A blade element (4, 8) for a refiner (1) for refining fibrous material has a first end edge (18) to be directed towards a feed of the fibrous material to be refined and a second end edge (19) to be directed towards a discharge of the refined fibrous material and a refining surface (5, 9) comprising blade bars (16) and blade grooves (17) therebetween. The refining surface (5, 9) has at least one equalizing pocket (23) extending along the refining surface (5, 9) of the blade element (4, 8) and crossing a number of the blade bars (16) and a number of the blade grooves (17) for equalizing flow of the fibrous material along the refining surface (5,9).