CraftNest Guide

Leather Hardware, Patterns & Care: Choose Rivets, Chicago Screws, or Snaps

Choosing among double-cap rivets, Chicago screws, and snaps depends on the closure your project needs. Compare four leather hardware choices by setup, fastening style, leather-thickness fit, and listed price.

Last updated Aug 25, 2026

Choosing the right leather hardware starts with the closure, not the assortment. A repair or craft project may need double-cap rivets, screw-together Chicago fasteners, or snaps, and those formats lead to different buying decisions. A quick way to narrow the field is to identify whether you need included setting tools, a broader rivet assortment, removable hardware, or posts matched to a stated leather thickness.

Quick take on leather hardware, patterns & care

The two rivet kits suit double-cap fastening, while the Chicago set is built around screw-and-base components. The Black Line 20 Snaps pack is the focused choice for snap-based work with regular and short post specifications. The main trade-off is price: paying more only makes sense when the fastening format and package contents match the job rather than simply adding more hardware to the drawer.

Listed-price comparison

Prices cover a wide range, so the table is a useful first filter before comparing fastening styles and included tools.

ProductListed priceRelative priceUse-case cue
240 Set Leather Rivets$8.57Double-cap rivet setup
480 Sets Rivets for Leather$16.95Larger rivet assortment
80 Sets Chicago Screw Leather Rivets$13.49Removable screw hardware
Black Line 20 Snaps$55.95Snap-specific leatherwork

Decision matrix

  • Starting with a basic setup: Choose 240 Set Leather Rivets when having installation pieces alongside the fasteners is important.
  • Prioritizing assortment breadth: Choose 480 Sets Rivets for Leather when a larger double-cap rivet pack better suits the project queue.
  • Planning for repeated removal: Choose 80 Sets Chicago Screw Leather Rivets when a screw-and-base connection is the intended format.
  • Working to a snap specification: Choose Black Line 20 Snaps when the project calls for snaps and the post details align with the leather being used.

240 Set Leather Rivets

240 Set Leather Rivets, 4 Colors 3 Sizes Double Cap Rivet, Rivets for Leather wi

At $8.57, the 240 Set Leather Rivets kit is a practical match for someone who wants the rivets and setup pieces together. Its punch, two rivet installation tools, and plastic storage box with separated compartments reduce the need to assemble a starter bundle around the fasteners. That organized box is the main reason to choose it. The limitation is focus: it is built around double-cap rivets, so a project calling for Chicago screws or snaps needs a different fastening format. For straightforward rivet work, its lower listed price keeps the decision simple.

480 Sets Rivets for Leather

480 Sets Rivets for Leather, 4 Colors 3 Sizes Leather Rivets, Double Cap Rivets

At $16.95, the 480 Sets Rivets for Leather kit is the more expansive of the two double-cap rivet assortments by set count. It includes three setting tools, and its uses include repairs, leather craft, shoes, hats, jeans, jackets, and other DIY work. Copper construction with color plating is another reason to choose it when the finish assortment matters. The limitation is that the higher listed price still buys the same broad rivet format rather than Chicago screws or snaps. It suits a rivet-centered craft drawer, not a mixed closure kit.

80 Sets Chicago Screw Leather Rivets

80 Sets Chicago Screw Leather Rivets Assorted Kit Chicago Binding Screws 5 Sizes

At $13.49, the 80 Sets Chicago Screw Leather Rivets Assorted Kit fits projects where a screw-and-base connection is useful for installing and removing components repeatedly. The parts are separated by size in a clear storage box, and the post lengths run from 1/4 inch to 11/16 inch, with a 3/16-inch post diameter. Those raw dimensions give shoppers a range to compare with a project without choosing a snap format. The limitation is the threaded Chicago-screw workflow: it is not the direct match for double-cap rivet work. Choose it when reusability and length selection matter more than cap-style hardware.

Black Line 20 Snaps

Black Line 20 Snaps - Regular & Short Posts - Leathercraft Hardware - SLC

At $55.95, Black Line 20 Snaps - Regular & Short Posts - Leathercraft Hardware - SLC is the focused choice for snap-based leatherwork. The regular post is specified for 5-7 oz leather, while the short post is specified for 4-5 oz leather; those ranges give a concrete way to narrow the fit. The pack is also listed as 100 units and is aimed at belts, straps, bags, holsters, and everyday projects. Its limitation is the $47.38 spread above the lowest listed price, so it makes the most sense when snaps are the required closure rather than a general-purpose rivet purchase.

Final recommendation by use case

  • For a starter arrangement: Choose 240 Set Leather Rivets for the included punch, installation tools, and divided storage box.
  • For a broader rivet assortment: Choose 480 Sets Rivets for Leather for its three setting tools and color-plated copper construction.
  • For a removable connection: Choose 80 Sets Chicago Screw Leather Rivets for the screw-and-base design and reusable format.
  • For snap-based work: Choose Black Line 20 Snaps when its post specification corresponds to the stated leather-ounce range.

If the fastening style is undecided, compare the two rivet kits first. If the closure is already specified, let that format lead the purchase.

Products in this article
240 Set Leather Rivets, 4 Colors 3 Sizes Double Cap Rivet, RivetsUSD 8.57View on eBay480 Sets Rivets for LeatherUSD 16.95View on eBay80 Sets Chicago Screw Leather Rivets Assorted Kit Chicago Binding Screws 5 SizesUSD 13.49View on eBayBlack Line 20 SnapsUSD 55.95View on eBay
240 Set Leather Rivets, 4 Colors 3 Sizes Double Cap Rivet, RivetsUSD 8.57View on eBay480 Sets Rivets for LeatherUSD 16.95View on eBay80 Sets Chicago Screw Leather Rivets Assorted Kit Chicago Binding Screws 5 SizesUSD 13.49View on eBayBlack Line 20 SnapsUSD 55.95View on eBay

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