Glove orders go wrong in one of two ways: a clinic buys one size because it is on promotion and ends up with a drawer nobody uses, or it buys several sizes without a consumption baseline and over-orders the two that matter least. Both problems are solved with the same small calculation, and the calculation starts with the size mix rather than with the price.
It takes about twenty minutes to build a usable baseline, and it pays back on the first reorder.
How do you work out the size mix?
Count the gloves issued per size over a normal month, or ask each treatment room to put a mark on a tally sheet as boxes are opened. Most clinics land near a 60/30/10 split across their two main sizes and one small or large size, but the distribution shifts with the specialty: a practice doing fine work skews smaller, and a surgical or procedure-heavy room skews larger.
The figure to preserve is the ratio, not the absolute count. When volume grows, the ratio tells you how to scale each size, and it prevents the classic error of scaling the size that was easiest to count.
What does a case quantity actually contain?
Three numbers are quoted on a glove line and they are not the same: gloves per box, boxes per case, and cases per pallet. A quotation that says "case of 10" is ambiguous unless the box count is stated, and a tender that specifies only case count can be met with several different physical quantities.
| Number on the quote | What it means | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Gloves per box | Count inside one dispenser box | Usually 100; check for 50 or 200 count lines |
| Boxes per case | Number of boxes in the shipping case | Commonly 10, but varies by line |
| Gloves per case | Box count x gloves per box | The figure to use for cost per glove |
| Case weight and cube | Shipping footprint | Relevant to storage and to freight |
| Minimum order quantity | Smallest order the supplier will ship | Often one case per size, which drives the size mix decision |
| Pallet quantity | Cases per pallet | Relevant for multi-site groups only |
How do you compare cost per glove rather than cost per box?
Divide the case price by the gloves per case. That single step exposes the most common comparison error, which is comparing two boxes at different counts. Where gloves are sold by weight or by pack rather than by count, ask for the count in writing before comparing, because a lighter box at a similar price can cost more per glove.
Add two variables after that. First, thickness: a heavier glove changes the glove-per-task calculation only if it changes how often staff change gloves, which it usually does not. Second, glove waste at the point of use: a glove pulled and discarded because the size was wrong costs the same as one that is used. Our note on reading exam glove case pricing works through the arithmetic with worked examples, and the AQL and batch sampling guide explains why the grade should be read next to the price.
When does a second glove line make sense?
When two tasks have genuinely different requirements. Clinical contact work needs an exam-grade glove; cleaning, food handling and non-patient tasks can use a lower grade. Running one grade for everything either overspends on non-clinical tasks or creates a compliance gap on clinical ones. Our comparison of nitrile and latex exam gloves in Canada covers the allergy and cost considerations that usually decide which material a site standardises on.
Two lines cover most clinics: a 4 mil powder-free exam glove for clinical rooms and a heavier 6 mil glove for tasks that punish a thin glove.
How should the first mixed order be structured?
Order the two main sizes at one case each, the two outer sizes at a half-case equivalent if the supplier allows it, then measure for a month and adjust once. Buying a pallet on the first order locks in a size mix you have not verified, and the storage cost of a wrong size lasts longer than the price advantage.
Groups ordering across several sites can consolidate the sizes onto one purchase order — request a bulk quote with the size mix per site and the monthly volume for each, and the quantities can be set against your par levels rather than a round number.
Ordering for a clinic, lab or care home? Wholesale and multi-site ordering covers case pricing and account setup, and the B2B wholesale collection lists the lines stocked for institutional buyers.
Related reading
- Exam Glove Case Pricing in Canada: How to Read Cost per Glove
- AQL 1.5 Water Leak Testing: How Glove Batches Are Sampled for Pinholes
- Nitrile vs Latex Examination Gloves in Canada: Cost, Fit and Risk
Frequently Asked Questions
Should a clinic order one size or several?
Several. Staff who cannot find their size pull the nearest one, which wastes gloves and reduces protection. Two main sizes plus one outer size covers most clinics.
Is a bigger order always cheaper per glove?
Usually, but the saving has to survive storage. Gloves have a shelf life and take up space, so a quantity that lasts longer than the shelf life is not a saving.
How often should the size mix be reviewed?
After any staffing change, and at least annually. A single hire or departure can shift the mix enough to leave one size overstocked.
Do case quantities include the dispenser boxes?
Normally yes, but confirm it in writing. A quotation that lists a case count without a box count is the most frequent source of a short delivery.
CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
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