Clipper Guard Numbers and Lengths, Explained
A clipper guard number stands for the hair length it leaves; on Wahl's guards a number 2 leaves 6 mm (about 1/4 inch), and each step up adds about 3 mm.
By Elliana SmithContributing writer.
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The short answer
The number on a clipper guard (also called a guide comb or attachment comb) tells you how much hair it leaves. The comb holds the blade a set distance from the scalp, so a higher number means longer hair. A "number 2 haircut" means the hair was cut with a number 2 guard: on Wahl's guards, that leaves 6 mm, about 1/4 inch.
The numbers are a convention, not a law. Always check the length printed on the guard itself, especially when you mix guards from different brands.
Hair clipper guard sizes
Wahl publishes these lengths for its clipper guards. The inch column is our conversion, rounded to the nearest eighth.
| Guard | Length left | About |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | 3 mm | 1/8 in |
| #2 | 6 mm | 1/4 in |
| #3 | 10 mm | 3/8 in |
| #4 | 13 mm | 1/2 in |
| #5 | 16 mm | 5/8 in |
| #6 | 19 mm | 3/4 in |
| #7 | 22 mm | 7/8 in |
| #8 | 25 mm | 1 in |
| #12 | 38 mm | 1 1/2 in |
From #1 to #8, each step adds about 3 mm, or roughly 1/8 inch. Wahl sells these guards for its taper clippers; trimmers and other blade systems use their own combs.
Andis labels its Master comb set by inches instead, from 1/16 inch up to 1 inch. Its 1/16 inch guard is shorter than a Wahl #1. When numbers and inches disagree between brands, go by the length.
Picking a guard
Since a number only stands for a length, decide on the length first, then find the guard that matches it. A few habits help:
- Measure what you have. Hold a ruler against your hair and compare it with the table above before you choose.
- Start one number longer. You can always go shorter on a second pass, but you cannot add hair back.
- Mix guards for a shape. A shorter guard on the sides and a longer one on top is a common way to blend two lengths; the step between them is about 3 mm per number.
- Keep one brand together. Guards are made for a blade system, so a comb from one clipper may not snap onto another.
Epilator vs waxing
Guards and trimmers cut hair at a set length. Epilators and wax pull hair out from the root instead. Braun, which makes epilators, compares the two:
| Epilator | Waxing | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | A device pulls hairs from the root | Sticky wax or strips pull hairs from the root |
| Results last | Up to 4 weeks | Up to 4 weeks |
| Shortest hair | About 0.5 mm | Hair must grow out first |
| Where | At home, wet or dry | Salon, or at home |
| Cost | One device purchase | Repeat appointments or kits |
Braun says an epilator can grab hair up to four times shorter than wax can, so there is no need to wait for regrowth between sessions. Waxing at home is harder to do on your own.
Shopping on Wiki Shopping
On October 26, 2026, Wiki Shopping listed 96 epilators, groomers and trimmers, among them 45 personal groomers and 16 bikini trimmers. Browse them under beauty and personal care. For a smooth shave instead of a set length, see foil vs rotary electric shavers and razor blade counts.
How we count
The listing counts come from a read-only query of our page data on October 26, 2026, and change as listings are added or removed.