Nitrile Glove Thickness Chart: MXGUARD® 3.0 g to 6.0 g Gloves Compared in mm, mil and Weight
Nitrile glove thickness chart for the five MXGUARD® weights: fingertip, palm and cuff thickness in mm and mil, weight by size, breakage force, standards and typical use.
Key takeaways
- Nitrile glove thickness for all five MXGUARD® weights, 3.0 g to 6.0 g, measured single-wall at the fingertip, palm and cuff.
- Grams and mil are different measurements: the 4.0 g exam glove is about 4.3 mil at the fingertip but about 2.8 mil at the palm.
- Use the job table to match a weight to food service, examination, heavy-duty or chemotherapy handling, then request a quote for the mix you need.
Nitrile glove thickness is the first number buyers compare, and the one most often quoted on different bases. This chart puts all five MXGUARD® nitrile weights side by side, with single-wall thickness at the fingertip, palm and cuff in millimetres and mil, so a 4 mil listing from one supplier can be checked against a 4.0 g glove from another.
Nitrile glove thickness chart
Thickness is measured single-wall at three points. US listings usually quote the fingertip figure, which is the thickest point; the palm and cuff are thinner. Values below are taken from each glove's specification sheet (size M).
| Glove (weight, size M) | Fingertip | Palm | Cuff | Color | Breakage force |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 g Food Service Gloves | 0.09 mm (3.5 mil) | 0.055 mm (2.2 mil) | 0.045 mm (1.8 mil) | Blue | ≥5 N |
| 3.5 g Medical Nitrile Gloves | 0.09 mm (3.5 mil) | 0.06 mm (2.4 mil) | 0.05 mm (2.0 mil) | Blue | ≥6 N |
| 4.0 g Nitrile Exam Gloves | 0.11 mm (4.3 mil) | 0.07 mm (2.8 mil) | 0.06 mm (2.4 mil) | Blue | ≥6 N |
| 5.0 g Heavy-Duty Nitrile Gloves | 0.135 mm (5.3 mil) | 0.09 mm (3.5 mil) | 0.075 mm (3.0 mil) | Blue | ≥7 N |
| 6.0 g Black Nitrile Gloves | 0.155 mm (6.1 mil) | 0.1 mm (3.9 mil) | 0.085 mm (3.3 mil) | Black | ≥6 N |
Grams and mil are different measurements
Glove weight in grams is the weight of one size-M glove; mil is a thickness, one thousandth of an inch (0.0254 mm). The two move together but are not the same number: our 4.0 g exam glove measures about 4.3 mil at the fingertip but about 2.8 mil at the palm. When a quote says "4 mil" or "5 mil", ask where on the glove it was measured, and compare fingertip with fingertip.
Weight also changes with size. Each specification lists the weight for every size, with a tolerance of ±0.3 g:
| Nominal weight | XS / S / M / L / XL (g) |
|---|---|
| 3.0 g | 2.4 / 2.7 / 3.0 / 3.3 / 3.6 |
| 3.5 g | 2.9 / 3.2 / 3.5 / 3.8 / 4.1 |
| 4.0 g | 3.4 / 3.7 / 4.0 / 4.3 / 4.6 |
| 5.0 g | 4.0 / 4.5 / 5.0 / 5.5 / 6.0 |
| 6.0 g | 5.0 / 5.5 / 6.0 / 6.5 / 7.0 |
Which nitrile glove weight for which job
| Weight | Grade (as listed) | Standards listed | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 g | Food grade | 21 CFR 177.2600, EN 1186, EN 374 (Type C) | Food prep, janitorial and everyday light-duty tasks |
| 3.5 g | Medical and food grade | EN 455, EN 374, EN 1186 | Everyday examination glove with a lighter feel |
| 4.0 g | Medical and food grade | EN 455, EN 374, EN 1186 | The standard examination glove for clinics, labs and care teams |
| 5.0 g | Medical and food grade | EN 455, EN 374, EN 1186 | Heavier-duty work where lighter gloves wear through |
| 6.0 g | Medical and chemo grade | ASTM D6319, EN 455, EN 374, ASTM D6978, CA65 | Handling chemotherapy drugs and other high-risk tasks (tested to ASTM D6978) |
A thicker glove is not automatically the better buy. Heavier gloves resist tears and punctures for longer, while lighter gloves keep fingertip sensitivity and cost less per case, which matters for tasks with frequent glove changes. Clinics and dental offices usually standardise on one exam weight and keep a heavier glove for cleaning and instrument handling; food-service buyers usually start from the 3.0 g glove, which lists 21 CFR 177.2600 and EN 1186 for food contact. For a clear, economical option see the vinyl gloves, and for the material trade-offs read nitrile vs latex vs vinyl gloves.
What all five weights share
- Nitrile, latex-free and powder-free; ambidextrous with a beaded cuff, textured fingertips and a surface-chlorinated finish.
- AQL 1.5 for pinholes, elongation (aged) of at least 400% and a length of at least 240 mm.
- 100 gloves per dispenser box, 10 boxes per carton (1,000 gloves) and a 5-year shelf life.
- Sizes XS to XL, in retail-ready MXGUARD® boxes or private-label packaging.
The spec sheet for each weight can be downloaded on the nitrile gloves page. To price a mix of weights and sizes, send the weights, size split, monthly volume and delivery ZIP code through the quote form.
Packaging
| Gloves per dispenser box | 100 |
|---|---|
| Boxes per carton | 10 (1,000 gloves) |
| Shelf life | 5 years |
| Packaging options | Retail-ready MXGUARD® or private-label packaging |
Documents
Certificates, declarations of conformity and test reports for the specific product and destination market are provided with the quotation.
Frequently asked questions
+How thick is a 4 mil nitrile glove?
4 mil is about 0.10 mm. Our 4.0 g nitrile exam glove measures 0.11 mm (about 4.3 mil) at the fingertip, 0.07 mm (about 2.8 mil) at the palm and 0.06 mm (about 2.4 mil) at the cuff, size M.
+Is a 5 mil glove the same as a 5 g glove?
No. Mil is thickness and grams is weight. Our 5.0 g heavy-duty glove measures about 5.3 mil at the fingertip and about 3.5 mil at the palm. Always compare the same point on the glove.
+Which nitrile glove weight is used for food handling?
The 3.0 g food service glove lists 21 CFR 177.2600 and EN 1186 for food contact. The 3.5 g, 4.0 g and 5.0 g gloves also list EN 1186 if a heavier glove is needed.
+Which glove is tested for chemotherapy drugs?
The 6.0 g black nitrile glove is tested to ASTM D6978, the standard practice for assessing resistance to permeation by chemotherapy drugs. It is the thickest glove in the range at about 6.1 mil at the fingertip.
+Why does the weight change between sizes?
The nominal weight refers to a size-M glove. Larger sizes use more material, so each specification lists the weight for every size from XS to XL, each within ±0.3 g.
Related
Request a quote: Nitrile Glove Thickness Chart: MXGUARD® 3.0 g to 6.0 g Gloves Compared in mm, mil and Weight
Send the product, size mix, carton quantity and delivery ZIP code. Pricing, MOQ and lead time come with the quotation.