Haircut Number Chart: #0 to #8 on the Same Head

A haircut number is the clipper guard size: the higher the number, the longer the hair. A #1 leaves 1/8 inch (3.2 mm), a #2 leaves 1/4 inch (6.4 mm), a #3 leaves 3/8 inch and a #4 leaves 1/2 inch. Each number adds 1/8 inch, up to 1 inch at #8.

Last updated: November 10, 2026 · ~7 min read

Numbers are easy to read on a chart and hard to picture on your own head. So we put one face through seven numbers with the buzz cut filter and worked out how long each one stays that length.

In this guide: the chart · every number on one head · how fast each grows out · which number to get · how to ask your barber · try it on your photo

What is the haircut number chart in inches and millimeters?

A haircut number is the guard that clips onto the clipper blade and decides how much hair is left. The inch sizes below are the ones Andis prints on its numbered combs. Millimeters are inches × 25.4, rounded to one decimal.

Rule of thumb: from #1 to #8, every number adds 1/8 inch (about 3.2 mm). Many charts round these to 3, 6, 10 and 13 mm, which is why two charts can disagree by a millimeter. How much scalp shows, and when the hair starts to lie flat, also depends on your hair: dark, thick hair hides more scalp at the same number, and fine or curly hair behaves differently from our example.

What does #0 mean: a guard, no guard, or #½?

It depends who you ask. Andis labels its 1/16-inch comb #0. Other charts call the same 1/16-inch size #½. And many barbers say "zero" when they mean the bare blade with no guard at all, which still leaves a little stubble but is shorter than any guard. If you ask for a #0, say which one you mean.

What do half sizes like #½ and #1½ mean?

Half sizes sit between whole numbers: a #1½ is between a #1 (1/8 inch) and a #2 (1/4 inch). Barbers also use the small lever on the side of most clippers, which makes the cut slightly longer when open and shorter when closed, to blend between numbers. Don't confuse a #½ guard with "1/2 inch": a 1/2-inch cut is a #4.

What does each haircut number look like?

Here is the same man at seven numbers. Only the length changes: the face, light and angle stay the same, so you can compare numbers rather than people.

Left to right: his original hair, then #0, #1, #2 and #3 all over. At #0 and #1 the scalp shows through everywhere; by #3 it reads as short hair rather than shadow. These are AI previews made from each number, not measured haircuts.

Left to right: #4, #6 and #8. At #4 the hair still stands up; by #8 it starts to lie down and can be pushed to one side.

Same crop, same scale: #1, #2, #3 and #4. Watch the skin on top of the head: clearly visible at #1, faint at #2, almost gone at #3, and at #4 the hair starts to stand up.

The test photo is an AI-generated portrait, not a real customer. Each number was one request in AIChangeHair with the same instruction to keep everything except the hair length. The previews show how each number tends to look; the lengths in them were not measured with a ruler.

Is a 3 or 4 haircut shorter?

A #3 is shorter: 3/8 inch against 1/2 inch. People mix this up because a lower number sounds like "less cut off". It is the other way round: the number is how much hair stays.

How long does each haircut number last?

Scalp hair grows about 1 cm a month, according to Cleveland Clinic. That is about 4.7 mm every two weeks, which is more than a whole guard number. So the shorter you go, the faster the cut stops looking like the number you asked for.

Our calculation: starting length + weeks × 7 days × (10 mm ÷ 30 days), then matched to the nearest guard size. Your own hair may grow faster or slower.

A #1 is close to a #4 after a month, while a #4 is still short hair. That is why very short buzz cuts need a touch-up every two or three weeks and a #4 can go a month or more.

Which haircut number should you get?

If you are unsure, go one number longer. A barber can take more off in a minute; growing back one number takes one to two weeks.

How do you ask a barber for a number?

Split your head into parts and give each one a number or a length:

Put together, that is one sentence your barber can work with: "#3 sides and back, two inches on top with scissors, no line above the ear, tapered neckline." At the end of the cut, ask which numbers they used and save them in your phone, so the next cut matches.

Clipper guard sizes: are they the same on every brand?

Mostly. Andis lists #0 (1/16 inch) through #8 (1 inch) on its numbered sets, in 1/8-inch steps from #1 up. Longer guides exist outside the #0 to #8 range: Wahl sells a #10 (1-1/4 inch) and #12 (1-1/2 inch). Some sets skip numbers or use only fractions, so read the length printed on the guard, not just the number.

How can you see a haircut number on your own photo?

1. Take a front-facing selfie in daylight with your hair dry and your hairline visible.
2. Open the buzz cut filter and ask for the number you are considering, for example "#3 buzz cut".
3. Try the number above and below it too, then put the three side by side before you sit in the chair.

For cuts that keep length on top, describe them in the AI hairstyle changer or browse haircuts for men.

A preview shows how a length changes your outline and how much scalp may show. It can't measure your hair density, so use it as a reference, not a promise.

---

Frequently asked questions

Is a 3 or 4 haircut shorter?

A #3 is shorter. It leaves 3/8 inch (about 9.5 mm) of hair, while a #4 leaves 1/2 inch (about 12.7 mm). The higher the guard number, the longer the hair.

How long is a #2 haircut?

A #2 guard leaves 1/4 inch, about 6.4 mm, of hair. It is short but reads clearly as hair, with a little scalp showing on fine or light hair.

How long is a number 4 haircut?

A #4 leaves 1/2 inch, about 12.7 mm. In our example no scalp showed at that length and the top began to stand up rather than lie flat; how it sits on you depends on your hair.

How long is a #8 clipper guard?

A #8 guard leaves 1 inch, about 25.4 mm. It is the longest guard in most standard sets; above it, barbers usually switch to scissors.

Is there a 2 inch clipper guard?

Not in standard numbered sets, which stop at #8 (1 inch). Some brands sell longer guides, such as Wahl's #10 (1-1/4 inch) and #12 (1-1/2 inch). For 2 inches, barbers cut with scissors over a comb.

What haircut number should I get for my first buzz cut?

Go one number longer than you think, for example a #3 instead of a #2. You can always go shorter in the same visit, but getting length back takes weeks: about one guard number every one to two weeks.

Related guides

• Try the free buzz cut filter →
• AI hairstyle changer
• Taper vs fade
• Should I get a buzz cut?
• Bald vs buzz cut

Pick your number before the clippers come out

Upload a selfie, try a #2, #3 and #4 side by side, and walk in knowing which number you want. Try the buzz cut filter free.