--- title: "What Are Serrated Lock Washers Used For?" description: "Serrated Lock Washers (DIN 6798) are used for load distribution and anti-loosening under a bolt or nut. Catalogued M3 to M20." url: https://engineeringhardware.com/applications/serrated-lock-washers/ source: Engineering Hardware & Fasteners --- # What Are Serrated Lock Washers Used For? Washers · DIN 6798 · Application guide Typical applications, the industries that specify serrated lock washers, and how to choose the right size, material and finish for the joint. Serrated Lock Washers are used for load distribution and anti-loosening under a bolt or nut. They are manufactured to DIN 6798, and selection is driven by the nominal bolt size, the fit and tolerance the assembly requires, and the service environment. - **Primary duty:** Load distribution and anti-loosening under a bolt or nut - **Governing standard:** DIN 6798 - **Nominal bolt size range:** M3 to M20 - **Category:** Washers Application notes are general engineering guidance. Verify the property class and any approval requirement against your own design calculation. ![What Are Serrated Lock Washers Used For? application image](https://engineeringhardware.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Serrated-Lock-Washers-—-DIN-6798.webp) The primary duty of Serrated Lock Washers is load distribution and anti-loosening under a bolt or nut. 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 M3 to M20, they cover general to heavy-duty work. ## Typical Applications for Serrated Lock Washers The most common settings where these are specified: - **Timber & soft materials:** large-OD types that prevent pull-through. - **General machine building:** fastening covers, brackets, motors and sub-assemblies on production equipment. - **Maintenance & repair (MRO):** a stocked size for servicing existing plant where the original fastener spec must be matched. - **Fabrication & metalwork:** bench and on-site assembly of steel frames, enclosures and weldments. - **Bolted structural joints:** spreading load over soft or oversized holes and protecting the surface. ## How to Specify Serrated Lock Washers for Your Application - **Size:** Match the nominal size to the mating thread or hole. This product spans M3–M20; check the full table below for the exact dimensions of each size. - **Type & OD:** Select flat for load spreading, spring/serrated for anti-loosening, or fender/large-OD for soft or oversized holes. - **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 DIN 6798. Quoting the standard on your order guarantees interchangeable dimensions between suppliers. ## Installation & Assembly Practice - Place the washer under the rotating element (usually the nut) so tightening does not score the surface. - Chamfered-hole side of a hardened washer faces the bolt head fillet. - On serrated-flange hardware, do not add a plain washer — it defeats the serrations. ## Common Selection Mistakes with Serrated Lock Washers - Relying on a spring washer for locking on class 8.8+ joints — at high preload it flattens and adds nothing. - Choosing an OD too small for soft material, so the head pulls through or embeds. ## Where Serrated Lock Washers Are Not the Right Choice A washer does not replace a locking feature on its own in severe vibration, and a spring washer adds little clamp on high-strength joints. Custom manufacturing · Made to drawing ## Need a serrated lock washers outside the standard range? Bearing area is usually the reason for a special washer: a larger outside diameter to spread load into a softer material, or a thicker section to resist dishing. Made by stamping or punching. Minimum order from 2,000 pieces; samples within 7 days of drawing approval. [Custom washer manufacturing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/washers/)[Send a drawing](https://engineeringhardware.com/custom/washers/#rfq) ## Technical Drawing Dimensioned line drawing of M3 Serrated Lock Washers to DIN 6798. Side view and top view, drawn to the dimensions in the table below and redrawn for any size selected. - **Inner diameter d1 (mm):** 3.2 - **Outer diameter d2 (mm):** 6.0 - **Thickness h (mm):** 0.5 - **Type:** Internal-tooth type A ## Dimensions & Specifications (DIN 6798) | For size | Inner diameter d1 (mm) | Outer diameter d2 (mm) | Thickness h (mm) | Type | Reference standard | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | M3 | 3.2 | 6.0 | 0.5 | Internal-tooth type A | DIN 6798 A/J | | M4 | 4.3 | 7.6 | 0.5 | Internal-tooth type A | DIN 6798 A/J | | M5 | 5.3 | 9.2 | 0.6 | Internal-tooth type A | DIN 6798 A/J | | M6 | 6.4 | 11.0 | 0.7 | Internal-tooth type A | DIN 6798 A/J | | M8 | 8.4 | 14.8 | 0.8 | Internal-tooth type A | DIN 6798 A/J | | M10 | 10.5 | 18.0 | 0.9 | Internal-tooth type A | DIN 6798 A/J | | M12 | 13.0 | 21.5 | 1.0 | Internal-tooth type A | DIN 6798 A/J | | M16 | 17.0 | 27.0 | 1.2 | Internal-tooth type A | DIN 6798 A/J | | M20 | 21.0 | 33.0 | 1.5 | Internal-tooth type A | DIN 6798 A/J | | M3 | 3.2 | 7.0 | 0.5 | External-tooth type J | DIN 6798 A/J | | M4 | 4.3 | 9.0 | 0.5 | External-tooth type J | DIN 6798 A/J | | M5 | 5.3 | 10.0 | 0.6 | External-tooth type J | DIN 6798 A/J | | M6 | 6.4 | 12.0 | 0.7 | External-tooth type J | DIN 6798 A/J | | M8 | 8.4 | 15.0 | 0.8 | External-tooth type J | DIN 6798 A/J | | M10 | 10.5 | 19.0 | 0.9 | External-tooth type J | DIN 6798 A/J | | M12 | 13.0 | 22.0 | 1.0 | External-tooth type J | DIN 6798 A/J | | M16 | 17.0 | 28.0 | 1.2 | External-tooth type J | DIN 6798 A/J | | M20 | 21.0 | 34.0 | 1.5 | External-tooth type J | DIN 6798 A/J | 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 ### Are Serrated Lock Washers made to a recognized standard? Yes — they are manufactured to DIN 6798, so dimensions are interchangeable between suppliers when you quote the standard on your order. ### What are Serrated Lock Washers used for? Load distribution and anti-loosening under a bolt or nut. They are supplied to DIN 6798. ### Which industries use Serrated Lock Washers? They are commonly specified in bolted structural joints, vibration applications and timber & soft materials, among other sectors. ### How do I choose the right size of Serrated Lock Washers? Match the nominal size to the mating thread or hole. This product is available from M3 to M20; the full dimension table on this page lists each size. ### Can I get a quote for Serrated Lock Washers 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: [Serrated Lock Washers — specifications & sizes](https://engineeringhardware.com/fastener/serrated-lock-washers/) ### Serrated Lock Washers Specification Guides ### Related Fastener Applications