Fastener Guide / Specification & Engineering Control

Standard vs Special Fasteners

A standard fastener is made to a published standard and stocked widely. A special is made to a drawing: longer lead time, minimum quantities and higher cost.

Last reviewed 2026-09-10 · Governing standard: ASME / ISO product standards · reference FG-C158B6 · Report an error on this sheet

Comparison

StandardSpecial
Defined byPublished standardCustomer drawing
AvailabilityStockMade to order
Lead timeDaysWeeks to months
Minimum orderBox quantityMill or machine minimum
PriceMarket priceTooling + setup + material

Governing standards: ASME / ISO product standards. Editions shown are the latest confirmed as of September 2026. The drawing and the governing standard always take precedence over this sheet.

These tables carry the same figures as the printed sheet below.

The printed sheet

Standard vs Special Fasteners

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Text version of this sheet

Standard vs special fasteners

What it is

AT A GLANCE

A standard fastener is made to a published standard and stocked widely. A special is made to a

drawing: longer lead time, minimum quantities and higher cost.

STD vs SPL

Standard parts are cheaper and faster

Comparison

Standard

Special

Defined by

Published standard

Customer drawing

Availability

Stock

Made to order

Lead time

Days

Weeks to months

Minimum order

Box quantity

Mill or machine minimum

Price

Market price

Tooling + setup + material

Governing standards: ASME / ISO product standards. Editions shown are the latest confirmed as of September 2026. The drawing and the governing standard always take

precedence over this sheet.

torquing any fastener. Verify the current governing standard, project documents, OEM requirements, size, thread, coating and lot certification. To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Fastener App disclaims liability

arising from reliance on this reference.

Fastener Guide reference FG-C158B6 · thefastenerapp.com/fastener-guide/specification-control/standard-vs-special-fasteners · © The Fastener App. Reference only — verify the current governing standard, drawing and manufacturer data before specifying or installing.

Related sheets

← How to Build a Fastener Part NumberHow to Eliminate Unnecessary Special Fasteners →

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See what every customer buys from you

Every account gets a category chart: share of dollars, share of times ordered and share of pieces. Your reps see what each customer buys from you, and the categories they are buying somewhere else stand out.

Share of dollars

Fasteners37%$69,879
Electrical10%$19,152
Fleet and Automotive7%$12,293
Hardware and Building Supplies5%$10,243
Tools and Equipment5%$9,811
Cutting Tools and Metalworking5%$9,740
Plumbing5%$8,865
All other25%$46,410

Share of times ordered

Fasteners44%355
Electrical12%94
Fleet and Automotive7%53
Tools and Equipment6%48
Cutting Tools and Metalworking4%36
Pneumatics4%34
Hardware and Building Supplies4%33
All other20%162

Share of pieces

Fasteners75%486,316
Fleet and Automotive6%38,905
Electrical5%31,100
Hardware and Building Supplies3%19,775
Sealing3%17,704
Abrasives3%17,251
General MRO2%16,133
All other4%23,770

Sample report from our demo store.

Sales rep territory management

The time planner splits each rep’s month by how much every customer spends. A customer that is 20% of the rep’s business gets about 35 hours a month, about 8 hours a week, and the rep’s week is laid out for them.

Share of the rep’s business

Summit Precast LLC20.2%
Brunswick Galvanizing Inc.14.6%
Talleyrand Signs LLC8.0%
Mayport Tool & Die Inc.7.8%
Eagle Mechanical LLC7.2%
Premier Electric Group5.9%
Tallahassee Packaging LLC3.7%
Coastal Maintenance Group3.3%
All others (64 customers)29.4%

Time each customer deserves

CustomerHours a monthHours a week
Summit Precast LLC35.08.1
Brunswick Galvanizing Inc.25.35.8
Talleyrand Signs LLC13.93.2
Mayport Tool & Die Inc.13.53.1
Eagle Mechanical LLC12.52.9
Premier Electric Group10.22.4
Tallahassee Packaging LLC6.41.5
Coastal Maintenance Group5.71.3
All others (64 customers)51.011.8

Sample plan from our demo store: 173 hours a month, all selling time.

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