A clipper guard (also called a guard comb, grade or attachment comb) clips onto the blade and sets how much hair is left behind. The bigger the number, the longer the hair. Almost every brand uses the same numbering system, stepping up about 3mm — an eighth of an inch — per number. Once you know the chart below, "give me a number two on the sides" means exactly the same thing to every barber.
The full clipper guard chart
These are the standard lengths. Brands differ by a fraction of a millimetre, but the numbers always mean the same thing in order.
| Guard | Millimetres | Inches | What it's used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| No guard / #0 | 0.5–1mm | ≈ 1/64" | Stubble finish; bottom of a skin fade |
| #0.5 | 1.5mm | 1/16" | Lowest blend point on a fade |
| #1 | 3mm | 1/8" | Very short sides; induction/burr buzz |
| #1.5 | 4.5mm | 3/16" | Blending step on a fade |
| #2 | 6mm | 1/4" | The classic all-over buzz length |
| #3 | 10mm | 3/8" | Soft buzz; longer fade guideline |
| #4 | 13mm | 1/2" | Short but brush-able; crew cut sides |
| #5 | 16mm | 5/8" | Medium length; combs over |
| #6 | 19mm | 3/4" | Longer top left by clipper alone |
| #7 | 22mm | 7/8" | Long, full clipper length |
| #8 | 25mm | 1" | The longest standard guard |
Barber tip: The numbers describe length, not the cut. "A number 2" tells the barber how short, but you still need to say where — all over, just the sides, or blended up from the bottom. See how to ask your barber for the full script.
How to picture each length
- #0.5–#1 (1.5–3mm): shows the scalp through the hair. The shadow of a high and tight or the base of a fade.
- #2–#3 (6–10mm): a solid, even coat of hair you can't part. The everyday buzz zone.
- #4–#5 (13–16mm): long enough to feel soft and push around with your hand, but still tidy.
- #6–#8 (19–25mm): proper length you can comb. This is usually where a barber stops using guards and switches to scissor-over-comb for the top.
Choosing guards for a fade
A fade isn't a single guard — it's a smooth blend built from several. The barber starts with the shortest setting at the bottom and steps up through the numbers, feathering each line into the next with the clipper's taper lever. A typical low-to-mid fade ladder runs:
- Open blade or #0.5 at the very bottom, near the skin.
- #1 just above it.
- #1.5, then #2 as you move up the side.
- #3 where the fade meets the longer hair on top.
If you want to try it yourself, read how to fade your own hair first — it's the hardest cut to do at home and needs a full guard set and good clippers.
Half guards matter. The gap between a #1 (3mm) and #2 (6mm) is huge on a fade. The in-between guards — #0.5 and #1.5 — are what make a blend look gradual instead of striped. Most clipper kits include them; if yours doesn't, they're worth buying.
Frequently asked questions
How many millimetres is each clipper guard?
What guard number should I ask for?
Are Wahl and Andis guard numbers the same?
What is a #0 or no guard?
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.
Best clippers guide