Rubber grommets are rubber rings that strengthen and protect either an opening or the object passing through that opening from sharp edges. Industries that use rubber grommets include automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical.

Rubber grommets are available in different materials, sizes and shapes. You can choose the grommet according to your application requirements. For instance, rubber grommets made of fluoroelastomers are suitable for very high temperature applications, while butadiene rubber grommets are suitable for low temperature applications.

Some important parameters you must consider before purchasing a rubber grommet are:

1. Shape of the rubber grommet
2. Dimensions of the rubber grommet: inner diameter, groove width and diameter, outside diameter and overall thickness
3. Material of the rubber grommet: neoprene, buna-N, propylene or others
4. Operating temperature for the rubber grommet

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy a rubber grommet from reputable rubber grommet manufacturers

Once you understand your requirements, evaluate standard industrial rubber grommets available in the market.

I recommend: Accurate Products, a reputable manufacturer of molded rubber products, supplies rubber grommets. LORD Corp. offers rubber grommets suitable for various applications such as computers, business machines, precision instruments and other industrial equipment. Elder Rubber Company offers rubber grommets with a range of inner diameters from 0.0094 inches to 5 inches. Western Rubber & Supply manufactures panel rubber grommets that you can use to protect components such as wire, hose, piping or other objects passing through a panel hole.

Buy a customized rubber grommet

If standard rubber grommets available in the market do not match your requirements, opt for custom rubber grommets.

I recommend: Da/Pro Rubber manufactures custom rubber grommets, including insulation grommets, vibration mount grommets and mounting hole grommets. Custom Rubber is another rubber grommet manufacturer that supplies customized grommets for acoustic applications. In addition to its large array of standard rubber grommets, RPM Mechanical also manufactures customized rubber grommets.

Buy rubber grommets from rubber grommet distributors or retailers

You can compare rubber grommets based on their features and prices at distributors or retailers' websites. Ask for a discount if you are buying in bulk.

I recommend: All Seals, a distributor of different sealing components, provides rubber grommets made of elastomer compounds. You can buy rubber grommets of different sizes at Marco Rubber & Plastic Products. Meccom Industrial Products supplies different types of rubber grommets, including a plain grommet, a chamfered grommet and a shoulder grommet. You can also buy an industrial rubber grommet from other distributors such as Manufacturer's Rubber & Supply and United Seal & Rubber.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep an inventory of rubber grommets and related instruments such as grommet setting tools.
• •  You can also use rubber grommets as EMI (electro magnetic interference) and RFI (radio frequency interference) shields.