Dog Clipper Blade Sizes: Complete Chart with Cut Lengths & Breed Guide [2026]

Dog clipper blade sizing follows a numbering system that is counterintuitive until you learn one rule: higher blade numbers cut shorter. A #3 blade leaves 13mm of coat; a #40 blade leaves 0.25mm — nearly skin. Every professional groomer, salon owner, and pet product distributor needs to know which blade number does what, which coat type each blade suits, and which blades their customers ask for most.

This chart covers the universal A5 detachable blade system — the snap-on blade standard used by Andis, Wahl KM, Oster A5, LAUBE, and most professional pet clippers worldwide. We manufacture A5-compatible blades (our D-series) using MIM powder metallurgy at HRC 60-62 hardness.

A5 Detachable Blade Size Chart

Blade #	Cut Length	Use	Best For
#3 / 3F	13mm (1/2")	Longest A5 cut. Natural, fluffy finish.	Poodle pet clips, Bichon body, Cocker Spaniel body
#4 / 4F	9.5mm (3/8")	Medium-length body work.	Golden Retriever trim, Labradoodle body, summer clips
#5 / 5F	6.3mm (1/4")	Standard body blade. Most popular size globally.	All-purpose body clips, Schnauzer body, mixed breeds
#7 / 7F	3.2mm (1/8")	Short body work. Clean, smooth finish.	Poodle sporting clips, terrier body, short summer cuts
#9	2.0mm	Very short. Ears, face detail on poodles.	Poodle face/feet, pre-surgical prep, matted coats
#10	1.5mm	Close cut. Standard underblade for guard combs.	Under-comb work, belly, sanitary areas, matted coats
#15	1.2mm	Very close. Medical and pre-surgical.	Veterinary prep, poodle face/feet (competition)
#30	0.5mm	Surgical close. Minimal coat left.	Surgical prep, paw pads, sanitary strips
#40	0.25mm	Closest cut. Almost skin contact.	Surgical prep only. Not for general grooming — irritation risk.

F vs FC vs Skip-Tooth — What the Letters Mean

F (Finish Cut): Fine teeth, close together. Produces a smooth, even finish with no lines. Standard for all pet grooming. If you only stock one version of each blade number, stock F blades.

FC (Finish Cut — same as F): Some manufacturers (Andis) use "FC" while others (Oster) use "F." They are the same blade tooth configuration. Cross-compatible.

Skip-Tooth (ST): Alternating long and short teeth with wider gaps between them. Cuts through thick, matted, or dirty coats faster than F blades because debris passes through the wider tooth gaps instead of clogging. Leaves visible lines in the finish — not suitable for salon-quality final clips. Use skip-tooth for initial rough clipping, then finish with an F blade.

Wide: Wider cutting head (typically 65mm vs standard 49mm). Covers more area per pass on large dogs. Available in #3, #4, #5, #7 sizes. Preferred by production groomers handling 10+ large dogs per day.

Which Blade for Which Breed

Poodles: #10 or #15 on face, feet, and tail base. #4F or #5F on body for pet clips. #7F for sporting clips. #30 or #40 for competition clean face.

Doodles (Goldendoodle, Labradoodle, etc.): #3F or #4F for a teddy bear look. #5F or #7F for a shorter, lower-maintenance cut. #10 under guard combs for custom lengths.

Terriers (Schnauzer, Westie, Scottie): #7F or #5F on body. #10 on head, ears. #40 on sanitary areas.

Double-coated breeds (Husky, Golden, Shepherd): Generally should NOT be clipped short — coat does not grow back properly. If clipping is necessary (medical, severe matting), use #3F or #4F only. Never use #7 or shorter on double-coated breeds.

Cats: #10 on body (cats' thin skin requires careful blade selection — never use skip-tooth on cats). #30 or #40 for surgical prep only.

SUMTHIN D-Series: A5-Compatible MIM Blades

Our D-series pet blades are manufactured using MIM (Metal Injection Molding) powder metallurgy from 6Cr13 martensitic stainless steel, heat-treated to HRC 60-62. Available in D6.3#, D9.5#, D10#, D13#, D30#, and D40# — compatible with LAUBE, Wahl 8260, SHEJIAN, TAA, YOS, LOVE SHOW, Shernbao, and TELITE clippers.

MOQ: 500 pieces per blade size. Request samples and wholesale pricing →