By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
A blind rivet needs the right diameter for the load and the right length for the total thickness it is clamping. Too short and it cannot form a head; too long and the mandrel breaks before the joint is tight. The usual rule is a rivet diameter about three times the thinner sheet.
Blind rivet diameter and length for a joint.
d ≈ 3 × sheet thickness grip = total thickness ÷ 1.6
Grip length is the rivet's working range, not its overall length. The hole should be 0.1 mm larger than the rivet diameter for a blind rivet. For structural joints, use a rivet diameter of at least the thicker sheet and check shear capacity.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| t | Total material thickness. |
| d | Rivet diameter. |
| L | Grip length. |
Total thickness 2 mm suggests a 3.2 mm rivet with about 1.6 mm of grip; drill a 3.3 mm hole.
Continue with the Beam Deflection Calculator, Beam Load Calculator, Bending Stress Calculator, or the Wood Beam Span Calculator — or browse more structural & workshop and all construction calculators.
3.3 mm — about 0.1 mm oversize so the rivet inserts freely without slop.
Results use standard construction estimating arithmetic: volumes from measured area and depth, unit weights from published material densities, and code-referenced spans or clearances where the page names a code. Quantities are rounded up to whole saleable units and include the stated waste allowance. These tools are planning aids, not structural design, and do not replace a licensed engineer, a local code check, or a contractor's site measurement.
Reference material used to build and check this calculator:
Last reviewed: September 2026. See how we build and check every tool on the about page.
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Content updated: September 2026