How to identify and measure Blind Rivets

A blind rivet has two parts: the shell (the body that stays in the job) and the mandrel (the pin that breaks off during installation). Every dimension you need is on the rivet itself. This guide shows you where to measure, and how the rule changes between dome head and countersunk rivets. Use the letters on the CAD drawings below (A, B, L, G) to match each measurement.

Step 1  -  Identify the head style

Look at the head. If it sits proud of the work face like a low dome, it is a dome head rivet (large flange and peeled types follow the same rule). If the head is angled so it sits flush inside a countersunk hole, it is a countersunk rivet. The head style decides how the length is measured in Step 3.

Step 2  -  Measure the rivet diameter (A)

Measure across the shell body, not the head. This is the size in the product name, for example 3.2mm (1/8"), 4.0mm (5/32") or 4.8mm (3/16"). Drill the hole 0.1mm larger than the rivet body so the rivet fits in the hole - for a 4.0mm rivet, drill 4.1mm. The recommended hole size is listed on every product page.

Step 3  -  Measure the length (L)

Dome head (sits proud): the length is the shell length - measured from directly under the head to the bottom of the shell body, excluding the mandrel bubble at the end. The head itself is not included in the size.

Countersunk (sits flush): the length is the overall length - measured from the top of the rivet head to the bottom of the shell body, excluding the mandrel bubble at the end. The head sits flush inside the countersunk hole and is included in the size.

Step 4  -  Check the grip range (G)

The grip range is the total thickness of the materials the rivet will clamp together. Add up your stack-up (every sheet, plate and washer the rivet passes through) and pick a rivet whose grip range includes that total. The grip range is shown in the product name, for example Grips 4.8 to 6.4mm, or Max Grip 7mm on peeled types.

Step 5  -  Read the rivet code

Rivets carry a short industry code that tells you everything about the rivet. Reading 73 AS 5-6 left to right:

So 73 AS 5-6 reads as: a dome head open body rivet, aluminium shell with a steel stem, 4.0mm diameter, gripping material up to 9.6mm thick.

Setting capacity by tool

Once you know the rivet diameter, match it to a rivet tool rated to set that size. A green tick means the tool sets that diameter in at least one material; the individual tool product page shows the per-material (aluminium / steel / stainless) breakdown.

Browse the full range of rivets. Still not sure which rivet you have? Contact us and we will match it for you.