Snap Fasteners

A snap fastener (also called snap, popper, or press button) is a closure system used to fasten two sheets of material together. It is commonly used as an alternative to zippers and buttons because it is simple to open and close.

Types of Snap Fasteners

The socket is the most common starting point in the selection of snap fastener sets. It is the type, size, strength and action of the socket that define the selection of the additional parts to complete the set. Below are the major categories of sockets and their typical applications.

Also see: Snap Fastener Components, Methods of Attachment, Possible Configurations, Types of Caps and How to Attach Snap Fasteners, all on this page.

Click on an image to see all our options for that snap system, or make a selection from the "Snap Fasteners" section of the drop-down menu above.

Round Spring Socket

The classic American fastener

Commercial and industrial applications.
Largest variety of strength options
Satisfies the most demanding closure requirements

Typical applications include apparel, handbags, packaging and military.

Parallel Spring Socket

The aesthetic option

Noiseless
Opens with a smooth action

Typical applications include leather jackets, purses, medical and electrical.

Segmented Spring Socket

The economical solution

Typically used for Light-duty applications such as key fob holders, eyeglass cases, cardboard folders and light packaging (pens, etc.)

Garment Socket

Economical, light-duty option

Typically used on children's clothing and other light-duty applications.

Medical/Electrical Socket

Variation of the Parallel Spring

Configured to complete electrical connections.

Used in LED leads, EKG leads and stud patches.

Handbag/Purse/Wallet

Non-magnetic	Magnetic
	(links to a sister site)

Large closure systems

Socket, stud and washers (if non-magnetic); magnetic option also available.

Used for handbags, purses and wallets.

One-Way Socket

Security option

Will separate from the female side only when pulled from a certain direction.

Typically used by law enforcement and military to secure weapons.

Sew-on Snaps

Sewing Supplies Snaps

We have snap fasteners available that can be sewed onto fabric using a needle and thread.

Typically used for crafts projects and infants' clothing.

Snap Fastener Components

Most Snap Systems consist of four basic components, a SOCKET and a STUD, each of which is secured to the material with either an EYELET or a decorative CAP depending on the application.

Socket

	Round spring:
	Parallel Spring:
	Segmented Spring:

The SOCKET provides the holding power.

The socket can have a:
ROUND SPRING,
PARALLEL SPRING, OR
SEGMENTED SPRING.

See chart above for functional descriptions of each.

Stud

	Open Stud:
	Closed Stud:

The STUD has a raised part with a groove all the way around it for the spring in the socket to hold onto.

An OPEN STUD is attached by ROLLING.
A CLOSED STUD is attached by CRUSHING.
See Methods of Attachment below.

Attachment Options

	Eyelets:
	Caps:
	Prongs:

The socket or stud is attached to the material with an eyelet, decorative cap or prong (see Methods of Attachment).

An EYELET has a flat wide disk attached to a "post" or "stud", Some of our Eyelets have a decorative element.

A CAP is an Eyelet with an additional decorative cap attached - see Types of Caps below for some of the options we have available..

PRONGS are used to attach our garment snaps and since they don't protrude they're more comfortable against the skin.

Tension (Strength of Attachment)

The functional parts of a snap fastener are the socket and the stud: the spring in the socket grips a groove in the stud to hold both sides together. The socket and stud can be used in various combinations to generate different tensions (holding power).

With parallel and round spring sockets, the strength of the spring controls how much pressure is required to separate the two pieces of material. The following shows the spring in a "Parallel Spring Snap Fastener" holding the stud:

With segmented sockets, there is no spring, and the configuration of the segments controls how much pressure is required to separate the two pieces.

Post Length

An Eyelet or Cap is used to fasten sockets and studs to the material. If the post is too short, it won't hold; if it's too long, it could deform the stud or socket.

We have Eyelets and Caps with a range of post lengths to accommodate a variety of material thicknesses and size of the stud or socket - call us for recommendations.

Methods of Attachment

Attachment Method 1: Round Springs

	socket Side - Rolling	Stud Side - Rolling
	The post of the cap goes through one piece of material. The open end of the post is then rolled over itself to make a bulge, which permanently secures the socket to the material..	The post of the eyelet goes through the second piece of material then through the hole in the stud. The open end of the post is then rolled over itself so it's too wide to be pulled out, which permanently secures the stud to the material.

Attachment Method 2: Parallel Springs

	socket Side - rolling	Stud Side - crushing
	The post of the cap goes through one piece of material. The open end of the post is then rolled over itself to make a bulge, which permanently secures the socket to the material..	The post of the eyelet goes through the second piece of material and is permanently secured by crushing it into the raised bulb in the center of the stud.

Attachment Method 3: Segmented Springs

	socket Side - crushing	Stud Side - crushing
	The cap is flat on the underside with a hole in the middle of the flat part. The narrow part of the socket goes through the first piece of material then into the hole on the underside of the cap. Then the socket is crushed into the cap, and the 4 segments spread inside the cap to secure it.	The post of the eyelet goes through the second piece of material and then into the raised bulb of the stud. They are then crushed together and the eyelet spreads out inside the bulb, which permanently fastens them together.

Possible Configurations

Depending on your application, we offer a variety of options to meet your functional and decorative requirements

CONFIGURATION	===== SOCKET SIDE=====		====== STUD SIDE ====
	Attached to material by:	Socket	Stud	Attached to material by:
1. HIDDEN	Eyelet	Socket	Stud	Eyelet
2. SINGLE CAP
a. Cap on Socket side	Cap	Socket	Stud	Eyelet
b. Cap on Stud side	Eyelet	Socket	Stud	Cap
3. DOUBLE CAP	Cap	Socket	Stud	Cap

Hidden: This is your most cost-effective option if the snap fastener will be hidden (i.e., the eyelet will be covered by some kind of material).

Single Cap: The optimum solution if one side will be hidden (i.e., covered by some kind of material) and the other side will be visible.

Double Cap: The best choice if both sides will be visible, for example in lab coats and certain parts of handbags.

A Capped Eyelet is typically used on the stud side of a double-cap snap fastener. The Capped Eyelet usually has some decorative relationship to the cap on the other side..

NOTE: Various configuration options are available for each type of spring. Not all options are available in all spring types. See the "Snap Fastener" options in the menu above to look at specifics.

Types of Caps

Eyelet (aka Blind Eyelet)	An eyelet can be crushed or rolled (if it has an open end).
Capped Eyelet (aka capped post)	A capped eyelet can be crushed but not rolled
Flat Cap
Domed Cap
Square Cap
Leather Covered Cap
Colored Cap	Hover here to see all our color options.
Decorative Cap	We have a large selection of decorative caps: 24 Ligne (5/8" diameter) 36 Ligne (7/8" diameter)

How to Attach Snap Fasteners

Snaps can be attached to fabric or other materials by : plying with special snap pliers sewing, or pressing with a specific punch and die set by kickpress or by hand
How to Install Snap Fasteners with a Punch and Die Set