What size is my zip?

To find the size of your zipper, measure the width of your zipper teeth when they are closed in millimeters (if possible). The measurement might not neatly line up with a zipper size, as the actual size of the zipper tape can vary, but it should roughly correlate.

What are standard zipper sizes?

The most common sizes are 3 mm, 5 mm, 7 mm, and 10 mm to match zipper-teeth widths. The number corresponds to the closed-teeth width in millimeters. A size 5 zipper, for example, has teeth that measure 5 mm wide when the zipper is zipped.

How do I know what YKK zipper I have?

On the back of each slider, there should be a couple letters and numbers. For example, if your zipper says YKK 5CN, you have a YKK brand zipper in size 5 coil.

What is a size 5 zipper?

Zippers are sized with a number designation (e.g. #5, #10). These numbers are based on the approximate width of the zipper teeth in millimeters when the zipper is closed. So a #5 zipper's teeth measure approximately 5mm across, a #10 zipper's teeth measure approximately 10mm across, and so on.

Can you replace just the zipper pull?

When a zipper pull breaks, or the slider simply wears out, you don't need to replace the entire zipper. Just replace the zipper slider and the stop that keeps it from sliding off. This is a quick repair that can make the difference between a zipper that doesn't work at all and one that works like it's brand new.

How to Measure Zipper Gauge (Size)

What does #3 zipper mean?

#3 zippers are the all-purpose zippers you can buy at any craft store, and they're what most POP ITH zipper bag designs use. If the design doesn't specify #5, then it is sized for a #3. #3 zippers have teeth that are 3mm wide, and almost always have tape that is 1" wide.

What is a #8 zipper?

Description: #8 molded plastic separating zippers feature teeth that measure approximately 8mm (0.3 inches) wide when zipped. Often called sport zippers or parka zippers, #8 molded plastic separating zippers separate at the bottom, jacket-style. These are one-way zippers (they have one slider).

What does YKK mean on a zipper?

YKK, it turns out, is a Japanese company. (It stands for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha–far too long to print on a zipper.) It's got about half of the world's zipper business. And it has a zipper factory in Macon, Georgia, where they make about 5 million zippers a day. They melt copper.

What do the letters on zippers mean?

Those letters stand for "Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha" which, from Japanese, roughly translates to "Yoshida Company Limited." It's a zipper manufacturer named after Tadao Yoshida, who founded it in 1934. By one estimate, the company makes half the zippers on Earth, which is more than 7 billion zippers each year.

Why do all zippers say YKK?

They produce roughly half of all the zippers made each year, which equates to about seven billion of them. The YKK stands for “Yoshida Kogyo Kabushikikaisha,” Japanese for “Yoshida Company Limited.” While this is simply a foreign acronym to us, other companies have names with secret meanings.

What type of zipper do I have?

The zipper type is determined by the zipper chain (teeth or coil). Plastic molded zippers are the most common type used in heavy outerwear. For YKK brand zippers Vislon is used to indicate plastic zippers so you will often see 5VS, 8VS, or 10V. Other zipper brands may have only a number to indicate size.

How do you measure a zipper pull?

It is pretty easy to measure the zipper gauge. Place the zipper you would like to measure on a horizontal surface. Zip it up completely and measure the teeth width from left to right with the help of a ruler or a tape. The measurement should correspond to those numbers, like 3, 4, 5, 7, etc.

What size is a jacket zipper?

You need a SEPARATING zipper for jackets. Use a #3 for children's jackets, #5 for light weight adult jackets, #8 or #10 for leather jackets. 1-way SEPARATING opens just from the top. 2-way SEPARATING also opens from the bottom of the jacket so you can open up the bottom of the zipper to sit comfortably.

Who makes YKK zippers?

YKK founder Tadao Yoshida and President Jimmy Carter, who became lifelong friends. But they're Japanese-owned. Founded in 1934, YKK Corporation is headquartered in Tokyo, has 46,000 employees in more than 70 countries, and has annual revenue of over $7 billion.

Does Gucci use YKK zipper?

GUCCI: The hardware on Gucci bags is heavy, well cast and normally engraved with the company logo. Zippers can be made of either metal or plastic, with the company logo or YKK. The stitching on a Gucci handbag should be straight, neat, even, clean and the trimmings are made from high quality leather.

Is YKK still in business?

The initials YKK stand for Yoshida Kōgyō Kabushiki gaisha (吉田工業株式会社, lit. "Yoshida Manufacturing Corporation"), which was the name of the company from 1945 until 1994.

Does Louis Vuitton use YKK zippers?

Most modern Louis Vuitton bags do not have YKK or branded zippers. However, certain Louis Vuitton shoe models may have branded YKK zippers.

Are all zippers YKK?

For decades now, apparel makers who can't afford to gamble on cut-rate fasteners have overwhelmingly turned to a single manufacturer. YKK, the Japanese zipper behemoth, makes roughly half of all the zippers on earth. More than 7 billion zippers each year.