The small round hole near the end of a nail clipper has a surprisingly practical purpose: it is generally an attachment/storage hole, not a cutting feature.
What is it actually for?
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Attaching it to a key ring
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The hole lets you put the clipper on a small ring, chain, or keychain.
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This was particularly useful for compact grooming kits and travel clippers.
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Keeping the clipper from getting lost
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You can attach it to a toiletry pouch, grooming kit, or hanging hook.
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Some older nail clippers were deliberately designed to be carried this way.
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Manufacturing and assembly
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On some designs, the hole also forms part of the clipper’s overall stamped-metal construction.
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Its exact purpose varies between manufacturers and models.
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What it is not usually for
You may have seen claims that the hole is specifically designed to:
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hold a nail while you’re cutting it,
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collect nail clippings,
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clean underneath your nails, or
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improve cutting leverage.
Those aren’t the standard purpose of the small round hole.
Don’t confuse it with the lever’s hole
There’s another hole/opening on some clippers associated with the folding lever. That mechanism is different: the lever and pivot are what multiply your finger pressure and make the cutting blades close.
So, in simple terms:
Small round hole → attachment/storage.
Lever + pivot → cutting mechanism.
If you want, I can also explain the 5 hidden features on a standard nail clipper —including the little file, the lever, and why the file often has a pointed tip.
