Fasteners and hardware: how to buy screws, anchors and bolts at a good price
Match the fastener to the material
The most common reason people overpay is buying the wrong fastener. Metal screws have a different thread and tip from wood or drywall screws. Concrete needs anchors and wall plugs, and roofing needs self-drilling screws with a sealing washer. So the first thing to write in your request is what you are fixing, and to what.
How to read the size
Size is written as diameter × length, for example 4.2×19 mm or 6×80. Bolts also have a thread pitch and a standard (for example DIN or IS), and strong joints need a strength grade as well. Choose a screw length that goes through the material you are fixing and still bites deep enough into the base. Nuts and washers must match the same diameter.
Material and coating
- Zinc-plated — the most common, fine for most indoor and outdoor jobs.
- Stainless steel — for damp places, terraces and facades where rust is not acceptable. It also suits coastal cities like Mumbai or Chennai.
- Black (phosphated) — for dry rooms, for example drywall.
- Strength grade — for bolts and studs in loaded joints.
What to put in your request
- Fastener type — screws, anchors, bolts, nuts, nails, studs, washers.
- Size — diameter × length, thread, standard.
- Quantity — pieces, packs or kilograms.
- Material and coating — zinc-plated, stainless, strength grade.
- What it is for — drywall, metal, wood, concrete, roofing.
- Packing — by weight, boxes of 1,000, small packs.
- City, delivery and budget.
Example: “I need zinc-plated metal screws 4.2×19 mm, 5 kg, and drywall screws 3.5×35 mm, one box of 1,000. Also 500 wall plugs 6×40 for concrete. Courier delivery to Pune. Budget up to ₹3,000.”
How search works on BlaBlaPrice
Fasteners are usually bought from a list of ten items from different shelves. Instead of hunting for the best place for each, you write one request with the whole list. Fastener sellers answer in the chat with what is in stock, the price per kg, pack or piece, and delivery terms. Each seller sees where their offer ranks and tries to improve it. BlaBlaPrice shows the best offer first, and the seller's reviews are right next to it. Contacts are opened only to the seller you choose. The idea is explained on the How it works page.
How to compare offers
Compare like with like: the price per kilogram and per thousand pieces can differ a lot for the same size. Ask whether the pack has a certificate or marking, and about the quality of the coating — some cheap screws snap when driven in. For large volumes, ask about a bulk discount. The minimum order and the delivery charge also count.
Fasteners are usually bought for some material, so you may want to look at steel products, timber or bricks, concrete and blocks.
