Best Gloves for Delivery Drivers and Package Handlers

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Jeff B., Safety Products Specialist

Most delivery drivers and package handlers do best with a thin, palm-coated knit glove: it grips cardboard and shrink wrap, breathes over a long route and, in touchscreen versions, works the handheld scanner without coming off. Add cut resistance if you open cases with a blade, and switch to an insulated glove in winter.

What Delivery Work Asks of a Glove

• Grip on cardboard and plastic: polyurethane (PU) and foam nitrile coatings hold boxes without feeling sticky.
• Touchscreen use: drivers scan and sign dozens of times a shift; conductive fingertips save taking gloves on and off.
• Dexterity: 13- to 15-gauge seamless shells are thin enough to handle labels, keys and door handles.
• Breathability: palm-only coating keeps the back of the hand cool on long routes.
• Cut protection: strapping, staples and box cutters cause many hand cuts in sorting. An ANSI A2 glove covers routine box opening.
• Weather: wet days call for foam nitrile; cold days need an insulated liner.

Gloves We Stock, by Job

Job	Glove	Why
Driving and scanning	Portwest A195 PU Coated Touchscreen Gloves	13-gauge seamless liner; PU palm and fingers work most touchscreens
Driving in wet weather	Versus Foam Nitrile Coated Touchscreen Glove	Foam nitrile grips wet and dry; touchscreen thumb, index and middle fingers; EN 388 4131X
Sorting and loading	P-Grip Polyurethane Coated Glove	Ultra-thin 13-gauge shell, PU palm; sold by the dozen for crews
Heavy or oily packages	Showa Atlas 350 Textured Nitrile Coated Glove	Textured nitrile palm for wet or oily items; open back stays cool
Opening boxes	Cutman PU Coated Touchscreen Glove, Cut Level A2	ANSI A2 cut resistance with touchscreen thumb and index finger
Winter routes	Portwest A776 PW3 Winter Touchscreen Glove	Insulated, waterproof membrane, touchscreen compatible

For colder routes and loading docks, see winter work gloves; for blade work, see cut-resistant gloves.

Disposable Gloves on a Route

Disposable nitrile gloves keep hands clean when handling medical deliveries, food or leaking packages, but they tear on cardboard edges and offer no cut protection. Many drivers keep a box in the van for those jobs and wear a coated work glove the rest of the time.

Glove Care

Most coated knit gloves can be hand washed in warm, soapy water and air dried; check the maker's instructions, since high heat can damage coatings. Replace gloves when the coating cracks, the fingertips wear through or grip drops.

FAQ

What gloves do delivery drivers wear?

Usually thin palm-coated knit gloves, often with touchscreen fingertips for the scanner, and insulated gloves in winter.

What are the best gloves for package handlers?

A PU or foam nitrile palm-coated glove for grip and dexterity; add ANSI A2 cut resistance if the job includes opening boxes.

Are touchscreen work gloves accurate enough for scanners?

Most handle taps and signatures well; very fine input may still be easier with a bare finger.

How often should package handling gloves be replaced?

When the coating cracks, wears through at the fingertips or loses grip; daily users often go through a pair every few weeks.