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Standard explainer · EN 388 · Interactive

EN 388 glove ratings, decoded.

Every rated work glove carries a shield with a string like 4X42F under it. Six positions, each one a lab test. Type yours into the decoder below — or read the whole system in the tables that follow.

4 digits
Abrasion · cut · tear · puncture
A–F
ISO 13997 cut letter
P
Impact protection
✓ EN 388 rated stock✓ Cut levels A–F✓ Coated grip & winter-lined✓ Boxed quantities for teams✓ Trade accounts

The system

Six positions, one shield

EN 388 covers gloves against mechanical risks. The marking under the shield reads left to right:

  • Digit 1 — abrasion (0–4): sandpaper cycles until the material wears through.
  • Digit 2 — cut, coup test (0–5): a rotating circular blade under fixed load.
  • Digit 3 — tear (0–4): force needed to rip the material.
  • Digit 4 — puncture (0–4): force to push a standard stylus through.
  • Letter 5 — cut, ISO 13997 "TDM" test (A–F): a straight blade under increasing load. Used because tough fibres blunt the coup test's blade — when that happens, this letter is the cut rating that counts and the coup digit shows X.
  • Letter 6 — P: passed the knuckle impact test (common on mechanics' and utilities gloves).

An X anywhere means "not tested" — not zero, but not proven either.

Try yours

The decoder

Type the marking printed under the EN 388 shield on your glove — like 4131, 4X42F or 3X43FP — and it translates position by position.

Waiting for a marking…

No JavaScript? Everything the decoder knows is in the two tables below.

The digits

Positions 1–4: the four digits

Higher is better. X in any position means untested.

PositionTestLevelsWhat the top level takes
1 — AbrasionSandpaper cycles to wear-through0–48,000 cycles
2 — Cut (coup)Rotating blade, fixed load0–5Blade index 20
3 — TearForce to rip the fabric0–475 newtons
4 — PunctureForce to push a stylus through0–4150 newtons

The letters

Positions 5–6: the letters

The A–F letter is the modern cut rating — specify by it, not the old digit, for real cut hazards.

LetterTestMeaning
AISO 13997, 2 NLight cut hazards
BISO 13997, 5 NLight-to-medium
CISO 13997, 10 NMedium — sheet metal and glazing territory
DISO 13997, 15 NHigh cut hazards
EISO 13997, 22 NVery high
FISO 13997, 30 NMaximum rating
PEN 13594 knuckle impactImpact protection: pass
Why some gloves show X for cut but carry a letter: high-performance fibres blunt the coup test's rotating blade, making its result meaningless — so the standard requires the ISO 13997 test instead, the coup position is marked X, and the letter is the rating that counts. A glove marked 4X42F is a top-tier cut glove, not an untested one.
In this cluster

Questions

EN 388 FAQ

What does 4131 mean on a glove?

Reading the EN 388 digits: abrasion 4 (highest), cut 1 (light, coup test), tear 3 (good), puncture 1 (low). It's a classic general-handling grip glove — fine for materials and site work, wrong for real cut hazards.

What does the X mean in an EN 388 rating?

Not tested for that hazard. It isn't a zero and isn't a pass — the maker simply didn't run that test. On cut-resistant gloves an X in the coup position is normal: their fibres blunt that test's blade, so the ISO 13997 letter A–F is the valid cut rating.

What cut level do I need for handling sheet metal?

Cut level C (10 N on the ISO 13997 test) is the usual starting point for sheet metal and glazing, moving to D or above where edges are heavy, oily or handled at force. Specify by the letter, not the old coup digit.

Is a higher EN 388 number always better?

Higher means more protection in that one test, but protection trades against dexterity and comfort — and an over-specified glove that gets taken off protects nothing. Match each position to the actual hazard rather than buying the biggest numbers.

Gloves are a consumable — buy them like one.

EN 388 rated general-handling, cut-resistant and winter gloves in boxed quantities, with trade accounts for regular ordering.

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