Clipper Guard Sizes Explained: Numbers 0 to 8 in mm
Clipper guard sizes explained in one line: the number on the guard tells you roughly how long your hair will be after the cut, in eighths of an inch. A #1 leaves about 1/8 inch (3 mm), a #2 about 1/4 inch (6 mm), a #3 about 3/8 inch (10 mm), and so on up to a #8 at about 1 inch (25 mm). A #0 means no guard at all.
Brands vary by a millimeter or so, but that ladder is the standard you'll hear in nearly every barbershop in the US, UK and Canada.
If you keep asking for "a 2" and walking out unsure whether it actually suits your face, Glowmaxx scores your hair from one selfie and tells you what to change first. Start my glow-up
The clipper guard sizes chart (mm and inches)
This chart follows the common Wahl-style sizing most barbers use. Your clipper's own box is the final word, because some brands differ slightly.
| Guard | Inches | Millimeters | What it's called |
|---|---|---|---|
| #0 (no guard) | about 1/32 to 1/16 | roughly 0.5 to 1.5 | Zero, "no guard" |
| #0.5 (half) | 1/16 | about 1.5 | Half guard |
| #1 | 1/8 | about 3 | Number 1 |
| #1.5 | 3/16 | about 4.5 | One and a half |
| #2 | 1/4 | about 6 | Number 2 |
| #3 | 3/8 | about 10 | Number 3 |
| #4 | 1/2 | about 13 | Number 4 |
| #5 | 5/8 | about 16 | Number 5 |
| #6 | 3/4 | about 19 | Number 6 |
| #7 | 7/8 | about 22 | Number 7 |
| #8 | 1 | about 25 | Number 8 |
Easy memory trick: the number is how many eighths of an inch you keep. #4 = 4/8 = half an inch.
Clipper guard sizes UK
In the UK, people often say "grade" instead of "number": "a grade 2 all over." Same thing, same sizes. Canada uses "number" like the US.
Clipper blade sizes explained (not the same thing)
Blade sizes are different. Barbers sometimes swap the blade itself rather than adding a guard, and blade numbers work backwards: a higher blade number means a shorter cut. Unless you're doing pro grooming, you only need to know guard numbers.
What each number looks like on your head
Because no photo can show your scalp and hair color, here's what each number looks like in words. Think of these as clipper guard sizes with pictures, minus the pictures.
- #0 / no guard: scalp clearly visible. Almost a shaved look, just with stubble. Used at the very bottom of skin fades.
- #0.5: shadowy. Scalp shows through, especially on light or fine hair.
- #1: very short. Scalp visible up close; hair looks like dark fuzz on dark hair, almost invisible on blond hair.
- #2: short but clearly hair. The most popular buzz length. Scalp shows a bit under bright lights.
- #3: soft and full. Scalp mostly hidden. The "safe first buzz."
- #4: hair has some body; it starts to lie in one direction.
- #5 to #6: you can push it around slightly. Common for the sides of a classic short-back-and-sides.
- #7 to #8: about an inch. Can be pushed up or forward. Often used on top for a crew cut.
Hair type changes all of this. Dark, thick hair looks fuller at every number. Fine or light hair looks shorter. Curly hair springs up, so it often looks a bit shorter than the guard suggests.
Number 1 vs number 2 vs number 3
The questions people actually type: number 1 vs number 2 haircut, and number 2 vs number 3.
Number 1 vs number 2 buzz cut
- #1 (about 3 mm): more scalp, more head-shape on show, sharper. Grows out fast and looks fuzzy within about a week.
- #2 (about 6 mm): still short, but covers more scalp and looks softer. Gives you more days before it looks overgrown.
If you're unsure, go #2. If you love it, try #1 next time.
Number 2 haircut in mm
A number 2 haircut is about 6 mm (1/4 inch). It's the classic all-over buzz and also the most common side length in fades and tapers.
Number 2 vs number 3
The jump from 6 mm to 10 mm sounds small but looks big. A #3 hides most of the scalp and looks soft; a #2 looks noticeably shorter. If you've got flat spots or a bumpy head, #3 is the kinder choice.
Guard numbers for a buzz cut, crew cut and fade
| Cut | Sides | Top |
|---|---|---|
| What number is a buzz cut? | #1 to #4 | Same as sides |
| Crew cut | #1 to #3 | Scissors or #6 to #8 |
| Low taper | Bottom #1 or #0.5, blended to #3 | Any length |
| Mid fade | Bottom #0 or skin, blended to #2 or #3 | Any length |
| Skin fade | Bottom shaved (razor/foil), up to #2 | Any length |
For full breakdowns, see buzz cut vs crew cut and taper vs fade.
What number for a fade?
A fade isn't one number; it's a blend of several. It usually starts at a #0 or skin at the bottom and works up through #0.5, #1, #1.5 and #2 to the top of the sides. That gradual change is the fade.
School rules
Some schools, especially uniform schools in the UK, set a minimum length in their uniform policy (you'll often see something like "nothing shorter than a grade 2"). Rules vary a lot, so check your own school's policy before you go very short.
Half numbers and the open/closed lever
Most clippers have a lever on the side. It's the barber's secret for in-between lengths.
- Lever closed: the cut matches the guard length (the longest setting).
- Lever open: the blade shifts so it cuts a little shorter.
Brands label and position the lever differently, so check yours. The difference is small, often around a millimeter, but that's exactly what helps blend a fade from #1 to #2 smoothly.
Half guards (#0.5, #1.5, #2.5) do the same job without the lever. If your barber says "a 1 and a half," that's what they mean.
How to cut your own hair with clippers (quick version)
- Start one number longer than you want. You can go shorter, never longer.
- Cut against the direction your hair grows.
- Do the top with the longer guard first, then the sides.
- Check the back with a second mirror or your phone camera.
Here's where doing it yourself gets hard: you're staring at the back of your head on your phone camera, flipped, in bathroom light, trying to judge if it's even.
Glowmaxx helps with the judging part. Take one front-facing selfie and get a hair score out of 10 with a short note, plus scores for grooming and light. Because the same photo always gets the same score, you can test a #2 vs a #3 across two cuts and actually compare. Start my glow-up
Talking in numbers at the barber
Names like "taper" and "fade" mean different things at different shops. Numbers don't. Use them.
Scripts:
- "Number 2 all over, square the neckline."
- "Number 3 on the sides, scissor cut on top, leave about two inches."
- "Low taper, starting at a half, blending up to a 3."
- "Mid skin fade, up to a 2, keep the top long."
Three tips:
- Say the number for the sides and the length for the top.
- If you liked your last cut, ask "what number did you use?" and save it in your notes.
- If unsure, say "start one longer, we can go down."
Use clipper guard sizes explained here on your next cut
With clipper guard sizes explained, you can walk in and order like a regular. And for the "but does it suit me?" part, Glowmaxx scores your hair, skin, grooming, posture and angle, and light and fit from one selfie in about a minute, then gives you three moves for today aimed at your lowest score.
FAQ
What is a number 2 haircut in mm?
A number 2 haircut is about 6 mm, or 1/4 inch. It's the most common all-over buzz length and a popular side length for tapers and fades.
What's the difference between a number 1 and number 2 haircut?
A number 1 leaves about 3 mm and shows more scalp. A number 2 leaves about 6 mm and looks softer and fuller. The number 1 grows out and looks fuzzy faster.
Are clipper guard sizes the same in the UK?
Yes. In the UK, people often say "grade" instead of "number," but a grade 2 is the same as a number 2. Sizes can vary slightly between clipper brands everywhere.
What number is a buzz cut?
Most buzz cuts use a #1 to #4 all over. A #2 is the most common, a #1 is very short, and a #3 or #4 is a softer, fuller buzz.
Does opening the clipper lever make hair shorter or longer?
On most clippers, opening the lever makes the cut slightly shorter and closing it makes it slightly longer. It's a small change, often about a millimeter, used to blend fades.