A price per box tells you very little. One supplier's box holds 100 gloves, another's holds 90, and a third quotes by the case with a pallet discount hidden in the fine print. If you buy wholesale nitrile gloves in Canada for a clinic, restaurant, cleaning company or distributor, the only fair way to compare quotes is cost per glove. This guide walks through the maths so you can compare any offer accurately.
Why Cost per Glove Is the Number That Matters
Boxes, Cases and Pallets Are Not Standard
A typical box holds 100 gloves, and a typical case holds 10 boxes, or 1,000 gloves. But some products use 90, 200 or 250 per box, and pallet quantities depend on the glove, the packaging and the supplier. Always confirm the count instead of assuming it.
Price per Box Hides the Real Comparison
Two boxes priced the same can differ by 10% or more in cost per glove once the quantity inside is considered. Converting everything to a single unit removes the guesswork.
Work Out Your True Landed Cost
The quoted price is rarely the final price. Add these items before comparing suppliers.
Freight and Delivery
Shipping a pallet across Canada costs more than shipping a few cases. Ask whether freight is included, what the delivery window is, and whether there are lift-gate or residential delivery fees.
Taxes and Duties
GST/HST or provincial taxes apply to most purchases, though many registered businesses can claim input tax credits. Imported product may involve duties and brokerage fees. Speak with your accountant about how these affect your costs.
Minimum Order and Payment Terms
Some wholesalers require minimum quantities or offer different pricing at different volumes. Payment terms can also change your cash flow.
A Worked Example
Suppose you buy one pallet of 40 cases (40,000 gloves) for $3,200 and pay $250 for freight. Your landed cost is $3,450, or about $0.086 per glove before taxes. That is the number to compare against another supplier's quote.
Compare Glove Types Fairly
A lower price does not help if the glove is wrong for the job. Compare like with like.
Nitrile Gloves Wholesale Canada: What Drives the Price
When you review nitrile gloves wholesale Canada pricing, look at thickness (measured in mil), cuff length, texture, colour and grade. A thicker glove costs more but may last longer. Blue nitrile gloves are popular in healthcare and food handling because they stand out against food and skin, while specialty options add grip or longer cuffs.
Vinyl Gloves Wholesale: A Budget Option for Light Tasks
If your tasks are short and low-risk, vinyl gloves wholesale can lower your cost per glove. Vinyl disposable gloves suit food prep, light cleaning and quick tasks where you change gloves often. For staff with larger hands, XL vinyl gloves powder free are a common stocking requirement, since the largest sizes often sell out first.
Thermoplastic Elastomer Gloves
A thermoplastic elastomer glove sits between vinyl and nitrile in feel and price for many buyers. It is often used for food service and general tasks. Check the product specifications for your use case.
General Purpose vs. Medical Use
General purpose disposable gloves are not the same as exam gloves. If your staff provide patient care, you need gloves labelled and licensed for medical use. Using a cheaper general purpose glove in the wrong setting can create compliance and safety problems.
Look Beyond the Price: The Cost of Failure
Tears, Leaks and Waste
A cheap glove that tears means staff use two gloves instead of one, which erases the savings. Ask for the AQL, thickness and any test data, and consider ordering samples to try before you commit to volume.
Fit and Comfort Affect Usage
Gloves that fit poorly are changed more often or worn incorrectly. Order a size mix based on your team rather than guessing.
Shelf Life and Storage
Buying a pallet only saves money if you use the gloves before they expire and have somewhere dry and cool to store them. Estimate your monthly use first.
A Simple Buying Checklist
Questions to Ask Every Wholesale Supplier
- How many gloves are in a box, a case and a pallet?
- What is the price per case at different quantities?
- Is freight included, and what are the delivery terms?
- What are the thickness, AQL, cuff length and sizes?
- Are medical gloves backed by a Health Canada licence?
- Can I get samples?
Build a Quick Comparison Table
Create a spreadsheet with a row per supplier and columns for gloves per case, price per case, freight, total landed cost and cost per glove. Sorting by cost per glove makes the best value obvious.
Get a Wholesale Quote From AGMD Safety
AGMD Safety is a Canadian wholesaler of gloves and other PPE, including nitrile, vinyl and other disposable options. We no longer take online orders, so the next step is our wholesale enquiry form. Share the glove types, sizes and quantities you need, and we will send tiered pricing by case and pallet.