If you’ve ever sat down to design something that needs to hold together metal sheets, plastic panels, or even a mix of both, you’ve probably asked yourself this question: How much do hollow rivets cost? As a hollow rivets supplier with over a decade in the business, I get this query at least a dozen times a day—from hobbyists building custom furniture to large aerospace firms sourcing components for critical assemblies. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and that’s by design. Hollow rivets aren’t commodities; their price tags reflect the specific choices that make them fit for a job. Let me break down what goes into hollow rivet pricing, the common mistakes buyers make when budgeting, and how you can get a fair, transparent price that works for your project. Hollow Rivets
First, let’s start with the basics to set the stage. Hollow rivets are fasteners with a hollow, tubular body and a flared head (or two, on some styles) designed to spread force when installed, creating a permanent joint that doesn’t require nuts or bolts. Unlike solid rivets, they’re lighter, faster to install with basic tools, and perfect for materials that can’t handle the heavy force needed to set solid options. They’re used everywhere: from automotive trim and appliance housings to electronics enclosures and outdoor signage. But that versatility is exactly why their pricing varies so much.
The biggest factor in hollow rivet cost is the material they’re made from, and the choices here align directly with what your joint needs to resist. Let’s walk through the most common materials and their price ranges, because this is where most buyers start (and often overspend unnecessarily). The cheapest hollow rivets are carbon steel—basic, uncoated, and designed for indoor, low-stress applications. A pack of 100 small 1/8-inch diameter carbon steel hollow rivets will run you $2 to $4, depending on how many you buy. But here’s the catch: carbon steel rusts, so if your project is for outdoor use, a dishwasher, or a device that touches moisture, these rivets will corrode over time, leaving weak joints or unsightly discoloration. That $4 pack might save you a few bucks upfront, but if you have to replace those rivets in six months, it’s a false economy.
Next up is stainless steel, the workhorse of the hollow rivet world, and the material I supply most of because it balances cost and performance for 90% of applications. Stainless steel comes in grades 304 and 316, and their prices jump just a little but make a huge difference. 304 stainless steel is the standard for most indoor and mild outdoor use—it resists rust, holds up to moderate pressure, and is food-safe for appliances and kitchenware. A 100-pack of 1/8-inch 304 hollow rivets costs between $5 and $8, a 500-pack is $18 to $25, and bulk orders of 10,000 or more are usually $0.02 to $0.03 per piece. The higher-end option is 316 stainless steel, which has extra chromium and molybdenum, making it resistant to saltwater, strong chemicals, and extreme temperatures. That’s the stuff used in marine equipment, industrial machinery, and medical devices. Its price is 20% to 30% higher than 304: 100-pack is $7 to $10, bulk orders start at $0.035 per piece. It’s not cheap, but if your joint is going to be exposed to salt air or cleaning chemicals, paying the extra for 316 will save you from expensive failures later.
Then there are specialty materials, which make up a smaller share of my orders but come with a massive price tag. Aluminum hollow rivets are super light, so they’re popular for aerospace, electronics, and portable equipment, but they’re softer than steel, so they don’t work for high-stress joints. A 100-pack of 1/8-inch aluminum rivets is $3 to $5, right around the price of cheap carbon steel, but their strength is lower, so you have to match them to your load. For extreme applications, I also supply copper and brass hollow rivets, used for decorative projects, electrical connections, and antique restoration work. Copper rivets cost $0.08 to $0.15 per piece in bulk, while brass is $0.10 to $0.20 per piece—they’re not structural, but they add a professional, polished look for visible assemblies.
Material isn’t the only variable that changes price, though. Size and quantity are equally important, and this is where I see the most variance between small and large buyers. Hollow rivets are sized by their diameter (how wide the tube is) and their length (how far they extend through the material). Smaller rivets, like 1/16 or 1/8 inch, are cheaper per piece because they use less material. A 1/16-inch 304 stainless steel rivet in bulk is $0.015 to $0.02 each, while a 1/4-inch rivet (twice as wide) is $0.04 to $0.06 each—doubling the diameter quadruples the material needed, so price jumps accordingly. Length matters too: a 1/8-inch long rivet for thin plastic is way cheaper than a 1-inch long rivet that needs to go through thick metal or multiple layers of material.
Quantity is the biggest driver of bulk pricing, and I always tell buyers to order as much as they can reasonably use, because the per-piece discount is steep. If you need 1,000 rivets, you might pay $0.03 per piece for 304 stainless, but order 10,000, and that drops to $0.022 per piece—order 50,000, and it’s $0.018 per piece. The reason is simple: manufacturing hollow rivets involves setup costs for each size and material, so the more units you produce in one run, the lower the cost per unit. I’ve had small businesses come to me asking for 50 rivets for a prototype, and that’s a fair order, but they should expect to pay a premium—usually $0.05 to $0.07 per piece, because custom small orders don’t offset the setup costs. The same goes for rush orders: if you need rivets in 24 hours instead of the standard 3 to 5 days, I add a 10% to 15% rush fee, which is standard in the fastener industry.
Another factor that affects price is finish. Most hollow rivets come with a plain, natural finish, but if you need them coated for extra corrosion resistance or a specific color, that adds cost. Zinc plating is the most common finish for carbon steel rivets, adding $0.005 to $0.01 per piece for bulk orders. For stainless steel, passivation (a process that cleans the surface to improve corrosion resistance) adds a small premium, while custom powder coating for visible assemblies can run $0.02 to $0.05 per piece. I often work with clients on projects where color matching is important—like automotive interior trim or commercial signage—and I can source custom coated rivets at a fair rate, as long as the order is large enough to justify the coating setup.
Now, let’s talk about the mistakes I see buyers making that throw off their hollow rivet budgets. First, underbuying based on price alone. Last year, a small appliance manufacturer came to me with a quote from a supplier for $0.01 per piece carbon steel rivets. They ordered 100,000 rivets, and within six months, 15% of the joints had rusted, causing the appliance panels to warp. The total cost of replacing the rivets, repairing the panels, and handling warranty claims was $12,000—way more than they saved on the initial $1,000 difference between the cheap carbon steel and $0.025 304 stainless steel rivets I offered. That’s a classic case of choosing the lowest upfront cost over long-term value.
The second mistake is not accounting for installation costs, which are often tied to rivet choice. Some hollow rivets are designed for hand installation, which is cheap, but high-strength stainless steel rivets for heavy applications might require a pneumatic rivet tool, which costs hundreds of dollars to rent or buy. I always mention this to buyers when I quote them—if they need a high-tensile strength rivet, I’ll note whether they need a tool, and I can even recommend affordable tools or installers if they don’t want to invest in equipment. A lot of buyers don’t realize that the rivet cost is just part of the total project cost, and a $0.05 per piece rivet that takes 10 seconds to install by hand might be cheaper overall than a $0.01 per piece rivet that takes a minute with a power tool.
The third mistake is not asking about minimum order quantities (MOQs). A lot of small buyers think they need to order thousands of rivets, but most suppliers (including me) have flexible MOQs for custom or small-batch orders. I regularly fill orders for 50 to 100 rivets for hobbyists, prototype shops, and small artisans, without hiding the premium for small quantities. I also offer sample packs—usually a mix of common sizes and materials—for $5 to $10, so buyers can test rivets on their project before placing a large order. That’s a service I’m proud of, because I don’t want customers wasting money on rivets that don’t work for their application.
If you’re in the market for hollow rivets, how do you get a fair price that fits your project? First, gather all the details upfront: what material do you need, what size (diameter and length), what finish, how many do you need, and how quickly do you need them? The more specific you are, the more accurate the quote I can give you. For example, instead of saying “I need hollow rivets,” tell me “I need 5,000 1/8-inch diameter x 1/4-inch long 304 stainless steel hollow rivets with a plain finish for an indoor appliance project, delivery in 2 weeks.” That lets me give you a precise price, no hidden fees.
Also, don’t be afraid to negotiate, especially for large orders. I work with a lot of manufacturing firms that order 100,000+ rivets a month, and I’m happy to adjust pricing for repeat business or long-term contracts. But be reasonable—suppliers have to cover material and labor costs, so don’t ask for a 50% discount on bulk orders unless you’re placing enough business to justify that. For small orders, transparency is key: I’ll tell you exactly why a small order costs more than a bulk order, so you know you’re not paying for markup, just for the manufacturing and logistics of a smaller run.
As a supplier, my goal isn’t just to sell you hollow rivets—it’s to make sure you get the right rivets for your project at a price that makes sense. I’ve seen too many projects fail because of cheap, mismatched rivets, and that’s something I want to help you avoid. Whether you’re a hobbyist building a custom guitar, a small business making kitchenware, or a large aerospace firm sourcing components for a satellite, I can provide you with high-quality hollow rivets at a fair price, no hidden costs, and no fine print.
If you’re ready to get a quote for your hollow rivet order, don’t hesitate to reach out to discuss your project details. I’m here to answer any questions you have, help you choose the right material and size for your needs, and provide a transparent quote that fits your budget. Let’s work together to make sure your joints are strong, reliable, and cost-effective, from the first rivet to the last.
Solid Rivet References
- Industrial Fasteners Institute. (2022). Hollow Rivet Design and Application Standards. IFI Publications.
- Stainless Steel Fabricators Association. (2021). Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel Fasteners in Common Environments. SSFA Technical Bulletin.
- Automotive Industry Action Group. (2020). Cost-Benefit Analysis of Fastener Selection for Automotive Interior Assemblies. AIAG Supply Chain Guidelines.
- National Association of Hardware Distributors. (2023). 2023 Fastener Pricing and Bulk Discount Benchmark Report. NAHB Research Center.
Wenzhou Liao Fasteners Co., Ltd.
As one of the most professional hollow rivets manufacturers and suppliers in China, we also support customized service. Welcome to wholesale high quality hollow rivets in stock here from our factory. If you have any enquiry about cooperation, please feel free to email us.
Address: No.93 Liaodong Road, Liao Subdistrict, Ouhai District, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China
E-mail: zhengyue1687@163.com
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