Eye Bolts

An eye bolt - sometimes referred to as a lifting eye bolt - is a secure bolt or fastener with a threaded shank on one end and a round loop on the other. This eye-shaped loop is ideal for a variety of lifting hardware attachments and uses, and makes for easy attachment to chains, ropes, cables, and other tethers. It is one of the most widely used, versatile, and cost-efficient lifting hardware component available.

Huyett offers a selection of these bolts in stainless steel and carbon steel options with a variety of finishes. This selection includes options that are well-suited for both lightweight and heavy-duty applications.

Application Considerations

Lifting eye bolts must be used carefully in their applications because they are the fastener that facilitates overhead machinery and equipment overhead lifting. Its design, application use, and environmental exposure must be considered before use. Here are a few key points to think through when choosing your bolt:

Working Load Limit (WLL): This is the lifting limit for an eye bolt, which is affected by several design elements; this is important to identify and compare to the lifting requirements of your application.
Thread Size: The bolt's thread size needs to match the mating component for a secure hold. For inch bolts, measure the threads per inch (TPI - number of threads per inch); for metric bolts, measure the thread pitch (distance between thread crests).
Shank Length: The length of the shank will factor into the bolt's overall strength.
Eye Diameter: The inside and outside diameter of the eye can help you determine what material can thread through the hole and how thick the ring is.
Lifting Angles: Consider how the bolt will be fastened into its mating component and if that will create an angular load; this will help you determine the type of bolt you'll need and the bolt's required WLL.
Mating Components: Identify what your bolt will be lifting, what material will thread through the eye of the bolt, and which lifting hardware components will be used in the application. This will help you decide on the style and strength of your bolt.
Application Environment: Will the bolt be exposed to heat? Moisture? Lubrication or chemicals? Sun? These elements will help you determine the material and finish of your bolt.

Key Features

The eye bolt's features are designed to deliver the WLL and the durability necessary for your application. Here are the key elements to know about your bolt:

Closed/Open Eye: Some bolts feature a closed eye, while others have an open ring. This will affect the working load limit.
Plain/Shoulder Profile: Some eye bolt rings connect straight to the shaft as a full circle, while other rings connect to a flat platform that is connected to the shaft. This design element contributes to the working load limit.
Materials/Finishes: Eye bolts are available in 300 series stainless steel and medium or low carbon steel with a range of available finishes including (but not limited to) zinc clear, zinc yellow, polished, and hot-dipped galvanized.
Customizable Options: Huyett gives you the option to customize most elements of these fasteners, including the shank length and diameter, the thread length and size, and the eye diameter. These elements must be customized relative to each other in order to preserve the WLL.

Product Line

Huyett offers high-quality lifting eye bolts through our Aztec Premium Lifting Hardware line. Choose from a wide variety of lifting and rigging hardware - including lifting eye nuts, turnbuckles, yoke ends, and hooks - to use along with lifting eye bolts in your applications.

Types of Eye Bolts

Huyett offers three types of eye bolts, each of which features a unique design with specific benefits.

Plain Pattern: These bolts, also known as lifting eyes, are well-suited for in-line or zero-degree vertical lifts and are designed to be used with tapped holes. Their WLL decreases with angular loads, but they work well as anchors for other hardware like yoke or clevis ends.
Shoulder Pattern: These bolts feature a washer-like platform (or shoulder) in between the top of the shank and the base of the ring. This helps evenly disperse the load and offers particular stability for angular loads by reducing the stress on the shank.
Bent: These bolts feature a slightly open eye and work best in through-hole lashing or suspension applications within the appropriate WLL. Because the eye could bend open under stress, they are not to be used for lifting or rigging applications.

How to Use Eye Bolts

Lifting eye bolts are used for a variety of applications for a variety of functions. These include lifting, suspending, lashing and tying down, and fencing. How you use them will depend on their specific purpose.

Regardless of the type of eye bolt, they are all installed the same way: simply thread them into their mating hole. However, you should only use the type of bolt that will support the necessary WLL of your application and will support any angular load that may arise. See Types of Eye Bolts for more information on which bolts are appropriate for different types of loads.

Safety Considerations

Any lifting hardware will have significant safety considerations concerning their use, and eye bolts are no different. You need to think about the WLL, the mating component attachment mechanisms, the height of the lift, and much more.

For an introduction to basic safety considerations, read our Using Lifting Eye Bolts guide.