Washers

Washers

Washers are small but essential parts that sit under bolt heads and nuts to spread load, cushion surfaces and keep fasteners where they belong over time. No matter what your project looks like, the range of washers at Tractor Supply is here to help with different styles, sizes and strength ratings.

Built to Spread Load and Hold Tight

Material is an important factor when it comes to picking a washer. Steel is the most common choice and handles general construction, plumbing and equipment repairs without issue. Carbon steel is harder than standard steel due to heat treatment, which makes it a better choice for high-strength bolts in structural or heavy-equipment work. Neoprene is different from both — it's a synthetic rubber that deforms slightly under pressure to seal against the surface. It's standard in roofing, outdoor decking and plumbing connections where moisture or vibration would eventually work through a rigid metal joint.

Before you pick the washer for your next project, ensure that what you're purchasing uses the same measurement standard as your current tools. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) is the inch-based system used across most hardware in the United States. Metric uses millimeters and an M prefix, such as M8 or M10. Neither system translates directly to the other, so the washer and bolt need to match on the same standard for the fit to be accurate.

Flat and Broad Washers for High-Contact Coverage

Flat washers are thin, flat discs that go under a bolt head or nut to spread that clamping force over a wider area, which stops hardware from sinking into or tearing through the material below. Fender washers are built on the same principle but have a much larger outer diameter relative to their center hole, which spreads clamping force over a bigger area of the surface. That extra reach is useful on sheet metal, thin panels and anywhere the fastener sits close to a material edge.

Recessed Washers for Visible Hardware

When a screw lands somewhere visible, finishing washers clean up how it looks. Each one has a shallow cone in the center that the flat screw head drops into, so the hardware ends up flush with the surface instead of raised above it. Nickel-plated versions suit interior wood projects, cabinets and trim, and stainless steel holds up outdoors without corroding or staining the surrounding material.

Lock Washers for a Secure Grip

Vibration and repeated movement are hard on threaded connections because they push a nut or bolt to rotate slightly until it backs out. Lock washers address that by creating friction at the contact points that resists rotation under load. Split lock washers have a gap cut through the ring with the ends offset at a slight angle — tightening the nut compresses those ends against both metal faces, locking the position. Toothed lock washers take a different approach, using serrated edges at the inner or outer rim to dig into both surfaces at once.

Stock Up on Washers at Tractor Supply

Washers are a small piece of most jobs, but they do real work protecting surfaces, distributing load and keeping connections from failing. Our hardware lineup features a handful of washer types, with materials and finishes to suit the task at hand. Browse washers on our website or swing by your local Tractor Supply store.