The Best Gloves for Plumbers: Keep Your Hands Safe While You Work
The best gloves for plumbing can help protect your hands from cuts, chemicals, and heat. But to keep you safe on the job, you’ll need a stash of different gloves in your toolbox.
That’s where this shopping list comes in. We’ll help you find the right safety gloves to store in your plumbing van so you’re ready to tackle any job.
Take a look at the best gloves for plumbers:
Single-use gloves for plumbers
As a plumber, you come across biologically hazardous and infectious materials every day on the job. Single-use nitrile (or latex) gloves protects your hands from unsafe substances on the job site.
Pro Tip: Layer your other work gloves over your single-use plumbing gloves for extra protection on any plumbing job.
Watson Gloves – Grease Monkey Disposable Nitrile Gloves
Grease Monkey disposable nitrile gloves are the perfect option for routine plumbing maintenance, inspections, handling plumbing tools, and any other small plumbing jobs like clearing drains or clogs.
Latex free, waterproof, and chemical resistant—they’re great for protecting your hands while you work.
Pros:
- Heavy-duty, flexible, and durable
- Chemical and water-resistant to keep your hands dry
- Slip resistant—giving you good grip
- Snug fit makes them comfortable and easy to wear while you work
Cons:
- Some reviewers say they’re better for smaller jobs, rather than heavy-duty jobs
Pricing starts at $40 for a pack of 50 gloves.
Venom Steel Nitrile Gloves
These Venom Steel heavy-duty 6 mil disposable gloves are the perfect option to protect your hands from hazardous substances on the job. With a durable outer layer and a soft inner one, they offer both protection and comfort. They’re available to purchase in boxes of 100.
Pros:
- Fully textured to give you an excellent grip on tools and materials
- Water and chemical resistant to keep your hands dry and safe
- Super durable
Cons:
- Some reviewers say sizing runs small and recommend getting a size up
- Some reviewers mention that they aren’t as rip-resistant as some other brands
Pricing starts at $18.99 for a box of 100.
Cut-resistant plumbing gloves
Running plumbing pipework and handling metal drain snakes means your hands risk getting cut on sharp objects. A pair of cut-resistant plumbing gloves can potentially save you from a serious injury while on the job.
These are our recommendations for the best gloves for drain snake or running plumbing pipework:
Ridgid Drain Cleaning Mitt
This Ridgid Drain Cleaning Mitt is a must-have to protect your hands from burns, abrasions, and cuts when you’re handling and running sewer cables. These mitts are lined to keep sludge and chemicals off your skin. The mitts (sometimes called staple mitts) are covered with metal studs that improve grip on sectional machine cables.
Pros:
- Reinforced gripped palm offers better control when running cables
- Made from quality leather with steel studs that protect your skin and fingers from spinning cables
Cons:
- Though reusable, they’re a bit more pricey than some other options on our list
- Some reviewers mentioned that the material for under the thumb can wear down more quickly than they hoped
Pricing starts at $34.
Ansell HyFlex 11-500 Kevlar Glove
To save your hands from nicks, cuts, or abrasions on the job, take a look at Ansell Hyflex Kevlar Gloves. Created for stretch and comfort with wearable spandex.
Pros:
- Great cut resistance protection
- Lightweight with a stretch lining that makes them comfortable to wear all day
- Dipped palms make it easy to grip tools and other objects
Cons:
- Some reviewers say they could be longer in the arm
Pricing starts at $69 for a pack of 12.
ShuBee Ugly Gloves Safety Cuffs
Great for drain cleaning, these ShuBee Ugly Gloves are some of the best ugly gloves for plumbing and helping keep your hands safe from both sharp objects and chemicals alike.
Pros:
- Large PVC chips on the outside of the gloves can help keep rooter cables from catching in your hands while you’re on the job
- Soft jersey-lined interior makes them comfortable to wear
- They can help you safely handle pipe snakes without friction burns
Cons:
- Can feel sweaty or slightly uncomfortable with very long wear
Pricing starts at $15.
The best plumbing gloves to work with chemicals
To stay safe on the job and protect your hands from harsh chemicals and oils, you’ll need to find a pair of rubber or neoprene chemical-resistant gloves.
Here are our recommendations for top-rated plumbing gloves to work with chemicals:
DISCLAIMER: Before working with or submerging your hand in any chemicals, check the manufacturer details of the gloves to make sure you’ll be protected.
Wells Lamont Heavy Duty PVC Coated Work Gloves
Protect your hands from harsh chemicals with these Wells Lamont PVC coated work gloves. The outer PVC coating protects you while the inner lining makes them comfortable to wear.
Pros:
- PVC coating protects your hands from harsh chemicals, acids, and other dangerous substances
- Comfortable to wear because of their cotton lining
- Cover higher up on your arm for better protection
- Textured PVC coating offers a stronger grip
Cons:
- Some reviewers say they aren’t as durable as they hoped
- Can feel stiff
Pricing starts at $13.
Showa Heavy Duty Chemical Resistant Gloves
Showa’s chemical-resistant gloves were made for handling dangerous chemicals, acids, and other hazardous substances. A big plus is the textured grip, making it a great choice for plumbers who need chemical protection in wet bathrooms and kitchens.
Pros:
- 18” length gives protection for your forearm
- Strong protection against acids, chemicals, and other drain cleaners
- The textured palm design gives you a better grip in wet conditions
- Two-colored construction makes it easy to tell when you need to replace the gloves
Cons:
- Can be uncomfortable for long-term use
Pricing starts at $30.
Plumbing gloves to grip
A good pair of plumbing gloves can improve your grip on equipment or materials when working in damp, wet, or even dry environments.
Here are our recommendations for the best plumbing gloves for a better grip:
DEX FIT – Nitrile Work Gloves FN330
DEX FIT Nitrile Work Gloves FN330 are the perfect option for routine plumbing maintenance, inspections, and any other small plumbing jobs like clearing drains or clogs. Latex free, waterproof, and chemical resistant—they’re great for protecting your hands while you work.
Pros:
- Heavy-duty, flexible, and durable, making them comfortable and reliable for every job (no matter how long)
- Chemical and water-resistant to keep your hands dry
- Slip resistant—giving you good grip
- Snug fit makes them comfortable and easy to wear while you work
Cons:
- Better for smaller jobs, rather than heavy-duty jobs
Pricing starts at $15.
ATG G-Tek MaxiFlex Gloves
These MaxiFlex nitrile palm-coated gloves are lightweight, breathable, and comfortable for all-day use. The coated palm makes it easy to grip plumbing tools, power tools, or consumables whether they’re wet or dry.
Pros:
- They’re thinner than other plumbing gloves, giving you more comfort and better hand movement
- Nitrile-coated palm gives you great grip—perfect for handling plumbing tools or consumables
- High level of abrasion resistance
Cons:
- Not as soft as some other plumber gloves
- Sizes can run big
Pricing starts at $8.
Tsunami Grip Gloves
Similar to the MaxiFlex gloves, the Tsunami Grip are nitrile-coated work gloves—giving you a better grip when you’re working in wet conditions or with slippery materials.
Pros:
- Lightweight and breathable for all-day use
- Coated gloves and precision handling offer protection against chemicals
- Nitrile dipped coating gives you a better grip on hand tools when performing pipework or installing fixtures
- Affordable
Cons:
- Run larger than other nitrile coated work gloves
- Some reviewers say they are a little loose when working
Pricing starts at $35 for a 12 pack.
Heat-resistant plumbing gloves
Welding or heat-resistant gloves are essential for any plumbers that do welding or soldering work frequently as they’ll help protect your hands from the heat.
Lincoln Electric Premium Leather Welding Gloves
Lincoln Electric’s Premium Leather heat-resistant welding gloves to protect you from hand injuries and potential burns.
The outer leather offers great heat resistance, while the inner fabric lining makes them comfortable to wear—making them the perfect heat-resistant gloves for soldering.
Pros:
- Offer great protection from sparks, grindings, and hot metal
- Heat and chemical resistant
- Fabric lining makes them comfortable to wear in any condition
Cons:
- While leather material offers great heat protection, can feel stiff if you need to wear them for a long time
- Not machine washable
Pricing starts at $25.98.
Ironclad Heatworx Reinforced Heat-Resistant Gloves
Whether you’re looking for heat-resistant gloves for soldering copper pipes or welding, Ironclad’s Heatworx Reinforced Heat-Resistant Gloves are a solid pair to check out.
They offer heat, cut, abrasion, and shrink resistance—making them a great all-in-one product while you’re on the job.
Pros:
- All-round protection
- Machine washable
- Repels oil
Cons:
- Bit pricier than some other options
- Offers great grip for dry conditions, but not as impressive if you’re working in wet conditions
Pricing starts at $58.
Cold-weather gloves for plumbers
If you offer outdoor plumbing services like leak detection, septic system services, or downspout drain cleaning, you’ll want a good pair of thermal plumbing gloves for the cold winter months.
Showa Atlas Therma Fit 451 Gloves
The Showa Atlas Therma Fit gloves are a top pick for plumbers who work outside. The rubber lining is great for grip and they also have a napped liner for warmth and comfort.
Pros:
- Rubber coating and warm inner lining keep hands dry and warm throughout the day
- Rugged grip makes it easy to handle wet or slippery tools and materials
- Flexible gloves that offer a high level of dexterity
Cons:
- Some reviewers say they aren’t machine washable (leads to shrinking)
- Needs more slip as grip can sometimes get caught
Pricing starts at $42 for a pack of 12.
Chilly Grip Original A311 Blue Heavy Duty Gloves
These Chilly Grip Original A311 Blue Heavy Duty Gloves are perfect for plumbers as they combine a textured rubber palm for grip with a cozy acrylic thermal knit liner for warmth.
Pros:
- Textured rubber offers grip
- Warm and comfortable
- Good dexterity
Cons:
- Some reviewers mentioned they can start to separate after long-term use
Pricing starts at $59.99 for a pack of 12.
Get the right plumbing tools for your plumbing business
To start your plumbing business, you’ll need the right plumbing tools in your toolbag. But to grow your plumbing business, you’ll need the right tool at your fingertips.
Whether you’re in the office or at the job site, Jobber has all the features you need to send professional quotes, schedule jobs with two clicks, automate your invoicing, and get paid faster.
Plumbing glove FAQs
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Both Wells Lamont PVC coated work gloves and Showa’s chemical-resistant gloves are great for working with chemicals on the job. The Wells Lamont gloves have a PVC coating to help protect your hands from chemicals. While Showa’s chemical-resistant gloves have a textured grip, offering great chemical protection in wet bathrooms and kitchens.
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From heat-resistant gloves to chemical-resistant gloves, plumbers use several different gloves while on the job. It’s best for plumbers to several different gloves for each kind of job in their toolkit, including heat resistant, chemical resistant, cold resistant, cut resistant, and gloves with grip.
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Nitrile gloves are durable and offer good protection against punctures and chemicals.
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Shubee Ugly Gloves are great for snaking a drain and protecting your hands from metal and chemicals. The gloves’ ridges are excellent for grip.
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PE is polyethylene, while PVC is polyvinyl chloride. PE is more flexible and can be more comfortable, while PVC is more durable (good for protecting against sharp objects.
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Grease Monkey disposable nitrile gloves offer great protection—they’re waterproof, latex free, and chemical resistant.
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There are a number of great waterproof gloves for plumbers. One of the best is Venom Steel heavy-duty 6 mil disposable gloves. They have a durable outside coating and a soft inner lining for protection and comfort. Buy them in boxes of 100.
Originally published in March 2022. Last updated on October 1, 2024.