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Standard or Wide A5 Blades: Choose by the Job, Not the Hype

A wider blade can suit broad body work, but it is a separate buying decision from cutting length. Compare the job, attachments and replacement parts before adding one.

3 min read Updated 10 September 2026

Groomer supporting a naturally proportioned cocker spaniel during a coat assessment

The practical answer

Choose blade width for the area and task, then check attachments separately. Wide A5 blades do not fit the standard VUNRO Universal Guard Comb Set.

A wide blade is tempting when the appointment diary includes larger dogs. It covers a broader strip of prepared coat per pass. That can be useful for body work, but it does not tell you whether the blade is appropriate for every area of the dog or whether your existing attachments fit it.

Start with a job you can name. “I regularly clip broad body areas at this finish” is a better reason to add a wide blade than “everyone seems to have one”.

Separate width from length

The width describes the area the blade covers. The stated cutting length describes the finish associated with that blade. For example, VUNRO's 5FW product is listed at 6.4 mm; the W identifies the wide choice. Read the actual product details rather than treating a wider head as a longer finish.

Coat preparation, growth direction and technique still matter. A broader blade does not correct poor preparation, and a product page cannot promise a particular number of minutes saved on your next dog.

Audit the attachments before buying

Confirm that your machine uses genuine A5 detachable blades. Then check every guard or replacement cutter separately. VUNRO's eight-piece Universal Guard Comb Set is for the specified standard-width A5 and D-Series base blades; it does not fit wide blades. A wide A5 cutter also needs its matching wide blade assembly. Similar names do not make these parts interchangeable.

Keep the standard blade's job clear

A salon kit can sensibly contain both widths. Choose the equipment appropriate for each area, the dog's anatomy and the technique you are trained to use. Do not carry the broad-body choice into a small or difficult area merely to avoid a tool change. If you cannot work comfortably and safely, stop and reassess.

Compare the complete cost

  • The wide blade for the regular finish you intend to offer.
  • The compatible spare or replacement cutter you would need to keep that setup working.
  • Any separately compatible attachments required for the job.
  • The standard equipment you still need for other work.

For pet parents, discuss the planned task with your groomer before changing blade width. A larger dog does not automatically need a wide blade in a home kit. Your confidence, the coat and the specific work matter too.

Compare VUNRO standard and wide A5 choices · Check matching replacement cutters

Sources and further reading

In practice

See a wide blade working through the coat

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