For most trade and industrial jobs, nitrile is your glove. It handles oil, grease, fuels, and many common chemicals. It's latex-free, tough, and comes in thicknesses built for real work. But picking the right one still takes a bit of thought. The wrong glove tears in an hour — or lets a chemical through before you've finished the job.
This guide covers everything UK trade buyers need to know. Material choice, thickness, EN374 chemical ratings, powder-free rules, and which glove suits which job. For a broader look at hand protection across all trade tasks, see our complete UK buyer's guide to heavy duty work gloves.
Why standard disposable gloves fail on trade jobs
Standard exam gloves are built for clinical settings. They're thin — usually 3 to 4 mil. That's fine for a GP's surgery. On a workshop floor, they're useless.
Thin nitrile tears when you grip a tool hard. Latex exam gloves let oil soak through fast. Vinyl cracks under mechanical stress and offers almost no chemical resistance. None of these are built for a full shift in a garage, on site, or near solvents.
Trade work needs a glove that stays in one piece. It needs the right thickness, the right material, and — if chemicals are involved — the right EN374 rating.
Nitrile, latex or vinyl: which material do you need?
Nitrile — the best all-round trade choice
Nitrile is made from synthetic rubber. It holds up well against oils, greases, fuels, and many common chemicals. It's also latex-free — no allergy risk for your team. Most trade buyers default to nitrile, and for good reason.
Heavier nitrile gloves hold up to prolonged chemical contact better than latex. They also grip well in oily conditions. You'll find options in our nitrile gloves collection covering light through to heavy duty trade use.
Latex — strong, but watch the allergy risk
Natural rubber latex is flexible and gives good grip. Some trades, like painting and decorating, still use it for certain solvents. But latex carries a serious health risk. The HSE confirms it can cause Type I reactions — an immediate allergic response that in rare cases can lead to anaphylaxis. It also causes Type IV reactions, a delayed form of skin dermatitis that builds over months.
If any member of your team has a latex sensitivity, don't use latex gloves at all. If you do use latex, the HSE advises powder-free, low-protein options only. Browse our disposable latex gloves if latex suits your specific job — but check your team's health history first.
Vinyl — for light tasks only
Vinyl is the cheapest option. It offers basic splash protection and suits low-risk, short-duration tasks. Vinyl can't handle mechanical work, chemical handling, or anything that puts the glove under real stress. If your job involves genuine hazards, vinyl will let you down. See our disposable vinyl gloves if you need a budget option for light work only.
How thick should your disposable gloves be?
Thickness is measured in mil (thou) — one mil equals one thousandth of an inch. There's no single regulated standard for trade thickness, but industry practice is clear.
- 4–5 mil — examination weight. Fine for light tasks, short contact with mild substances.
- 6 mil — the trade standard. Good for mechanics, general industrial work, and extended wear.
- 8 mil+ — heavy duty. Built for prolonged chemical contact, automotive work, and tougher conditions.
A 4 mil glove will tear on a sharp thread or a rough edge. A 6 mil glove takes the punishment. If you're handling brake fluid, diesel, or solvents for more than a few minutes, go to 8 mil or above. For a deeper look at nitrile thickness and chemical ratings, read our guide to heavy duty nitrile gloves.
Do disposable gloves actually protect against chemicals?
Yes — but only if you pick the right rating. The standard to look for is EN ISO 374-1:2016. This is the UK and European standard for chemical-protective gloves. It classifies disposable gloves into three types based on how well they block chemicals.
- Type C — tested against 1 chemical. Holds for at least 10 minutes before breakthrough. Basic splash protection.
- Type B — tested against 3 chemicals. Holds for at least 30 minutes. Good for general trade chemical contact.
- Type A — tested against 6 or more chemicals. Holds for at least 30 minutes per chemical. The highest disposable rating.
Breakthrough time is the key number. It tells you how long a chemical takes to pass through the glove material and reach your skin. A Type C glove gives you 10 minutes. For anything longer, you need Type B or Type A.
One important point: the HSE states clearly that no glove material protects against all chemicals forever. Always check the product's permeation data against the specific substance you're handling. If you work with concentrated solvents, acids, or aggressive chemicals regularly, you may need a reusable chemical-resistant glove instead. See our chemical resistant gloves for longer-duration protection.
Why powder-free matters in trade environments
Powdered gloves use cornstarch inside to make them easier to put on. That powder causes problems on the job. It gets into wounds and can trigger or worsen skin dermatitis — the HSE links powdered latex gloves in particular to serious allergic reactions.
In workshops, powder contaminates paintwork, electronics, and precision components. In food environments, it's a contamination risk. In most trade settings, it serves no purpose. Always buy powder-free.
All the gloves we stock for trade use are powder-free.
Which glove for which trade job?
Mechanics and automotive
Mechanics need a glove that handles oil, grease, brake fluid, and diesel. These are not mild substances. Brake fluid attacks skin over time. Go for black nitrile at 6 to 8 mil. Black hides grease and keeps the glove looking usable for longer.
Look for textured fingertips — they keep your grip on tools even when your hands are oily. The Grippa Embossed Black Nitrile Engineers Gloves are built for exactly this job: embossed grip, black nitrile, powder-free.
Supertouch Diamond Grip Black Nitrile Disposable Gloves Heavy Duty Work
For general mechanic work with a strong grip pattern, the Nitrile Disposable Gripper Glove Powder-Free Black gives good contact feel and holds up to oily conditions.
Beeswift Glovezilla Nitrile Disposable Gloves Black Gripper Textured
Chemical handling
If your job involves direct contact with chemicals — cleaning agents, solvents, process chemicals — check the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the substance first. The SDS tells you what glove material it recommends and for how long.
For most chemical handling jobs, look for a disposable nitrile glove rated to EN374 Type B or above. If you need wrist and forearm protection, a long-cuff option matters. The Heavy Weight Long Cuff Purple Nitrile Disposable Gloves give you extended protection and a heavier wall for sustained chemical contact.
Unigloves Disposable Nitrile Gloves Heavy Weight Long Cuff Purple Examination Gloves
Construction and groundwork
On site, you need grip in all conditions — wet concrete, muddy surfaces, rough materials. Standard smooth nitrile slips. Look for diamond-textured or embossed nitrile at 6 mil.
High-visibility orange can help on busy sites too. The Orange Grip One-Use Diamond Grip Nitrile Gloves tick all three boxes: colour, grip, and durability.
Supertouch Orange Nitrile Diamond Grip Gloves Heavy-Duty Disposable Work
Painting and decorating
Paints and thinners vary a lot in their chemistry. Water-based emulsion is low risk. Solvent-based paints, lacquers, and thinners can carry nasty compounds — some pass through standard nitrile quickly. Check the SDS. For most water-based work, 6 mil nitrile is fine. For solvents, check the EN374 permeation data before you buy.
General industrial and warehousing
For general handling, packing, assembly, and light industrial tasks, 6 mil powder-free nitrile is your default. The Mercator Ideal Grip Black Nitrile Gloves offer a good balance of thickness, grip, and all-day comfort for warehouse and production line use.
Mercator Medical Ideall Grip Black Nitrile Gloves 3D Diamond Texture Heavy Duty
Does glove colour matter on site?
Colour isn't regulated, but it's a useful workflow tool. Most experienced teams use colour to separate tasks.
- Black — automotive and trade standard. Hides oil and grease. Signals a tougher, thicker glove.
- Blue — food prep default. Easy to spot if a glove ends up in a product.
- Green — chemical handling or specialist environments.
- Orange — high-visibility workshops and site use.
Colour-coding cuts down on cross-contamination and keeps tasks clearly separated. It's a small discipline that pays off on a busy site.
Latex allergy: what every employer needs to know
Natural rubber latex causes two types of allergic reaction. The HSE distinguishes between them clearly.
Type I is an immediate reaction to the latex proteins themselves. Symptoms range from skin rash and eye irritation to, in rare cases, anaphylactic shock. Once someone is sensitised, even tiny amounts of latex can trigger a full reaction.
Type IV is a delayed reaction — usually dermatitis — caused by the chemical additives used to make latex gloves. Symptoms appear 10 to 72 hours after exposure. Workers can develop this over months before realising latex is the cause.
The HSE advises avoiding latex gloves where a suitable alternative exists. Nitrile is that alternative for most trade jobs. If any of your workers have a known latex sensitivity, switch to latex-free options. Browse our latex free gloves and non-latex disposable gloves for the full range.
Buying in bulk: what trade buyers should check
Most disposable gloves come in boxes of 100. Trade buyers usually order by the case — typically 1,000 gloves (10 boxes). That's the standard quantity for a busy workshop or site team.
One spec worth checking is the AQL rating. AQL stands for Acceptable Quality Level. It tells you how many defective gloves are allowed per batch before it fails inspection.
- AQL 1.5 — tighter control. Fewer defective gloves per batch. Used for medical and precision work.
- AQL 2.5 — standard for most trade and industrial gloves.
- AQL 4.0 — looser. Acceptable for very low-risk tasks only.
If your team handles chemicals or works in a precision environment, AQL 1.5 is worth specifying. For general trade use, AQL 2.5 is the normal choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best disposable glove for mechanics?
Black nitrile at 6 to 8 mil is the standard choice for mechanics. It handles oil, grease, brake fluid, and diesel. Look for textured or embossed fingertips for grip on tools. Powder-free is a must — powder contaminates components and causes skin problems over time.
How thick should nitrile gloves be for trade work?
6 mil is the trade standard for most industrial and mechanical jobs. It survives rough handling and tool use without tearing. For prolonged chemical contact or heavier automotive work, go to 8 mil or above. Gloves under 5 mil are examination weight and not built for sustained trade use.
What does EN374 Type A, B or C mean on a disposable glove?
EN374 is the UK and European standard for chemical protective gloves. Type C means the glove holds against 1 chemical for at least 10 minutes before breakthrough. Type B means 3 chemicals for at least 30 minutes. Type A means 6 or more chemicals for at least 30 minutes each. For trade chemical handling, look for Type B as a minimum. Always check the glove's permeation data against the specific chemical you're using.
Are powder-free disposable gloves better for trade use?
Yes. Powdered gloves use cornstarch to aid donning. That powder can cause or worsen skin dermatitis and contaminates workshop components, paintwork, and precision parts. The HSE links powdered latex gloves to serious allergic reactions. For any trade or industrial use, always choose powder-free.
Can I use latex disposable gloves in a workshop?
You can, but you need to be careful. Latex causes Type I allergic reactions in some people — in rare cases severe enough to require urgent medical attention. It also causes Type IV delayed dermatitis in others. The HSE advises avoiding latex where a suitable alternative exists. Nitrile is a safer default for most workshop environments, especially if your team has mixed sensitivities.
How many disposable gloves come in a box?
Most trade disposable gloves come in boxes of 100. Cases are typically 10 boxes — 1,000 gloves in total. When buying in bulk, check the AQL rating: AQL 1.5 means tighter quality control and fewer defective gloves per batch, which matters for chemical or precision work.
Pick your material first, then your thickness, then your EN374 rating if chemicals are involved. Those three decisions cover most trade buying choices. For a broader look at hand protection across all heavy duty tasks, head back to our complete UK heavy duty work gloves guide.