Washers are made from a variety of materials, the most popular of which are galvanized carbon steel and stainless steel. Carbon steel is stronger than stainless steel, but stainless steel will not rust or corrode like carbon steel can. Other metal washers include zinc, copper, brass and iron. You can also find specialty washers, such as plastic washers, rubber washers, ceramic washers and phenolic washers. 

There are three main types of washers: plain washers, spring washers and lock washers. Within each of these categories are more specialized forms that serve unique purposes. 

Tip: Washers (as well as nuts) are sized in both U.S. and metric measurements. 

Also called flat washers, plain washers are the most common type of washers. They distribute pressure and protect the object to which the screw or nut is fastened. If a hole is too big for the fastener, a plain washer can be used to correct the size difference. 

FLAT WASHER: 

• Description: Also known as Type A plain washers, the flat washer is what most people picture when thinking of a typical washer. They are circular and flat, of varying thicknesses, with a central hole to accommodate a bolt. 
• Application: Used to distribute force or correct a hole size. Good for general use. 
   

FENDER WASHER: 

• Description: Named for their common use on car fenders, fender washers are flat washers with a small hole and comparatively large outside diameter. 
• Application: Used to distribute force over a large surface area—usually thin metal. 
   

TORQUE WASHER: 

• Description: A torque washer has a square hole and outer prongs that prevent its accompanying bolt from spinning while a fastening a nut. 
• Application: Used with a carriage bolt for woodworking projects. 
   

C-WASHER: 

• Description: A C-washer resembles a flat washer, but it has a slot cut from the center hole to form a “C” shape. 
• Application: Used any time a washer might need to be removed, adjusted or replaced without removing the fastener. 
   

FINISHING WASHER: 

• Description: Also known as a countersunk washer, a finishing washer has a sunken top designed to catch the fastener. 
• Application: Creates a flush surface when secured with countersunk screws. 

Spring washers have axial flexibility that allows them to move with vibrations and thus prevent unfastening or loosening due to those vibrations. They increase the elastic properties of a joint. 

BELLEVILLE WASHER: 

• Description: A belleville washer, sometimes called a conical spring washer, has beveled sides that support heavy force with small deflections. 
• Application: Used for projects that involve thermal expansion. 

CRESCENT SPRING WASHER: 

• Description: Also called curved spring washers, crescent washers look like flat washers that have been slightly curved to exert light pressure and maintain flexibility. 
• Application: Used to absorb movement. 
   

DOME SPRING WASHER: 

• Description: Dome spring washers are similar in appearance to a belleville washer but with rounded sides. 
• Application: Used wherever you would use a crescent spring washer but also need to create a flatter surface. 
   

FINGER SPRING WASHER: 

• Description: Finger spring washers have three curved flanges. 
• Application: Used for dampening vibrations and noise. 
   

WAVE SPRING WASHER: 

• Description: Wave spring washers are curved in two directions, creating a wave-like shape. 
• Application: Used most often as cushions or spacers. 

Lock washers secure fasteners that might otherwise rotate or lose friction. 

SPLIT LOCK WASHER: 

• Description: Sometimes called helical washers, split lock washers are non-continuous rings that have each end bent slightly outward in opposite directions. Split lock washers flatten when secured, with each end digging into the mating surfaces. 
• Application: Used to lock a fastener into place. 
   

EXTERNAL TOOTH LOCK WASHER: 

• Description: An external tooth lock washer has several teeth on the outside diameter that bite into one surface and resist compression. 
• Application: Used to lock wide-headed fasteners into place. 
   

INTERNAL TOOTH LOCK WASHER: 

• Description: An internal tooth lock washer has several teeth on the inside diameter that bite into the fastener. 
• Application: Used to lock shallow-headed fasteners into place and absorb shock and vibrations.