Grooming Calculators
Clipper guard sizes.
Type a guard number to see how much hair it leaves in inches and millimetres, or type the length you want and get the nearest guard. The full 1 to 8 chart is below. Runs in your browser; nothing is sent or stored.
Guard or length
Result
Fill the form and press Calculate.
Worked example
A #2 guard leaves 2 x 1/8 = 1/4 inch, which is 2 x 25.4 / 8 = 6.35 mm, usually quoted as 6 mm. If you want 10 mm, the nearest guard is #3 (3/8 inch = 9.5 mm).
Guard size chart
| Guard | Inches | Millimetres (usual) | Millimetres (exact) |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 1/8 | 3 | 3.18 |
| #2 | 1/4 | 6 | 6.35 |
| #3 | 3/8 | 10 | 9.53 |
| #4 | 1/2 | 13 | 12.70 |
| #5 | 5/8 | 16 | 15.88 |
| #6 | 3/4 | 19 | 19.05 |
| #7 | 7/8 | 22 | 22.23 |
| #8 | 1 | 25 | 25.40 |
How it works
length = guard number x 1/8 inch = guard number x 3.175 mm. This is the traditional attachment-comb numbering printed on Wahl and Andis charts: #1 is 1/8 inch, #2 is 1/4 inch and so on up to #8 at 1 inch. The millimetre column is the same length rounded to whole millimetres.
Not every guard follows this. Brands such as Philips and Babyliss print the length in millimetres on each guard, and some kits are numbered differently, so trust the length printed on your own guard over the number. Hair also springs back, so freshly cut hair can look slightly longer or shorter than the guard length.
Going shorter than a #1 is done with the bare blade, called grade zero or a zero guard, and guards on a taper fade are changed through the cut.
Sources and basis (checked 2026-10-05): the one-eighth-inch-per-number convention printed on Wahl and Andis attachment guard charts; millimetres by conversion at 25.4 mm per inch. Check the markings on your own guard set.
FAQ
What size guard is 6mm?
A #2 guard is 1/4 inch, which is 6.35 mm, usually sold as 6 mm.
What is a number 4 guard in mm?
A #4 is 1/2 inch, about 12.7 mm, usually quoted as 13 mm.
What is the shortest clipper guard?
A #1 at 1/8 inch (3 mm) is the shortest numbered guard. Shorter than that means the bare blade.
Are guard numbers the same on every brand?
Wahl and Andis follow the eighth-of-an-inch numbering. Other brands may print millimetres or number differently. Check the length printed on your guard.
Why does my hair look longer than the guard length?
Hair is cut to the guard length at the moment of cutting and then springs up; thick or curly hair also lifts away from the scalp.