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Circlips & Retaining Rings — Quick Reference
Circlips (also called retaining rings in international standards) are specified by the shaft or bore diameter they fit. DIN 471 covers external rings (sit in a shaft groove, retain components ON the shaft). DIN 472 covers internal rings (sit in a bore groove, retain components INSIDE the bore). Groove dimensions must match the ring cross-section — using an undersized groove risks the ring popping out under load.
| Standard | Application | Common Sizes (mm) | Groove Width | Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIN 471 | External (shaft) — external circlip | 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80 | 1.0 - 2.7 mm (per size) | Carbon steel ZP or 304SS |
| DIN 472 | Internal (bore) — internal circlip | 8, 10, 12, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 32, 35, 40, 45, 50, 62, 72, 80 | 1.0 - 2.7 mm (per size) | Carbon steel ZP or 304SS |
| DIN 6799 | E-clip (external, axial mount) — e-clip | 1.2, 1.5, 2, 2.3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 19, 24 | 0.7 - 1.5 mm (per size) | Spring steel |
For installation, use the matching circlip pliers — internal pliers for DIN 472 rings (squeeze to remove from bore), external pliers for DIN 471 rings (squeeze to fit over shaft). See our circlip pliers and the circlip guide for full selection and installation guidance.
Circlips & Retaining Rings — Internal, External and E-Clips
Circlips — known internationally as retaining rings — are precision-engineered snap rings that locate and retain components on shafts or inside bores without threads or welding. AIMS Industrial stocks internal circlips (for bore retention) and external circlips (for shaft retention) in metric and imperial sizes, in carbon steel and 304 stainless steel — from Champion, GJ Works, Ko-Ken, Trax, Finer Power Transmissions, and Work Shop Buddy.
Types of Circlips
External circlips fit into a groove machined on the outside of a shaft. They prevent axial movement of bearings, gears, pulleys and other shaft-mounted components. Internal circlips fit into a groove machined inside a bore or housing. They retain components from within — commonly used with bearings, bushings and pin retention in housings. E-clips (DIN 6799) snap axially onto a shaft groove and provide a fast retention method for light-duty axial fixing.
Materials and Grades
Standard circlips are carbon steel with a zinc or phosphate finish for corrosion protection in general industrial use. Stainless steel circlips (304 grade) are available for food processing, marine, chemical and washdown environments where carbon steel would corrode.
Selecting the Right Circlip
Key selection criteria are shaft or bore diameter, groove dimensions (width and depth), and material. DIN 471 covers external metric circlips; DIN 472 covers internal metric circlips. Imperial circlips follow equivalent ASME/AWS standards. Groove dimensions must match the circlip cross-section — using an undersized groove risks the ring popping out under load.
Assortment Kits
Champion, GJ Works, Trax and Work Shop Buddy all offer circlip assortment kits — a practical solution for maintenance workshops that need a range of sizes on hand without ordering individual sizes. Assortment refill packs are also available to restock standard assortment boxes.
Not sure which circlip suits your application? Contact our team with your shaft or bore diameter and we'll point you to the right ring.
Also see our Circlips collection for additional retaining ring styles and assortment options.
Push-On Retaining Rings (Push-On Fasteners)
Push-on retaining rings (also called push-on fasteners) are a one-way axial retainer pushed onto a plain shaft without requiring a machined groove. Tapered teeth around the inside of the ring bite into the shaft on installation and resist withdrawal — perfect for low-load axial retention on toy axles, instrument shafts, sheet metal fastening and light automation where machining a circlip groove isn't practical. Push-on rings are single-use (the teeth deform on install) and sized by nominal shaft diameter — typically 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm. They're not a substitute for circlips in load-bearing or shock-loaded applications; for those use the DIN 471 external rings in this collection with a properly machined groove. For matching plier installation tools, see circlip pliers.
People Also Ask — Retaining Rings
Q: What's the difference between internal and external retaining rings?
External retaining rings (or external circlips) clip onto the outside of a shaft, sitting in a groove machined around the shaft circumference. Internal retaining rings clip into a groove inside a bore, holding a component against a shoulder from inside the housing. Each requires its own type of plier — internal circlip pliers have outward-spreading jaws, external pliers have inward-closing jaws. Picking the wrong type causes ring damage or installation failure.
Q: Are retaining rings reusable?
Single use is the safe assumption. The act of compressing and expanding a retaining ring with pliers work-hardens the material and can introduce micro-cracks at the lug holes. For low-load assemblies that get serviced often (e.g. inspection access covers) careful reuse is sometimes acceptable, but for safety-critical applications (bearing retention, vehicle suspension, machine guards) always fit new rings.
Q: Which retaining ring style suits high-RPM applications?
Spiral rings (also called Spirolox) or constant-section rings with full 360-degree coverage are preferred for high-RPM work — they have no lug holes to create stress concentration and balance issues at speed. Standard lugged circlips can fly out of their groove under centrifugal load at high RPM. For shaft speeds above several thousand RPM, design with spiral rings or use mechanical retention.
Q: What does the groove dimension need to match the ring?
Groove width, groove depth, and groove diameter are the three critical dimensions. The ring needs to seat fully into the groove with the correct radial coverage — too shallow and the ring can pop out under load, too narrow and the ring can't compress to install. The ring manufacturer publishes the groove specification for each ring size. Don't mix and match between brands without checking the dimensions agree.
Q: What's a snap ring vs a retaining ring vs a circlip?
They're regional terms for the same family of components. 'Circlip' is the British English usage, 'snap ring' is North American, 'retaining ring' is the international engineering term. All refer to the spring-steel ring that fits into a groove to retain or locate a component. Regional spec sheets may use any of these terms — when ordering, focus on the dimensions and the internal/external orientation rather than the name.
Q: What material grade should I choose for corrosive environments?
For food processing, marine, chemical washdown or outdoor exposure, choose 304 stainless steel circlips. For seawater immersion or aggressive chemical exposure, 316 stainless is preferred but less commonly stocked — contact us if you need 316 grade. Standard zinc-plated carbon steel is fine for indoor industrial environments but will rust in humid or corrosive service.
Q: How do I identify the right circlip size for a used shaft or bore?
Measure the shaft diameter (for external circlips) or the bore diameter (for internal circlips) with a vernier or micrometer. The circlip fits the SHAFT/BORE nominal diameter, not the groove diameter — the groove sits below shaft OD or above bore ID by a specific depth per the standard. If in doubt, measure both the shaft/bore AND the existing groove width, and send those to us — we can identify the correct DIN 471 or DIN 472 size from the two dimensions.
Q: Can I use regular pliers to fit circlips, or do I need dedicated circlip pliers?
Use dedicated circlip pliers. Regular pliers won't fit into the two small lug holes on a circlip and applying random pressure risks bending the ring, snapping the lugs, or launching the ring across the workshop. Circlip pliers have precisely-sized tips that fit the lug holes and controlled spreading action. Internal circlip pliers open outward when squeezed; external pliers close inward. See circlip pliers for the matching tool.
Q: Are there axial load limits for retaining rings?
Yes. Every retaining ring has a static axial load capacity published by the manufacturer. Standard DIN 471/472 rings are rated for the load the ring itself can transmit before deforming — but the groove edge material is usually the limiting factor. In practice, the groove-edge shear strength of the housing material limits the axial load, not the ring. For high-axial-load applications, use a heavier ring style (heavy-duty inverted lug rings) or design with a shoulder / snap ring combination.
Q: What causes retaining rings to fail in service?
Common failure modes: (1) wrong groove dimensions (too shallow, too wide) — ring pops out under load; (2) reuse of a work-hardened ring — cracks propagate and ring shatters; (3) high-RPM operation with lugged rings — centrifugal force ejects ring from groove; (4) corrosion on carbon steel rings in wet service — ring weakens and breaks; (5) impact or shock loads exceeding static rating — ring deforms permanently. Design and install to the ring manufacturer's spec and always use new rings on safety-critical assemblies.
Companion Ranges
Complete your assembly with: Circlips for the full retaining ring range • Circlip Pliers for the correct installation tool • Bearings which commonly use retaining rings for shaft/housing location • Shaft Collars for alternative axial retention on plain shafts • Keys & Keyways for radial location alongside axial retaining rings. For selection and installation guidance, see the circlip guide.