Best Gloves for House and Yard Work

Last updated January 21, 2026
Work gloves are great tools to keep in your tool box. With so many types available, you can find gloves to protect your hands for almost any project. Choosing the right material, fit and level of protection ensures comfort, safety and efficiency. Since different gloves are suited for different jobs, it’s smart to keep a few types on hand. Read on to learn about the different types of work and safety gloves. Find out how to choose the best gloves for your needs. Plus, get tips on selecting cut protection work gloves and other specialty options.
Table of Contents
Types of Work Gloves
Cut-Resistant Work Gloves
Disposable Work Gloves
Work Glove Sizes
Practical Safety and Maintenance Tips
Types of Work Gloves
Work gloves come in leather, cotton, latex, canvas, metal mesh and more.
- Aluminized gloves protect against intense heat and are ideal for welding or furnace work.
- Canvas gloves prevent blisters and are great for yard work, roofing, concrete and HVAC tasks.
- Cotton, jersey or fabric gloves are breathable, improve grip and protect from light heat and cold. Use these for painting, insulation, light yard work or gardening.
- Leather gloves are tough and durable, offering protection from abrasions and sparks. Use them for construction, landscaping, woodworking and heavy-duty yard work. Leather palm gloves provide flexibility, making them great for working with power tools.
- Metal mesh gloves protect against cuts and are perfect for working with sharp tools.
- Rubber, PVC or neoprene gloves offer excellent dexterity and are ideal when handling chemicals such as acids, bases, solvents and oils. Use them for gardening or applying pesticides.
- Nitrile-dipped gloves help improve your grip when working in wet or greasy conditions. The durable, breathable fabric provides flexibility and comfort.
Cut-Resistant Work Gloves

Cut-resistant work gloves keep your hands safe when working with sharp tools, materials or machinery. Choosing the right gloves helps prevent serious cuts and injuries. Protection work gloves are rated on a scale from A1 to A9, with 9 being the highest level of protection.
- Light-risk gloves (A1-A2) provide just enough protection to prevent small nicks or cuts while staying lightweight and comfortable. These are perfect for tasks where sharp edges aren’t a big concern but you still need some level of protection.
- Medium-risk gloves (A3-A4) are a solid choice when you need both safety and precision. They’re built to handle more contact with sharp edges or tools, helping to prevent deeper cuts while letting you work comfortably.
- High-risk gloves (A5-A6) are made for tougher jobs where you’re regularly dealing with sharp or heavy materials. They offer stronger protection to help prevent serious injuries.
- Extreme-risk gloves (A7-A9) are built for the most hazardous jobs, like working with sharp tools, heavy machinery or razor-sharp materials. They provide maximum protection to keep your hands safe.
Other types of specialized gloves can help protect your hands from punctures or crushing injuries. Puncture protection gloves use tightly woven synthetic layers to block things like needles, wires and thorns. For heavy-duty jobs, impact protection gloves feature Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) padding on the back of the hand, which absorbs and disperses force from crushing or dropped objects.
Disposable Work Gloves

Latex, nitrile and vinyl gloves are versatile disposable gloves for house or yard tasks.
- Latex gloves are flexible and snug, offering excellent dexterity for detailed tasks like painting or cleaning. They’re good for tasks involving water-based materials but can break down when they come into contact with oils or solvents.
- Nitrile gloves are puncture-resistant and latex-free. They’re great for tougher jobs like yard work or handling greasy tools. Nitrile gloves offer superior chemical resistance to vinyl and are far more durable.
- Vinyl gloves are affordable, lightweight and latex-free. They’re perfect for quick, low-risk tasks like food prep or light cleaning. Vinyl's material composition means it is more likely to stretch thin and tear. It can provide a poorer barrier against strong chemicals during prolonged use.
Work Glove Sizes

The right fit is key to comfort and safety. Gloves that are too tight can restrict movement and cause cramps or blisters, while oversized gloves reduce dexterity. Gloves with seams across the palm are often more comfortable, while seams across the back provide a snug fit.
To measure your hand, lay it flat and wrap a tape measure around your knuckles (excluding your thumb). Use the basic sizes chart below to find your size. If you’re between sizes, size up for a better fit.
- Small: 6 1/2 inches to 7 1/4 inches
- Medium: 7 1/2 inches to 7 3/4 inches
- Large: 8 inches to 8 3/4 inches
- X-Large: 9 inches to 9 3/4 inches
- XX-Large: 10 inches to 10 3/4 inches
- XXX-Large: 11 inches to 11 3/4 inches
Tip: If possible, always try on gloves to get the best fit. For example, gardening gloves tend to fit looser than other types.
Practical Safety and Maintenance Tips

- Always peel gloves off inside-out after handling chemicals or hazardous materials.
- Immediately clean reusable gloves, or properly dispose of single-use gloves, after contact with chemicals, solvents or pesticides.
- Do not wear loose-fitting gloves near grinders, lathes or rotating machinery. The glove can catch and cause a serious accident.
- When handling liquids, tuck your shirt or jacket sleeves into the glove cuffs. This prevents chemicals from getting on your skin.
- Before starting detail-oriented work, test your glove's fit by picking up a small object. If movement feels restricted, you need a different size or material.
- Inspect your gloves regularly. Replace them immediately if they are ripped, frayed or chemically degraded.
- For a secure grip on tools or wet materials, choose gloves with rubber dots, foam coatings or textured palms.
- If leather gloves get wet, let them air dry slowly. Never use heat. Applying a leather conditioner to keep them from stiffening and cracking.
- For yard work such as reaching into brush, use gloves with long gauntlet cuffs to protect your forearms.
- If you work in freezing temperatures, choose insulated or heated gloves to maintain your dexterity.
Work gloves are essential for protecting your hands and making any project easier. Whether you’re working in the yard, handling sharp tools or dealing with chemicals, the right work gloves make all the difference. From lightweight gloves for simple tasks to heavy-duty options for tough jobs, The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them.













