Knowing the different sizes of leather hole punches and their common uses can help you choose the right tool for your project.
In this article, I will show you seven different leather round or hole punch sizes and their common uses. But before I get into the details, let’s take a look at what leather hole punch is;
What is a Leather Hole Punch?
The leather hole punch is a tool used to create holes in leather. It is also known as a round punch or leather punch and is an essential tool used by leather workers.
It is a cylindrically shaped tool with different sizes of sharp round-edge punches, which helps to make uniform holes in leather and other materials.
Related Article: Leather Punches: Guide To Making Clean Holes On Leather!
Leather Hole Punch Sizes And Their Common Uses
Now let’s look at the seven different sizes of leather hole punches and their common uses:
1) The 1mm Hole Punch
Common uses include making holes on:
- watch straps,
- bracelets, and
- stitching holes
The 1mm hole punch for leather is one of the smallest hole punches available.
It is perfect for making small round holes on watch straps, bracelets, and other delicate or small leather items.
Not only that, it is also perfect for making holes for stitching holes on shoes, wallets, and other leather items.
One key benefit of using the 1mm round punch is that it leaves a smooth and neat finish, making the stitching process easier.
On the other hand, the downside is that its small size makes it difficult to use on thicker leather.
2) The 2mm Hole Punch
Common uses include making holes on:
- small belts,
- stitching holes,
- watch straps, and
- key fobs
The 2mm hole punch for leather is slightly bigger than the 1mm hole punch. It is perfect for making small round holes on small belts, stitching holes on wallets and other leather items, watch straps, and key fobs.
You are guaranteed of a clean and neat hole with this punch, so you can be sure it will look professional.
The downside to the 2mm punch is that, like the 1mm punch, its small size makes it difficult to use on thicker leather pieces.
3) The 3mm Hole Punch
Common uses include making holes on:
- small belts,
- watch straps,
- leather lacing holes,
- holes for rivets and buttons
The 3mm hole punch for leather is slightly bigger than the 2mm hole punch. It is perfect for making small round holes on small belts, watch straps, leather lacing holes, and holes for rivets and buttons.
One key benefit of using the 3mm round punch is that it’s versatile and can easily be a stand-alone leather round punch you can buy when starting out in leathercraft.
This is because it is the perfect size hole punch that can be used in any of the initial leather craft projects you will take on.
4) The 4 and 5mm Hole Punch
Common uses include making holes on:
- medium-size belts,
- strap attachments,
- lacing holes, and
- making holes for rivets and buttons.
The 4 and 5mm leather hole punches have a much bigger diameter than the above-mentioned hole punches, making them ideal for punching larger holes on medium-sized belts, strap attachments, lacing holes, and also making holes for rivets and buttons.
It is also perfect for thicker leather pieces as its bigger size gives it more power.
One thing to look out for is that they leave a more jagged hole than the smaller punches.
This means that you might sometimes need to clean up the edges of the hole if you want your finished product to look professional.
5) The 6mm Hole Punch
Common uses include making holes on:
- larger belts,
- shoulder straps,
- holes for rivets,
- lacing holes, and
- holes for buttons.
The 6mm hole punch is one of the larger hole punches available in the market.
It is ideal for punching larger holes on larger belts, shoulder straps, lacing holes, and making holes for rivets or buttons. It has enough power to punch through thicker leather pieces.
It leaves a clean and neat finish, making it perfect for professional-looking projects. Just be mindful of the jagged edges that come with this punch.
6) The 7 and 8mm Hole Punch
Common uses include making holes on:
- straps,
- handles,
- holes for grommets and eyelets,
- strap attachments,
- large belt holes,
The 7 and 8mm hole punches are on the larger side, ideal for punching larger holes on straps, handles, and large and heavy-duty belts.
They are also useful when it comes to making holes for fixing grommets, eyelets, strap attachments, and large belt holes.
It is powerful enough to punch through thicker leather pieces with ease. This makes it perfect for making professional-looking projects, as it leaves a clean and neat finish.
Just remember that you will need a lot more power and effort when it comes to punching a hole with this size punch.
7) The 9 and 10mm Hole Punch
Common uses include making holes for:
- Grommets
- Eyelets
On the bigger side of things, the 9 and 10mm hole punches are ideal for making holes for leather fitting such as grommets and eyelets.
They are suitable for large holes and powerful enough to easily punch through thick leather.
Just remember that you would need a much heavier mallet or maul and a bit more power than usual to get a clean hole.
Overall, these hole punches are excellent for making professional-looking projects as they leave a clean and neat finish.
Which Leather Hole Punches Are The Most Commonly Used?
The most common leather round punch you will need, regardless of your level or expertise, is hole punches 1mm to 4mm.
With these four easy-to-find leather hole punches, you will be able to create anything from stitching holes all the way to lacing holes, rivets, or buttons.
This means that these four essential leather hole punches will serve your needs no matter the project.
Therefore, if you are just starting out in leather craft, these four-hole punches should be your first purchase.
Once you become more experienced and want to progress to bigger projects, the 5mm to 10mm punches can be an add-on.
Final Thoughts
This article covers the seven leather hole punches and what they are commonly used for.
No matter your level or expertise, the 1mm to 4mm hole punches are the most common and will serve most of your leather crafting needs.
Larger hole punches can be used for bigger projects, such as making holes for grommets, eyelets, and large belt holes.
Remember that each hole punch size leaves a different finish, so it’s important to choose the right one for each project.
Now that you know about leather hole punches go ahead and get creative with your projects!
Thanks For Sticking Around!
