces risk from an accidental slip with a straight blade. It does not make careless cutting safe.
What ANSI level do I need for the kitchen?
ATK found every glove it tried protected fingers in routine tasks, and the MercerGuard it preferred is rated A4. Go higher for filleting, boning or shucking. Choose based on the task and the fit, not only the number.
Which hand do I wear it on?
Generally on the hand that holds the food, not the knife hand. For a mandoline, wear it on the hand guiding the food. Most gloves here are ambidextrous and many are sold singly, so check the count.
Can I use one with a serrated knife or a food processor?
Mercer says not to use its gloves with moving or serrated blades. Never rely on a glove around a motor-driven blade.
Are kitchen safety gloves food safe?
Some makers say so, in different terms. HexArmor names a specific FDA standard for the outer layer. Microplane says FDA compliant. NoCry and Schwer use broader language. Wash before first use, and follow the maker’s care line.
Our final pick for safer slicing
The MercerGuard gives most home cooks the best balance of feel and stated protection, and an independent test backs it up. Pair it with a good tool from our mandoline guide, and take your time. When you would rather not slice anything tonight, see the menu and call to order from Julia’s.