Top stops are also known as "top stoppers" or "top ends". They are the metal components found toward the top end of the zipper that keep the slider from running off the zipper chain or zipper track when the zipper is zipped.

Top stops can be found on virtually any type of zipper - jacket zippers, jean zippers, bag zippers and more.

They are typically shaped like a "U" and can be easily crimped onto zipper chain using a pair of needle nose pliers.

When shortening a zipper or replacing a zipper slider, use these to replace the top stops you have removed.

Shop for Zipper Top Stops

Bottom stops are also known as "bottom stoppers", and are the metal components found toward the bottom end of the zipper that close off the zipper.

Bottom stops are only found on closed-end zippers and are never found on separating zippers. They are commonly used on pant zippers, jean zippers, pocket zippers and bag zippers.

They have four prongs and look like a staple.

Bottom stops can also be used to convert separating zippers to closed-end zippers.

Shop for Zipper Bottom Stops

Separating zippers - or jacket zippers - do NOT have bottom stops.

Instead, they have an insertion pin on one side and a retainer box on the other side. Often, people confuse these components for bottom stops.

If either the retainer box or insertion pin on a zipper is damaged, a full zipper replacement is needed.

Whether replacing a top or bottom stop, the steps to determining a replacement follow the same process:

1. Identify the type of zipper

2. Identify the gauge/size of the zipper

3. Choose the best color match

Following these steps will ensure the correct stop is purchased.

Metal and molded plastic zippers use the same top and bottom stops:

- Standard top stops are used at the top of the zipper

- Standard bottom stops are used at the bottom of a zipper.

Nylon coil zippers are slightly different from metal and molded plastic zippers when it comes to replacement stops.

- Generally speaking, bottom stops are used as top stops on nylon coil zippers. This is because nylon coil zippers have teeth that are coiled around the zipper tape. Standard top stops aren't large enough to crimp down around the coil, so instead, the prongs of bottom stops can be used to create a stopper.

- Bottom stops are also used as bottom stops on nylon coil zippers.

The general rule is to pair your zipper with the closest gauge stop. If the exact gauge stop isn't available, round up. There are a couple of notable exceptions.

Top and Bottom Stops for Metal and Molded Plastic Zippers

Top stops used as top stops, bottom stops used as bottom stops:

- #3 stops for #3 and #2 zippers

- #5 stops for #4, #4.5 and #5 zippers

- #7 stops for #6 and #7 zippers

- #10 stops for #8 and #10 zippers

Bottom Stops for Nylon Coil Zippers

When using as bottom stops:

- #3 bottom stops as top stops on #3 and #2 zippers

- #5 bottom stops as top stops on #4, #4.5 and #5 zippers

- #7 bottom stops as top stops on #6 and #7 zippers

- #10 bottom stops as top stops on #8 and #10 zippers

When using as top stops:

- #3 bottom stops as top stops on #3, #4, #4.5, #5, #6 and #7 zippers - #3s are the best option for not making the stop look too "heavy" on these zippers

- #5 bottom stops as top stops on #8 zippers

- #10 bottom stops as top stops on #10 zippers

Top and bottom stops come in limited colors. Consider the color of the zipper teeth in order to ensure the best color match when it comes to top and bottom stop selection.

- Silver/nickel colored stops pair best with all nickel and aluminum metal zippers. They also pair well with any color molded plastic or nylon coil zipper.

- Brass/gold colored stops pair best with all brass metal zippers and with molded plastic zippers and nylon coil zippers with yellow hues (think yellow, gold molded plastic zippers).

- Antique brass/muted gold stops pair best with all antique brass metal zippers and with molded plastic zippers and nylon coil zippers with brown hues.

- White stops pair best with white molded plastic zippers and white nylon coil zippers.

- Black stops pair best with black molded plastic zippers and black nylon coil zippers.

Invisible zippers are nylon coil zippers, so the same logic that applies to nylon coil zippers applies to invisible zippers (you can use bottom stops as top stops).

However, since the idea behind using invisible zippers is to hide most of the zipper, people often opt out of using stops entirely and instead create their own stops with thread.

If you prefer to use actual stops, try installing the stops backwards so the prong side of the bottom stop appears on the front of the invisible zipper (minimizing how much you'll see of the invisible zipper).

The short answer is no.

It is not unusual to find zippers without any visible stops at all. In fact, it's pretty common to see this on bags and pockets.

Stops do give zippers a bit of a different look, but they're not always necessary.