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DIN 6799 E-Clip Size Chart (Retaining Washers for Shafts)

Guide · Updated October 28, 2026

An E-clip, or retaining washer, is a three-point spring steel clip that you push onto a shaft groove from the side. It needs no pliers lugs and no access to the shaft end, which makes it common on small spindles, linkages, gear trains and printers. DIN 6799 sets the clip and groove sizes. The chart below covers the full 0.8 to 30 mm range. Shaft range, clip thickness, opening, fitted outside diameter, groove width and edge margin agree between the Westfield Fasteners DIN 6799 table, the DigiPich DIN 6799 table and the Woodstock Industrial DIN 6799 spec. Check the current edition or your clip supplier for critical work.

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Step by step

Measure the shaft: Mic the shaft where the clip will sit. Find the row whose shaft range d1 covers it.
Pick the clip size: The DIN 6799 size is the groove diameter d2, not the shaft. A 6 mm clip goes on a 7 to 9 mm shaft.
Read the groove: Read groove width m and edge margin n. Cut the groove to d2 with its minus tolerance.
Check edge margin: Leave at least n of shaft between the groove and the shaft end or any step.
Cut the groove: Use a grooving or parting tool ground to m or a hair under, plunge to d2 and keep the walls square.
Fit the clip: Push the clip on from the side with an E-clip applicator or pliers until it snaps into the groove all round.

DIN 6799 clip and groove dimensions (mm)

Columns are: clip size (nominal groove diameter d2), shaft diameter range d1, clip thickness s, opening a of the free clip, maximum outside diameter d3 when seated, groove diameter d2 with its tolerance, groove width m, and minimum edge margin n from the groove to the shaft end. Groove width m is a plus tolerance: +0.04 mm for size 0.8 to 1.5, +0.05 for 1.9 to 7 and +0.08 for size 8 and up. Clip thickness s is ±0.02 mm up to size 7 and ±0.03 mm from size 8.

Size d2 | Shaft d1 | Thickness s | Opening a | Fitted OD d3 (max) | Groove dia d2 (tol) | Groove width m | Min edge margin n
0.8 | 1–1.4 | 0.2 | 0.58 | 2.25 | 0.8 (−0.04) | 0.24 | 0.4
1.2 | 1.4–2 | 0.3 | 1.01 | 3.25 | 1.2 (−0.06) | 0.34 | 0.6
1.5 | 2–2.5 | 0.4 | 1.28 | 4.25 | 1.5 (−0.06) | 0.44 | 0.8
1.9 | 2.5–3 | 0.5 | 1.61 | 4.80 | 1.9 (−0.06) | 0.54 | 1.0
2.3 | 3–4 | 0.6 | 1.94 | 6.30 | 2.3 (−0.06) | 0.64 | 1.0
3.2 | 4–5 | 0.6 | 2.70 | 7.30 | 3.2 (−0.075) | 0.64 | 1.0
4 | 5–7 | 0.7 | 3.34 | 9.30 | 4 (−0.075) | 0.74 | 1.2
5 | 6–8 | 0.7 | 4.11 | 11.30 | 5 (−0.075) | 0.74 | 1.2
6 | 7–9 | 0.7 | 5.26 | 12.30 | 6 (−0.075) | 0.74 | 1.2
7 | 8–11 | 0.9 | 5.84 | 14.30 | 7 (−0.09) | 0.94 | 1.5
8 | 9–12 | 1.0 | 6.52 | 16.30 | 8 (−0.09) | 1.05 | 1.8
9 | 10–14 | 1.1 | 7.63 | 18.80 | 9 (−0.09) | 1.15 | 2.0
10 | 11–15 | 1.2 | 8.32 | 20.40 | 10 (−0.09) | 1.25 | 2.0
12 | 13–18 | 1.3 | 10.45 | 23.40 | 12 (−0.11) | 1.35 | 2.5
15 | 16–24 | 1.5 | 12.61 | 29.40 | 15 (−0.11) | 1.55 | 3.0
19 | 20–31 | 1.75 | 15.92 | 37.60 | 19 (−0.13) | 1.80 | 3.5
24 | 25–38 | 2.0 | 21.88 | 44.60 | 24 (−0.13) | 2.05 | 4.0
30 | 32–42 | 2.5 | 25.80 | 52.60 | 30 (−0.13) | 2.55 | 4.5

Woodstock lists a single mid shaft size rather than a range (for example 8.0 mm for size 6) and omits sizes 8 and 30; every other figure matches the two full tables.

How to read the chart

Start from the shaft. Most shafts fall inside two or three rows, because the ranges overlap. Pick the larger clip when you can, since a deeper groove holds better, but check the shaft is not weakened too much at the groove. Groove depth is (d1 − d2) / 2. The fitted outside diameter d3 tells you how much radial room the clip needs: keep any bore, housing or gear hub clear of it.

Worked example: grooving a 10 mm shaft

A 10 mm shaft sits in sizes 8 (9–12) and 9 (10–14). Use size 8: 1.0 mm clip, 8.0 mm groove (−0.09), 1.05 mm wide (+0.08). Depth is (10 − 8) / 2 = 1.0 mm a side, so plunge 2.0 mm on a diameter dial. A 1.0 mm parting blade plus a 0.05 mm side step opens the width. Leave at least 1.8 mm of shaft past the groove. The seated clip reaches 16.3 mm across, so the mating hub must clear that.

Worked example: checking an old groove

A 6 mm shaft groove measures 4.95 mm with a 0.78 mm width. Size 4 wants 3.925 to 4.0 mm, so this is a size 5 groove (4.925 to 5.0 mm, 0.74 to 0.79 mm wide). Fit a size 5 clip, not a size 4.

E-clips vs circlips

E-clips go on from the side and grip at three points, so they are quick to fit and need no shaft end access. DIN 471 external circlips wrap the full groove and take far more thrust. For bores use a DIN 472 internal circlip. For through-hole retention, see the clevis pin and cotter pin charts.

Common problems

Clip pops off: the groove is too shallow or the corner is rounded. Recut to d2 with square walls.
Clip is loose: the clip was spread open on fitting. Use a new clip and an applicator.
Clip will not seat: groove width is under m or there is a burr. Deburr and check the width.
Shaft bends at the groove: the clip is too large for a thin shaft. Drop one size.

FAQ

What size E-clip fits an 8 mm shaft?

Sizes 5, 6 and 7 all cover 8 mm. The usual pick is size 6: 0.7 mm thick, cut a 6.0 mm groove 0.74 mm wide, and leave at least 1.2 mm to the shaft end.

Is the E-clip size the shaft or groove size?

The groove. DIN 6799 names the clip by groove diameter d2. A size 4 clip sits in a 4.0 mm groove on a 5 to 7 mm shaft.

How deep is an E-clip groove?

Depth is half of shaft minus groove diameter. For a 6 mm clip on an 8 mm shaft, (8 − 6) / 2 = 1.0 mm a side.

When should I use an E-clip instead of a DIN 471 circlip?

Use an E-clip when you can only reach the shaft from the side or have no room for pliers lugs. A DIN 471 ring holds more axial load.

Pin and retaining-ring size charts

Picking a fastener to locate or retain a part? Compare the other pin and ring charts in this set:

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