Best Construction Gloves

Construction is tough work and you need a tough pair of gloves to match. But the gloves you need for specific tasks will differ, for example you might prefer thin and flexible gloves for delicate tasks like laying tiles with a trowel, but for using power tools like a jackhammer you'll need bulkier gloves with impact resistance. To help you find the right builders gloves to keep your hands safe and get the job done right, we've put together this handy guide to our Best Construction Gloves.

These work gloves are some of our very best sellers, comfortable enough for long days, loved by our customers and certified by industry experts for their quality.

What Does this Guide Cover?

• Best Overall Construction Gloves
• Best Thin Construction Gloves
• Best Waterproof Construction Gloves
• Best Heavy-Duty Construction Gloves
• Best Construction Gloves for Power Tools
• Best Cement Gloves
• Best Construction Gloves for Winter

Best Overall Construction Gloves

Winner: Skytec Ninja X4 Abrasion Resistant Gloves

Why They're Great...

✔ Bi-polymer coating is grippy, flexible and offers strong abrasion and tear resistance
✔ Anatomical fit and seamless liner ensures touch sensitivity, dexterity and comfort
✔ Breathable build, antimicrobial finish and silicone free for healthy and hygienic hands

Good For...

✔ General building work and handling tasks
✔ Handling coarse and rough materials and dangerous tools
✔ Comfortable, all-day wear

Not the Best For...

✘ Not suitable for use with power tools (See Our Solution)
✘ Highest risk and heavy-duty work (See Our Solution)

Editor's Verdict: Combining a seamless liner, grippy bi-polymer outer material and strong mechanical resistance, the Skytec Ninja X4 Abrasion Resistant Gloves are a versatile choice for day-to-day construction use. They also feature an anatomical fit and supple materials which grant you high levels of dexterity and touch sensitivity. The elasticated wrists, breathable design and silicone-free build ensure long-lasting comfort as well.

Customer's Verdict: "Brilliant gloves - Very very pleased with these gloves , flexible , good fit and tough …. Works for me refuelling generators ….. they also fold up nicely and store in my bump hat under the straps ….. brilliant" Adrian ★★★★★

Best Thin Construction Gloves

Winner: Skytec Basalt R Black PU-Coated Precision Work Gloves

Why They're Great...

✔ Thin and flexible with anatomical fit for impressive dexterity and touch sensitivity
✔ PU coating offers fantastic resistance to oil and grease, as well as abrasions and tears
✔ Unbeatable price considering high level of quality and versatility

Good For...

✔ Fine handling and precise work
✔ Handling small parts in oily and greasy conditions
✔ Lower risk work

Not the Best For...

✘ Winter work outside (See Our Solution)
✘ Working in wet environments (See Our Solution)

Editor's Verdict: For fine handling and working with small or delicate materials, you need work gloves that prioritise dexterity and sensitivity. The Skytec Basalt R Black PU-Coated Precision Work Gloves are thin and extremely close-fitting, anatomically adhering to the shape of your hands for the most natural feel. The palms and fingers are completely coated in a thin layer of thin PU, ensuring a secure grip in dirty, greasy or oily conditions, without adding much bulk to the gloves. They also provide strong resistance to abrasions and tears, perfect for safe handling of coarse materials like bricks, wood and slabs of concrete.

Best Waterproof Construction Gloves

Winner: Portwest AP81 Liquid Pro Waterproof Cut-Resistant Gloves

Why They're Great...

✔ Double-layer of latex foam is extremely waterproof and grippy
✔ Close-fitting 13-gauge liner and seamless build maintain flexibility
✔ Strong resistance to cuts, abrasions and tears to protect hands

Good For...

✔ Work in wet weather and around pipes and drainage
✔ Handling wet and slippery materials
✔ Money-saving in low risk environments

Not the Best For...

✘ Concrete and cement handling (See Our Solution)
✘ Touch sensitivity (See Our Solution)

Editor's Verdict:  Dipped in a double-layer of tough latex, the Portwest AP81 Liquid Pro Waterproof Cut-Resistant Gloves combine robust waterproofing with versatile mechanical resistance, making them the perfect choice for building work in wet weather, or around pipes and drainage. The latex foam on the palms has a coarse texture that's extremely grippy in wet and oily conditions, while also protecting your hands from cut, abrasion and tear hazards. Featuring a seamless 13-guage liner and knit wrists, they're flexible enough for fine handling while offering a secure and snug fit.

Customer's Verdict: "...They are tough, thick enough to cushion my hands but still allow me to manoeuvre the equipment. They are also waterproof so good in wet conditions." Christine ★★★★★

Best heavy-duty construction gloves

Our Winner: Skytec Sapphire Xtreme Cut and Puncture Resistant Gloves

Why We Love Them...

✔ Incredibly strong and well-rounded mechanical protection
✔ Micro-foam coating for a robust grip in oily and greasy conditions
✔ Seamless liner and elasticated wrists ensure flexibility and comfort

Perfect For...

✔ Protecting your hands in the highest risk work environments 
✔ Handling sharp objects in slippery, oily and wet conditions
✔ Protecting your hands without compromising versatility and dexterity

Not the Best For...

✘ Working in extremely wet conditions (See our solution)
✘ Using power tools (See our solution)

Editor's Verdict: The Skytec Sapphire Xtreme Safety Gloves combine extremely high resistance to cuts, abrasions, tears and punctures, along with contact heat resistance up to 100°C, for mechanical protection that's hard to beat. With all this resistance the gloves, you might assume that these durable work gloves would be overly bulky - but that's not the case! They remain thin and flexible enough for tactile work, while the raised micro-foam coating gives you a fantastic grip, even in oily and slippery conditions. 

Best Construction Gloves for Power Tools

Winner: Ejendals Tegera 9180 Anti-Vibration Work Gloves

Why They're Great...

✔ Vibrothan foam padding offers robust anti-vibration protection
✔ Ergonomically-shaped, synthetic leather material is comfortable to wear and grippy
✔ Reinforced seams and fingertips for added safety and lasting durability

Good For...

✔ Power tools like pneumatic drills, sanders, grinders and nail guns
✔ Reducing hand impact and preventing conditions like HAVC and white finger
✔ Maintaining a safe grip when using dangerous tools

Not the Best For...

✘ Not suitable for use with power tools (See Our Solution)
✘ Lightweight design is not suited for risky environments (See Our Solution)

Editor's Verdict: Power tools are an essential part of construction, but if used unprotected, they can cause serious damage to your hands. Made with thick, protective padding, the Ejendals Tegera 9180 Anti-Vibration Gloves absorb the vibrations from heavy machinery, making long-term use safer and much more comfortable. The fingers are also pre-curved to reduce fatigue, while the fingertips are reinforced for added protection in case of slips and accidents.

Customer's Verdict: "I have used these gloves for work, using sanders, multi tools and nail guns. I have noticed a decrease in the after effects of using the tools such as white finger and tingling in my hands. The gloves have helped and my co-workers are looking to get a pair for themselves." Ann ★★★★★

Best Cement Gloves

Winner: Ejendals Tegera 10PG Chemical Resistant Gloves

Why They're Great...

✔ PVC coating is extremely resistant to grease, grime and oil
✔ Extra-long cuffs reduce chances of cement to skin contact
✔ Also offers robust resistance to chemicals and abrasions

Good For...

✔ Working with wet cement and concrete
✔ Chemical handling and cleaning
✔ Forearm protection

Not the Best For...

✘ Cut resistance (See Our Solution)
✘ Finer handling (See Our Solution)

Editor's Verdict: When working with cement-based products, including concrete and mortar, it's important to wear chemical-resistant gloves to prevent allergic skin reactions and chemical burns. For comfortable protection against chemicals, we recommend the Ejendals Tegera 10PG Chemical Resistant PVC Gauntlets. These robust gauntlet-style gloves shield the hands and forearms against chemical and liquid splash-back, and with good resistance to abrasion and tear, you can be sure that you have reliable protection for chemical and cement handling.

Best Construction Gloves for Winter

Winner: Skytec Argon Xtra Cold Resistant Fleece Lined Gloves

Why They're Great...

✔ Thick fleece lining and PVC sponge combine for powerful warmth
✔ Liquid-repellent design and raised-texture finish for fantastic wet grip
✔ ActiFresh antibacterial design prevents sweat build up despite heavy insulation

Good For...

✔ Working in the extreme cold
✔ Maintaining grip in icy and wet conditions
✔ Wet weather work

Not the Best For...

✘ Dexterity and sensitivity (See Our Solution)
✘ Highest mechanical risks (See Our Solution)

Editor's Verdict: These Skytec Argon Xtra Gloves are an extra-warm, thermal variation of our extremely popular Skytec Argon Gloves. They're fleece-lined and coated in durable PVC, making them suitable for direct contact with sub-zero temperature materials. The coating is also heavily textured and liquid-repellent, providing a fantastic grip in both wet and icy conditions. As an added bonus they're highly resistant to abrasions and tears, keeping your hands protected from mechanical threats in tough conditions.

Customer's Verdict: "Great gloves. First winter in around 60 that I've washed my car without having to put my hands on a radiator for 10 minutes to thaw them out. They were as dry and as warm when they came off as they were when I put them on. Will definitely recommend." David ★★★★★

Safe, Comfortable and PRactical

Construction is a hard job at the best of times, and that's why workers deserve quality and effective gear. We hope you've found the gloves for you but if you haven't, why not check out our Builders, Bricklaying and Construction categories? 

Have any questions, or anything to add? Tell us in the comments below, or find us on Facebook and Twitter!