Circlip size chart: retaining rings for shafts and bores and E-clips
External circlips for shafts, internal circlips for bores and E-clips that push onto a shaft from the side. The chart puts the shaft and bore circlips side by side with their grooves; each type has its own page with the full table and a CAD file for every size.
Circlip types: external, internal and E-clip
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DIN 471 retaining ring for shaftsExternal circlip for shafts, regular series, for shaft diameters from 3 to 100 mm. -
DIN 472 retaining ring for boresInternal circlip for bores, regular series, for bore diameters from 8 to 100 mm. -
DIN 6799 E-clip (retaining washer for shafts)Retaining washer for shafts, pushed into the groove from the side.
Circlip size chart for shafts and bores
The size of a circlip is the diameter of the shaft or bore it fits. For each size the chart gives the ring thickness (s), the groove diameter (d2), the groove width (m) and the diameter of the ring before fitting (d3). Shaft circlips are smaller than the shaft when free and bore circlips larger than the bore, which is what holds them in the groove.
| Shaft or bore | Shaft ring sDIN 471, mm | Shaft groove d2DIN 471, mm | Shaft groove mDIN 471, mm | Shaft ring d3free, DIN 471, mm | Bore ring sDIN 472, mm | Bore groove d2DIN 472, mm | Bore groove mDIN 472, mm | Bore ring d3free, DIN 472, mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 2.7 | – | – | – | – |
| 4 | 0.4 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 3.7 | – | – | – | – |
| 5 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 4.7 | – | – | – | – |
| 6 | 0.7 | 5.7 | 0.8 | 5.6 | – | – | – | – |
| 7 | 0.8 | 6.7 | 0.9 | 6.5 | – | – | – | – |
| 8 | 0.8 | 7.6 | 0.9 | 7.4 | 0.8 | 8.4 | 0.9 | 8.7 |
| 9 | 1 | 8.6 | 1.1 | 8.4 | 0.8 | 9.4 | 0.9 | 9.8 |
| 10 | 1 | 9.6 | 1.1 | 9.3 | 1 | 10.4 | 1.1 | 10.8 |
| 11 | 1 | 10.5 | 1.1 | 10.2 | 1 | 11.4 | 1.1 | 11.8 |
| 12 | 1 | 11.5 | 1.1 | 11 | 1 | 12.5 | 1.1 | 13 |
| 13 | 1 | 12.4 | 1.1 | 11.9 | 1 | 13.6 | 1.1 | 14.1 |
| 14 | 1 | 13.4 | 1.1 | 12.9 | 1 | 14.6 | 1.1 | 15.1 |
| 15 | 1 | 14.3 | 1.1 | 13.8 | 1 | 15.7 | 1.1 | 16.2 |
| 16 | 1 | 15.2 | 1.1 | 14.7 | 1 | 16.8 | 1.1 | 17.3 |
| 17 | 1 | 16.2 | 1.1 | 15.7 | 1 | 17.8 | 1.1 | 18.3 |
| 18 | 1.2 | 17 | 1.3 | 16.5 | 1 | 19 | 1.1 | 19.5 |
| 19 | 1.2 | 18 | 1.3 | 17.5 | 1 | 20 | 1.1 | 20.5 |
| 20 | 1.2 | 19 | 1.3 | 18.5 | 1 | 21 | 1.1 | 21.5 |
| 21 | 1.2 | 20 | 1.3 | 19.5 | 1 | 22 | 1.1 | 22.5 |
| 22 | 1.2 | 21 | 1.3 | 20.5 | 1 | 23 | 1.1 | 23.5 |
| 24 | 1.2 | 22.9 | 1.3 | 22.2 | 1.2 | 25.2 | 1.3 | 25.9 |
| 25 | 1.2 | 23.9 | 1.3 | 23.2 | 1.2 | 26.2 | 1.3 | 26.9 |
| 26 | 1.2 | 24.9 | 1.3 | 24.2 | 1.2 | 27.2 | 1.3 | 27.9 |
| 28 | 1.5 | 26.6 | 1.6 | 25.9 | 1.2 | 29.4 | 1.3 | 30.1 |
| 29 | 1.5 | 27.6 | 1.6 | 26.9 | – | – | – | – |
| 30 | 1.5 | 28.6 | 1.6 | 27.9 | 1.2 | 31.4 | 1.3 | 32.1 |
| 31 | – | – | – | – | 1.2 | 32.7 | 1.3 | 33.4 |
| 32 | 1.5 | 30.3 | 1.6 | 29.6 | 1.2 | 33.7 | 1.3 | 34.4 |
| 34 | 1.5 | 32.3 | 1.6 | 31.5 | 1.5 | 35.7 | 1.6 | 36.5 |
| 35 | 1.5 | 33 | 1.6 | 32.2 | 1.5 | 37 | 1.6 | 37.8 |
| 36 | 1.75 | 34 | 1.85 | 33.2 | 1.5 | 38 | 1.6 | 38.8 |
| 37 | – | – | – | – | 1.5 | 39 | 1.6 | 39.8 |
| 38 | 1.75 | 36 | 1.85 | 35.2 | 1.5 | 40 | 1.6 | 40.8 |
| 40 | 1.75 | 37.5 | 1.85 | 36.5 | 1.75 | 42.5 | 1.85 | 43.5 |
| 42 | 1.75 | 39.5 | 1.85 | 38.5 | 1.75 | 44.5 | 1.85 | 45.5 |
| 45 | 1.75 | 42.5 | 1.85 | 41.5 | 1.75 | 47.5 | 1.85 | 48.5 |
| 47 | – | – | – | – | 1.75 | 49.5 | 1.85 | 50.5 |
| 48 | 1.75 | 45.5 | 1.85 | 44.5 | 1.75 | 50.5 | 1.85 | 51.5 |
| 50 | 2 | 47 | 2.15 | 45.8 | 2 | 53 | 2.15 | 54.2 |
| 52 | 2 | 49 | 2.15 | 47.8 | 2 | 55 | 2.15 | 56.2 |
| 55 | 2 | 52 | 2.15 | 50.8 | 2 | 58 | 2.15 | 59.2 |
| 56 | 2 | 53 | 2.15 | 51.8 | 2 | 59 | 2.15 | 60.2 |
| 58 | 2 | 55 | 2.15 | 53.8 | 2 | 61 | 2.15 | 62.2 |
| 60 | 2 | 57 | 2.15 | 55.8 | 2 | 63 | 2.15 | 64.2 |
| 62 | 2 | 59 | 2.15 | 57.8 | 2 | 65 | 2.15 | 66.2 |
| 63 | 2 | 60 | 2.15 | 58.8 | 2 | 66 | 2.15 | 67.2 |
| 65 | 2.5 | 62 | 2.65 | 60.8 | 2.5 | 68 | 2.65 | 69.2 |
| 68 | 2.5 | 65 | 2.65 | 63.5 | 2.5 | 71 | 2.65 | 72.5 |
| 70 | 2.5 | 67 | 2.65 | 65.5 | 2.5 | 73 | 2.65 | 74.5 |
| 72 | 2.5 | 69 | 2.65 | 67.5 | 2.5 | 75 | 2.65 | 76.5 |
| 75 | 2.5 | 72 | 2.65 | 70.5 | 2.5 | 78 | 2.65 | 79.5 |
| 78 | 2.5 | 75 | 2.65 | 73.5 | 2.5 | 81 | 2.65 | 82.5 |
| 80 | 2.5 | 76.5 | 2.65 | 74.5 | 2.5 | 83.5 | 2.65 | 85.5 |
| 82 | 2.5 | 78.5 | 2.65 | 76.5 | 2.5 | 85.5 | 2.65 | 87.5 |
| 85 | 3 | 81.5 | 3.15 | 79.5 | 3 | 88.5 | 3.15 | 90.5 |
| 88 | 3 | 84.5 | 3.15 | 82.5 | 3 | 91.5 | 3.15 | 93.5 |
| 90 | 3 | 86.5 | 3.15 | 84.5 | 3 | 93.5 | 3.15 | 95.5 |
| 92 | 3 | 88.5 | 3.15 | 86.5 | 3 | 95.5 | 3.15 | 97.5 |
| 95 | 3 | 91.5 | 3.15 | 89.5 | 3 | 98.5 | 3.15 | 100.5 |
| 98 | – | – | – | – | 3 | 101.5 | 3.15 | 103.5 |
| 100 | 3 | 96.5 | 3.15 | 94.5 | 3 | 103.5 | 3.15 | 105.5 |
A dash means that size is not in the standard. E-clips are sized differently and are not in this chart: see the DIN 6799 page.
Circlip groove dimensions
A circlip is only as secure as its groove. On a shaft the groove diameter d2 is below the shaft diameter, and in a bore it is above the bore. The groove width m is slightly wider than the ring, so the ring can sit flat, and the distance n from the groove to the end of the shaft or bore is the minimum material that has to be left so the edge does not shear off under load.
The groove values in the chart are those of the standard for each size. The DXF and DWG files show the ring only; the groove is drawn in your part.
How to choose and measure a circlip
Measure the shaft or the bore, not the ring: a 20 mm shaft takes a 20 mm shaft circlip, a 52 mm bore a 52 mm bore circlip. If you only have the old ring, it will have relaxed or been bent, so its diameter is not a reliable guide. Its thickness is, and together with the groove diameter it is enough to identify the size in the chart.
An E-clip is the alternative where there is no access to the shaft end: it pushes on from the side. Its size is the groove diameter, not the shaft, so an E-clip size 6 sits in a 6 mm groove on a shaft of 7 to 9 mm.
Circlip sizes: common questions
- What are the dimensions of a 52 mm internal circlip?
- A DIN 472 circlip for a 52 mm bore is 2 mm thick and measures 56.2 mm across before fitting. It sits in a groove of 55 mm diameter and 2.15 mm width.
- What is the difference between a circlip and a snap ring?
- The names overlap. In Europe a circlip usually means the DIN 471 and DIN 472 rings with lugs and holes for circlip pliers. Snap ring is the more common name in the US and is often used for any spring retaining ring, including wire rings without lugs.
- How do I measure an internal circlip?
- Measure the bore it goes in. The ring itself is larger than the bore when free, by more than 4 mm at 52 mm, and closes when it is squeezed in with pliers.