Which Magnet Shape Should I Choose?
Start with how the magnet will be mounted. Discs and blocks glue into pockets or stick onto flat surfaces; rings and countersunk magnets take a bolt or screw; and pot magnets put the most holding power on one face, with a screw, stud, or hook built in. Cylinders fit deep holes and reach farther through gaps. Spheres are great for sculptures, mini-figures, and swivel joints.
Shape by Shape
| Shape | Best for | Mounts with | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disc | Closures, crafts, pockets in wood or 3D prints | Glue, 3M adhesive | Discs |
| Cylinder (rod) | Deep holes, sensors, reaching through a gap | Glue into a drilled hole | Cylinders |
| Block (bar) | Flat mounting, long contact, cabinet catches | Glue, adhesive, clamp | Blocks |
| Cube | Strong pull from a small footprint, building toys | Glue | Cubes |
| Ring | A bolt, pin or axle through the center | Pin or bolt (don’t overtighten) | Rings |
| Countersunk | Screw-mounting to wood, plastic or metal | Flat-head screw | Countersunk |
| Pot (cup) | Heavy holding, fixtures, hooks, signs | Screw, threaded stud or hook | Pot Magnets |
| Sphere | Sculptures, ball joints | Free, or in a socket | Spheres |
How Shape Changes Performance
Wide and Thin
Lots of contact area for its weight. Holds well flat against steel but loses strength quickly through a gap.
Thick or Long
Throws its field farther, so it handles paint, fabric and wood better. Gains level off once it’s about as thick as it is wide.
In a Steel Cup
A pot magnet steers its field to one face. It’s the strongest option per size against steel, and the back is nearly field-free.
Magnetization Direction Matters Too
Most shapes are magnetized through the thickness (axially), with poles on the flat faces. Some discs, rings and cylinders are magnetized across the diameter instead, with poles on the curved sides, which suits rollers, sensors and rotating parts. Read magnetization directions explained.
Axially magnetized disc
North on one flat face, south on the other.
Diametrically magnetized disc
North on one curved side, south on the other.
Common Questions
What's the difference between a disc and a cylinder?
Only proportion. We call a magnet a cylinder or rod when it’s about as long as its diameter or longer. Longer magnets reach farther; flatter ones fit thin spaces.
Can I screw through a regular disc or ring magnet?
Don’t tighten a screw against a plain ring: the magnet is brittle and can crack. Use a Countersunk Magnet, whose tapered hole is made for a flat-head screw, or a Pot Magnet.
Can you cut a magnet into a different shape?
Not safely at home. Neodymium is brittle, and the dust is flammable. See can I drill or machine neodymium magnets? If you need a shape we don’t stock, we make custom magnets.
Which shape is strongest?
For the same size, a pot magnet usually pulls hardest on steel; see why a pot magnet is stronger. Among bare magnets, the one with the most material wins: a 1 Inch cube (94.6 lb) out-pulls a 1 × 1 Inch cylinder (75.5 lb).