Solid vs Semi-Tubular vs Tubular Rivets: Types & How to Choose

Specify the wrong rivet and the cost shows up everywhere — joints that loosen under vibration, an assembly line that slows to a crawl, or scrapped parts where a hollow rivet crushed a delicate housing. Solid rivets, semi-tubular rivets, and tubular rivets can look almost identical in a catalog, yet they behave very differently on the production floor. The single variable that separates them is how much of the shank is hollow — and that one detail dictates installation force, joint strength, and which materials each rivet can safely join.

In short: solid rivets have a fully solid shank and deliver the highest strength for structural and safety-critical work; semi-tubular rivets have a shallow hole at the tail that cuts installation force to roughly a quarter of a solid rivet while keeping strong, permanent joints; and tubular rivets have a deep hollow shank that sets with very little force, making them ideal for soft, thin, or brittle materials and for movable pivot joints. The rest of this guide breaks down each type, the precise engineering line between them, and a practical framework for choosing the right one.

Quick Comparison: Solid vs Semi-Tubular vs Tubular Rivets

What Are Solid Rivets?

A solid rivet is the oldest and simplest mechanical fastener: a one-piece pin with a fully solid cylindrical shank and a pre-formed head. It is installed by inserting the shank through aligned holes and then upsetting the tail with a rivet gun and bucking bar, a hydraulic press, or — for field work — a hammer. Because the shank is solid, both the head and the tail deform and expand as the rivet is set, locking the joint with maximum clamping force. Solid rivets require access to both sides of the workpiece.

That solid cross-section is exactly why they dominate high-stress applications. With no hollow to weaken the shank, solid rivets carry the highest shear and tensile loads of any rivet type and resist loosening under continuous vibration and fatigue. Modern aircraft fuselages are assembled with millions of solid aluminum rivets precisely because each one must survive decades of pressurization cycles. The trade-off is installation: solid rivets demand the highest setting force and robust tooling, and they set more slowly than hollow alternatives.

Choose solid rivets when the joint is structural or safety-critical, the parent material is thick metal, and the connection must withstand heavy shear, vibration, or fatigue. Typical uses include aerospace airframes, structural steelwork, bridges, shipbuilding, and heavy machinery. Structural solid rivets are commonly specified to ASTM A502, while aerospace programs rely on MS and NAS standards such as MS20470.

What Are Semi-Tubular Rivets?

A semi-tubular rivet keeps the solid head of a classic rivet but adds a shallow hole drilled into the tail end of the shank. By definition, that hole depth is less than 112% of the shank diameter — enough to make the rivet easier to set, but not so deep that it becomes fully hollow. When the rivet is compressed, only the thin-walled tail rolls outward to form a secondary head; the bulk of the shank stays solid and load-bearing.

The payoff is dramatic at the assembly stage. Because far less material has to be deformed, a semi-tubular rivet needs only a fraction of the force of a solid rivet of the same diameter — often around a quarter — which translates directly into faster cycle times, lower-cost tooling, and easier automation. Yet the joint remains strong, permanent, and easy to inspect. This balance of strength and assembly efficiency is why semi-tubular rivets appear in thousands of mass-produced goods.

Choose semi-tubular rivets when you need a strong, permanent joint at high production speed and lower installation force, and you can access both sides of the part. They excel in brake assemblies, ladders, HVAC units, electrical and electronic enclosures, lighting fixtures, automotive interior components, and any layered sheet-metal or plastic assembly. The common dimensional standard is DIN 7338.

What Are Tubular Rivets?

A tubular rivet — sometimes called a full tubular or hollow rivet — has a deeply hollow shank, with a hole depth of at least 112% of the shank diameter. That deep bore means very little solid material has to move during setting, so tubular rivets clamp with the lowest force of the three types. A simple anvil or setting tool rolls the open end outward to form the clinch.

The deep hollow unlocks two capabilities the other rivets lack. First, the low setting force and even stress distribution let tubular rivets join soft, thin, or brittle materials — leather, fabric, plastics, and thin sheet — without crushing or cracking them. Second, a tubular rivet can be set loosely enough to act as a pivot point, letting two parts rotate around it, as in scissors, pliers, and folding mechanisms. The trade-off is strength: with the most material removed, tubular rivets carry the lowest shear loads and are not intended for structural connections.

Choose tubular rivets when the priority is joining delicate or non-metallic materials, creating a movable pivot, or keeping weight and setting force to a minimum. Classic applications include leather goods, footwear, belts, handbags, luggage, ring binders, brushes, textiles, lighting, and electronics. The common dimensional standard is DIN 7340.

The Key Technical Difference: The 112% Rule

People often use “tubular” and “semi-tubular” interchangeably, but there is a precise engineering line between them, and B2B buyers should know it before specifying. The dividing measurement is the depth of the hole relative to the shank diameter:

• Semi-tubular rivet: hole depth is less than 112% of the shank diameter. Most of the shank stays solid, so the rivet keeps high strength while reducing setting force.
• Tubular rivet: hole depth is 112% or more of the shank diameter. The shank is substantially hollow, minimizing setting force at the expense of strength.

Solid rivets sit at the other end of the spectrum with no hole at all. Reading the three types as a single continuum — solid, then semi-tubular, then tubular — makes the engineering trade-off obvious: as the hollow deepens, installation force drops and the rivet becomes gentler on the workpiece, but shear strength falls in step. Choosing well means deciding where your application needs to land on that line.

Rivet Materials and Finishes

The base material matters as much as the rivet type, because it sets corrosion resistance, conductivity, strength, and cost. The most common options for solid, semi-tubular, and tubular rivets are:

• Steel — high tensile strength and low cost; the default for structural and heavy-duty fastening. Usually zinc-plated for corrosion resistance.
• Stainless steel — combines strength with excellent corrosion resistance for outdoor, marine, and hygiene-sensitive applications.
• Aluminum — lightweight and corrosion-resistant, the standard for aerospace and automotive weight reduction.
• Brass — corrosion-resistant with an attractive finish; common in decorative, electrical, and leather-goods applications.
• Copper — the highest electrical and thermal conductivity, used in electrical terminals and heat-transfer assemblies.

Finishes and platings — zinc, nickel, tin, or black oxide — extend service life, tune appearance, and improve performance in harsh environments. For export orders, confirming material grade and plating up front prevents costly mismatches on arrival.

Standards and Compliance

For B2B and OEM buyers, standards are not paperwork — they are the guarantee that a rivet will perform and that the finished product will pass certification. Solid, semi-tubular, and tubular rivets are governed by overlapping standard families: DIN 7338 for semi-tubular rivets and DIN 7340 for tubular rivets in the European tradition, ASTM A502 for structural solid rivets, and MS/NAS specifications for aerospace solid rivets. International ISO standards define dimensions and materials for broad industrial use.

Specifying to a recognized standard ensures consistent dimensions, predictable mechanical performance, and full traceability across suppliers and borders — which is exactly what regulated sectors such as automotive, aerospace, and construction demand. When sourcing internationally, ask your supplier which standards they manufacture to and whether they can provide material certificates.

How to Choose the Right Rivet: A Decision Framework

Work through these questions in order, and the right rivet type usually becomes clear:

1. How much load will the joint carry? For structural, safety-critical, or high-vibration joints, choose solid rivets. For strong but non-structural joints, semi-tubular. For light-duty holding, tubular.
2. What are you joining? For thick metal, choose solid. For sheet metal or layered metal-and-plastic assemblies, semi-tubular. For soft, thin, or brittle materials such as leather, fabric, and plastics, tubular.
3. Do you need the parts to pivot or rotate? If yes, a tubular rivet set as a pivot is the natural choice. If the joint must stay rigid, choose solid or semi-tubular.
4. What is your production volume and cycle time? For high-speed, automated lines where low setting force matters, semi-tubular and tubular rivets win. Solid rivets suit lower-volume or heavy-section work.
5. Can you access both sides of the part? Solid, semi-tubular, and tubular rivets all need two-sided access to set. If you can only reach one side, you need a blind (pop) rivet instead.
6. Are there compliance requirements? Match the standard (DIN, ASTM, ISO, MS/NAS) and material grade to your industry’s regulations before placing a bulk order.

A practical rule of thumb: start with the strongest rivet your assembly process can install efficiently, then move toward hollow types only as far as your strength budget allows — capturing the lower force, faster cycles, and material-friendliness that semi-tubular and tubular rivets provide.

Common Applications by Industry

• Aerospace — solid aluminum rivets for fuselage and wing structures; semi-tubular rivets for non-structural interior and bracket assemblies.
• Automotive — semi-tubular rivets in brakes, seat mechanisms, and interior trim; tubular rivets in soft-trim and pivot components.
• Construction & heavy machinery — solid rivets for structural steel and load-bearing connections.
• Electronics — semi-tubular and tubular rivets for enclosures, terminals, PCBs, and heat sinks, often in copper or brass.
• Leather goods, footwear & textiles — tubular rivets for belts, bags, shoes, buckles, and handles.
• Consumer & hardware — tubular rivets for binders, brushes, scissors, and other low-load or pivoting products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are semi-tubular and tubular rivets the same thing?No. The difference is hole depth: a semi-tubular rivet’s hole is less than 112% of the shank diameter, while a tubular rivet’s hole is 112% or more. Semi-tubular rivets are stronger; tubular rivets set with less force and are gentler on delicate materials.

Which rivet is the strongest?Solid rivets. With a fully solid shank, they carry the highest shear and tensile loads and resist vibration and fatigue better than hollow types, which is why they dominate aerospace and structural work.

Can solid rivets be installed from one side only?No. Solid, semi-tubular, and tubular rivets all require access to both sides of the joint to set. If you can only reach one side, use a blind (pop) rivet, which is installed with a mandrel from a single side.

What is the difference between a tubular rivet and a blind (pop) rivet?A tubular rivet is a hollow two-piece-free fastener set by deforming its open end with access from both sides. A blind rivet uses an internal mandrel to set from one side only, trading some strength for single-side installation.

Which rivet is best for leather and fabric?Tubular rivets. Their low setting force and even stress distribution attach soft or thin materials without tearing or crushing them, which is why they are standard in leather goods, footwear, and textiles.

How do I lower installation force without giving up much strength?Switch from a solid rivet to a semi-tubular rivet of the same diameter. The shallow tail hole cuts setting force to roughly a quarter while keeping a strong, permanent, inspectable joint.

Source Solid, Semi-Tubular & Tubular Rivets from yiwan.net

Choosing the right rivet type is only half the job — the other half is a supplier who can deliver the right material, standard, and finish at volume, on time, and to spec. yiwan.net manufactures and exports solid, semi-tubular, and tubular rivets across steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and copper, with finishes and dimensions built to DIN, ISO, and ASTM requirements. Whether you need a standard catalog part or a custom OEM rivet for a specific assembly, our team can match the type, material, and standard to your application and back it with consistent quality for export orders worldwide.

Tell us your material, dimensions, and target standard, and we’ll send a quote and samples. Contact yiwan.net today to source the rivets your product needs — and to get engineering support on choosing the right type the first time.