ANSI Cut Ratings Explained: A1–A9 Work Glove Guide

Cut-resistant glove ratings look confusing until you know what the numbers actually mean.

A1. A4. A6. A9.

At first glance, it feels like somebody took a safety standard and turned it into a video-game leveling system.

The basic idea is much simpler:

The higher the ANSI cut rating, the more force it takes for a blade to cut through the tested glove material.

Under the current ANSI/ISEA 105-2024 system, cut resistance is classified from A1 through A9. The 2024 update kept the same cut-performance scale and testing levels while introducing a more standardized labeling system for cut, abrasion, and puncture performance.

But there is one important thing to understand before you start shopping:

Higher is not automatically better.

An A9 glove may offer much more cut resistance than an A3 glove, but that does not mean everybody should wear A9.

The right glove is the one that matches the actual hazard without making the job harder than it needs to be.

What Does an ANSI Cut Rating Measure?

ANSI cut ratings are based on standardized testing that measures how much force is required for a blade to cut through the glove material.

The result is reported as a range of force, traditionally expressed in grams, and then assigned an A1–A9 level. The current 2024 scale ranges from 200 grams at A1 to 6,000 grams or more at A9.

In simple terms:

A1 = lower cut resistance
A9 = highest ANSI cut-resistance category

That does not mean an A9 glove is “cut proof.”

No work glove should be treated as cut proof.

It means the material performed at a higher level in the standardized cut test.

ANSI Cut Levels A1–A9

Here is the current scale:

Those ranges are defined under the ANSI/ISEA 105 cut-resistance classification system.

Now the useful part:

What does that actually mean at work?

ANSI A1 Cut Resistance

A1 sits at the bottom of the ANSI scale.

That does not make it useless.

It simply means it is intended for lighter cut exposure.

Typical applications may include:

• light material handling
• packaging
• assembly
• warehouse work with limited sharp-edge exposure
• handling ordinary cartons and parts

Industry guidance places lower cut levels in light handling environments where sharp contact is limited or incidental.

If your biggest enemy is cardboard, grip, and repetitive handling rather than sharp metal, you probably do not need to show up wearing medieval armor on your hands.

ANSI A2 Cut Resistance

A2 provides a step up from very light protection.

It can make sense for:

• general warehouse work
• light automotive tasks
• parts handling
• light construction
• packaging environments with occasional sharper edges

This is still a relatively light-duty cut rating.

The focus is usually maintaining comfort and dexterity while adding some protection against incidental cuts.

ANSI A3 Cut Resistance

A3 moves into light-to-moderate cut protection.

Common applications can include:

• automotive work
• assembly
• material handling
• parts with rough or defined edges
• light fabrication

At this level, cut resistance becomes a more deliberate part of the glove selection instead of simply being a little extra insurance.

ANSI A4 Cut Resistance

A4 represents moderate cut protection.

This is where you start getting into work involving:

• construction
• packaging with sharper hazards
• metal parts
• light glass handling
• manufacturing
• maintenance

ANSI/ISEA guidance groups these mid-range levels around medium cut hazards such as automotive assembly, HVAC, general construction, and similar work.

For many workers, this general neighborhood offers a useful balance between protection and dexterity.

ANSI A5 Cut Resistance

A5 is a meaningful step into higher cut protection.

It can be useful for jobs involving:

• HVAC
• automotive work
• maintenance
• sheet metal
• sharper components
• fabrication
• industrial material handling

Your current Advanced Gloves NiTex P-200 Cut-Resistant lineup includes an ANSI A5 option, which MEM positions around medium cut-risk work such as HVAC, automotive, and maintenance while keeping a lightweight micro-foam nitrile grip design.

That is a good example of why the rating alone is not the whole story.

You can have real cut protection without automatically moving into a giant leather gauntlet.

ANSI A6 Cut Resistance

A6 is where things get particularly interesting for warehouse, receiving, packaging, and industrial handling.

At A6, the tested material resisted 3,000–3,999 grams of cut force under the ANSI classification.

This level can make sense around:

• sharp packaging
• metal edges
• damaged freight
• sheet materials
• industrial parts
• higher-risk warehouse handling
• fabrication

This is also why we've liked the Bear Knuckles Switchblade SC6100 for mixed warehouse and package-handling applications: A6 cut protection can provide a substantial step above a basic handling glove while still making sense for active material handling.

The trick is still matching it to the hazard.

A worker sorting sealed retail cartons may not need A6.

Someone working around damaged freight, banding, sharp packaging, or metal components might.

ANSI A7 Cut Resistance

A7 is serious cut protection.

The rating corresponds to 4,000–4,999 grams of cut force under the ANSI scale.

Applications may include:

• sheet metal
• glass handling
• fabrication
• metalworking
• industrial maintenance
• sharp material handling
• recycling

Your current NiTex P-200 lineup includes an ANSI A7 option, and MEM's live product page positions it toward high cut-risk work such as sheet metal and glass handling.

Your Bear Knuckles lineup also includes heavier A7 gloves such as the Sledge Hammer SU375, which combines cut protection with additional impact-oriented construction for more demanding industrial environments.

That is an important distinction.

Two A7 gloves can have the same cut classification while being built for completely different jobs.

ANSI A8 Cut Resistance

A8 sits near the very top of the scale at 5,000–5,999 grams.

This level is typically associated with high cut hazards where workers routinely encounter very sharp materials.

Think more along the lines of:

• heavy fabrication
• sharp metal processing
• glass manufacturing
• recycling operations
• severe industrial cutting hazards

This is not the glove rating you buy because it sounds impressive.

It is the rating you buy because the hazard analysis says you actually need it.

ANSI A9 Cut Resistance

A9 is the highest level on the current ANSI cut-resistance scale.

It represents 6,000 grams or more of cut force in standardized testing.

Typical high-risk applications can include:

• heavy metal stamping
• sharp-blade processing
• glass manufacturing
• heavy fabrication
• sharp-material recycling
• severe industrial cut environments

MEM currently carries the NiTex P-200 Cut-Resistant glove in an ANSI A9 configuration, giving workers access to very high cut protection while retaining the lightweight knit and micro-foam nitrile format of the P-200 family.

Again:

A9 does not mean invincible.

Please do not test your new gloves with a knife because the label had a big number on it.

That's not quality control.

That's an urgent-care story.

Does a Higher Cut Rating Mean a Better Glove?

No.

It means more cut resistance in the standardized test.

That is not the same as being better at every job.

A glove also has to perform in areas such as:

• grip
• dexterity
• fit
• breathability
• abrasion resistance
• puncture resistance
• impact protection
• weather resistance
• touchscreen use

The ANSI/ISEA 105 system actually treats cut, abrasion, and puncture as separate performance classifications for exactly this reason. The 2024 update introduced a standardized pentagon marking intended to make those different ratings easier to identify together.

A glove can have excellent cut resistance and still be completely wrong for the job.

Cut Resistance Is Not the Same as Puncture Resistance

This is an important one.

A glove that resists slicing does not automatically provide the same level of protection against a sharp object pushing straight through it.

ANSI/ISEA evaluates puncture resistance separately from cut resistance.

That matters around hazards such as:

• exposed nails
• sharp wire
• metal points
• broken pallet hardware
• manufacturing debris

So if the problem is puncture, do not shop by the cut number alone.

Cut Resistance Is Not the Same as Impact Protection

Same story.

A high cut rating does not tell you how well the glove protects the back of your hand from being struck.

Impact-resistant gloves are built around a different hazard.

If the job involves:

• heavy freight
• pinch points
• machinery
• demolition
• rough industrial handling
• equipment maintenance

you may need both cut and impact protection.

MEM's current Work Gloves assortment includes products such as the Safety TUFF 1050 Cut-Resistant Impact Gloveand Bear Knuckles Sledge Hammer A7 Impact-Resistant Buffalo Glove for jobs where those hazards overlap.

ANSI vs. EN 388 Cut Ratings

You may also see ratings such as:

C, D, E, or F

on gloves.

Those generally relate to the European EN 388 system rather than the ANSI A1–A9 scale.

The two systems should not be treated as perfectly interchangeable.

Both can use comparable TDM-style testing, but they report and classify results differently, particularly toward the higher end of the protection range.

That is why a glove may show markings such as:

ANSI A5 / EN 388 4242E

instead of one universal number.

Your NiTex P-200 cut-resistant range currently includes both ANSI- and EN-rated configurations depending on the specific variant.

What Cut Level Do Warehouse Workers Need?

There is no single warehouse answer.

That depends heavily on what is being handled.

Ordinary picking and packing

If you are handling clean cartons, totes, and packaged merchandise, extreme cut resistance may be unnecessary.

Grip and dexterity may matter more.

Shipping and receiving

Sharper packaging, staples, damaged cartons, banding, rough pallets, and industrial freight may justify more protection.

Metal or industrial parts

Higher cut resistance may become significantly more important.

Box cutters

Cut-resistant gloves may add protection, but they are not a replacement for proper cutting technique and workplace controls.

The mistake is choosing a cut level based only on the word warehouse.

Warehouses contain a lot of different jobs.

What Cut Level Do Construction Workers Need?

Again, it depends.

Construction can involve:

• lumber
• metal edges
• sheet goods
• wire
• sharp tools
• glass
• masonry
• demolition debris

One construction worker might need relatively moderate protection.

Another could be working around sharp metal all day.

The hazard should determine the glove.

Not the job title printed on the employee badge.

What Cut Level Do Mechanics Need?

For mechanics, cut resistance can matter around:

• sheet metal
• sharp engine components
• broken parts
• metal edges
• maintenance work

But dexterity matters enormously too.

A glove that protects your hand but makes it impossible to pick up a bolt is not exactly helping productivity.

That is why lighter knit cut-resistant gloves can be attractive for certain mechanical jobs.

How to Choose the Right ANSI Cut Level

Start with four questions.

1. What can actually cut you?

Cardboard?

Sheet metal?

Glass?

Banding?

Sharp machine parts?

Those are very different hazards.

2. How often are you exposed?

Occasional incidental contact is different from handling sharp materials for eight hours.

3. How severe could the injury be?

Higher consequences may justify higher protection.

4. What does the job require from your hands?

Do you need:

• precision
• grip
• touchscreen use
• tool control
• flexibility

Protection that makes the job impossible is usually not sustainable.

A Simple Way to Think About the ANSI Scale

Do not treat this as a substitute for a workplace hazard assessment, but as a basic mental model:

A1–A2

Light cut exposure.

A3–A4

Light-to-moderate cut hazards.

A5–A6

Moderate-to-high cut exposure.

A7–A9

High to severe cut hazards.

ANSI/ISEA's own guidance groups applications broadly from light/medium hazards such as packaging and warehousing through medium/heavy applications such as automotive, HVAC, and construction, up to heavy/high hazards such as metal stamping, glass manufacturing, and sharp-material recycling.

The farther you move up the scale, the stronger the cut-resistance requirement becomes.

But the correct answer is not always “move up.”

MEM Cut-Resistant Glove Options

MEM currently carries several different ways to approach cut hazards.

Advanced Gloves NiTex P-200 Cut-Resistant

This is probably the easiest product for understanding why multiple ratings exist.

The current lineup includes:

• EN-rated CR configuration
• CUT5 configuration
• ANSI A5
• ANSI A7
• ANSI A9

while maintaining the same general lightweight, breathable, micro-foam nitrile design.

That lets you select the protection level around the job instead of changing glove styles completely.

Bear Knuckles Switchblade SC6100

A strong choice when cut resistance needs to coexist with grip and active material handling.

Its A6 positioning makes it particularly interesting for mixed warehouse, shipping, receiving, package handling, and sharper material environments.

Safety TUFF 1050

A different category entirely.

This glove makes more sense when cut and impact hazards overlap, rather than when cut resistance is the only concern. MEM currently lists it alongside its cut- and impact-protection assortment.

Bear Knuckles Sledge Hammer SU375

The Sledge Hammer is another heavier industrial option and is currently listed as an A7 impact-resistant buffalo glove.

That is much more glove than the average package picker needs.

And that is okay.

Different gloves exist because different jobs exist.

The Biggest Mistake When Buying Cut-Resistant Gloves

Buying the highest rating because it feels safer.

It is understandable.

If A5 is good, A9 must be twice as good, right?

Not exactly.

Higher cut resistance can involve tradeoffs in:

• cost
• thickness
• flexibility
• tactile sensitivity
• comfort

Modern materials have gotten much better at maintaining dexterity at higher protection levels, but the principle still stands:

Do not buy protection you do not need just because the number is bigger.

And definitely do not buy less protection than the hazard requires because the lighter glove feels nicer.

Find the balance.

The Bottom Line

ANSI cut ratings are not as complicated as they look.

A1 is the lowest cut-resistance category.
A9 is the highest.

The number tells you how the glove material performed in standardized cut testing.

It does not tell you everything about the glove.

You still need to consider:

• the actual hazard
• puncture
• abrasion
• impact
• grip
• dexterity
• fit
• working conditions

For general handling, lighter protection may be enough.

For sharp packaging, metal edges, or industrial materials, you may need to move higher.

For severe cut hazards, A7–A9 options exist for a reason.

The goal is not to wear the biggest number you can find.

The goal is to wear the right protection for the work in front of you.

Because your gloves are supposed to help you do the job.

Not win a safety-rating arms race.

Shop Cut-Resistant Work Gloves

Explore MEM Supply Co.'s Cut-Resistant Gloves for warehouse work, maintenance, fabrication, metal handling, glass, construction, and industrial applications.

For more help choosing the right glove, read:

How to Choose Work Gloves: A Practical Guide for the Jobsite

Best Gloves for Warehouse Work

Best Gloves for Package Handlers

And if you are unsure which protection level your workplace requires, follow your employer's hazard assessment and PPE requirements rather than choosing solely from a general guide.