The Complete Guide to Toggle Latches

There are many different types of toggle latch available, each with their own unique appearance and characteristics. Learn more about the varying toggle catch types below:

Adjustable toggle latches usually feature a threaded rod linking the hook or ‘claw’ to the fastening plate, meaning that their positions can be adjusted relative to one another.

This allows for additional tensioning - i.e. tightening or loosening - of the core cam-lock mechanism. In turn, this makes the toggle latch more or less easy to manoeuvre into or out of a closed position.

A spring-loaded toggle latch, sometimes known as a spring claw toggle latch, includes a tightly wound metal spring as a core part of the cam system.

This makes the product smoother and more convenient to install and use by offering wider positional tolerances than non-sprung versions. It also helps with additional opening and closing forces for overall ease of operation.

A lockable toggle latch is an ideal option when you need to ensure that a panel, hatch, cabinet or case won’t be accidentally or deliberately opened, either through intentional tampering or as a result of exposure to excessive vibration.

Locking toggle latches tend to be medium-to-heavy duty and can be supplied either with or without the actual locking hardware itself.

• Lightweight toggle latches or clamps are commonly used on flaps, boxes and cabinets that need only relatively simple protection against accidental opening, and that aren’t typically subject to excessive vibration or force
• They tend to be the most cost-effective of all toggle latch types, are usually much smaller and more discreet than heavier duty versions, and require considerably less user effort to push into open or closed positions
• They are often seen on case lids and non-hazardous instrument panels

• Mediumweight toggle latches offer increased resistance to vibration and other forms of accidental opening, making them better suited to more robust or demanding applications such as travel cases and toolboxes
• Mediumweight latches and catches are often spring-loaded for increased manoeuvrability on the go

• Heavy-duty toggle latches offer the strongest resistance to accidental opening or tampering and are often lockable for added security
• They are most commonly seen on machinery panels concealing moving or otherwise hazardous parts, as well as on a wide range of larger industrial panels and cabinets
• Heavy-duty toggle latches and catches tend to be more expensive than other types, but frequently come with additional features such as advanced shock and vibration resistance
• They are most often made from steel or a mixture of steel and other materials

Toggle latches are available in wide selection of materials and finishes, offering varying combinations of durability and ease of use in a range of applications and environments.

Stainless steel is a common material for toggle latches, as it offers advanced durability in outdoor conditions, particularly when electro polished for increased protection against corrosion.

This material is particularly widely used in heavier-duty components intended for use in demanding industrial environments.

Brass toggle latches can be chosen for the material's appearance if a particular aesthetic is desired, but they are more frequently supplied as chrome-plated brass fittings for general use.

In light-to-medium duty roles, this gives brass toggle catches excellent anti-corrosive properties and makes them suitable for a range of ‘clean’ industries and scenarios, such as food or chemical applications.

Acetal toggle latches offer superb tensile strength, surface hardness and resistance to a wide range of chemicals - including robust performance against hydrolysis, strong alkalis and thermal-oxidative degradation.

Acetal and polyacetal are types of crystalline engineering thermoplastics, used in the manufacture of precision parts requiring high stiffness, low friction, and excellent dimensional stability. They are often used in combination with styrene rubber, fibreglass elements, polypropylene resins, and other polyamides such as nylon to make toggle latches with impressive strength and rigidity.

Die-cast toggle latches tend to be cost-effective and well-manufactured, with high-quality surface finishes and excellent dimensional consistency.

Die-cast zinc is a particularly common material used in lockable toggle latches and catches.