Wiper blade connector types: hook, push button, pinch tab and more
The main wiper blade connector types are hook (also called U-hook), push button, pinch tab, side pin, bayonet, and top lock or slim top lock. Hook is the most common: of the 231 UK car generations where we've verified the front wiper fitting, 101 use a hook and 84 a push button. The fitting is set by your car's wiper arm, so you need a blade or adapter that matches it as well as the right length.
What are the different wiper blade connector types?
The connector is the join between the end of the wiper arm and the blade. Most blades are sold with a universal adapter fitted, or with a small bag of adapters, so one blade can fit several arm types. That's why it's worth knowing which arm you have before you open the pack.
Here's how often each type appears in our verified data.
| Connector type | What the arm end looks like | Generations in our data (231) | Examples we've verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook (U-hook) | Arm ends in a U-shaped bend | 101 | Ford Fiesta Mk7, Nissan Qashqai J11, Toyota Yaris XP130 |
| Push button | Flat arm end, blade held by a button | 84 | Ford Fiesta Mk8, VW Golf Mk7, Audi A3 8V |
| Pinch tab | Narrow arm, two tabs squeezed to release | 25 | Vauxhall Corsa D and E, BMW 3 Series F30, Ford Kuga Mk3 |
| Bayonet | Flat tongue that slides into the blade | 8 | Renault Clio V |
| Side pin | Pin sticking out of the side of the arm | 8 | |
| Top lock / slim top lock | Flat arm end locked by a cover on top | Less common | VW Polo 6R/6C (slim top lock), Peugeot 208 (top lock) |
The counts cover front wipers only. Rear wipers often use different fittings, which our rear wiper guide covers.
How do you remove a hook wiper blade?
The hook is the arm fitting most people have met. The arm ends in a U-shaped bend and a plastic adapter on the blade clips inside it.
- Lift the arm off the screen until it stays up. Put a folded towel on the glass in case it springs back.
- Turn the blade so it sits at right angles to the arm.
- Press the small release tab on the adapter.
- Slide the blade down, towards the pivot end of the arm, until the hook comes free of the adapter.
Fitting a new one is the reverse: slide the hook into the adapter until it clicks.
Hooks come in more than one width, so if a new blade feels loose or won't click in, check whether the pack has a second hook adapter.
How do push button, pinch tab and top lock fittings work?
Push button. The arm ends in a flat section with a hole, and the blade's adapter has a button that sits in it. Press the button and pull the blade away from the arm along its length. Push button arms come in more than one width, so check the pack lists yours.
Pinch tab. The arm is slim and the blade has two small tabs, one either side. Squeeze them together and lift the blade off the end of the arm. The Vauxhall Corsa D and Corsa E both use this type.
Top lock and slim top lock. The arm end is flat and the blade's adapter has a hinged cover or tab on top. Lift it, then slide the blade off the arm. The slim version is narrower. The VW Polo 6R/6C uses slim top lock.
How do side pin and bayonet fittings work?
Side pin. A short pin sticks out of the side of the arm and passes through a hole in the blade. There's usually a latch or cover that stops it sliding out. Open the latch and slide the blade sideways off the pin.
Bayonet. The arm ends in a flat tongue that pushes into a slot in the blade, held by a spring clip. Release the clip and slide the blade off. Our data has only 8 generations with bayonet front fittings, including the Renault Clio V.
The exact release mechanism varies between blade makers, even for the same arm type. If the method above doesn't work, look for a tab or cover you haven't pressed rather than forcing it.
How do you identify your wiper connector?
Lift the arm and look at where the blade meets it.
- If the arm bends back on itself in a U shape, it's a hook.
- If the arm is flat with a button showing through, it's a push button.
- If there are two small tabs on the sides of a narrow arm, it's a pinch tab.
- If a pin comes out of the side of the arm, it's a side pin.
- If the arm is a flat tongue that disappears into the blade, it's a bayonet or a top lock fitting.
The quicker way is to look it up. Each FitsMyCar wiper page lists the fitting for the front arms along with the blade lengths and the source we checked it against.
Do the driver and passenger arms use the same connector?
Often, but not always, so check both arms. What usually differs between the two sides is blade length and shape. Flat blades in particular are often asymmetric, so even with the right fitting you need the correct blade for each side. See our guide to driver and passenger blades on a UK car.
The fitting also affects which blade designs you can choose. If you're thinking of switching from conventional to flat blades, our flat vs conventional guide covers what to check.
Check your car
The fitting changes between generations of the same model, so check the exact car:
- Ford Fiesta Mk7 wipers: hook
- Ford Fiesta Mk8 wipers: push button
- Vauxhall Corsa E wipers: pinch tab
- VW Polo 6R/6C wipers: slim top lock
- Peugeot 208 wipers: top lock
- Renault Clio V wipers: bayonet
Or browse the wipers index and all makes.
Common questions
Which wiper blade connector is most common?
The hook. Of the 231 UK car generations where we've verified the front wiper fitting, 101 use a hook, followed by push button on 84 and pinch tab on 25.
Do universal wiper blades fit every car?
Not quite. "Universal" usually means the blade comes with several adapters, so it covers the common arm types. Check the pack lists your fitting, especially for less common ones such as bayonet or side pin.
Can I fit a blade with a different connector to my arm?
Only with the right adapter. The arm can't be changed, so the blade has to match it, either directly or through an adapter supplied with the blade.
Why does my new wiper blade feel loose on the arm?
The adapter is probably the wrong size for your arm, for example a hook adapter for a narrower hook. Try the other adapters in the pack before driving, because a loose blade can come off in use.
Checked against our verification rules. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.