Ultimate Guide: Standoff and Spacers Cross Reference Charts and Guide!

At MF Supply, we specialize in sourcing hard-to-find, back-ordered, or out-of-stock OEM hardware brands in order to save you money and reduce lead times, without sacrificing quality. You might be surprised to learn that the industrial marketplace is filled with hundreds of registered trademark-branded expensive fasteners and components that have generic alternatives. Just as brand-name pharmaceuticals like Tylenol and Advil are available generically as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, certain brand-name fasteners can also be found as “generics,” “cross-references,” “alternatives,” or “functional equivalents.”

What Are Functional Equivalent Fasteners?

In the world of fasteners, a functional equivalent fastener is a part that matches the brand-name product in form, fit, and function, including material and plating specifications, but is manufactured by an alternative company. Hence, the industrial marketplace is home to hundreds of fasteners and components that are registered under various trademark brands, but that offer the same function. This ensures you receive the same product performance and quality at a potentially lower cost and with shorter lead times.

What OEM Brands Have Generic Functional Equivalent Fasteners?

Many OEM brands have generic functional equivalents. Below is a comprehensive list of brands that have generic alternatives:

3 STAR RIVETS USA, ABBATRON®, ALCOA, AMATOM®, APEX®, ARCONIC®, ATLAS®, AVDEL®, AVK®, B. F. GOODRICH, BOLLHOFF, BUCKEYE, CAPTIVE, CELUS®, CHERRY®, CONCORD, FASTENAL, GESIPA®, GRIPCO®, GLOBE ELECTRONICS, H. H. SMITH, HUCK, INDUX, INTERFAST, KEENSERT®, KEYSTONE, LOCTITE®, LYN-TRON, MACLEAN­ESNA®, MARSON®, MCMASTER-CARR, MISUMI, MSC INDUSTRIAL, PEM®, PIC DESIGN®, POP®, POWERS®, QUICKSCREWS, RAF, RED HEAD®, ROTOR CLIP®, SHEREX, SIMPSON, SOUTHCO®, SPS TECHNOLOGIES, TINNERMAN®, U. S. ANCHOR. VIP, W. M. BERG, W. W. GRAINGER, WALDES TRUARC®, UNICORP.

Do Standoffs and Spacers Have Functional Equivalents?

Yes! Standoffs and spacers from various OEM brands often have functional equivalents. In fact, standoffs and spacers are sometimes referred to by their brand names, which can often be substituted by generic equivalents. Popular brands include: Amatom®, Concord, Globe, H.H. Smith, Lyn-tron, Microplastics, Keystone, Pem®, RAF, Unicorp. Their equivalents are available in a range of types, materials, sizes, and specifications.

Here at MF Supply, we provide a comprehensive cross reference guide to help you find the perfect alternative to meet your needs. Check out our most popular standoffs and spacers cross reference charts below to see if there is a functional equivalent to your OEM branded product!

Standoffs and Spacers Equivalent Cross Reference Charts: Find OEM Brands & Functional Equivalents

Hex Standoffs Cross Reference Charts

Hex Female and Hex Male-Female Standoffs in imperial/inch sizes are available in Aluminum, Brass Nickel, Nylon, 303 Stainless Steel, and Steel Zinc materials.

Hex Male-Female Standoffs in metric sizes are available in Aluminum and 303 Stainless Steel materials.

Round Standoffs Cross Reference Charts

Round Female and Round Male-Female Standoffs in imperial/inch sizes are available in Aluminum, Brass Nickel, Nylon, and Stainless Steel materials.

Hex Spacers Cross Reference Charts

Hex Spacers in imperial/inch sizes are available in Aluminum, Brass Nickel, Nylon, and 303 Stainless Steel materials.

Round Spacers Cross Reference Charts

Round Spacers in imperial/inch sizes are available in Aluminum, Brass Nickel, Nylon, and 303 Stainless Steel materials.

Standoffs and Spacers sometimes also show up under their Mil-spec numbers, which can be crossed to commercial equivalents. Some common Mil-spec series include NAS42, NAS43, NAS61, NAS1056, NAS1057, NAS1829, NAS1830, NAS1831. 

Using functional equivalents, including Mil-Spec, generics and other OEM brands’ versions of electronic hardware like standoffs and spacers, is a practice smart manufacturer’s use to save money and shorten lead times.

Standoffs and Spacers at MF Supply

MF Supply is a leading supplier of Standoffs and Spacers including major brands and equivalents. We stock a huge inventory including imperial/inch and metric hex male-female standoffs, hex threaded female standoffs, round male-female standoffs, round threaded female standoffs, hex spacers, and round spacers. They are available off-the shelf in aluminum alloy, brass nickel, nylon, 303 stainless steel, carbon steel zinc, and steel zinc materials. Standard stock sizes run from 3/16″ to 1/2″ in body diameter and 1/4″ to 2″ in length, with threads starting from 2-56 and going up to 1/4-20; and clearance holes ranging from #2 to 1/4″. Metric stock sizes run from M3.5 to M6 in body diameter, with threads available in M2.5, M3, and M4. Most of our products are DFAR compliant with COC and full certifications available upon request.

Imperial/Inch Product Lines Include:

1. Hex Female Standoffs
2. Hex Male-Female Standoffs
3. Round Female Standoffs
4. Round Male-Female Standoffs
5. Hex Spacers
6. Round Spacers

Metric Product Lines Include:

1. Metric Hex Male-Female Standoffs

Manufacturers working with us can expect timely deliveries, competitive pricing, and access to expert guidance to help optimize their fastener choices. Explore our product catalog by visiting our website at www.mfsupply.com, reaching out to us at sales@mfsupply.com, or requesting a quote.. Our MF Supply team of sourcing experts is here to help find what you need. “Finding the right screw for you” is our tag line after all!

Book a one-on-one consultation with our President, Robin, to discuss how MF Supply can help you solve your Industrial Sourcing, Fastener, and Safety concerns.

• We Source and Deliver What Others Can’t, Faster Than You Imagined – With speedy solutions for elusive parts and lengthy delivery times – We’ve got you covered with both custom-made specials (send us your prints!) and hard-to-source options, quickly and at a fair price.
• Cost-Effective Functional Equivalents to OEM Brand Fasteners-Why Pay More? – Reduce lead times and costs with the same quality and same performance.  Try us for alternatives to brands like McMaster-Carr, MSC, Misumi, PEM, and RAF and experience unmatched savings! Same form, fit and function for less.  
• Huge Selection of Certified and Commercial Hardware with Same-day Shipping Available for Countless Items – We source and stock standards, specials, commercial, Mil-Spec & OEM brands in inch and metric sizes. Standards include AN, NAS, MS, IFI, ASTM, ASME, DIN, ISO, JIS. We are sourcing experts for inserts, certified Mil-Spec parts and anything in stainless steel. Many parts are available with manufacturers’ certifications, including DFAR, ROHS and CoC. Trust us to ship on-time from our national distribution centers. 
• A User-Friendly, 24/7 Online Shopping Experience – Enjoy a 24/7 online shopping experience with easy-to-use filters, detailed product information, and a constantly updated technical directory. Sign up now for a seamless experience! 
• WBE/WOSB Certified Woman-Owned Small Business – As a certified Woman-Owned Small Business, we support your diversity goals. Trust us to meet your fastener and sourcing needs with expertise and efficiency [Cage Code 58QG4].  

MF Supply is a WBE/WOSB certified supply chain partner to business, industry and government.  We are sourcing experts and stocking distributors of Hardware, Precision & Mil-Spec Fasteners and Safety supplies.  For more than 50 years, we have been supplying manufacturers in the electronics, industrial, commercial, aerospace and military markets with the full range of fastener products and services.  Our Cage Code is 58QG4 and our registered name is RL Supply Inc dba MF Supply.