How do I choose the right rivet length?
The total thickness of the layers you're joining decides — add to it the shank overhang needed for spreading:
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Thinner materials — a shank 1–2 mm longer than the material thickness.
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Thicker materials — a shank 2–3 mm longer.
The shank length is listed for every rivet in the dimensions table as dimension B — the full range is in the Rivets & Screws category.
The hole diameter differs by material. For leather, choose a punch slightly smaller than the shank diameter — leather is elastic and grips the shank tightly. For waterproof webbing, choose a punch that matches the shank exactly; the webbing doesn't stretch, so the shank has to pass through without being forced.
A shank that's too long shows up as a rivet that deforms while spreading, or caps that don't line up.
