Rivet Nuts

Rivet nuts — also called threaded inserts or blind nuts — provide strong, reusable threads in thin sheet metal, tube, and panels where there's no access to the back side. Installed with a setting tool from the front, they expand behind the material to lock in place. They're essential where a tapped hole would be too thin to hold or the back is inaccessible. We stock rivet nuts across body styles and materials.

How Rivet Nuts Work

The rivet nut is threaded onto a setting tool's mandrel and inserted into a drilled hole. The tool pulls the mandrel, collapsing the body into a bulge behind the material that clamps it tight. The mandrel unthreads, leaving a permanent threaded boss ready to accept a screw — from one side only, like a blind rivet but with reusable threads.

Body Styles

Round body: the standard, for general sheet metal. Knurled body: ribs resist spinning in the hole under torque — better for harder use. Hex body: seats in a hex hole for maximum spin resistance. Flat, countersunk, and large flange heads suit different surface and flush requirements.

Materials

Steel (zinc plated): strong and economical. Aluminum: lightweight, corrosion-resistant, easy to set. 18-8 stainless: maximum corrosion resistance and strength. Match grip range to material thickness for a proper set.

Dimensional Standards

Rivet nuts follow ASME B18.16.6 for blind threaded inserts.

Selecting the Right Rivet Nut

Match the grip range to your material thickness, the thread size to your screw, and the body style to the torque it'll see (knurled or hex for high-torque). Drill the correct hole size, choose the head style for flush or surface mount, and select material for strength and corrosion. Use the matching setting tool for a reliable installation.

Use the filters to narrow by thread size, grip range, body style, and material.