U.S. Screw, Nut & Bolt Market Size & Opportunities Analysis - Growth Strategies, Competitiveness, and Forecasts (2025 - 2032)

U.S. Screw, Nut & Bolt Market Trends & Drivers

The Surge in Construction and Infrastructure Development Drives Market

• The growing construction sector is a key driver for the market, with USD 1.2 trillion allocated for infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, railroads, and energy grids, under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
• The rising popularity of modular and prefabricated construction drives the market as it requires precise fastening systems.
• The public and private investment in infrastructure creates a high demand for strong, reliable fasteners.
• These fasteners are still preferred for common applications, such as furniture, doors & windows, steel structural columns, pipes & conduits, and HVAC appliances.
• A variety of screws and bolts in various lengths, designs, and diameters are available for a wide range of purposes at local hardware stores.
• The construction domain received investments worth USD 2,196.1 billion in March 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Geopolitics and Trade Policy Shifts Are Key Restraints

• The market is negatively affected by the worsening geopolitical tension between the U.S. and China, increasing tariffs, and restrictive measures on imports, forcing manufacturers to reconsider their supply chains.
• In 2024, the Department of Commerce levied high import duties on Chinese steel fasteners after anti-dumping investigations, with an aim to make U.S.-made fasteners more cost-effective and beneficial.
• This has prompted nearshoring efforts, with many companies moving to Mexico for cost-efficient production and tariff avoidance.

U.S. Screw, Nut & Bolt Market Analysis

Product Type Analysis

The screw category held the largest market share, of 20%, in 2024, because they are essential in construction, automotive assembly, electronics, and consumer goods. Many kinds of screws, such as self-tapping, machine, wood, and security screws, are suitable for everything from lightweight to heavy-duty applications.

The bolts category will grow at the highest CAGR, of 3%, during the forecast period. This is due to the strong focus of the U.S. government on infrastructure upgrades, such as bridges, renewable energy projects, and transportation projects. This propels the demand for high-strength bolting systems for applications where heavy loads must be borne. The growing sale of EVs is another major growth driver as it increases the demand for high-tensile bolts for battery enclosures and the chassis.

The product types analyzed in this report are:

• Screws (Largest Category)
  • Machine Screws
  • Wood Screws
  • Sheet Metal Screws
• Nuts
  • Hex Nuts
  • Lock Nuts
  • Wing Nuts
  • Flange Nuts
• Bolts (Fastest-Growing Category)
  • Hex Bolts
  • Carriage Bolts
  • Eye Bolts
  • Anchor Bolts
• Washers & Rivets

Material Analysis

The metal category held the larger market share, of 85%, in 2024, due to their high strength, durability, and adaptability to almost every kind of application. Carbon steel, stainless steel, and various alloys are majorly used to make high-tensile strength and cost-effective bolts for applications such as structural components of buildings, automobiles, industrial machines that must bear high pressure and temperature, and railway tracks.

The plastic category will grow at the higher CAGR, of 3.5%, during the forecast period. Engineering plastics, such as nylon, PEEK, and PTFE, are gaining popularity in electronics, EVs, and medical devices for lightweighting, electrical insulation, and mechanical resistance. Plastic screws, nuts, and bolts resist chemicals, display superior vibration absorption, and block EMI/RFI, making them suitable for aerospace interiors, automotive sensors, and MRI machines.

The materials analyzed in this report are:

• Metal (Larger Category)
  • Carbon Steel
  • Stainless Steel
  • Alloy Steel
  • Aluminum
• Plastic (Faster-Growing Category)

Distribution Channel Analysis

The distributors & wholesalers category held the largest market share, of 60%, in 2024. This is because these intermediaries connect manufacturers with the actual users in fragmented industries. They add value by enabling bulk supplies, logistics, and just-in-time inventory for small and mid-sized manufacturers that lack direct sourcing and capabilities.

The direct sales category will grow at the highest CAGR, of 3.2%, during the forecast period, because of the increasing domestic production with a focus on supply chain resilience. Many manufacturers, especially in the aerospace, automotive, and defense sectors, are making long-term deals directly with suppliers to ensure precision and traceability. Digital transformation, including e-commerce platforms and ERP systems, has made this shift faster and easier.

The distribution channels analyzed in this report are:

• Direct Sales (Faster-Growing Category)
• Distributors & Wholesales (Largest Category)
• Retail

End Use Analysis

The construction category held the largest market share, of 35%, in 2024. This is due to the large public and private investment that support the development of roads, bridges, and energy projects. This creates a requirement for millions of fasteners of different sizes, lengths, diameters, and ribbing.

The aerospace & defense category will grow at the highest CAGR, of 3.8%, during the forecast period. This is because the U.S. defense budget reached USD 841.1 billion in 2024, rising to USD 850 billion in 2025. This will fund next-gen fighter jets, naval ships, and satellites, all of which require high-performance fasteners. The strong focus of the country on aircraft production, military modernization, and space exploration is driving the demand for defense fasteners.

The end uses analyzed in this report are:

• Construction (Largest Category)
• Automotive & Transportation
• Aerospace & Defense (Faster-Growing Category)
• Industrial Machinery & Equipment
• Electronics & Appliances
• Marine
• Others

U.S. Screw, Nut & Bolt Market Geographical Analysis

The South category held the largest market share, of 30%, in 2024. This is because of the large-scale industrial and construction development in the highly populated states of Texas, Georgia, and Florida. Infrastructure projects such as highways, data centers, and energy sites, which require a huge quantity of fasteners.

The West category will grow at the highest CAGR, of 4% during the forecast period, because of the development of industries and the strong focus on renewable energy. California's tech sector needs micro-fasteners for electronics, drones, and electric vehicles, while solar farms in Arizona and Nevada require corrosion-resistant bolts for large assemblage. The aerospace industry, led by Boeing in Washington and SpaceX in California, as well as post-wildfire rebuilding efforts also drive the market.

The geographical breakdown of the market is as follows:

• Northeast
• West (Fastest-Growing Category)
• Midwest
• South (Largest Category)

U.S. Screw, Nut & Bolt Market Share

The market share is fragmented because of a wide range of manufacturers, from small specific companies to large global players, each catering to different industries and applications. Screws, nuts, and bolts are nothing new; hence, they are well known and easily manufactured in the country. It does not require too much capital to produce them in bulk, which essentially leads to the dominance of small, local companies. The varying requirements of industries also allow newer companies to enter the market with specific and customized fasteners.

U.S. Screw, Nut & Bolt Market News & Updates

• In July 2024, Cherry Aerospace and Century Fasteners Corp entered into a partnership to increase the availability of Cherry's products to distributors and OEMs.