PetGrit
Clipper blades Checked against maker charts

The #8½ clipper blade

A #8½ blade leaves about 7/64" (2.8 mm) of coat.

Cut length

7/64"(2.8 mm)

Length from the Andis chart; Oster sells an #8½ too but publishes no official length for it.

Type

Finish cut (F/FC) — even, smooth result

What the #8½ is used for

  • A groomer's tweener — slightly fuller than a #9, used where a #7F is too plush
  • Andis charts it for Scottish Terrier head work

Breeds this length suits

Blade choice always depends on coat condition — a matted coat needs a shorter blade than the style chart says. The blade & comb finder walks you through it.

Which clippers it fits

#8½ detachable blades use the A5 standard — they interchange across Andis, Oster, Wahl KM-series, and Heiniger A5-style clippers regardless of which brand made the blade. They do not fit 5-in-1 adjustable clippers (Wahl Bravura/Arco) or screw-on home clippers, which take their own blade systems.

Leaves more coat

#7 skip-tooth 1/8"

Cuts closer

#9 5/64"

All blade sizes

FAQ

How much hair does a #8½ blade leave?
A #8½ blade leaves about 7/64" (2.8 mm) of coat. Length from the Andis chart; Oster sells an #8½ too but publishes no official length for it.
Will a #8½ blade fit my clipper?
#8½ detachable blades follow the A5 standard, so they interchange across A5-style clippers from Andis, Oster, Wahl (KM series), and Heiniger. They do not fit 5-in-1 adjustable-blade clippers (like the Wahl Bravura) or screw-on home clippers — those use their own blade systems.

Sources