Material selection matters: Family names describe broad tendencies, not a guaranteed rating. Check the actual fluid, temperature, pressure or vacuum, flange finish, bolt load, movement, outdoor exposure, and required certifications for your application.
Available gasket materials
Firm general service
Gasket fiber
.015 · 1/32 · 1/16 in
- Known for
- Good sealability, firm handling, and load retention; grades range from paper-like cellulose fiber to higher-performance compressed fiber.
- Common examples
- Carburetors, timing and gear covers, pump casings, heat exchangers, general piping, and water, oil, fuel, or gasoline flanges.
- Consider
- The binder and fiber grade determine fluid, heat, pressure, and creep performance. Do not treat every fiber sheet as equivalent.
Soft and conformable
Cork
1/32 · 1/16 · 1/8 in
- Known for
- High compressibility, resilience, low weight, vibration damping, and the ability to conform under a light clamping load.
- Common examples
- Inspection and access covers, valve covers, spacers, light-duty housings, washers, and low-pressure joints.
- Consider
- Cork can crush, absorb some fluids, and lose thickness under sustained load. It is not a universal high-pressure seal.
Compressible with recovery
Cork–rubber
1/32 · 1/16 · 1/8 in
- Known for
- Cork conformability plus rubber elasticity, recovery, dimensional stability, and improved vibration performance.
- Common examples
- Engine, oil and transmission pans, pump housings, machinery covers, electrical enclosures, and transformer components.
- Consider
- The rubber binder determines oil, fuel, chemical, weather, and temperature compatibility.
Oil and fuel service
Buna‑N / NBR
1/32 · 1/16 · 1/8 in
- Known for
- Good oil, grease, and hydrocarbon resistance with useful tensile strength, flexibility, compression set, and abrasion performance.
- Common examples
- Oil pans, fuel-system covers, pumps, hydraulic equipment, industrial machinery, and seals around mineral-based oils and greases.
- Consider
- Weather, ozone, strong sunlight, ketones, ethers, and some aromatic solvents are common limitations.
Water and outdoor service
EPDM
1/32 · 1/16 · 1/8 in
- Known for
- Strong resistance to water, steam, weather, ozone, ultraviolet exposure, aging, and many mild chemicals.
- Common examples
- Water pumps, coolant and radiator joints, outdoor enclosures, marine covers, weather seals, and hot-water equipment.
- Consider
- Petroleum oils, gasoline, hydrocarbon fuels, and many mineral-oil solvents are poor matches.
Temperature flexibility
Silicone
1/32 · 1/16 · 1/8 in
- Known for
- Excellent heat resistance, cold flexibility, weather and ozone resistance, electrical insulation, and low long-term compression set.
- Common examples
- Appliance and oven covers, dry-heat equipment, water service, outdoor housings, electrical equipment, and specialized food-grade applications.
- Consider
- Tear strength, abrasion, fuel and oil resistance, steam exposure, and chemical compatibility vary significantly by grade.
Need NBR, EPDM, or silicone? See the focused custom rubber gasket guide for a service-first comparison and ordering workflow.
Quick comparison
| Material | Compressibility | Strong starting point for | Common watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasket fiber | Low to medium | General flanges, pumps, covers, oil, fuel, and water | Capabilities vary widely by grade and binder |
| Cork | High | Light clamping loads, covers, spacers, vibration | Crush, fluid absorption, and sustained-load loss |
| Cork–rubber | High with better recovery | Pans, housings, machinery, vibration-prone joints | Binder determines fluid compatibility |
| Buna‑N / NBR | Medium | Petroleum oil, fuel, grease, and hydraulics | Outdoor ozone and weather exposure |
| EPDM | Medium | Water, steam, coolant, weather, and outdoor use | Petroleum oils and hydrocarbon fuels |
| Silicone | Medium to high | Heat, cold, weather, electrical, and specialty service | Tear, abrasion, and petroleum-fluid resistance |
Online material pricing
Every listed material and thickness has an instant numerical estimate in the gasket builder. The footprint rates below are one part of the calculation; they are not the complete per-gasket price.
| Material | Base / gasket | Minimum / gasket | .015 in $/in² | 1/32 in $/in² | 1/16 in $/in² | 1/8 in $/in² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gasket fiber | $4.50 | $7.00 | $0.08 | $0.10 | $0.16 | — |
| Cork | $4.50 | $7.00 | — | $0.15 | $0.22 | $0.35 |
| Cork–rubber | $6.00 | $10.00 | — | $0.28 | $0.45 | $0.75 |
| Buna‑N / NBR | $6.00 | $10.00 | — | $0.07 | $0.10 | $0.18 |
| EPDM | $6.00 | $10.00 | — | $0.08 | $0.12 | $0.28 |
| Silicone | $8.00 | $14.00 | — | $0.18 | $0.28 | $0.50 |
How the estimate is calculated: per-gasket price is the greater of the material minimum or the base price plus footprint area × the selected thickness rate, plus $0.10 per inch of cut length and $0.50 per internal cutout. A $18.00 setup charge applies to each gasket design and is waived at 150 pieces. Quantity discounts are 5% at 10+, 10% at 50+, 15% at 100+, and 20% at 250+. Rush service adds 25% after the discount and setup; standard shipping is $8.00 per cart.
Online design limits
The builder checks these limits before a gasket can be added to the project or sent to checkout.
| Rule | Online limit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum part | 29.00 × 15.25 in, either orientation | The complete outside shape must fit inside this online production area. |
| Minimum cut feature | 0.0625 in nominal | Holes and the short side of slots or rectangular cutouts must meet this size. |
| Minimum nominal web | 0.0625 in | Cutouts must stay apart from one another and from the outside edge. |
| Maximum online thickness | 1/8 in | Available thickness depends on the selected material. |
| Outside the online size | Contact Sales | We can review the drawing and suggest another production approach. |
What approval means
A digital proof confirms the submitted nominal geometry, dimensions, material selection, thickness, quantity, and revision. It does not certify the gasket for a fluid, temperature, pressure, vacuum, flange finish, bolt load, torque sequence, fire rating, food or medical service, or any code. The buyer is responsible for the application specification.