What length is a number 2 clipper guard?

A number 2 clipper guard cuts hair to approximately 6mm (1/4 inch). This is one of the most popular guard sizes for buzz cuts and the sides of short back and sides styles. It leaves enough hair to see the natural hair colour clearly while still being very short and neat.

What is the difference between clipper guard sizes?

Each whole guard number increases the cutting length by approximately 3mm. Guard 1 is 3mm, guard 2 is 6mm, guard 3 is 10mm, and so on up to guard 8 at 25mm. Half guards (0.5, 1.5) fall between the whole numbers. The exact measurements can vary slightly between clipper brands.

What guard should I use for a fade?

Fades typically start with no guard or a 0 guard (0.5mm) at the hairline, blending up through guards 0.5 (1.5mm), 1 (3mm), 1.5 (4.5mm) and 2 (6mm). A skin fade starts with the blade directly on skin. The number of guards used and the blend zone width determine whether the fade is low, mid or high.

Are clipper guard sizes the same across all brands?

Guard sizes are broadly similar across major brands like Wahl, Andis and BaByliss, but there can be slight variations of 0.5-1mm between brands. Wahl guards are considered the industry standard in most UK barber shops. Always check the specific brand specifications if precision is critical.

CutCalcs

Clipper Guard Calculator — Guard Numbers to Lengths

Convert between clipper guard numbers and hair lengths in mm and inches.

Convert From

Guard Number

How We Calculate This

This calculator converts between clipper guard numbers and hair lengths, using the standard Wahl guard sizing system which is the most common in UK barber shops.

Standard guard sizes

Guard 0: 0.5mm — skin-close shadow
Guard 1: 3mm — short buzz
Guard 2: 6mm — classic buzz cut
Guard 3: 10mm — short crew
Guard 4: 13mm — medium crew
Guards 5-8: 16-25mm — longer styles

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always perform a strand test before chemical services.