Wave Washers vs Disc Springs vs Crinkle Washers: Differences and Selection Guide

Choosing the right spring washer is rarely about what it is called, it is about what it needs to do. The three most common options are wave washers, disc springs (often called Belleville washers) and crinkle washers. They can look similar at a glance, but they behave very differently in service.

This guide will help you pick the correct part first time, then point you to the right product range.

The 30 second chooser

Pick based on what matters most in your assembly:

Choose a wave washer if

• You need moderate loading with small deflection

• Axial space is very limited

• You are preloading a bearing or taking up tolerance stack in a compact assembly 

Choose a disc spring (Belleville washer) if

• You need high force in a small installed height

• You want a consistent, repeatable force deflection curve

• You may need stacking to tune load or travel 

Choose a crinkle washer if

• Your drawing or procurement spec calls up BS4463 or BS3401

• You need full traceability and material compliance documentation

• You want a British Standard wave style washer in defined metric, imperial or BA sizes 

What each one actually is

Wave washers

Wave washers were originally developed to preload bearings in electric motors and are widely used wherever you need a neat preload solution with small deflections. SpringXpert’s standard wave washer range also supports bespoke manufacture, including large outside diameters and a wide thickness range. 

Typical uses:

• Bearing preload

• Eliminating end float

• Managing small tolerance variation in tight assemblies 

Disc springs (Belleville washers)

Disc springs are conical washers designed for axial loading. SpringXpert describes them as having consistent, repeatable force deflection curves and provides a data sheet link from the product page, which is exactly what designers and buyers need when specifying load and travel. 

Typical uses:

• Bolt load retention where settlement can occur

• High load, small deflection duties

• Stacked configurations to tune load and travel

If you are dealing with heavier bolted joints, SpringXpert also offers heavy duty bolting washers to DIN 6796 aimed at preventing loosening due to gasket set or expansion and contraction cycles. 

Crinkle washers (BS4463 and BS3401)

Crinkle washers are wave style spring washers supplied to British Standards in defined size ranges. Your collection copy explicitly highlights manufacture to order and from stock across metric, imperial and aerospace specific sizes, plus full traceability and RoHS and REACH material data availability. 

Typical uses:

• When the drawing specifies BS4463 or BS3401

• When compliance documentation and traceability are required

• UK and aerospace style procurement where standards matter 

Side by side comparison

How to specify properly (so you get the right part)

When you request a quote or select from a standard range, have these ready:

For wave washers and crinkle washers

• Inside diameter, outside diameter and thickness

• Installed height and required preload

• Material and environment, especially corrosion and temperature

Wave washers are commonly supplied in carbon steel and stainless steel options in your W Range. 

For disc springs

• Inside diameter, outside diameter and thickness

• Required force at a defined working height

• Whether you need stacking to tune travel or force

Your disc spring product page emphasises the predictable force deflection curve and points to a data sheet, which is the correct approach for sizing. 

Common mistakes that cause wrong orders

• Choosing by outside diameter only, ignoring load at working height

• Mixing up wave washers and disc springs because they are both “washer shaped”

• Ordering a crinkle washer when the application really needs a disc spring load level

• Skipping standards, then discovering the drawing demanded BS4463 or BS3401

Shop links to include in the post

Add these as internal links with exact anchor text:

• Wave Washers  https://www.springxpert.com/collections/wave-washers

• Disc Springs https://www.springxpert.com/collections/disc-springs

• Crinkle Washers BS4463 and BS3401 https://www.springxpert.com/collections/metric-crinkle-washers-304-stainless-steel-bs4463

FAQ Are wave washers the same as wave spring washers?
Yes, wave washer and wave spring washer are commonly used interchangeably. Your product pages use both terms across the range. 

When should I use a disc spring instead of a wave washer?
Use a disc spring when you need higher forces and a more defined force deflection curve than a wave washer is intended to provide. 

What do BS4463 and BS3401 mean for crinkle washers?
They indicate British Standard size and specification ranges. Your collection also highlights traceability and compliance material data availability. 

Do you stock standard sizes or can you make bespoke?
Your wave washer range states you have a comprehensive standard range and the capability to manufacture bespoke sizes. 

Closing call to action

If you are matching a drawing or an existing part, start with the correct family first, then choose the size range. If you have limited axial space and need a modest preload, go wave washer. If you need higher forces with predictable performance, go disc spring. If your spec calls British Standards with traceability, go crinkle washer to BS4463 or BS3401.