Guide
Number 11 Scalpel Blade: What It Is Used For, Handle Fit, #11 vs #10 and #15
A number 11 scalpel blade is an elongated triangle with a straight cutting edge and a strong, sharp point, made for piercing, corners and fine detail. It fits #3 and #7 handles, not the #4. Need a curved edge? Use a #15. Need a hook? Use a #12.
Not medical advice. We quote the maker on how surgeons use the #11 only to explain the shape. Our blades are sold for craft, hobby, study and dissection, not as medical devices.
The #11 blade at a glance
| Spec | #11 scalpel blade |
|---|---|
| Shape | Swann Morton calls it “an elongated triangular blade sharpened along the hypotenuse edge with a strong pointed tip”. |
| Fitting | No. 3 range |
| Fits these handles | #3 and #7 in our store. Swann Morton lists handles 3, 3L, 3 Graduated, 5B, 7, 9 and B3. |
| Does not fit | #4 handle |
| Same shape, bigger | None on the #4 fitting. The nearest straight-edged blade there is the #25, which Swann Morton describes as much larger than a #11. |
| Our packs | Carbon steel, 10 blades, each in its own sterile foil pouch (gamma radiation, as declared by the manufacturer) |
| Edge length | Not published by the maker, so we do not print one |
What a #11 blade is used for
The straight edge and the strong point are the whole idea. The tip starts a cut exactly where you put it, and the straight edge runs clean lines and into tight corners where a curved blade would not reach.
| Job | Why the #11 works | Also look at |
|---|---|---|
| Paper, stencils and vinyl | Sharp corners and fine lines, and the first blade we point to for this | The #11 craft knife if you only cut crafts |
| Models and miniatures | Trimming flash and cutting small parts without a wide edge in the way | #7 handle for a longer, slimmer grip |
| Electronics and PCB work | A point for cutting traces, tape and small gaskets | #15 for short curved cuts |
| Clay and sculpture | Detail lines and sharp edges in soft material | #12 for hooked cuts |
| Suture practice pads | Small stab and point cuts on a practice pad | #15 for short, precise incisions |
| Small dissection | Opening small specimens and cutting around fine structures | #10 for long, smooth strokes |
In surgery, Swann Morton says the No. 11 is “ideal for stab incisions needed when lancing an abscess or inserting a chest drain” (Swann Morton No. 11 product page, read 11/11/2026). That is the maker’s description of clinical use, not a use we sell for.
#11 vs #10 vs #15
All three fit the same #3 handle, so the choice is only about the cut.
| Blade | Shape | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| #11 | Elongated triangle with a straight edge and a strong pointed tip | Piercing, corners and fine point work |
| #10 | Large curved edge with a rounded belly | Long, smooth strokes |
| #15 | Small curved edge, the maker’s most popular shape | Short, precise curved cuts |
The quick rule: if the cut starts with a point or runs a straight line into a corner, take the #11. If it is a long line, take the #10. If it is a small, tight curve, take the #15. For more on the #10 side of this comparison, read our number 10 scalpel blade guide. The full chart for every number is in our scalpel blade sizes guide.
Which handle fits a #11 blade?
A #11 goes on a #3 handle, the standard flat handle, or the #7 handle, which is longer and slimmer and the one we suggest for models and fine detail. It will not lock onto a #4 handle: the No. 4 fitting is larger, and there is no larger twin of the #11 for it. More on fittings in our scalpel handle sizes guide.
Shop #11 blades
No handle yet? Take the set. Want a fresh edge with nothing to fit? Take the disposables. Already own a #3 or #7 handle? Take the blade pack.
- Bestseller
#11 Scalpel Set: #3 Stainless Handle + 10 Sterile #11 Blades
#11setScalpel Sets#3 handle + 10 sterile #11 blades. $15.99 Add to cart -
#11 Scalpel Blades, Sterile Carbon Steel (Pack of 10)
#11bladesBlades for #3 Handles10 sterile blades. Fits #3 and #7 handles. Original price was: $14.99.$12.99Current price is: $12.99. $1.30 per bladeAdd to cart - Bestseller
#11 Sterile Disposable Scalpels, Box of 10
#11disposableDisposable ScalpelsBox of 10, sterile, handle built in. Nothing to fit. Original price was: $22.99.$19.99Current price is: $19.99. $2.00 per scalpel100+ sold worldwideAdd to cart
For crafts, models and electronics
The #11 is also the standard craft knife blade, but craft knife blades and scalpel blades are different fittings. Our craft knife blades clamp into a standard craft knife handle and do not fit scalpel handles. Not sure which you need? Read scalpel vs X-Acto knife.
- Bestseller
#11 Craft Knife: Knurled Aluminum Handle + 11 Blades
Craft Knives $11.99 1,000+ sold worldwideAdd to cart -
#11 Craft Knife Blades, High Carbon Steel (100, 200 or 300)
Craft Knife BladesStraight-shank #11 craft blades, for craft knife handles. Price range: $14.99 through $32.99 From $0.15 per blade1,000+ sold worldwideChoose a size This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Craft Knife Kit: 3 Handles, 10 Blades and Storage Case
Craft Knife Sets and Kits $19.99 1,000+ sold worldwideAdd to cart
Fitting and changing a #11 safely
- Fit and remove blades with pliers or a blade remover, never your fingers.
- Carbon steel can rust: dry the blade after use and store it dry.
- Drop used blades into a blade disposal box, never the bin.
Frequently asked questions
The #10 has a large curved edge for long, smooth strokes. The #11 is an elongated triangle with a straight edge and a strong point, made for piercing, corners and fine detail. Both fit the same #3 handle.
A number 11 scalpel is a scalpel fitted with a #11 blade, an elongated triangle sharpened along one straight edge with a strong pointed tip. The blade clips onto a #3 or #7 handle, and a disposable #11 scalpel has the blade and a plastic handle in one piece.
Use it when the cut starts with a point or needs a straight line into a corner: paper and stencil work, model making, electronics, clay detail, suture practice pads and small dissection. Swann Morton describes it as ideal for stab incisions in surgery, which is a clinical use we do not sell for.
The #11 has a straight edge and a sharp point, so it is the one for piercing and corners. The #15 has a small curved edge, so it is the one for short, precise curved cuts. Both fit the same #3 handle.
No. The #11 belongs to the No. 3 fitting and fits #3 and #7 handles. The #4 handle takes the larger blades, such as the #20 to #25.
They share the same pointed shape, but not the same fitting. Our craft knife #11 blades clamp into a standard craft knife handle and do not fit scalpel handles. Our scalpel #11 blades clip onto a #3 or #7 scalpel handle.