Carriage Bolts

Carriage Bolts

Carriage bolts are a clean, secure choice when you want a smooth, rounded head on the visible side and a square neck that bites into wood to help resist turning. They’re common in deck framing, fences, outdoor structures, and light equipment builds.

If you’re ordering parts alongside bolts and screws, this category makes it easy to match diameter, length, material, and finish to the job.

Carriage Bolts for Marine, Construction, & Other Industrial Applications

Carriage bolts show up anywhere you need a strong hold and a low profile head that won’t snag. In marine builds, stainless options are popular for docks, boat lifts, and hardware exposed to spray or humidity. In construction, you’ll see them in timber connections, guardrails, and outdoor assemblies where the square neck can lock into wood.

In maintenance shops and fabrication work, you’ll see carriage bolts holding fixtures, rack frames, and brackets in place. The rounded head is smooth on the outside, so it’s less likely to catch sleeves, wiring, or hands near moving parts. If you keep a bin of bolts on the shelf for repeat jobs, ordering bulk bolts helps you avoid last-minute reorders when the same sizes get used again and again.

More Finish Options for Carriage Bolts

Finish matters because it affects corrosion resistance, appearance, and how the bolt behaves outdoors. Zinc-plated steel is a common pick for indoor and dry locations. Hot dip galvanized is often chosen for exterior wood structures and treated lumber. Black oxide offers a darker look for controlled environments. Stainless helps in damp, coastal, or washdown areas. If you’re pricing out bulk carriage bolts for sale, comparing finishes is one of the fastest ways to narrow the right match.

Ribbed Neck Carriage Bolts

Ribbed neck carriage bolts add ridges under the head that help bite into wood and resist spinning during tightening, which is helpful when the square shoulder alone might not lock in as well, like in softer lumber or slightly oversized holes. Ribbed neck styles are also nice for repair work where the original hole has a bit of wear and you still want a secure grab.

Metric Carriage Bolts

Metric carriage bolts follow metric diameters and thread pitches, making them a better fit for equipment, imported assemblies, and drawings built around ISO sizing. They’re a good call when you need consistent matching with metric nuts, washers, and tools already in your shop. If your project specs list M8, M10, or M12, sticking with metric avoids the headache of mixed sizing.

Track Carriage Bolts

Track carriage bolts are made for applications like track systems, rails, and slotted assemblies where a stable seat and reliable clamping force matter. The design supports alignment and helps keep parts from shifting after tightening. They’re used on equipment frames, industrial guides, and mounting systems where movement and vibration can loosen lesser hardware over time.

Timber Carriage Bolts

Timber carriage bolts are commonly used in heavy wood construction like bridges, retaining walls, pole barns, and large outdoor frames. They’re built to handle thicker members and higher loads, and they pair well with washers to spread pressure across the wood surface. When you’re fastening big lumber, getting the right length and diameter makes a big difference in long-term strength.

Why Choose Fastener SuperStore to Be Your Supplier for Carriage Bolts and Other Fasteners?

Fastener SuperStore is built for people who already know what they need and want a quick path to the right part. The category filters and product paths help you narrow material, grade, thread type, and finish without guesswork.

As a distributor of fasteners, we support everything from small maintenance jobs to large reorders, with clear options for wholesale bolts when you’re stocking a shop. You can also coordinate matching hardware so sizes and materials stay consistent across builds.

If you’re shopping carriage bolts wholesale for an ongoing project, it’s easier to keep standards tight when the same supplier carries the related pieces you need. You’ll also find size and packaging choices that make ordering simpler, from small runs to bulk, plus reliable shipping and support when you need to confirm specs fast.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are carriage bolts?

Carriage bolts are bolts with a smooth, rounded head and a square neck just under the head. When installed through wood, the square neck bites into the material, helping stop the bolt from turning while you tighten the nut.

You'll find carriage bolts in wood framing, decks, furniture, fences, docks, playground equipment and trailers.

What materials are carriage bolts available in?

Carriage bolts are commonly available in carbon steel and stainless steel, with options that include Grade 5 and Grade 8 for higher strength needs. Carbon steel is popular for indoor builds, while stainless steel is used for damp or outdoor exposure. The steel can be finished with zinc plating, be hot-dipped, or even chrome-plated. Some less popular materials are silicon bronze, brass, and aluminum.

When should I use stainless steel carriage bolts?

Stainless steel carriage bolts are a smart pick in wet, humid, coastal, or washdown environments where corrosion is a real concern. They’re often used on docks, exterior hardware, and outdoor wood structures. If rust staining or long-term exposure is likely, stainless helps keep the assembly cleaner and longer-lasting.

What nuts and washers should be used with carriage bolts?

Match the nut to the bolt’s thread size and material, and use washers to spread load and protect the wood surface. Flat washers are a solid default for most jobs since they spread the load and help protect the wood. And if you’re mixing hardware types like hanger bolts, try to keep the materials consistent so everything plays nicely together.

How do I prevent a carriage bolt from spinning during installation?

Start with a properly sized hole so the square neck can bite into the wood. Tap the head lightly to seat the neck before tightening the nut and as you tighten the nut, hold the head firmly so it doesn’t shift. If the wood is soft or the hole is a little oversized, a ribbed-neck carriage bolt can grip better and help keep it from spinning.