How this calculator works
Glove size is the hand circumference in inches, rounded to the nearest half inch. A 20.5 cm hand is 8.07 inches, so it takes a size 8 glove. The letter ranges then group those numbers: in men's and unisex sizing, sizes 7 to 7.5 are extra small, 7.5 to 8.5 small, 8.5 to 9.5 medium, and so on. Women's ranges run smaller. The ranges overlap at the boundaries by design, because a glove should fit snugly and the difference between letters is larger than the difference between numbers.
Formula
size = hand circumference in inches, rounded to the nearest 0.5. size in inches = hand circumference in cm / 2.54. letter = the first range whose upper limit is at least the hand size.
Worked example
A hand of 20.5 cm is 8.07 inches, which rounds to size 8.0. On the men's chart that is small, because the S range ends at 8.5. On the women's chart it is extra large, because the XL range starts above 8.0.
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Frequently asked questions
Which hand should I measure?
Measure your dominant hand, which is usually slightly larger. If the two hands differ noticeably, fit the larger one; a glove that is too tight restricts movement more than one that is slightly loose.
Should I include the thumb?
No. Measure the palm just below the knuckles, across the widest part, without the thumb. Thumb length matters for some glove styles but is not part of the standard circumference size.
What is the difference between men's and women's gloves?
The sizing scales and the hand proportions differ. A women's size 8 is not the same as a men's size 8 in pattern. Use the range that matches the glove you are buying rather than converting between them.
What if I am between sizes?
Choose the larger size for winter or work gloves, where you may wear a liner and want room, and the smaller size for dress gloves that should fit closely. Leather gloves loosen slightly with wear.