Clipper guard numbers explained: the barber's guide to fades, tapers and haircut lengths
Lime Light Hair & Beauty · 10 November 2026 · 7 min read
"Number 2 on the sides, please." Every barber hears it daily, but what does a #2 actually leave? Here is the complete clipper guard size chart in millimetres and inches, the guard recipes behind low, mid and high fades, and the tools that make a clean blend easy.
Published 27 November 2026 by Lime Light Hair & Beauty Products.
💡 The quick answer
How do guard numbers work? Each number adds about 3mm (1/8 inch). A #1 leaves 3mm, a #2 leaves 6mm, a #4 leaves 13mm and a #8 leaves 25mm.
Half sizes: a #0.5 leaves about 1.5mm and a #1.5 leaves about 4.5mm. They are the secret to a smooth fade.
No guard: the bare blade cuts to roughly 0.5 to 1mm, depending on the clipper and lever position.
Fades: start short at the neckline and work up through the guards. Low, mid and high describe where the shortest part stops.
Shop the toolkit: Wahl 5 Star clippers, trimmers, shavers and individual guard combs at Lime Light.
What do clipper guard numbers mean?
A clipper guard (also called a guide comb or attachment comb) clips over the blade and holds it a set distance from the scalp. The bigger the number, the longer the hair it leaves. On most professional clippers the numbers follow a simple rule: each full number adds about 1/8 inch, or roughly 3mm.
Clipper guard size chart: millimetres and inches
| Guard | Length (mm) | Length (inches) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| #0 (no guard) | About 0.5 to 1mm | Under 1/32" | Skin and bald fades, outlines (use a shaver for bare skin) |
| #0.5 | 1.5mm | 1/16" | Blending from skin into a #1 |
| #1 | 3mm | 1/8" | Very short buzz cut, low fades |
| #1.5 | 4.5mm | 3/16" | Blending between a #1 and a #2 |
| #2 | 6mm | 1/4" | Classic short sides, short buzz |
| #3 | 10mm | 3/8" | Short sides with a natural look, top of a short fade |
| #4 | 13mm | 1/2" | Tapers, longer buzz cuts, crew cut tops |
| #5 | 16mm | 5/8" | Soft, longer sides |
| #6 | 19mm | 3/4" | Longer crew cuts |
| #7 | 22mm | 7/8" | Longer clipper cuts |
| #8 | 25mm | 1" | The longest standard guard |
Good to know: these are the common standard lengths. Guard sizes can differ slightly between clipper brands, so stick to one brand's guards when you are blending.
What is the difference between a fade and a taper?
Both get shorter towards the neckline, but they are not the same cut:
- A fade goes all the way down to very short or bare skin, and usually runs around the whole back and sides.
- A taper is softer. It only shortens the hair around the ears and the neckline, and leaves more length on the sides.
Which guards do I use for a low, mid or high fade?
The name of the fade tells you how high up the head the shortest section goes. A low fade stays just above the ears, a mid fade sits around the temples, and a high fade runs up near the top of the head. The guard recipe below is a common starting point:
| Cut | Neckline | Blend | Top of the sides |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin or bald fade | Shaver or no guard | #0.5, #1, #1.5 | #2 or #3 |
| Low fade | #0 or #0.5 | #1, #2 | #3 |
| Mid fade | #0 | #0.5, #1, #1.5, #2 | #3 |
| High fade | #0 | #0.5, #1, #1.5 | #2 or #3 |
| Taper | #1 | #2, #3 | #4 or scissors |
How do I cut a clean fade, step by step?
- Set your guideline. Pick where the fade will stop and cut a line all the way round with your longest side guard.
- Go shorter at the bottom. Cut the neckline and around the ears with your shortest guard, or no guard for a skin fade.
- Blend up through the half sizes. Use #0.5, #1 and #1.5 in narrow bands, flicking the clipper out of the hair as you go up.
- Use the taper lever. Open and close the lever to soften any lines between guard sizes.
- Detail and finish. Line up the edges with a trimmer, and use a foil shaver for a true skin finish.
- Check in good light. Look from every angle, and use a mirror to show the client.
✂️ Barber tips for smoother blends
Cut against the grain so the clipper picks up every hair evenly.
Start longer, then go shorter. You can always take more off; you cannot put it back.
Keep blades oiled before every client so they run cool and cut cleanly.
Clean and disinfect clippers and guards between clients for hygiene.
What should I ask my barber for?
If you are the client, these phrases will get you the right cut:
| Say this | You will get |
|---|---|
| "Number 1 all over" | A very short buzz cut, about 3mm everywhere |
| "Number 2 on the sides, scissors on top" | Short, neat sides with longer, styled hair on top |
| "Low skin fade into a 3" | Bare skin at the neckline, blending up to 10mm |
| "Mid fade, leave the top" | A fade up to the temples with the top length kept |
| "Tidy taper, number 4 on the sides" | A soft, natural shortening around the ears and neck |
Want to hold a clipper before you buy? Visit the Lime Light Super Store, the largest showroom of its kind in South Africa for dedicated wholesale hair and beauty products, in Kelvin, Sandton.
Which clippers and guards do professional barbers use?
Lime Light is a Wahl stockist with the full 5 Star line-up, plus single guard combs so you can replace a lost or broken size:
- Wahl 5 Star Legend Cordless: a crunch blade that feeds hair smoothly for seamless fades.
- Wahl 5 Star Cordless Senior: a powerful motor for bulk removal and blending through thick hair.
- Wahl Barber Combo (Magic Clip and Detailer): fading, blending and crisp line-ups in one set.
- Wahl 5 Star Detailer Cordless: the industry-standard trimmer for edges and outlines.
- Wahl 5 Star Vanish Shaver: floating foils for a close, smooth finish on skin fades.
- Wahl No. 0.5, No. 1, No. 1.5 and No. 2 clipper combs: the in-between sizes for perfect blends.
- Wahl Clipper Oil and Ossion 5-in-1 Clipper Cleansing Oil: keep blades cool, clean and cutting.
- BLACKRED Shaving Gel Cool: a smooth glide for razor work and outlines.
Setting up a new shop? See How to set up a barbershop in South Africa and Why Wahl? The barber's guide to clippers, trimmers and shavers.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a number 2 haircut?
A #2 guard leaves about 6mm (1/4 inch) of hair.
What is shorter, a #1 or a #0.5?
A #0.5 is shorter. It leaves about 1.5mm, half the length of a #1 (3mm).
What number is a skin fade?
A skin fade starts with no guard, often finished with a foil shaver, and blends up through #0.5, #1 and #1.5.
What does the lever on my clipper do?
The taper lever moves the blade. Pushing it up cuts closer and pulling it down leaves a little more length, which helps you blend between guard sizes.
Are all clipper guards the same size?
Not exactly. Most follow the same standard, but lengths can vary slightly between brands, so use guards made for your clipper.
How often should I oil my clippers?
A few drops before each use, or at least daily in a busy barbershop. Clean hair from the blade first.
Where can I buy Wahl clipper guards in South Africa?
At Lime Light: online at limelighthb.co.za, at the Lime Light Super Store in Sandton and at our branches in Cape Town and Durban.
Shop the barber toolkit at Lime Light
- Shop online: limelighthb.co.za, search "Wahl".
- Visit the Super Store: Block B, Tripark, 17 Eastern Service Road, Kelvin, Sandton, the largest showroom of its kind in South Africa for dedicated wholesale hair and beauty products.
- Open a trade account: visit our website and hit register, fill in the details and we will approve your account.
- Call us: 011 262 2451 | Email: online@limelighthb.co.za
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