Many people wonder what’s the difference between a draw latch and a tension latch or whether there are any differences at all. Often, draw latches can be called many different things depending on the manufacturers, suppliers, and industries in which they are used.

Some people might call them a draw latch, while others might refer to them as center latches, and close latches. Essentially, small changes in features and how suppliers describe them can determine what they are called.

However, for the sake of determining what you need and learning how a draw latch works and what it is used for, we’ve included some helpful information below.

Many people refer to draw latches as tension latches because of how these fasteners work. They operate by pulling two items together using tension. This tension can be added with a spring-loaded feature, and how much tension there is can depend on whether you’re using it for cabinet doors, hatches, boxes, HVACs, or something else.

The addition of gaskets can allow for a tight seal, and they come in a variety of styles like T-handle latches, over-center draw latches, under-center draw latches, rotary draw latches, and more.

Draw latches, also known as toggle clamps and toggle latches, have a blade and a keeper. The blade is a hooked catch plate or a wire that forms a loop, and the keeper is a hooked plate that receives the blade. These function as the locking mechanism, and they also have a hinge.

Like tension latches, draw latches from leading manufacturers like Southco are high-quality and high-strength fasteners that feature materials like thermoplastic and stainless steel with corrosion resistance, and locking mechanisms to suit various light-duty and heavy-duty applications.

Fortunately, the name is interchangeable, which means that when you buy a tension latch, you’re essentially purchasing a draw latch.

Both use tension to create a seal, and draw latch engineering is the same between both types of latches. They are also both designed to hold two objects together and have materials like thermoplastic and rubber to reduce vibration, prevent shock, and work with misalignment.

When you browse through latch manufacturers’ fastener catalogs, you will also see them featured alongside accessories, hood latches, cam latches, cam locks, electronic closures, hasps, padlocks, and more.

Contact the friendly team at Reid Supply to find out what latches you require to suit your unique needs.

We stock a wide range of options for every industry, including compression latches, slam latches, stainless steel latches, door latches, and more. Get in touch today, and you can be armed with what you require in no time.