Best Gloves for Roofing Work: Shingles, Grip, and Crew Buying Guide
November 9, 2026
Roofing crews need a glove that can handle shingles all day, keep a grip on a steep slope and a nail gun, and let a roofer feel a nail and a shingle edge without taking the glove off. Our short answer is this: for shingle handling, start with our leather palm gloves, and for grip and dexterity, add our mechanic and dipped gloves.
We do not make a dedicated roofing glove, and we do not claim one of our gloves does everything. The right choice is a mix, matched to the task, the crew, and the conditions on that roof.
We have been making private label work gloves since 1992, and we have sold more than 1,000,000 gloves. Our gloves are made for crews, not for one pair at a time. A first order starts at 12 dozen pairs, sizes and styles can be mixed, and your logo is printed on the back of every glove. That is the frame for this guide. We will show you which of our gloves fit which roofing task, what we will not claim, and how to order for a whole crew.
A roofer carries bundles of shingles up a ladder, sets them in place, nails them down, and trims where the roof needs it. Shingles are heavy, rough, and dusty. A steep slope makes every step and every grip count. A nail gun and a hammer need a hand that can feel the tool, not a glove that fights it. Those three facts drive every choice in this guide.
First, abrasion. Shingles wear a glove down from the palm and the fingers, just as brick and block do. A thin glove feels good for an hour and then shows wear. A double palm puts more material where the wear happens, so the glove lasts longer on the same roof. That is why our double palm styles lead this guide.
Second, grip. A wet shingle is heavier than it looks, and a wet tool handle slips. A dipped palm gives the hand a grip surface that a plain leather palm does not. The grip does not come from force. It comes from the coating on the palm, and it matters most on wet work and on early morning starts when dew is still on the roof.
Third, dexterity. A roofer still needs to feel a nail, pick up a single shingle, and work a flashing edge. A glove that is too stiff or too thick slows that work down. So the choice is always a trade off. More palm material gives more wear life, and less palm material gives more feel. No single glove wins both at once, so we match the glove to the task, not the other way round.
We also think about heat and wet. A roof in summer is hot, and a roof in winter is cold and wet. A glove that is easy to take off, dry, and put back on matters more than a glove that promises to stay dry, because no glove we make is stated as waterproof. We say that plainly, because a crew that plans for wet gloves wastes less time than a crew that expects dry ones.
We will not claim a cut level for any glove in this guide. None of our leather palm, mechanic, or dipped styles states a cut level, and none states an ANSI level. KEVLAR sewn is not a cut rating, and we do not present it as one. If your job needs a rated cut glove, ask us before you order, and we will tell you plainly whether we can help or not.
We will not claim that any glove in this guide is waterproof. Our dipped styles are palm dipped or palm coated only, and none is fully dipped. No waterproof claim is stated for any of them. Our mechanic styles state water resistant, which is not the same as waterproof, and we do not present it as waterproof. If your crew works in rain, plan for wet gloves and for spares.
We will not claim heat resistance or fall protection for any glove in this guide. Roofing is hot work on a steep surface, and a glove does not protect a roofer from heat or from a fall. None of our product pages states a heat resistance figure or a temperature rating for roofing work, so we do not invent one. Use the right safety gear for the roof, and use our gloves for grip, wear, and dexterity, which is what they are made for.
We say all of this up front because a roofing buyer should not find out on the roof that a glove was oversold. Our job is to match a real glove to a real task, with the facts we can stand behind, and to leave the rest as a question to check before you order.
Shingle handling is where our leather palm gloves earn their place. Leather handles abrasion, it breaks in with use, and a double palm puts the wear where the work is. We make five leather palm styles, and four of them are double palm. The fifth, Cowhide Kevlar Sewn, is the only single palm style in the range, and we do not describe it as double palm.
Our Green Cowhide Double Palm is $7.34 per pair, logo included. It states select shoulder split cowhide, a double palm, a full leather index finger, leather fingertips, a knuckle strap, a heel pull, a wing thumb, and a rubberized safety cuff. It is the lowest priced double palm in our range, and it is the style we most often suggest first for a roofing crew that wants wear life without a high per pair price.
Our Cowhide Kevlar Sewn is $9.13 per pair, logo included. It states a side split cowhide palm, a wing thumb, a knuckle strap, and a shirred back, and it is sewn with KEVLAR for added strength. It is not a double palm style, and it does not state a cut rating. It fits a crew that wants a lighter leather palm glove for mixed shingle and trim work, where the palm does not need the extra double layer every day.
Our Orange Cowhide Double Palm is $10.30 per pair, logo included. It states premium split leather with orange canvas, an internal double palm, a full leather index finger, leather fingertips, a knuckle strap, a heel pull, a wing thumb, and a rubberized safety cuff. It is the orange canvas version of our double palm, and the colour makes a pair easy to spot on a roof or in a truck.
Our High Visibility Yellow Double Palm is $10.57 per pair, logo included. It states the same double palm build as the other double palm styles, with a rubberized safety cuff and a color coded bias tape hem. The visibility here is colour only. No reflective element is stated for this style, and we do not claim one. It fits a crew that wants its gloves easy to see on a busy site, without paying for a feature that is not stated.
Our Cowhide Double Palm Kevlar is $13.02 per pair, logo included. It states a two ply palm and fingers, a wing thumb, a knuckle strap, a white canvas back, and KEVLAR sewn. It is the highest priced leather palm style in this guide, and it is the one we suggest for long wear shingle work, where the palm and the fingers both take the wear. KEVLAR sewn is not a cut rating, and we do not present it as one.
All five styles state Full Color print, sizes XS to XXL, a 12 dozen minimum, and a one time $95 setup. None of them is stated to be a full leather glove. No lining, cut, abrasion, puncture, or visibility rating is stated for any of them, beyond the construction we have listed above. For more on how the leathers differ, read our guide to the types of leather for work gloves, and for the wider construction picture, read our best work gloves for construction workers in USA guide.
Roofing is not only carrying shingles. It is also nailing, trimming, and working flashing, and that work needs a glove that moves with the hand. That is where our mechanic gloves fit. They state a synthetic leather palm that is breathable, soft, and lightweight, with a stretch knit back and a neoprene knuckle area, so the hand can bend and feel the tool.
Our Black Mechanics is $14.49 per pair, logo included. It states an Armor Skin Synthetic Leather Palm, a Stretch Knit Back with a Neoprene Knuckle, a Velcro Closure, and double stitching around all the edges, preventing blowouts and adding extra strength. It also states it is crafted from synthetic leather, outlasts traditional leather gloves while costing only half as much. It is the lowest priced mechanic style in this guide.
Our Yellow Mechanics is $14.51 per pair, logo included. It states a synthetic leather (Clarino Parity) palm that is breathable, soft and lightweight, water resistant yet washable and extremely durable, with a stretch knit back, a neoprene knuckle area and a Velcro wrist closure. It is pre-curved. Water resistant is not waterproof, and we do not present it as waterproof.
Our Mechanics Double Palm is $17.30 per pair, logo included. It states an Armorskin Synthetic leather double palm, a padded palm with extra fingertip padding, precurved with a velcro wrist, two pieces of leather on the palm for exceptional wear resistance, and double stitching around the edges for longevity. It is the double palm mechanic style, for a roofer who wants the mechanic fit with more palm wear life.
Our Pigskin Mechanics is $19.83 per pair, logo included. It states a premium grade pigskin palm, a blue stretch knit back with a neoprene knuckle area, and a Velcro wrist closure. It is pre-curved. Pigskin is described on our site as the toughest and most durable leather, and it can stiffen if wet, so plan for a dry spare pair on a wet day.
All of our mechanic styles state Full Color print, sizes XS to XXL, a 12 dozen minimum, and a one time $95 setup. No cut level, ANSI level, temperature rating, lining, or reflective element is stated for any of them. For the full range, see our custom mechanic gloves category page.
Wet shingles and wet tools are where our dipped gloves fit. A dipped palm gives grip on a wet shingle and a wet tool handle, and it keeps the hand from slipping when the work is at its messiest. We make six dipped styles, and two of them are the ones we suggest most often for roofing. All six are palm dipped or palm coated only, and none is fully dipped, so none of them is stated as waterproof.
Our Nitrile Foam is $5.21 per pair, logo included. It states a foam finish for grip, a palm, a 15 gauge liner with a Nylon shell, a breathable spandex back, double layer nitrile puncture resistance, machine washable, super dexterity on the palm, and a pre curved finger design. It is the lowest priced dipped style in this guide, and the only dipped style in this guide that states machine washable. For a roofing crew, that matters, because dust and wet work mean gloves get washed or replaced often.
Our Yellow Latex High Visibility Lightweight is $7.54 per pair, logo included. It states a very comfortable latex palm coated knit, an excellent fit, a high visibility colour knit, a latex dipped palm, and a pre curved design. The visibility is colour only. No reflective element is stated for this style. It fits a crew that wants a comfortable, light glove for shingle handling and general roofing work in warm weather.
Both styles state Full Color print, sizes XS to XXL, a 12 dozen minimum, and a one time $95 setup. No polyurethane, touchscreen, waterproofing, or cut level is stated for either style. For the full range, see our custom dip gloves category page. For wet and cold work in general, read our best waterproof work gloves for wet cold jobs guide, and remember that the waterproof claims in that guide are about the guide, not a promise that these two styles are waterproof.
The table below compares the ten styles we suggest most often for roofing work, in price order. All ten styles state Full Color print, sizes XS to XXL, a 12 dozen minimum, and a one time $95 setup. No cut level, ANSI level, reflective element, or temperature rating is stated for any style in the table. KEVLAR sewn is not a cut rating. Water resistant is not waterproof. Machine washable is stated only for Nitrile Foam.
| Style | Best for roofing work | Construction stated for this style | Price per pair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrile Foam | Wet grip and washing | Lightweight nitrile dipped glove, foam finish for grip, 15 gauge liner with Nylon shell, double layer nitrile, machine washable | $5.21 |
| Green Cowhide Double Palm | Shingles and heavy loads | Select shoulder split cowhide, double palm, full leather index finger, leather fingertips, knuckle strap, heel pull, wing thumb, rubberized safety cuff | $7.34 |
| Yellow Latex High Visibility Lightweight | Shingle handling, comfort, and fit | Very comfortable latex palm coated knit, excellent fit, high visibility colour knit, latex dipped palm, pre curved | $7.54 |
| Cowhide Kevlar Sewn | Mixed shingle and trim work | Side split cowhide palm, wing thumb, knuckle strap, shirred back, KEVLAR sewn for added strength, no double palm wording | $9.13 |
| Orange Cowhide Double Palm | Shingles and heavy loads | Premium split leather with orange canvas, internal double palm, full leather index finger, leather fingertips, knuckle strap, heel pull, wing thumb, rubberized safety cuff | $10.30 |
| Cowhide Double Palm Kevlar | Long wear shingle work | Two ply palm and fingers, wing thumb, knuckle strap, white canvas back, KEVLAR sewn | $13.02 |
| Black Mechanics | Dexterity, nailing, and trim | Armor Skin Synthetic Leather Palm, Stretch Knit Back with Neoprene Knuckle, Velcro Closure, double stitching around all the edges | $14.49 |
| Yellow Mechanics | Dexterity, nailing, and trim | Synthetic leather (Clarino Parity) palm, breathable, soft and lightweight, water resistant yet washable, stretch knit back, neoprene knuckle area, Velcro wrist closure, pre-curved | $14.51 |
| Mechanics Double Palm | Dexterity with more palm wear | Armorskin Synthetic leather double palm, padded palm, extra fingertip padding, precurved, velcro wrist, double stitching around the edges | $17.30 |
| Pigskin Mechanics | Long wear mechanic work | Premium grade pigskin palm, blue stretch knit back, neoprene knuckle area, Velcro wrist closure, pre-curved | $19.83 |
Use the table as a starting point, not as a final order. A crew that carries shingles all day will lean to the double palm rows. A crew that spends half the day nailing and trimming will lean to the mechanic rows. A crew that works in wet weather will lean to the dipped rows. A crew that does all three will order all three, and mix them in the same first order, because sizes and styles can be mixed in a 12 dozen first order.
A roofing crew is not one hand size and one task. It is a foreman, a lead roofer, a labourer, and a new hire, all on the same roof, and all with different hands. Our ordering is built for that crew, not for one pair.
First, size the crew before you order. Use our work glove size chart guide and measure the hands that will wear the gloves. Sizes run XS to XXL, and a size breakdown is stated in the order, for example 6 dozen Large and 6 dozen X-Large. A glove that is too big slips on a nail gun, and a glove that is too small tears at the fingers. Sizing is the cheapest mistake to avoid, and the most expensive one to fix on the roof.
Second, mix styles in the first order. A first order starts at 12 dozen pairs, and sizes and styles can be mixed in that first order. So a crew can order double palm leather for the shingle carriers, mechanic gloves for the nailers, and dipped gloves for the wet work in the same order, and still meet the minimum. Reorders can be a few dozen pairs, and no setup fee is charged again for artwork already on file.
Third, approve the proof before anything is made. We send a free PDF proof within 24 hours, and it shows your logo on the glove, so you can approve it before production starts. Send a vector AI or PDF file if you have one. A high resolution PNG or JPG also works. The proof is free, and it is the step that stops a logo mistake from becoming 144 wrong gloves.
Fourth, plan for the season. Turnaround is 2.5 to 3 weeks, and up to 3.5 weeks in the busy season. Samples are shipped the same day. If your crew is hiring for spring, order before the busy season, not in the middle of it. A test order of leather palm plus mechanic styles, in your crew sizes, is the fastest way to learn which glove your roofers actually reach for. For what a full order costs, see our custom work gloves cost page.
Shingle dust and wet work are part of roofing, not an exception. A glove that is looked after lasts longer, and a glove that is replaced on time costs less than a hand injury or a lost day.
When a leather palm glove gets dusty, brush the dust off before it dries into the palm. When it gets wet, let it dry at room temperature, away from direct heat, and do not put a wet leather glove back on a hot surface to dry it fast. For more detail, read our guide on how to clean leather gloves properly.
When a dipped glove gets wet, rinse it and let it dry, and keep a dry spare pair on the truck. Nitrile Foam states machine washable, and that is the only wash claim we make in this guide. No other dipped style in this guide states machine washable, so we do not claim it for them.
When a glove tears at the fingers or the palm wears through, replace it. A torn glove does not protect a hand, and it snags on shingles and scaffolding. Keep a few spare pairs in the truck, in the sizes your crew actually wears, so a torn glove is a five minute change, not a lost half day.
The best glove for roofing work is not one glove. It is a leather palm glove for shingles, a mechanic glove for nailing and trim, and a dipped glove for wet grip, ordered together for a whole crew. Our double palm leather styles lead on wear life, our mechanic styles lead on dexterity, and our dipped styles lead on grip. None of them carries a cut rating, a waterproof claim, or a temperature rating on its product page, and we do not invent those claims here.
Start with a test order. Pick one double palm leather style and one mechanic style, size the crew, approve the free proof, and see which glove your roofers reach for on the second week. Then reorder the winner in a few dozen pairs, with no setup fee again, and keep the other style for the work it fits best. That is how a roofing crew finds its glove, without guessing and without overspending on a glove that was never made for the job.
Start with a double palm leather glove. Our Green Cowhide Double Palm at $7.34 per pair is the lowest priced double palm in our range, and our Orange Cowhide Double Palm at $10.30 per pair is the orange canvas version. Both state a double palm, a full leather index finger, and a wing thumb.
Our dipped gloves fit wet work best, because a dipped palm gives grip on a wet shingle and a wet tool handle. Our Nitrile Foam at $5.21 per pair states a foam finish for grip and machine washable, and our Yellow Latex High Visibility Lightweight at $7.54 per pair states a latex dipped palm. None of them is stated as waterproof.
Yes. A first order starts at 12 dozen pairs, and sizes and styles can be mixed in that first order. Reorders can be a few dozen pairs, and you never pay the $95 setup fee again, because your artwork is kept on file.
Measure the hands that will wear the gloves, and use our size chart guide. Sizes run XS to XXL, and a size breakdown is stated in the order, for example 6 dozen Large and 6 dozen X-Large. A glove that is too big slips on a nail gun, and a glove that is too small tears at the fingers.
Turnaround is 2.5 to 3 weeks, and up to 3.5 weeks in the busy season. We send a free PDF proof within 24 hours, and it shows your logo on the glove, so you can approve it before production starts. Samples are shipped the same day.
If your crew is hiring, expanding, or rebranding, we can help you get the right gloves on the right hands, with your logo on the back of every pair. Start with a test order of one double palm leather style and one mechanic style, in your crew sizes, and see which glove your roofers reach for on the second week.
Request a free proof and we will send a free PDF proof within 24 hours, showing your logo on the glove before anything is made. A first order starts at 12 dozen pairs, reorders can be a few dozen pairs, and you never pay setup again for artwork already on file.
Do not wait until the busy season to order. Test the gloves now, while you have time to size the crew and approve the proof, and then reorder the winner when the work picks up. Samples are shipped the same day, we ship anywhere in the USA and Canada, and our Handshake Guarantee applies: 100 percent satisfaction with the gloves and the logo, or we work with you until you are satisfied.
Get A Free Quote and tell us your crew size, your shingle mix, and how much of the work is wet or steep. We will help you pick the styles, the sizes, and the quantities, and we will show you the proof before you pay for production.
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