Clipper Guard Sizes:
mm to Guard Number Chart
Buying guards online or using a metric clipper? Here's the full conversion between guard numbers, inches, and millimetres.
By Jessica Hamilton — Master Stylist & Creative Director
Guard numbers are a US convention; much of the rest of the world (and many clipper specs) use millimetres. If you're buying guards online, using a European clipper, or telling a barber abroad what you want, this chart is what you need.
Full Conversion Chart
| Guard # | Inches | Millimetres |
|---|---|---|
| No guard (bare blade) | ~1/50" | 0.5 mm |
| #0.5 | 1/16" | 1.5 mm |
| #1 | 1/8" | 3 mm |
| #1.5 | 3/16" | 4.5 mm |
| #2 | 1/4" | 6 mm |
| #2.5 | 5/16" | 8 mm |
| #3 | 3/8" | 10 mm |
| #3.5 | 7/16" | 11 mm |
| #4 | 1/2" | 13 mm |
| #5 | 5/8" | 16 mm |
| #6 | 3/4" | 19 mm |
| #7 | 7/8" | 22 mm |
| #8 | 1" | 25 mm |
Practical Notes
- Half sizes (#0.5, #1.5, #2.5, #3.5) aren't included with every clipper set but are sold separately — they're what barbers use for smooth fades.
- Metric clippers are usually labelled directly in mm, so use the right-hand column.
- The taper lever on most clippers adjusts the bare blade between roughly 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm — useful for blending below a #1.
- Brands vary slightly but these lengths are near-universal. See our guard numbers guide for which to use per cut.
Quick Reference by Cut
| Cut | Typical guards |
|---|---|
| Induction / military buzz | #1 (3 mm) all over |
| Standard buzz | #2-#3 (6-10 mm) |
| Crew cut | #4-#6 on top (13-19 mm), tapered sides |
| Fade sides | #0.5-#4 blended (1.5-13 mm) |
| Sides of a longer style | #2-#3 (6-10 mm) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is a number 3 guard in mm?+
A #3 clipper guard is 3/8 inch, which is 10 mm. Each whole guard number goes up by roughly 1/8 inch (3 mm), so a #1 is 3 mm, #2 is 6 mm, #4 is 13 mm, and so on.
Q2: How do I convert clipper guard numbers to millimetres?+
Multiply the guard number by roughly 3 mm: #1 = 3 mm, #2 = 6 mm, #3 = 10 mm, #4 = 13 mm, #5 = 16 mm, #6 = 19 mm, #7 = 22 mm, #8 = 25 mm. Half sizes fall between (e.g. #1.5 = 4.5 mm).
Q3: What are half-size clipper guards for?+
Half sizes (#0.5, #1.5, #2.5, #3.5) fill the gaps between whole numbers and are what barbers use to create smooth fades. They aren't included with every clipper set but are sold separately.
Q4: What length is a bare clipper blade?+
With no guard, most clipper blades cut to about 0.5 mm — essentially stubble. The taper lever adjusts this between roughly 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, which is useful for blending below a #1 guard.
Q5: Are clipper guard sizes the same across brands?+
They're near-universal for the standard #1 to #8 range, though a few brands add extra half sizes or label in mm instead. The inch/mm length is the reliable reference rather than the number alone.