A phone or tablet does not respond to most gloves, so you pull one off in the cold to answer a message. Touchscreen gloves fix that with conductive fingertips or a conductive fabric.
PIP, a maker of work gloves, explains that capacitive touchscreens do not rely on finger pressure but work with anything that holds an electrical charge, including human skin.[1] This guide covers how the gloves work, how to shop, and six pairs, from fashion gloves to a work glove.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Copper gloves do not treat arthritis. See a doctor about hand pain, swelling or stiffness.
Touchscreen gloves at a glance
- PIP says capacitive touchscreens respond to anything that holds an electrical charge, and that resistive touchscreens respond to pressure, so they work with any glove.[1]
- It says ill-fitting gloves with fingers that are too long are unlikely to work, because the extra material or air gap in the tip distances the electrical field.[1]
- It also says conductive fingertips wear out after prolonged use.[1]
- NIOSH says tight clothing reduces blood circulation, so the glove should fit snugly without squeezing.[3]
- The six picks are two fashion gloves, a wool glove, an outdoor glove, a copper compression glove and a work glove.
Touchscreen Gloves and How They Work
Most phones and tablets use a capacitive screen. PIP says it stores electrical charge in a grid of fine wires, and when your finger touches the glass it changes the electric field, so the screen finds the touch.[1]
A normal glove blocks that, so touchscreen gloves add conductive thread or a conductive coating at the fingertips, or make the whole glove conductive. Some brands do this better than others, so try a glove on your device when you can.[1]
Shopping for Touchscreen Gloves
- Type of Glove – Decide whether you want a work, gardening, winter, fashion or hiking glove, because each has its own features.
- Touchscreen Compatibility – Some gloves have conductive material only at the thumb, index and middle fingertips, and others are conductive over the whole glove. A whole-glove design works with every finger.
- Fit – PIP says a glove with loose tips is unlikely to work, because the fingertip must fit snugly against the inside tip of the glove.[1] NIOSH says tight clothing reduces circulation, so the glove should be snug and not squeezing.[3]
Features of a Good Touchscreen Glove
- Warmth – Most touchscreen gloves are winter gloves. Look for insulation such as Thinsulate, a fleece or wool lining and a windproof or waterproof shell.
- Work Gloves – Industrial and gardening gloves come with conductive tips, in leather or durable synthetic, with a grippy palm.
- Materials – Leather, wool, polyester, spandex and waterproof insulated fabrics.
- Closure – Most gloves pull on, and ski, winter and work gloves add a hook-and-loop closure or a zip.
How We Chose These Touchscreen Gloves
These picks come from research. This is desk research. We compared the manufacturer specifications and product descriptions for each pick. We did not test the gloves ourselves, and we did not check stock this time.
We looked at these factors:
- Touch – Fingertips only or a whole conductive glove.
- Type – Fashion, wool, outdoor or work glove.
- Warmth – Lining and shell.
- Fit – Sizes and closure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Touchscreen Gloves
- How do touchscreen gloves work?
They put conductive material in the fingertips, or across the glove, so the screen senses the touch the way it senses skin.[1] - Why does my touchscreen glove stop working?
Conductive tips wear out after prolonged use, and a glove with loose fingertips leaves an air gap that blocks the signal.[1] - Will any glove work on a resistive screen?
Yes. PIP says resistive screens respond to light finger pressure, so they work with any glove.[1] - Do copper touchscreen gloves help arthritis?
A 2013 trial of copper bracelets in rheumatoid arthritis found no effect beyond placebo.[2] It tested bracelets, not gloves, and it gives no reason to choose a glove for its copper. - Should touchscreen gloves be tight?
No. NIOSH says tight clothing reduces circulation.[3] The glove should be snug at the fingertips and not squeeze your hand.
Our Picks: Touchscreen Gloves
Here are 6 touchscreen gloves, from fashion gloves to a work glove.
We hope you love the touchscreen gloves we recommend!
So that you know, we may earn a share of sales or other compensation from links on this page. This does not change your price.
1
UGG® Women's Classic Women's Leather Touchscreen Gloves
Currently unavailable
The UGG Classic is a women’s winter glove in genuine leather with a sheepskin trim and touchscreen-sensitive fingertips.
- It is a fashion glove, lined for warmth.
- It comes in several colors and sizes.
2
The North Face® Unisex Montana Etip Waterproof Insulated Touchscreen Gloves
Currently unavailable
The North Face Montana is a hiking and outdoor glove with Etip touchscreen fingertips and a Gore-Tex lining.
- The Gore-Tex lining makes it waterproof, and it is insulated for cold weather.
- It comes in two colors and several sizes.
3
Copper® Unisex Full Finger Copper-Infused Compression Gloves
Currently unavailable
The Copper full-finger glove is a compression glove with copper in the yarn and touchscreen-compatible fingertips.
- It is sold as an arthritis glove, but copper worn against the skin has not been shown to treat arthritis.
- Pick it for the compression fit and the touchscreen tips, not for the copper.
4
Pendleton® Women's Star Women's Wool Touchscreen Gloves
Currently unavailable
The Pendleton Star is a women’s winter glove made mostly of lamb’s wool, with nylon fingertips and acrylic.
- The conductive fingertips work a touchscreen.
- It pulls on with an easy cuff and comes in two colors.
5
Isotoner® Women's Shortie Women's Fully Touchscreen Compatible Gloves
Currently unavailable
The Isotoner Shortie is a stretchy, lightweight women’s glove, mostly spandex, that works on a touchscreen across the whole glove.
- SmartDRI technology resists water and keeps your hands dry.
- It comes in many colors, so you can match more than one outfit.
6
IronClad® Unisex Command Pro Touchscreen Industrial Work Gloves
Currently unavailable
The IronClad Command Pro is a heavy-duty synthetic leather work glove with conductive palms and fingers.
- It has an engineered fit and an adjustable hook-and-loop closure at the wrist.
- It comes in several sizes and is machine washable.
Index Table: Top Rated Gloves for Touchscreen
| No. | Product | Image | Features | Brand | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UGG Women's Classic - Women's Leather Touchscreen Gloves |  |
| UGG | - |
| 2 | The North Face Unisex Montana Etip - Waterproof Insulated Touchscreen Gloves |  |
| The North Face | - |
| 3 | Copper Unisex Full Finger - Copper-Infused Compression Gloves |  |
| Copper | - |
| 4 | Pendleton Women's Star - Women's Wool Touchscreen Gloves |  |
| Pendleton | - |
| 5 | Isotoner Women's Shortie - Women's Fully Touchscreen Compatible Gloves |  |
| Isotoner | - |
| 6 | IronClad Unisex Command Pro - Touchscreen Industrial Work Gloves |  |
| IronClad | - |
Sources
- Protective Industrial Products (PIP). Gloves and Touchscreen Compatibility. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- PLoS ONE. Richmond SJ et al. Copper bracelets and magnetic wrist straps for rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised double-blind placebo controlled crossover trial (2013). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Cold Stress. Accessed October 27, 2026.
Update History
- Oct 2026: Rewrote the article around the PIP touchscreen compatibility paper and the NIOSH cold stress page, removed the unsupported arthritis and carpal tunnel claims, the first-person line and the old score tables, added a short health disclaimer, rewrote all product notes and added Sources
- Feb 2021: Published
