Carriage Bolts at Tractor Supply Co.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Carriage Bolts

What is the difference between carriage bolts and hex bolts?

Carriage bolts have a smooth, domed head with no slots or flats on the face, while hex bolts have a six-sided head that requires a wrench on both ends to tighten. That smooth head makes carriage bolts a better fit for outdoor structures where a raised or sharp bolt head could catch on rope, hands or clothing.

Do carriage bolts need a nut and a washer?

Carriage bolts always require a nut to tighten and hold the connection. A washer under the nut is recommended when fastening softer wood, since it spreads the load and keeps the nut from pulling through the surface over time.

Carriage Bolts

A lot of outdoor builds can go wrong due to the wrong fastener, but Tractor Supply stocks durable carriage bolts to solve that problem. Our selection of carriage bolts spans measurement standards, grades and fastener lengths to provide the right style for your next project.

Strong Grip for Important Builds

Carriage bolts are a standard type of fastener for outdoor structural work. The head locks flat against the surface, so the bolt won't spin during installation. That self-locking design makes one-person assembly easier on jobs such as fencing, deck framing and trailer repairs. They hold up through weather and seasonal wood movement, which is why these bolts show up in so many builds.

Materials that Prioritize Strength

Grade 5 carriage bolts are built to a higher standard of strength than basic hardware, making them dependable for heavy outdoor use. Coarse threads, spaced farther apart than fine threads, drive faster into wood and softer metals and hold firm even when the material shifts. For most of Life Out Here’s projects, coarse-thread Grade 5 carriage bolts are the right call. Grade 5 and ungraded options are built to different strength standards, so matching the bolt to the job keeps the connection solid for the long run.

Smooth, Rounded Heads for Clean Results

The smooth, domed head on a carriage bolt sits flat against the surface with no edges, slots or raised flats on the face. That clean profile means nothing sticks up to catch onto rope, hands or clothing once the bolt is set.

<H4>Multiple Sizes for Your Build

Carriage bolts come in different diameters and lengths to match the thickness and load demands of the job. Thicker bolts handle heavier builds, while narrower ones work well where a larger bolt would be unnecessary. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) options include 3/8 in., 7/16 in. and 1/2 in. diameters in lengths from 1-4 in. to fit boards of varying thickness. Metric sizes run from M8-M10 in lengths up to 100mm for tools and equipment built to metric standards.

<H3>Get the Jobe Done with Carriage Bolts from Tractor Supply

Carriage bolts are some of the hardest-working fasteners in outdoor construction, and getting the right size matters for how a build holds up over time. Our hardware stock covers the diameters and lengths used on most farm and outdoor builds. Browse on our website or head into your local Tractor Supply store to shop our lineup of bolts.