Quick answer: use a plastic push rivet where a panel has to come off again, such as body panels, fender liners, splash shields and trim. Use a metal pop rivet where a joint is meant to be permanent and you don't plan to remove it. A pop rivet has to be drilled out, which can enlarge the hole and damage thin plastic. A push rivet comes out with a trim tool and can often be reused.
People reach for pop rivets when a plastic clip goes missing because they are already in the toolbox. That can turn a five-minute panel removal into a drilling job next time. Here is how the two compare.
How each one works
Plastic push rivet
A plastic body with split legs and a centre pin. Push the body through the holes and press the pin down; the pin forces the legs apart behind the panel. Lift the pin and the legs relax, so the rivet comes out. Our 8mm nylon push rivets work this way.
Metal pop (blind) rivet
An aluminium or steel tube with a mandrel through the middle. A rivet gun pulls the mandrel until the tail of the tube flares behind the panel, then the mandrel snaps off. It is a one-way fastener: to remove it, you drill out the head.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Plastic push rivet | Metal pop rivet |
|---|---|---|
| Removal | Lift pin, pull out; often reusable | Drill out; single use |
| Tools to install | None | Rivet gun |
| Effect on plastic panels | Gentle; head spreads clamping | Can crack or crush thin plastic if over-pulled |
| Corrosion | Does not rust | Steel can rust; aluminium on steel can corrode |
| Vibration and flex | Some give; suits flexible panels | Rigid joint |
| Hole damage on removal | Minimal if done carefully | Drilling often enlarges the hole |
| Typical use | Body panels, liners, shields, trim | Permanent sheet-metal joints, brackets |
Why panel makers use plastic
- Service access. Body panels on cars, ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles and personal watercraft come off for maintenance. A push rivet makes that a quick job.
- Thermal movement. Plastic panels expand and contract with temperature more than metal frames do. A plastic fastener tolerates a little of that movement.
- No galvanic corrosion. A plastic rivet between dissimilar materials won't set up the corrosion you can get with mixed metals.
- Finish. A smooth domed head looks tidy and won't scratch the panel next to it.
When a metal rivet makes sense
- A permanent joint in sheet metal, such as a patch panel or a bracket you won't remove.
- Where the original fastener was a metal rivet and the design relies on it.
- Where the area runs hot enough to soften plastic. Check the material limits for the specific fastener.
If you are replacing a factory push rivet, stick with a push rivet. Swapping to metal changes how the panel is serviced and may change how it flexes.
The hidden cost of pop-riveting a panel
A pop rivet through a plastic body panel works until you need the panel off. Then you have to drill each one out. The drill can grab, spin the rivet, and wallow the hole oversize. Next time a standard push rivet may not lock in that hole. If you have inherited pop-riveted panels, drill out carefully with a bit just larger than the mandrel hole, then measure the hole before choosing a push rivet. The push rivet size guide shows how.
What about screw rivets and Christmas-tree clips?
These sit between the two. Screw rivets lock with a screw instead of a pin, and Christmas-tree clips grip with a ribbed stem but are often single use. Our push rivets vs other clips guide compares them.
Choosing a plastic push rivet
- Measure the hole, not the old fastener.
- Measure the panel stack the rivet passes through.
- Pick a head diameter wide enough to cover the hole edge comfortably.
- Buy enough to replace every tired clip in the area, not just the missing ones.
Our 8mm rivets have an 8mm shank, a 15mm head and a 21mm length, and suit stacks of roughly 2 to 6mm. See the automotive collection or the full range.
A quick decision checklist
| Question | If yes |
|---|---|
| Will this panel come off again for service? | Plastic push rivet |
| Is the panel itself plastic? | Plastic push rivet |
| Is it wet, salty or muddy? | Plastic push rivet (no rust) |
| Is it a permanent sheet-metal joint? | Metal pop rivet |
| Was the original fastener a metal rivet? | Keep a metal rivet |
If your answers point both ways, follow the original design. Manufacturers choose the fastener for a reason, and the panel's holes, recesses and clearances are built around it.
Every 8mm option we stock is grouped in one place: the 8mm push rivets collection.
FAQ
Are plastic rivets as good as metal rivets?
They do different jobs. Plastic push rivets suit panels that must come off again. Metal pop rivets suit permanent joints.
Can I replace a pop rivet with a push rivet?
Often, once the pop rivet is drilled out cleanly. Measure the resulting hole and the stack before choosing a size.
Do plastic rivets rust?
No. Nylon and other plastics don't rust, which is one reason they are used on wet, salty and muddy panels.
Do I need a rivet gun for plastic rivets?
Not for push rivets. Blind plastic rivets do need a gun; see our plastic rivet tools guide.
Will a plastic rivet hold a panel that vibrates?
Push rivets are designed for vibrating panels on ATVs, UTVs, snowmobiles and cars. Replace any that spin or have lost their pins, since a loose rivet wears its hole quickly.