Quick answer: men's and women's gloves are sized by the same measurement: the circumference of your dominant hand around the knuckles, thumb excluded, with the hand half-bent. In our charts the same measurement gives the same number in both — 21 cm is a 7.5, 22 cm an 8, 23 cm an 8.5. What differs is the range: women's sizes run from 6.5 to 8.5, men's from 7.5 to 10.
People often assume a women's size and a men's size are two separate systems, as with shoes. For gloves they are not. The size is simply a reading of your hand, and the men's and women's ranges are two windows onto the same scale.
Are men's and women's glove sizes measured differently?
No. Both are measured around the widest part of the palm, across the knuckles at the base of the four fingers, leaving the thumb outside the tape. Hold the hand half-bent, as if loosely gripping a steering wheel, and keep the tape snug but not tight. Our step-by-step measuring guide walks through it.
How do the two size ranges compare?
| Around the knuckles | Women's size | Men's size |
|---|---|---|
| 17 cm | 6.5 | — |
| 19 cm | 7 | — |
| 21 cm | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| 22 cm | 8 | 8 |
| 23 cm | 8.5 | 8.5 |
| 24 cm | — | 9 |
| 26 cm | — | 9.5 |
| 28 cm | — | 10 |
Sizes 7.5, 8 and 8.5 appear in both ranges and mean the same measurement. The same figures are on our sizing chart page.
Is a women's size 8 the same as a men's size 8?
In terms of hand measurement, yes: both correspond to 22 cm around the knuckles. The size tells you the fit around the hand; the model decides the look. Our women's gloves and men's gloves are separate models with their own styles, so choose the pair you like and then take the size your measurement gives you. If you are unsure whether a particular model will suit your hand, write to us before ordering.
What if my hand is smaller than 6.5 or larger than 10?
Then our ready-to-wear sizes will not fit you well, and there is no need to compromise. We make gloves to measure, with no fixed limits on size, colour, leather, lining or stitching. For a custom pair we usually need photographs of your hand and your middle finger, and we guide you through the measuring. A bespoke pair takes up to five days to make, so 8–12 days in total within the EU. See how it works on our bespoke page, or read bespoke vs ready-to-wear.
What if my two hands are different sizes?
Measure your dominant hand, which is usually very slightly larger. If the two hands fall into different sizes, take the larger one. If the difference is marked, a made-to-measure pair can be cut to each hand separately.
Do lined gloves need a larger size?
No. We allow for the lining in the cut, so lined, unlined and shearling gloves are all the same size, for men and for women alike. Our cashmere-, rabbit-fur- and shearling-lined pairs are in the winter gloves collection.
How should the glove fit once it arrives?
- The leather sits flat against the palm, without bagging.
- Your fingertips reach the ends of the fingers without pressing hard into them.
- You can close your hand into a fist; it feels firm, but the seams are not strained.
Leather relaxes across the palm and knuckles with wear, but the fingers do not get longer. Choose the size that fits now. For driving gloves, which are meant to fit close, see our women's driving glove size guide or the men's driving gloves.
Frequently asked questions
Can a woman wear men's gloves?
Yes, if the measurement fits. A woman measuring 21 to 23 cm around the knuckles can take a men's 7.5, 8 or 8.5, the same numbers as in the women's range. Smaller hands are better served by the women's range or a made-to-measure pair.
Can I return gloves if I chose the wrong size?
Ready-made gloves can be returned within 30 days. Made-to-measure pairs cannot, so if you are between sizes, send us your measurement first.
I am buying gloves as a gift. What size should I choose?
Ask, or measure discreetly with a strip of paper around the knuckles. If that is not possible, write to us with what you know; our gift guide has more ideas.
Still unsure?
Send us your measurement and tell us what the gloves are for. Our glove makers in Târgu Mureș, where gloves have been made since 1925, would rather advise you before you order than exchange afterwards. Write to info@nmgloves.com, call +40 754 301 994, or use our contact page.
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