Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
Oval eyelets for tapes and belts are brass eyelets with an elongated opening through which a flat tape, belt or flat cord passes without folding. You choose by the opening: its length should be slightly greater than the tape width, and its width greater than the tape thickness. Our KO series has 6 sizes – from 11 to 37 mm outer length and openings from 6 × 4.3 to 30.2 × 5.7 mm, each with an oval metal washer.
Below you will find the full size chart, which eyelet suits which tape width and what to watch out for when setting oval eyelets in belts, bags and clothing.
Why oval rather than round
A round eyelet is designed for a cord with a round cross-section. If a flat tape is passed through it, the tape bunches up like an accordion, rubs against the rim and quickly wears through. An oval eyelet solves three problems at once:
- the tape lies flat – the product looks cleaner and the tape does not twist;
- the load is spread more evenly along the long side of the opening, instead of at one point;
- a smaller eyelet for the same tape – for a 20 mm tape a round eyelet would need an opening of more than 20 mm in every direction, while an oval one is narrow and discreet.
Oval eyelets for tapes and belts – size chart
Dimensions in mm: D – outer length of the eyelet, H – barrel height, d – opening (length × width), MT – material thickness. The "Tape" column is a practical guide, calculated from the opening size with a little clearance.
| Code | No. | D | H | d | MT | Tape (guide) | Typical application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KO-01 | 1 | 11 | 4.7 | 6 × 4.3 | 0.2 | up to about 5 mm | bodysuits, baby and childrenswear, narrow ties |
| KO-02 | 2 | 15 | 5.4 | 10.7 × 5 | 0.2 | up to about 10 mm | shirts, blouses, knitwear, flat cords |
| KO-03 | 3 | 21.5 | 5.37 | 15.7 × 4 | 0.3 | up to about 15 mm, thin | footwear, flat laces, denim |
| KO-04 | 4 | 28 | 7.8 | 21 × 5 | – | up to about 20 mm | belts, straps, bags |
| KO-05 | 5 | 33.5 | 7.32 | 26 × 5.2 | – | up to about 25 mm | belts, backpacks, handles |
| KO-06 | 6 | 37 | 6.55 | 30.2 × 5.7 | – | up to about 29 mm | wide belts, bags, outerwear |
The full chart is also on the KO oval eyelets page in the catalogue.
How to choose an oval eyelet
1. Measure the tape
Measure the width and thickness of the tape or belt with a caliper, not by eye. Especially with woven tapes and straps, the width often differs by a few tenths from the nominal. The opening length should be about 0.5–1 mm greater than the tape width.
2. Check the thickness
The width of the opening is the limitation most often overlooked. KO-03 has a long opening (15.7 mm) but only 4 mm wide – it suits thin tapes and flat laces, not a thick leather strap. For thicker belts choose KO-04, KO-05 or KO-06, whose openings are 5–5.7 mm wide.
3. Choose the barrel height to suit the material
The barrel must pass through all layers of the product – a lined belt, double denim, leather with an insert. KO-04 has the tallest barrel in the series (7.8 mm) and suits thicker areas.
4. Think about orientation
An oval eyelet has a direction. The long axis should match the tape width, i.e. be perpendicular to the direction of pull. Mark the orientation on the pattern so all eyelets in the run are the same.
Setting oval eyelets
- The hole in the material is punched with an oval punch of the same size – a round hole does not let the barrel sit correctly.
- Use a die made exactly for the corresponding number, and always the oval washer from the set.
- Take care with centring: with oval eyelets a misaligned die deforms the flange more easily than with round ones.
- There should be no seam or step in the layer thickness at the setting point.
The general setting rules and common mistakes are described in the Setting section of the eyelets page.
Common mistakes
- An eyelet chosen only by tape width, without checking the thickness – the tape does not pass through or jams.
- A round eyelet for a flat belt – the tape twists and wears the rim.
- Different eyelet orientation within one product run.
- Setting without a washer in thin material – the eyelet pulls out at the first strong tug.
Finishes
Oval eyelets are made of brass and are available in the finishes on our card – nickel, black nickel, antique brass, gold, copper, gunmetal and others, all nickel free. For belts and bags the finish is usually chosen to match the buckle and other metal accessories. We confirm the finishes available for a specific size on inquiry.
Logo and non-standard shapes
The KO series is available without a logo. If you want the brand on the eyelet, see the KL-10 eyelets with relief logo or the options on the Branding page. For a decorative accent there are also KF shaped eyelets – square, rectangular and double.
For technical applications – tarpaulins and awnings – there is also a large 60 × 40 mm oval eyelet in galvanised steel, KT-07.
You will find suitable tapes in the ribbons category, and buckles in metal buckles.
Oval eyelets from Polkom
Polkom is a Bulgarian company from Sofia with over 30 years of experience in accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags. We offer oval eyelets in six sizes and a finish of your choice, with delivery across Europe. Send an inquiry with the width and thickness of your tape – we will recommend the exact size and send samples.
