A clipper guard (also called a guard comb, attachment comb, or in the UK a grade) clips onto the blade and sets how much hair is left behind. The bigger the number, the longer the hair. Nearly every brand uses the same system: each whole number adds 1/8 inch (about 3mm). So a #1 leaves 1/8", a #2 leaves 2/8" (1/4"), and so on up to a #8 at a full inch.
Quick answer: #0.5 = 1.5mm · #1 = 3mm · #1.5 = 4.5mm · #2 = 6mm · #3 = 10mm · #4 = 13mm · #5 = 16mm · #6 = 19mm · #7 = 22mm · #8 = 25mm · #10 = 32mm · #12 = 38mm.
The full clipper guard size chart
Guards are designed in fractions of an inch, so the "exact" column is the true length and the rounded millimetre figure is what you'll see printed on most charts. Brands differ by a fraction of a millimetre, but the numbers always mean the same thing.
| Guard | Inches | Exact mm | Usually called | cm | What it's used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No guard, lever closed | ≈ 1/50" | 0.5–1 | #0 | 0.05–0.1 | Heavy stubble finish; the bottom of a skin fade before the shaver |
| No guard, lever open | ≈ 1/10" | 2–3 | #0 open | 0.2–0.3 | First blending step above a closed blade |
| #0.5 (½) | 1/16" | 1.6 | 1.5mm | 0.15 | Lowest guard on a fade; "burr" buzz |
| #1 | 1/8" | 3.2 | 3mm | 0.3 | Very short sides; induction-style buzz |
| #1.5 | 3/16" | 4.8 | 4.5mm | 0.45 | Blending step between #1 and #2 |
| #2 | 1/4" | 6.4 | 6mm | 0.6 | The classic buzz and short-sides length |
| #3 | 3/8" | 9.5 | 10mm | 1.0 | Soft buzz; top of a short fade |
| #4 | 1/2" | 12.7 | 12–13mm | 1.3 | Brushable; crew cut top, longer sides |
| #5 | 5/8" | 15.9 | 16mm | 1.6 | Short top you can push around |
| #6 | 3/4" | 19.1 | 19mm | 1.9 | Longer top left by clipper alone |
| #7 | 7/8" | 22.2 | 22mm | 2.2 | Full clipper-cut top |
| #8 | 1" | 25.4 | 25mm | 2.5 | The longest guard in most kits |
| #10 | 1¼" | 31.8 | 32mm | 3.2 | Extended guard; clipper-over-comb alternative for long tops |
| #12 | 1½" | 38.1 | 38mm | 3.8 | Longest common guard; anything longer is cut with scissors |
Why "1 guard = 3mm" but "#3 = 10mm"? It isn't 3 × 3mm. Every number is the same number of eighths of an inch: #3 is 3/8" = 9.5mm, which charts round to 10mm. That rounding is also why you'll see #4 listed as both 12mm and 13mm.
Millimetres to guard number
Got a length in mm or cm — from a metric trimmer, an old barber's note, or a cut you want to copy? Find the nearest guard here.
| Length you have | Nearest guard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1mm | No guard, lever closed | Below this you need a foil shaver or razor |
| 1.5–2mm | #0.5 | Or no guard with the lever fully open (≈2–3mm) |
| 3mm | #1 | 1/8" |
| 4–5mm | #1.5 | Or a #1 with the lever open |
| 6mm | #2 | 1/4" |
| 7–8mm | #2 with lever open, or a metric 8mm comb | No standard whole number; between #2 and #3 |
| 9–10mm (1cm) | #3 | 3/8" |
| 12–13mm | #4 | 1/2" |
| 15–16mm | #5 | A "16mm guard" is a #5 |
| 18–20mm (2cm) | #6 | 3/4" |
| 22mm | #7 | 7/8" |
| 24–25mm (2.5cm) | #8 | 1 inch |
| 30–32mm (3cm) | #10 | Extended guard, 1¼" |
| 38mm | #12 | Extended guard, 1½" |
| 40mm+ (4–5cm) | Scissors | Beyond standard guards — ask for scissor-over-comb or a scissor cut |
Open vs closed taper lever
Most barber clippers have a lever on the side that slides the cutting blade up and down. It changes the length by a small amount — which is exactly what makes smooth fades possible.
- Closed (lever up, towards the blade): the shortest setting. With no guard this is about 0.5–1mm. With a guard on, you get the length printed on the guard.
- Open (lever down, away from the blade): the longest setting. With no guard this is roughly 2–3mm. With a guard, opening the lever adds about 1–2mm, so a #1 open ≈ #1.5 and a #2 open ≈ #2.5.
- In between: any lever position in the middle gives an in-between length. Barbers "flick" the lever as they move up the head to erase lines.
Exact figures depend on the clipper and blade, so treat these as guides. If you're told a length like "#1 closed" or "#0.5 open", it means that guard with the lever in that position.
Half guards, and sizes above #8
Half guards (#0.5 and #1.5, and #2.5 in some sets) are the difference between a smooth fade and a striped one. The jump from a #1 (3mm) to a #2 (6mm) doubles the length, which shows as a line; a #1.5 in between hides it. A #0.5 is 1/16" (1.5mm), not 0.5mm — the name refers to its place in the sequence.
Above #8, standard numbered guards jump in quarter inches: #10 = 1¼" (32mm) and #12 = 1½" (38mm). There's no standard #9, #11, #13, #14 or #16 in this system. If someone mentions a "16 guard" or a "20mm guard", they're almost always talking about a metric-labelled comb (16mm ≈ #5, 20mm ≈ #6).
Metric-labelled guards (trimmers and home clippers)
Many trimmers and some home clippers — especially from European brands — label combs by the length in millimetres rather than a guard number. On these, the number is the length: a "3" comb leaves 3mm, a "12" comb leaves 12mm. Use the conversion table above to translate between the two systems. Adjustable-length combs work the same way: set the dial to the millimetre length you want.
Guard colours are not standardised. Some kits colour-code their guards, but the same colour can mean different sizes in different kits — always go by the number or length moulded into the guard.
Guard sequences for common cuts
Most cuts use more than one guard. Here's what a barber typically reaches for — and what you can say in the chair.
| Cut | Guard sequence | Top |
|---|---|---|
| Skin fade | Shaver/foil → no guard closed → open → #0.5 → #1 → #1.5 → #2 | #3+ or scissors |
| Low fade | #0.5 or #1 at the bottom → #1.5 → #2 → #3, blend kept below the temple | Scissors |
| Fade from 3mm to 12mm | #1 → #1.5 → #2 → #3 → #4 | Scissors or #5+ |
| Taper (12mm sides to 25mm top) | #4 at the sides and back, tapered shorter (#2–#3) only at the sideburns and neckline | #6–#8 |
| Buzz cut | One guard all over: #1 (very short) to #4 (soft) | Same |
| Crew cut | #2 on the sides, blending to #3 | #4–#6, a little longer at the front |
| High and tight | No guard or #1 up to the crown ridge | #3–#4 |
| Undercut | One guard on the sides and back, usually #1–#2, no blend | Scissors, 3–6 inches |
| 360 waves | #1–#2 on the sides, low taper | #1–#2 ("wave length") |
| Mohawk / faux hawk | Sides shaved or #0–#1 (mohawk); #2–#3 faded (faux hawk) | Scissors |
| Line-up | Trimmer with no guard around the hairline | — |
Barber tip: The number tells the barber how short, not where. Say the location too: "a #2 all over", "a #2 on the sides, scissors on top", or "skin fade up to a #2, blended into the top". See how to ask your barber for full scripts.
What each length looks like
- No guard to #1 (0.5–3mm): the scalp shows through. The base of a fade or the sides of a high and tight.
- #2–#3 (6–10mm): a solid, even coat of hair you can't part. The everyday buzz zone; on most thick hair the scalp is hidden from #2 up.
- #4–#5 (13–16mm): soft and brushable, still tidy. Lighter or finer hair still shows some scalp here.
- #6–#8 (19–25mm): long enough to push and lightly comb. Above this, most barbers switch to scissor-over-comb for more control (see the barber glossary).
Hair colour and density change how a length reads. Dark, thick, straight hair looks fuller at a given guard; blonde, fine or thinning hair looks shorter and shows more scalp. When in doubt, go one number longer — you can always take more off.
Choosing guards for a fade
A fade isn't a single guard — it's a smooth blend built from several. Start with the shortest setting at the bottom and step up one guard at a time, lowering each new guideline a little and flicking the taper lever to erase the line between them. A typical low-to-mid fade ladder:
- No guard or #0.5 at the very bottom, near the skin.
- #1 just above it, then #1 with the lever open.
- #1.5, then #2 as you move up the side.
- #3 where the fade meets the longer hair on top.
Trying it at home? Read how to fade your own hair first — it needs a full guard set, a clipper with a taper lever, and good clippers in general.
Frequently asked questions
How many millimetres is each clipper guard?
Is a 0.5 guard 1.5mm or 0.5mm?
What number is a 12mm or half-inch guard?
Is there a #16 clipper guard?
How much length does opening the taper lever add?
How much longer is a #5 guard than a #4?
What guard number doesn't show skin?
Are Wahl and Andis guard numbers the same?
What does a number 2 haircut mean?
Which guards do I need for a fade at home?
Ready to cut at home?
The right guards are only as good as the clippers behind them. See what actually matters.
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