Motorcycle Glove Sizes by Brand and Riding Type

Every brand sets its own motorcycle glove sizes, so start with your hand measurement and then read the chart for the brand you are buying. The same letter does not mean the same hand: an 8.4 in (21.3 cm) hand is a medium on the Alpinestars and REV'IT! charts but a small on the Klim and Spidi charts. Not sure how to measure? Our guide to how to measure your hands covers it.

Why each brand needs its own chart

Brand charts do not even measure the same thing. Alpinestars, Dainese and Spidi size by hand circumference, REV'IT! and Klim add hand length, Cortech uses palm width, and the motocross brand 100% uses hand length only. A UK retailer says most makers measure across the palm and only a few go all the way around. Most of the charts we read use circumference instead, so check the heading of each chart before you compare numbers.

For circumference charts, the tape goes around the hand behind the knuckles, thumb out, on both hands, and you use the larger number.

Road glove size charts

Our motorcycle glove size chart puts the published men's and women's charts of the major road brands side by side, each in the unit its maker uses. It shows where your measurement lands on each one and which brands ask for a second number.

Motocross and dirt bike glove sizes

Off-road charts can work differently. The 100% chart sizes men's gloves by hand length alone, from the base of the palm to the tip of the middle finger. Our motocross glove size chart covers dirt bike gloves in full.

Single-brand charts: O'Neal and IXS

Some brands get their own page because riders search for them by name. See the O'Neal glove size chart and the IXS glove size chart.

EU and UK labels

A number or a UK label on a glove follows its maker's own pairing. Ixon pairs its S with EU 7/8. Merlin puts UK MED next to international size 9. Under the general glove standard EN ISO 21420, size 9 is an L. Our page on EU, US and UK glove labels explains why you should convert through your hand, not the label.

From chart to fit

Riding gloves are meant to fit snug for feel at the grips and levers. Test them in riding position: the palm lies flat, fingertips reach the ends without cramping, and a few minutes on the bar brings no numbness. Our guide on how motorcycle gloves should fit has the full check.

• Between two sizes? The advice depends on the material; see between two glove sizes.
• Trying gloves on in winter? Hands swell in heat, so a pair that is snug in the cold can be tight in summer.
• Buying for cold weather? Liners and linings change the size you need; see choosing gloves for cold weather.

Gloves to size against

[PRODUCT BLOCK: 3-4 leather motorcycle gloves with the size range shown]

Leather Collection motorcycle gloves are sold in XS to 3XL, sized by one hand measurement with no length column. A custom size costs $75 extra, and you send your measurements after ordering.

Frequently asked questions

How do you know your motorcycle glove size?

Measure around your hand behind the knuckles, thumb out, and use the larger of your two hands. Then read that number on the chart for the brand you want, not on a generic chart.

Will motorcycle gloves break in?

Leather gives a little, but a painfully tight glove will not stretch a full size, and textile, mesh and synthetic gloves barely break in. Our guide to whether leather gloves stretch goes further.