---
title: "What Are Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws Used For?"
description: "Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws (Trade series (panel captive screws)) are used for retaining a screw in a thin panel by pressing or flaring the ferrule…"
url: https://engineeringhardware.com/applications/press-in-and-flare-in-captive-screws/
source: Engineering Hardware & Fasteners
---

# What Are Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws Used For?

Rivets · Trade series (panel captive screws) · Application guide

Typical applications, the industries that specify press-in and flare-in captive screws, and how to choose the right size, material and finish for the joint.

Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws are used for retaining a screw in a thin panel by pressing or flaring the ferrule into the prepared hole. They are manufactured to Trade series (panel captive screws), and selection is driven by the screw size, the fit and tolerance the assembly requires, and the service environment.

- **Primary duty:** Retaining a screw in a thin panel by pressing or flaring the ferrule into the prepared hole
- **Governing standard:** Trade series (panel captive screws)
- **Screw size range:** M3 or 4-40 to M6 or 1/4-20
- **Category:** Rivets

Application notes are general engineering guidance. Verify the property class and any approval requirement against your own design calculation.

![What Are Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws Used For? application image](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Southco-47-Press-In-and-Flare-In-Captive-Screws.webp)

The primary duty of Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws is retaining a screw in a thin panel by pressing or flaring the ferrule into the prepared hole. Below: the sectors that specify them in volume, the checklist used to select the right size and material for the application, installation notes, and the known limits of the type. Stocked across roughly 3 to 6, they cover light-duty and instrument-scale work.

## Typical Applications for Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws

The most common settings where these are specified:

- **Sheet-metal enclosures:** Captive screws stay with removable covers after press-in installation.
- **Rack equipment:** Service panels open without loose hardware falling into the cabinet.
- **Vehicle bodywork:** Press-in and flare-in forms suit formed sheet panels.
- **Industrial guards:** Steel and stainless options support repeated access.

Product catalog

## Related Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws products

[![Socket Head Cap Panel Half Thread Captive Screw](https://img.engineeringhardware.com/Socket-Head-Cap-Panel-Half-Thread-Captive-Screw.webp)](https://engineeringhardware.com/product/socket-head-cap-panel-half-thread-captive-screw/)

Quarter-Turn, Captive & Panel Fasteners

### [Socket Head Cap Panel Half Thread Captive Screw](https://engineeringhardware.com/product/socket-head-cap-panel-half-thread-captive-screw/)

Cheese Head · ANSI, DIN, GB, JIS, ISO

**US$0.012 – 0.12**MOQ 1,000 pieces

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### [Captive Screw Square Aviation Connector for Secure Mount.](https://engineeringhardware.com/product/captive-screw-square-aviation-connector-for-secure-mount/)

Brass/Phosphorus Copper Gold-Plated · Power, LED, Electrical Equipment

**US$0.96 – 1.20**MOQ 1,000 sets

[![CNC Machined Stainless Steel Socket Cross Screws Captive Screws for Knives Accessories](https://img.engineeringhardware.com/CNC-Machined-Stainless-Steel-Socket-Cross-Screws-Captive-Screws-for-Knives-Accessories.webp)](https://engineeringhardware.com/product/cnc-machined-stainless-steel-socket-cross-screws-captive-screws-for-knives/)

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### [CNC Machined Stainless Steel Socket Cross Screws Captive Screws for Knives Accessories](https://engineeringhardware.com/product/cnc-machined-stainless-steel-socket-cross-screws-captive-screws-for-knives/)

Round Head, Hexagon Cap · DIN, GB, ANSI, BSW, JIS, DIN, GB, ANSI, JIS

**US$0.0144 – 0.12**MOQ 10,000 pieces

[![Long Sandwich Panel Screw Self Drilling Roofing Screws](https://img.engineeringhardware.com/Long-Sandwich-Panel-Screw-Self-Drilling-Roofing-Screws.webp)](https://engineeringhardware.com/product/long-sandwich-panel-screw-self-drilling-roofing-screws/)

Quarter-Turn, Captive & Panel Fasteners

### [Long Sandwich Panel Screw Self Drilling Roofing Screws](https://engineeringhardware.com/product/long-sandwich-panel-screw-self-drilling-roofing-screws/)

Plastc Bucket · Bulk

**US$0.12 – 1.20**MOQ 1,000 pieces

[![Rubber Rivet Well Nuts Consist of a Flanged Neoprene Rubber Sleeve with a Captive Threaded Brass Nut](https://img.engineeringhardware.com/Rubber-Rivet-Well-Nuts-Consist-of-a-Flanged-Neoprene-Rubber-Sleeve-with-a-Captive-Threaded-Brass-Nut.webp)](https://engineeringhardware.com/product/rubber-rivet-well-nuts-consist-of-a-flanged-neoprene-rubber-sleeve-with-a-captive/)

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### [Rubber Rivet Well Nuts Consist of a Flanged Neoprene Rubber Sleeve with a Captive Threaded Brass Nut](https://engineeringhardware.com/product/rubber-rivet-well-nuts-consist-of-a-flanged-neoprene-rubber-sleeve-with-a-captive/)

T Head · DIN, ANSI, GB, JIS, GOST, BSW

**US$0.024 – 0.048**MOQ 200 pieces

[![Self Drilling Solar Panel Screw with White/Black Washer](https://img.engineeringhardware.com/Self-Drilling-Solar-Panel-Screw-with-White-Black-Washer.webp)](https://engineeringhardware.com/product/self-drilling-solar-panel-screw-with-white-black-washer/)

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### [Self Drilling Solar Panel Screw with White/Black Washer](https://engineeringhardware.com/product/self-drilling-solar-panel-screw-with-white-black-washer/)

Hexagon Head · DIN, GB, ANSI, BSW, JIS, GOST

**US$1,200 – 1,800**MOQ 1 ton

[View all Quarter-Turn, Captive & Panel Fasteners →](https://engineeringhardware.com/fastener-products/specialty-fasteners/quarter-turn-captive-panel-fasteners/) [Full product catalog](https://engineeringhardware.com/products/)

## How to Specify Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws for Your Application

- **Size:** Match the nominal size to the mating thread or hole. This product spans 3–6; check the full table below for the exact dimensions of each size.
- **Material:** Choose the material and finish for the service environment — plated steel for general use, stainless for corrosion resistance.
- **Environment:** For damp, coastal or chemical exposure prefer A4/316 stainless or a suitable coating; indoors, plated steel or A2 is usually sufficient.
- **Standard:** This product is supplied to Trade series (panel captive screws). Quoting the standard on your order guarantees interchangeable dimensions between suppliers.

## Installation & Assembly Practice

- Drill the hole 0.1 mm over the nominal rivet diameter and deburr both sides before setting.
- Grip range must match the total joint thickness — a rivet set outside its grip range clamps poorly and works loose.

## Common Selection Mistakes with Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws

- Setting a rivet outside its grip range, which leaves the joint loose from day one.
- Using aluminum rivets on steel sheet outdoors — galvanic corrosion eats the rivet.

## Where Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws Are Not the Right Choice

Not where the joint must later be disassembled, and not for high-tension structural connections.

Custom manufacturing · Made to drawing

## Need a press-in and flare-in captive screws outside the standard range?

Body diameter, grip range, head form and body/mandrel material combination can all be specified against the joint rather than chosen from a table. Made by cold heading or drawing.

Minimum order from 2,000 pieces; samples within 7 days of drawing approval.

[Custom rivet manufacturing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/rivets/)[Send a drawing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/rivets/#rfq)

## Technical Drawing

Dimensioned line drawing of M3 or 4-40 Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws to Trade series (panel captive screws). Side view and top view, drawn to the dimensions in the table below and redrawn for any size selected.

- **Press-in panel hole (mm):** 3.2
- **Press-in ferrule (mm):** 5.6
- **Flare-in ferrule (mm):** 4.8
- **Drive options:** Phillips/slot or Torx/slot
- **Material options:** steel / stainless / aluminum

## Dimensions & Specifications (Trade series (panel captive screws))

| Thread options | Press-in panel hole (mm) | Press-in ferrule (mm) | Flare-in ferrule (mm) | Drive options | Material options |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M3 or 4-40 | 3.2 | 5.6 | 4.8 | Phillips/slot or Torx/slot | steel / stainless / aluminum |
| M3.5 or 6-32 | 3.7 | 6.4 | 5.4 | Phillips/slot or Torx/slot | steel / stainless / aluminum |
| M4 or 8-32 | 4.4 | 8.0 | 6.8 | Phillips/slot or Torx/slot | steel / stainless / aluminum |
| M5 or 10-32 | 5.2 | 8.0 | 6.8 | Phillips/slot or Torx/slot | steel / stainless / aluminum |
| M6 or 1/4-20 | 6.2 | 9.5 | 8.2 | Phillips/slot or Torx/slot | steel / stainless / aluminum |

Inside the plant

## Manufactured in our own plant

This part is cold-formed, threaded, heat-treated and finished in-house. The stages below are where its class and finish are actually decided.

1. ![Wire rod feeding into a cold heading machine](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/09-wire-rod-feed-cold-heading-machine.webp) 01 **Cold heading** Wire rod is drawn to size and cold-formed into blanks. Forming rather than cutting keeps the grain flow continuous around the head, which is where a bolt is most likely to fail. Head dimensions and under-head radius checked at set-up and per shift.
2. ![Thread rolling machine producing bolt threads](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/03-thread-rolling-machine-bolt-production.webp) 02 **Thread rolling** Threads are rolled between hardened dies rather than cut. Rolled threads are stronger in fatigue than cut threads and hold pitch and flank angle far more consistently across a batch. Go / no-go ring gauges to ISO 965 tolerance class 6g.
3. ![Baskets of bolts staged for heat treatment](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/05-heat-treatment-baskets-black-bolts.webp) 03 **Heat treatment** Quench-and-temper brings carbon and alloy steel to the property class ordered — 8.8, 10.9 or 12.9 — with the furnace charge tracked so a finished lot can be traced back to it. Core hardness and tensile tested per lot to ISO 898-1.
4. ![Zinc plated bolts in a treatment basket](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/23-zinc-plated-bolts-treatment-basket.webp) 04 **Surface treatment** Zinc, zinc-nickel, hot-dip galvanizing, black oxide, phosphate and Dacromet, selected against the service environment rather than against the price list. Coating thickness and neutral salt spray hours to ISO 9227.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Which industries use Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws?

They are commonly specified in industrial guards, sheet-metal enclosures and rack equipment, among other sectors.

### How do I choose the right size of Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws?

Match the nominal size to the mating thread or hole. This product is available from 3 to 6; the full dimension table on this page lists each size.

### Can Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws joints be taken apart?

No — rivets form a permanent joint and must be drilled out to remove. Use a bolt or screw where you need to disassemble the joint later.

### What material should Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws be for outdoor use?

For damp, coastal or chemical environments specify A4 (316) stainless or a suitably coated steel. For indoor or dry use, A2 (304) stainless or zinc-plated steel is normally adequate.

### Can I get a quote for Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws in the size and material I need?

Yes. Use the technical drawing and quote form on this page to set the size and options, then send the exact configuration to our team for pricing and lead time.

## Related Pages

Product page: [Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws — specifications & sizes](https://engineeringhardware.com/fastener/press-in-and-flare-in-captive-screws/)

### Press-In and Flare-In Captive Screws Specification Guides

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