A razor blade having a substrate with a cutting edge being defined by a sharpened tip and novel dimensions is provided. The substrate has dimensions of volumes, cross-sectional areas, and thicknesses at or near the ultimate tip (e.g., at a distance up to about 2 micrometers from the sharpened tip). The substrate is coated with one or more materials and has novel volumes, cross-sectional areas, and thicknesses at or near the ultimate tip (e.g., at a distance up to about 2 micrometers from the sharpened tip). The total volume of the substrate at 2 micrometers back from the ultimate tip is at or below about 27.3 cubic micrometers and at or below about 33 cubic micrometers for a coated substrate at the same distance. These dimensional values are measured robustly with an atomic force microscope and provide reduced cut forces for improved blade performance.