A device for the determination of the state of wear of comminuting tools a comminuting tool, a comminuting device with such a comminuting tool, and a corresponding method. A reference surface is provided on the comminuting tool, the surface from which the distance A0, A1 to the active edges of the comminuting tool can be determined. The degree of wear then results from a comparison of the original distance A0 in an unused comminuting tool with the distance A1 reduced due to wear after a certain period of use. The thereby achieved advantage is that the state of wear can be determined independent of the general wear of the comminuting device. A distortion of the measurement result caused by this is therefore ruled out.