Walk into any haberdashery or hardware supplier and you will encounter eyelets, grommets, and rivets displayed side by side, often with confusingly similar appearances. Yet these three types of metal fastener serve fundamentally different purposes. Choosing the wrong one for your project can result in failure under load, an unsatisfactory finish, or a fitting that simply does not work as intended. This guide clarifies each type and gives you a clear decision framework.
What is a grommet (large eyelet)?
A grommet — also called a large eyelet or, in the context of curtains, a curtain eyelet — is a two-piece metal ring designed to reinforce a hole in a material and allow a rod, cord, hook, or rope to pass cleanly through it. The two pieces (a front ring and a back washer) are pressed together through the hole and crimped to lock in place.
Key characteristics:
- Creates and maintains an open passage through the material
- Interior diameter typically 10 mm to 40 mm (some industrial sizes go larger)
- Two-piece construction (ring + washer)
- Primary applications: curtains, awnings, tarpaulins, sail covers, event banners
What is a small eyelet (garment eyelet)?
Small eyelets — sometimes called press eyelets, shoe eyelets, or garment eyelets — work on exactly the same two-piece principle as grommets but are produced in much smaller sizes. They are the rings you find in the lace holes of shoes, the ventilation holes of caps, the drawstring channels of bags, and the decorative perforations of leather belts.
Key characteristics:
- Creates an open hole, but sized for laces, cords, or small hooks rather than curtain rods
- Interior diameter typically 4 mm to 12 mm
- Two-piece construction (ring + washer), usually fitted with small hand pliers
- Primary applications: footwear, fashion accessories, leather goods, luggage, caps
What is a rivet?
A rivet is a two-piece metal fastener — a male cap and a female base — that permanently joins two or more layers of material together. Unlike eyelets and grommets, a rivet does not create an open passage. The tube of the male piece passes through a hole in the material, but when the two pieces are crimped together they fill the hole completely, bonding the layers firmly. The primary function of a rivet is mechanical joining strength, not hole reinforcement or cord passage.
Key characteristics:
- Joins materials together permanently — does not create an open hole
- High tensile and shear strength
- Two-piece construction (male cap + female base)
- Primary applications: leather goods (belts, bags, saddlery), denim jeans, footwear, upholstery, metal-to-fabric joining
Comparison table
| Property | Grommet / curtain eyelet | Small eyelet | Rivet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Reinforce hole, allow rod/cord passage | Reinforce small hole, thread lace/cord | Join layers of material |
| Creates open hole? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Typical interior diameter | 10–40 mm | 4–12 mm | N/A (solid join) |
| Number of pieces | 2 (ring + washer) | 2 (ring + washer) | 2 (male + female) |
| Mechanical strength | Medium (load distributed by flange) | Low to medium | High (tensile and shear) |
| Star application | Curtains, awnings, tarpaulins | Shoes, bags, caps | Leather belts, denim, saddlery |
Decision guide: which do I need?
Hanging a curtain or tensioning an awning?
Use a grommet / curtain eyelet. You need an open ring large enough for the curtain rod or tensioning hook to pass through freely. Select the interior diameter based on your rod diameter (see our complete curtain eyelet guide).
Threading a lace or drawstring through a shoe, bag, or garment?
Use a small eyelet. The opening needs to be just large enough for the lace or cord, and the smaller flange of a garment eyelet fits neatly within the material without distorting it.
Joining two pieces of leather, or reinforcing a stress point on a bag or belt?
Use a rivet. You want maximum mechanical strength with no open hole — the rivet bonds the layers together and the capped head distributes the load over a wider area than a stitch alone.
Industria Acosta Pramon S.A. manufactures all three types: large curtain eyelets and grommets in brass, stainless steel, and aluminium; small garment eyelets in a full range of finishes; and rivets for leather goods and industrial applications. Contact us if you need help identifying the right product for your specific application.