Glove Measurement
How to Know Your Glove Size: Turn One Hand Measurement Into the Right Size
Measure around your palm below the knuckles, then match the number to the glove's chart. See ISO sizes vs store letters and what to do between sizes.
To know your glove size, measure around your palm just below the knuckles with the thumb left out, then match the number to the size chart of the brand you are buying. Under EN ISO 21420, a numeric size such as 8 is close to your hand circumference in inches. Letter sizes are not shared between brands, so the same 8 in hand reads as M in the ISO table but men's S on the Leather Collection chart.
This page is part of our glove measurement guide.
Key takeaways- Your glove size starts with one number: hand circumference in inches (cm in brackets).- Numeric sizes 6-11 follow EN ISO 21420 and track that number closely.- Letter sizes (S, M, L) change from brand to brand, so always use the chart of the glove you are buying.- Between sizes, sources disagree: the store says size up, while leather-fit advice says a loose glove stays loose.
Measure first: the 30-second version
Glove size is measured as hand circumference, so get that number before you look at any chart. Our how to measure your hand for gloves tutorial has the full steps; here is the short form.
- Use a soft tape measure.
- Wrap it around your dominant hand, just below the knuckles, thumb left out.
- Read the number in inches and in cm; 1 in equals 2.54 cm, per NIST.
Numeric vs letter glove sizes
Some makers label gloves with a number and others with a letter, so you need a table to move between them. The number system comes from traditional French glove making, which found that hand circumference reflects the proportions of the whole hand.
Today the general glove standard is EN ISO 21420, which replaced EN 420. It pairs each number with a letter: 6 = XS, 7 = S, 8 = M, 9 = L, 10 = XL, 11 = XXL.
Motorcycle gloves under EN 13594 may follow EN 420 sizing or another system the maker describes in its user information. For a closer look at one number, see what a size 8 glove means.
Two size systems side by side
The two tables below are separate systems. Do not convert a letter from one into the other; match your own measurement to the system the glove uses.
System 1: EN ISO 21420 numeric sizes
Three glove makers publish the same values for sizes 6-11, including Wenaas's EN ISO 21420 summary.
System 2: the store's letter chart (Leather Collection / MotoSpeeds)
This chart uses hand measurement only and has no length column. Both stores show the same values. The full chart lives on our leather glove size chart page.
| ISO size | ISO letter | Hand circumference | Hand length | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | XS | 5.98 in (152 mm) | 6.3 in (160 mm) | – |
| 7 | S | 7.01 in (178 mm) | 6.7 in (171 mm) | – |
| 8 | M | 7.99 in (203 mm) | 7.2 in (182 mm) | – |
| 9 | L | 9.02 in (229 mm) | 7.6 in (192 mm) | – |
| 10 | XL | 10.00 in (254 mm) | 8.0 in (204 mm) | – |
| 11 | XXL | 10.98 in (279 mm) | 8.5 in (215 mm) | – |
| Hand measurement | Men's | Women's | Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in (15.24 cm) | – | XS | – |
| 6.5 in (16.51 cm) | – | S | – |
| 7 in (17.78 cm) | – | M | – |
| 7.5 in (19.05 cm) | XS | L | – |
| 8 in (20.32 cm) | S | XL | – |
| 8.5 in (21.59 cm) | M | – | – |
| 9 in (22.86 cm) | L | – | – |
| 9.5 in (24.13 cm) | XL | – | – |
| 10 in (25.4 cm) | 2XL | – | – |
| 10.5 in (26.67 cm) | 3XL | – | – |
Why the same hand gets different letters
A letter only means something next to the chart it came from. Here is how four real hand measurements read in each system.
An 8 in hand is an M under ISO, a men's S on the store chart, and falls between two letters on a university table. Fit can also vary between glove models from the same maker. Measure, then use the chart of the glove you are buying.
| Your hand | EN ISO 21420 | Store chart, men's | Store chart, women's | Alfred University unisex table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 in (17.78 cm) | 7 / S | not charted (starts at 7.5 in) | M | XS |
| 8 in (20.32 cm) | 8 / M | S | XL | between S (7.5 in) and M (8.5 in) |
| 9 in (22.86 cm) | 9 / L | L | not charted | L |
| 10 in (25.4 cm) | 10 / XL | 2XL | not charted | XXL |
Men's vs women's glove sizes
The store charts men's sizes XS-3XL and women's sizes XS-XL, with no women's 2XL or 3XL. The women's column matches the women's table published by Alfred University. Women often need a smaller palm size and shorter fingers.
The two columns overlap: a 7.5 in hand is men's XS or women's L, and an 8 in hand is men's S or women's XL. On unisex styles, the size selector lists XS-3XL but does not say which column applies, while the women's chart stops at XL. If you buy a unisex glove, find your number in both columns before you choose a letter.
Between two sizes: size up or not?
There is no single rule, and the sources disagree. Here is what each one says.
The store's own pages point both ways: size up on the chart, but loose leather stays loose on the blog. Riding gloves are meant to be snug for feel on the grips and levers. If you sit exactly on a line, your glove type and how close you like the fit decide it, and the store chart's rule is to go up.
| Source | Advice | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Store size chart | Take the bigger size | – |
| Store motorcycle gloves page | Take the larger size so gloves do not pinch on long rides | – |
| Store racing-gloves blog | Leather breaks in a little but does not reshape; a loose glove stays loose | – |
| Store fashion gloves page | Slightly snug at first is normal; leather softens over the first wears | – |
| Hestra, sport gloves | Larger size; sport gloves stretch very little | – |
| Hestra, dress gloves | Fit close from the start; a size too large ends up loose; half sizes exist | – |
Does hand length change your size?
The store chart sizes by circumference only. EN ISO 21420 adds hand length, measured from the tip of the middle finger to the skin fold where the wrist meets the hand. A standard size may not fit perfectly when hand shapes differ, for example a wide hand with short fingers.
If your palm is wide or narrow for its length, our guide to measuring palm width shows a second check.
Check the fit when the gloves arrive
The palm leather should lie flat without bunching, and your fingertips should reach the glove ends without cramping. Hold the bar in riding position for a few minutes; numbness or pressure points mean the size is wrong.
Quick answers
What size is 7 in a glove?
Under EN ISO 21420, size 7 is S, for a hand of about 7 in (178 mm). On the store chart, a 7 in hand is women's M and is below the smallest men's size.
Is a size 10 glove an XL?
Under EN ISO 21420, yes: size 10 is XL, for a hand of 10 in (254 mm). On the store chart, a 10 in hand is men's 2XL.
How big is a size 12 glove?
EN ISO 21420 size 12 (3XL) is a hand circumference of about 12 in (304 mm). Sources give different hand lengths for sizes above 11, so treat that end of the table as a guide.
What size gloves for an 8 inch hand?
An 8 in (20.32 cm) hand is ISO size 8 (M), but men's S or women's XL on the store chart. Use the chart of the glove you are buying.
The Motorcycle Gloves Editorial Team
The Motorcycle Gloves articles are researched from published sources, cited in the text, and reviewed before publication.