Glove Measurement
How to Measure Your Hands and Find Your Glove Size
Glove sizing guide: measure around your palm below the knuckles, thumb out, then use the brand's chart. See why one 8 in hand is M, S or XL.
This glove sizing guide comes down to one number: wrap a soft tape around your palm just below the knuckles, leave the thumb out, and read the result in inches or centimeters. Then compare that number with the size chart of the brand you are buying, not with a letter you wore before. Makers label gloves by number or by letter, so you need their table to translate.
Key takeaways- Measure hand circumference with a soft tape, thumb out.- The same 8 in (20.3 cm) hand is an M under EN ISO 21420 but a men's S on the Leather Collection chart.- Advice on going up a size between sizes differs by glove type, so check the section below before you round up.
Glove sizing in three steps
- Measure. Wrap a soft tape around the palm, just below the knuckles, with the thumb left out.
- Write it down. Note the result in inches or centimeters; 1 in equals exactly 2.54 cm.
- Match it. Compare the number with the chart for the exact glove you plan to buy.
Each step has its own page in this cluster. The sections below give the short answer and point you to the detail.
Where should the tape go?
Use a soft tape around the widest part of the palm, just below the knuckles, with the thumb excluded. Measure your dominant hand, the right one if you are right-handed. No tape at home? A piece of string and a ruler work too.
Store pages word this step in three ways. The size chart says the widest part of the hand, the motorcycle gloves page says the palm just below the knuckles, and the dress gloves page says at the knuckles. We use the palm-below-the-knuckles method on every page because the chart's own diagram shows it.
Read the step-by-step hand measuring guide for tape position, posture and common mistakes.
How do you turn the number into a size?
Find the row on the brand's chart that matches your measurement. Riding gloves are meant to fit snug, which gives better feel at the grips and levers. To check fit, hold the bar in riding position for a few minutes; numbness or pressure points mean the size is wrong.
Between sizes, sources disagree:
Our guide to how to find your glove size works through this choice by glove type.
| Source | Advice between sizes |
|---|---|
| Leather Collection size chart and gloves page | Take the larger size |
| Leather Collection racing gloves blog | Leather breaks in a little but does not reshape; a loose glove stays loose |
| Hestra, sport gloves | Larger size generally recommended |
| Hestra, leather dress gloves | Fit close from the start; too large ends up loose |
Store sizes for men and women
The Leather Collection chart uses one number, hand circumference, with no length column. Its values in inches (cm):
The full leather glove size chart adds EN ISO 21420 numbers and metric sizes side by side.
| Size | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 7.5 in (19.05 cm) | 6 in (15.24 cm) |
| S | 8 in (20.32 cm) | 6.5 in (16.51 cm) |
| M | 8.5 in (21.59 cm) | 7 in (17.78 cm) |
| L | 9 in (22.86 cm) | 7.5 in (19.05 cm) |
| XL | 9.5 in (24.13 cm) | 8 in (20.32 cm) |
| 2XL | 10 in (25.4 cm) | not charted |
| 3XL | 10.5 in (26.67 cm) | not charted |
Why does the same hand get different letters?
Some makers label gloves by number and others by letter, and the letters do not line up. Take one hand that measures about 8 in (203 mm) around:
So a rider who wears "medium" in one brand may need a different letter in another. Fit can also vary by glove model within one brand. Measure, then read the chart for that glove.
| Sizing system | What an 8 in (20.3 cm) hand is called |
|---|---|
| EN ISO 21420 (glove standard) | Size 8, letter M |
| Leather Collection, men's | S |
| Leather Collection, women's | XL |
Is palm width worth measuring?
Usually not, because the Leather Collection chart sizes by circumference only. One university safety page offers a ruler method across the knuckles instead, where 3 to 3.5 in (7.6 to 8.9 cm) maps to size 8.
See measuring palm width if you have no tape or a wide, short hand.
Is length worth measuring too?
It can: a standard size may not fit a wide hand with short fingers. Measure length from the tip of the middle finger to the large skin fold where the wrist meets the hand.
The store chart has no length column, yet the men's leather gloves page asks for hand length too. EN ISO 21420 does list one: size 8 pairs 203 mm circumference with 182 mm (7.2 in) length. Read how hand length affects glove size for the full table.
What do number sizes mean?
Numeric glove sizes come from a traditional French system built on hand circumference. Under EN ISO 21420, size 8 means a hand about 8 in (203 mm) around, letter M. On the store chart, an 8 in hand is men's S or women's XL.
Our page on what a size 8 glove means covers sizes 6 to 11.
Gloves to size against
[PRODUCT BLOCK: 3-4 leather motorcycle gloves from the category page, with size range shown]
Once you have your number, browse Leather Collection motorcycle gloves and check the chart before you pick a size. A custom size option costs $75 extra, and you send your measurements after ordering, before production. It suits hands unusually narrow or wide for their length.
Still choosing a style? See the motorcycle glove comparisons on our partner site.
Frequently asked questions
Which hand should I measure?
Your dominant hand: the right if you are right-handed, the left if you are left-handed.
What size glove is XL?
On the Leather Collection chart, men's XL is 9.5 in (24.13 cm) and women's XL is 8 in (20.32 cm). Under EN ISO 21420, XL is size 10, about 10 in (254 mm) around.
What is the number for a large glove size?
Under EN ISO 21420, L is size 9, about 9 in (229 mm) around. The store's men's L is also 9 in (22.86 cm).
Can I exchange gloves that don't fit?
The store's pages do not agree on this yet. Product pages list size exchanges with a 25% restocking fee plus shipping, while the returns page says only defective items qualify. Ask the store before you order, and measure first.
Sources
- EN ISO 21420 size table as summarized by Wenaas and TEGERA
- Hestra size guide
- Alfred University: determine your glove size
- NIST: SI units of length
The Motorcycle Gloves Editorial Team
The Motorcycle Gloves articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.