Guide · Attachments and parts
Dog clipper blade sizes explained
What #40, #30, #15, #10, #7, #5 and #4 clipper blades leave on a dog, in inches and millimeters from Andis' chart, plus skip-tooth, FC and wide versions.
Short answer
Blade numbers run backward: the higher the number, the shorter the hair the blade leaves.[1] On Andis' chart, a #40 leaves about 1/100 in (0.25 mm), a #10 about 1/16 in (1.5 mm) and a #4 about 3/8 in (9.5 mm).[1] A blade number describes a length within one blade system, so check which blades your clipper takes before you choose a length.
Blade size chart
These are the cut lengths Andis publishes for its UltraEdge detachable blades. Andis gives them as approximate, and other makers publish their own charts, so use your blade maker's figures where they differ.[1]
| Blade | Leaves about (inches) | Leaves about (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| #40 | 1/100 in | 0.25 mm | The closest blade on the chart |
| #30 | 1/50 in | 0.5 mm | A guard-comb base blade; Wahl says its combs work best on a #30[2] |
| #15 | 3/64 in | 1.2 mm | Also a guard-comb base blade[2] |
| #10 | 1/16 in | 1.5 mm | The blade Oster and Andis supply with their Turbo A5 and AGC2 clippers[3][4] |
| #7 skip tooth, #7FC | 1/8 in | 3.2 mm | Same length, different teeth (see below) |
| #5 skip tooth, #5FC | 1/4 in | 6.3 mm | |
| #4 skip tooth, #4FC | 3/8 in | 9.5 mm | |
| #3-3/4 skip tooth, #3-3/4FC | 1/2 in | 13 mm | |
| 5/8HT | 5/8 in | 16 mm | |
| 3/4HT | 3/4 in | 19 mm | The longest blade on the chart |
| T-10 | 1/16 in | 1.5 mm | |
| T-84 | 3/32 in | 2.4 mm |
How to read a blade number
- The number sets the length. Higher numbers leave shorter hair, so a #40 cuts far closer than a #4.[1]
- Skip tooth blades have "wider-spaced teeth" that "allow more hair to flow through the blade," Andis says. It markets its #7 skip tooth for quickly removing thick, matted or heavy coats and for rough cutting.[5]
- FC marks Andis' other version of the #7, #5, #4 and #3-3/4, at the same length as the skip-tooth blade: Andis says its #7 skip tooth leaves about 1/8 in, "similar to a 7FC."[5] Andis lists the two separately, but the Andis pages we read do not spell out what the letters stand for.
- FT is Andis' fine-tooth cutter version. The FT #10, #30, #7, #5 and #4 blades leave the same lengths as the standard ones.[1]
- W and FW mark wide blades. Andis lists the 10W (1/16 in), 30W (1/50 in), 7FW (1/8 in), 5FW (1/4 in) and 4FW (3/8 in), and pairs its wide M-Force blades with wide attachment combs.[1]
Skip tooth or FC?
At the same number, the two leave the same length.[5] The difference is the job. Andis positions its skip-tooth blade for rough work on thick, matted or heavy coats.[5] Matted coats are also where VCA draws a line for home grooming: its advice for dogs is to remove mats with clippers, never scissors, and to get professional help with severe tangles.[6]
Our advice, not Andis': if you are learning, buy the FC version and leave matted coats to a groomer.
A blade number only works inside its own system
A #10 made for one system may not fit a clipper built for another. Check the clipper first, then the length.
- Detachable, A5-style blades clip on and off. Oster says its Turbo A5 takes all Oster A5 detachable blades, including the wider Take-Down-Quick series. Andis says its AGC2 works with its UltraEdge, CeramicEdge and ShowEdge blades and with Oster A-5 blades.[3][4]
- 5-in-1 adjustable blades move between set positions on a single blade. The Andis ProClip 5-in-1 has five stops, named #9, #10, #15, #30 and #40.[7] Check your manual for the actual length at each stop.
- Model-specific heads. Some budget clippers use a head made for that model line rather than a standard blade. One AliExpress listing, for example, sells a 3/6/9/12 mm "steel ceramic" head marketed for BaoRun's P2, P3, P6, P7, P9 and S1 clippers; that fit is the seller's claim.[8]
A5-style vs 5-in-1 clipper blades compares the first two systems in detail.
Choosing a length
| You want | What to use |
|---|---|
| About 1/8 to 3/8 in, all over | A #7FC, #5FC or #4FC on a detachable clipper[1] |
| About 1/2 to 3/4 in | A #3-3/4FC, 5/8HT or 3/4HT, or a guard comb[1] |
| An inch or more | A guard comb over the base blade its maker specifies[2] |
| A tidier double-coated dog | Brushing, not clipping: AKC advises against shaving double coats[9] |
| Mats close to the skin | A professional groomer or your vet[6] |
Why an inch matters: when single-coated dogs such as Poodles and Maltese are clipped, AKC advises leaving at least one inch of hair to protect against sunburn, skin cancer and bug bites.[10] No bare blade on Andis' chart leaves that much; the longest, the 3/4HT, leaves about 3/4 in (19 mm).[1] For an inch, you need a guard comb: see clipper guard combs explained.
You may not need a full set of blades at all. AKC notes that many Poodle owners keep a shorter trim and use a professional groomer every four to six weeks, and that most pet Miniature Schnauzers are clipped by a professional every five to eight weeks.[11][12]
Buying a replacement blade
We don't recommend a replacement blade yet. The one blade listing we reviewed claims fits with several clipper brands that we could not confirm. When you shop:
- Start from your clipper's model and its maker's list of compatible blades. Treat "A5 compatible" in a listing title as a claim to check, not a fact.
- Match standard or wide. Wide blades need wide attachment combs.[1]
- Look for the length in inches or millimeters, not only the number.
- Read "cooler" claims as claims. Andis says its ceramic cutter "stays up to 75% cooler than steel"; that is Andis' own figure, and we found no published test method behind it.[1] Any blade can get hot: see why clipper blades get hot.
Next
Questions
Does a higher clipper blade number mean shorter hair?
Yes. On Andis' chart a #4 leaves about 3/8 in (9.5 mm), a #10 about 1/16 in (1.5 mm) and a #40 about 1/100 in (0.25 mm).[1]
How much hair does a #10 blade leave on a dog?
About 1/16 in (1.5 mm) on Andis' chart. It is the blade Oster supplies with its Turbo A5 and Andis with its AGC2, and one of the base blades Wahl names for its guard combs.[1][3][4][2]
Is a #7 skip-tooth blade the same as a #7FC?
They leave the same length, about 1/8 in (3.2 mm). Andis says the skip-tooth version has wider-spaced teeth that let more hair through, and markets it for rough cutting thick, matted or heavy coats.[5][1]
Which clipper blade leaves an inch of hair?
None on Andis' chart: the longest, the 3/4HT, leaves about 3/4 in (19 mm). For an inch or more, use a guard comb over the base blade the comb maker specifies; see clipper guard combs explained.[1][2]