How to Measure Your Hand for Motorcycle Gloves
- jamesjordan
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
The number one reason riders end up with uncomfortable motorcycle gloves is buying the wrong size. Gloves that are too small restrict blood flow and fatigue your hands. Gloves that are too large bunch up at the palm and reduce your grip control on the throttle. Neither is acceptable when you're riding at speed. Measuring your hand correctly before you buy takes less than two minutes and makes all the difference.
What You Need
You need a soft tape measure — the kind used for sewing. A strip of paper and a ruler works if you don't have one. Measure your dominant hand, as it's typically the larger of the two.
Measurement 1: Hand Circumference
This is the most important measurement. Wrap the tape measure around the widest part of your palm, just below the knuckles, excluding your thumb. Keep your hand flat and fingers together. The number you get in inches corresponds directly to glove size: 7 inches = Small, 8 inches = Medium, 9 inches = Large, 10 inches = XL, 11 inches = 2XL. This is the standard used by most American leather glove manufacturers including Legendary USA.
Measurement 2: Middle Finger Length
Measure from the tip of your middle finger to the base of your palm where the finger meets the hand. This helps confirm fit, especially for gloves with extended or short finger lengths. Long fingers relative to your hand width may mean you need to size up for finger comfort even if the palm circumference fits smaller.
Between Sizes: What to Do
If your measurement falls between sizes — say 8.5 inches — size down if you want a snug riding fit that will break in to your hand, or size up if you have wide knuckles, plan to wear a liner glove underneath, or simply prefer more room. For deerskin gloves, sizing down is often the right call because deerskin stretches noticeably as it breaks in.
How Deerskin Sizing Differs
Deerskin has more natural give than cowhide or synthetic materials. A deerskin glove that feels snug on your first try will generally relax and conform to your hand's exact shape after 5 to 10 hours of riding. Cowhide gloves hold their dimensions longer and often feel right immediately at the correct size. If you're buying the Legendary USA Churchill Classic (https://legendaryusa.com/products/churchill-mens-deerskin-leather-classic-motorcycle-gloves) or any other deerskin style, don't buy loose expecting it to tighten — it won't.
The Try-On Test (In-Store or At Home)
When trying on gloves — whether in person or after ordering online — put them on fully, close any wrist closure, and then try to pick up a coin off a flat surface. If you can't manage fine motor tasks, the fingers are too short or the palm is too tight. Next, grip something the diameter of a handlebar. You should feel secure without bunching fabric in your palm. Finally, spread your fingers wide — there should be no pulling at the seams.
Wrist Closure Fit
Short wrist gloves — like the Legendary USA Short Wrist Ventilated Gloves (https://legendaryusa.com/products/legendary-mens-deerskin-short-wrist-ventilated-gloves) — close around the lower wrist. The closure should fasten without gaping and hold the glove securely without creating a pressure point. Gauntlet gloves extend over the forearm and have more adjustment range.
Find your perfect fit across the full Legendary USA motorcycle gloves collection (https://legendaryusa.com/collections/motorcycle-gloves). Each product page includes a sizing chart you can cross-reference with your measurements.
FAQ
Q: Which hand should I measure for motorcycle gloves? A: Measure your dominant hand. It's typically slightly larger, and gloves are designed for the larger hand to fit comfortably.
Q: My two hands measure differently. What size should I buy? A: Buy for the larger hand. A glove that fits the larger hand will still function fine on the slightly smaller hand.
Q: Do women need different glove sizing? A: Women's-specific gloves are cut for a narrower palm and shorter fingers. If standard sizes don't fit well, look for women's-specific cuts or size down and check finger length.
Q: How much will deerskin gloves stretch over time? A: Deerskin typically stretches about half a size over the first 10 hours of riding. A snug-fitting deerskin glove is usually the right starting point.
Q: What if I have wide knuckles but small fingers? A: This is common. Prioritize palm circumference fit for the glove to go on, then check finger length. You may find a slightly larger size works better overall.