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EN 388 cut resistant gloves

Updated: 17 October 2026

You are looking at two gloves on amazon.co.uk. One says level 5. The other prints 4X42C. Those descriptions are not interchangeable, and the longer code tells you more about what was assessed. This guide explains how to read EN 388 cut resistant gloves before you spend money, using the marks on the twelve products in the [cut protection gloves comparison](/hub/protective-clothing/cut-protection-gloves). You should be able to separate a complete mechanical-risk code from a title claim, see why a strong cut result does not promise puncture protection, and notice when a listing leaves too much unanswered.

You are looking at two gloves on amazon.co.uk. One says level 5. The other prints 4X42C. Those descriptions are not interchangeable, and the longer code tells you more about what was assessed.

Our top picks

KAYGO KAYGO KG21NB size M, two pairs

Best overall

KAYGO KAYGO KG21NB size M, two pairs
8.7/10about £14.98
View offer
NoCry NoCry NC-CRG-GREY-M

Rank 2

NoCry NoCry NC-CRG-GREY-M
8.9/10about £13.99
View offer
Donfri Donfri PU-coated size L, 4X42D

Alternative

Donfri Donfri PU-coated size L, 4X42D
7.3/10about £8.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What the EN 388 mark is for
  2. 2.How to read 4X42C and 4X42D
  3. 3.Level 5, ANSI A4 and ANSI A9 are different labels
  4. 4.What the twelve listings actually print

What the EN 388 mark is for

EN 388 describes performance against mechanical risks. Mechanical risk is not one hazard: abrasion, cutting, tearing and puncture are assessed separately. HSE guidance tells employers to distinguish cuts from puncture and other risks when choosing gloves. A glove selected for a moving sheet edge is not automatically the right glove for thorns, chemicals or heat. The familiar code is read from left to right. In 4X42C, the first character is abrasion, the second is the older coupe cut test, the third is tear, the fourth is puncture and the final letter is the ISO 13997 cut result. That last position matters where the rotating coupe blade becomes blunt on highly cut-resistant materials. Do not treat every digit as one overall score. EN 388 by itself does not cover chemical or heat protection. Those hazards need their own evidence.

How to read 4X42C and 4X42D

Take 4X42C one character at a time. The first 4 is abrasion. X means the coupe result is not the reference value, not a score of zero. The following 4 is tear, and 2 is puncture. C is the ISO 13997 letter, at least 10 N. In 4X42D the last position is D, at least 15 N. Across A to F the thresholds are 2, 5, 10, 15, 22 and 30 N. Both codes show puncture level 2. Reviews still describe thorns and points going through. The puncture test uses a probe, not every knife tip. The same boundary for a moving chain is in cut resistant gloves versus chainsaw gloves.
KAYGO KAYGO KG21NB size M, two pairs

Testsieger

KAYGO KAYGO KG21NB size M, two pairs
8.7/10about £14.98
View offer

Level 5, ANSI A4 and ANSI A9 are different labels

A title that says only level 5 does not tell you the position, the test version or the complete code. Do not translate it into ISO letter C or D. Several titles here use level or class 5 without a six-position string. That is incomplete listing information. ANSI A4 and ANSI A9 are a US cut scale. AovYoo puts ANSI A4 on the title and 4X42D on a highlight. Donfri B08XQ56BL2 states both ANSI A4 and EN 388:2016 4X42D. Those are two systems. Donfri QGA9 says ANSI A9 and gives no EN 388 string. The product files do not include certificates for the CE wording. If documented conformity matters, ask the supplier.

What the twelve listings actually print

The two KAYGO KG21NB sizes print EN 388 4X42C. They are the same model in M and L, with shared review wording. Donfri B08XQ56BL2 states EN 388:2016 4X42D and ANSI A4. AovYoo’s highlight also says 4X42D, from only 20 reviews. NoCry, the three flintronic polyethylene knits, JuanYi and ZVLZR use level or class 5 without a digit string. The three flintronic sizes share one photograph, one 4.4-from-2,257 line and one review text. The mesh kit claims level 9 without an EN 388 string. NoCry can still be a kitchen listing: food-grade wording and the largest single-ASIN review sample. It cannot answer a buyer who must show a specific mark. Job choices are in the best cut resistant gloves UK shortlist. Food contact is in the kitchen glove guide.

Common questions

Is EN 388 level 5 the same as ISO letter C?
No. A bare level 5 phrase does not identify the test position or provide the full code. ISO letter C is a specific ISO 13997 band of at least 10 N. Look for the complete marking and supporting documentation rather than translating title language into a letter.
What does X mean in 4X42C?
X means no value is being declared in that position, often because the coupe test is not the reference when the material blunts the blade. It does not mean a score of zero. The ISO 13997 letter at the end then provides the relevant cut result.
Is ANSI A4 the same as EN 388 4X42D?
No. ANSI and EN 388 use different systems. Some listings state both A4 and 4X42D, but their presence together does not make the labels synonymous. Use the standard required for your task and do not convert one from the other without proper test data.
Does a high cut letter stop thorns and knife points?
Not necessarily. Cut and puncture are separate hazards, and reviews in this set report points and thorns passing through gloves. Codes such as 4X42C and 4X42D show puncture level 2 in the fourth position, not immunity from every sharp tip.
Is cut proof a recognised result?
It is marketing wording, not a complete EN 388 result. No glove should be treated as proof against every blade, direction or force. A useful listing names the applicable standard and code, while your choice still has to match the tool and task.
Do I need another mark for heat or chemicals?
Yes. EN 388 addresses mechanical risks. Heat and chemical exposure are separate selection problems. HSE guidance asks buyers to identify the actual hazard first, so a high cut letter should not be used as evidence for resistance that the listing does not state.

Related pages

How to use cut resistant gloves

Cut protection gloves

Best cut resistant gloves UK: a shortlist of twelve

Cut resistant gloves for kitchen: mandoline and knives

Cut resistant gloves vs chainsaw gloves: not the same

Sources

Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings used for this comparison. Page updated 17 October 2026.

  1. HSE, PPE overview (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  2. HSE, glove selection (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  3. HSE, chainsaw PPE (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  4. uvex, EN 388 glove standards (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  5. GOV.UK, UKCA and CE product marking (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  6. Food Standards Agency, food contact materials (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  7. BSI, BS EN ISO 11393-4:2019 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  8. amazon.co.uk listings for the twelve gloves in this set (retrieved 17 October 2026)