WAWAK's Guide To The Parts Of A Zipper
- Angela Capria Mindemann
- Aug 7
- 4 min read
You're probably pretty familiar with zippers; from jeans to backpacks, they're a commonplace part of items many of us use every day. All of the individual parts of a zipper, however, might be a bit less familiar. Read on to learn more about what makes up a standard zipper, and check out our Parts of a Zipper diagram below for a visual guide. Once you've got the vocabulary to find exactly what you're looking for, shop professional-quality zippers and zipper parts at WAWAK to get started with your next project.
PARTS OF A ZIPPER
Understanding the anatomy of a zipper can be helpful for anyone working with zippers. Whether you're repairing an existing zipper, installing a new one, or working with continuous zippers (a style of zipper designed to be cut to any length), it's helpful to have a basic understanding of all the parts of a zipper to know what you'll need for your projects. Here, we'll take a look at each part of the zipper and its basic function; for a visual guide, see our Parts of a Zipper diagram at the bottom of this post.
ANATOMY OF A ZIPPER
Beginning with the top of the zipper, the first bits of hardware you'll notice are the top stops. Located near the top end of the zipper, these two small (usually metal) components close off the ends of each side of the zipper and "stop" the zipper slider from coming off the zipper teeth.
Non-Separating Zippers, which do not separate at the bottom, also feature a single, larger stop at the bottom of the zipper. Like the top stops, the bottom stop prevents the zipper slider from sliding off the end of the zipper.
Zipper stops are generally pretty easy to replace if missing or damaged; you'll just need a pair of end nippers to remove existing stops and needle-nose pliers to crimp the new ones in place. If you're working with continuous roll zippers, you'll have to add stops, as this style of zipper does not include them.
Next up are the slider and pull, the components used to operate the zipper. The slider and pull are a package deal—so much so that the two terms are often used interchangeably to refer to the entire unit. However, the term "slider" more specifically refers to the boxy bit of hardware that slides up and down the zipper teeth, and the zipper pull is the attached tab that the user grasps to pull the slider back and forth.
When you zip a zipper, the slider aligns the two sides of the zipper teeth and pulls them together in a specific way that allows them to interlock securely. When you unzip, a wedge-shaped component inside the slider separates the teeth.
Zipper sliders and pulls can usually be replaced without installing a new zipper as long as the zipper teeth are intact and functional. Continuous zippers require the installation of a zipper slider; for more detailed instructions, see our post on How To Replace A Zipper Pull.
Consisting of two rows of tightly interlocking components, the zipper teeth open and close with the movement of the zipper slider. Zipper teeth are available in metal, plastic, or nylon coil. Whereas most plastic and metal zippers feature individual "teeth" like the ones pictured in the diagram below, nylon coil zipper teeth consist of a continuous spiral for added strength and flexibility. For more information on the different types of zippers and their uses, see our Guide To Zipper Types.
Unfortunately, zipper teeth cannot be repaired. If a zipper's teeth are damaged, the entire zipper will need to be replaced.
The fabric part of a zipper is known as the zipper tape. Zipper tapes are available in a wide range of colors, so you can match your zipper to any fabric. If you're working with continuous zippers, or if a zipper is too long, the zipper tape can be cut to your desired length—just watch out for those teeth!
Insertion Pin & Retaining Box (Separating Zippers Only)
Separating zippers, also known as jacket zippers, separate at the bottom. In order to achieve this, they feature a locking mechanism consisting of two main parts: the insertion pin and the retaining box. The pin inserts into the box through the slider, connecting the two sides of the zipper tape and allowing the slider to move up the teeth.
ZIPPER PARTS DIAGRAM
Now that you have an idea of what each part of the zipper is and does, check out the diagram below to see what they look like. Print or download this free graphical guide to the anatomy of a zipper for easy reference at any time. Looking for zippers or zipper parts? WAWAK is your one-stop zipper shop for all your zippers, parts, tools, repair kits and more. Zip over to WAWAK to take a look!
Learn the parts of a zipper with this handy graphical guide.
