Ask Difference

Tack vs. Pin — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 7, 2024
Tack refers to a short, sharp nail with a broad, flat head, used for hanging or securing items, while a pin is a thin, pointed piece of metal used to fasten materials together or as a marker.
Tack vs. Pin — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Tack and Pin

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Key Differences

Tack is a small, sharp nail with a wide, flat head, commonly used in upholstery or for attaching carpets and fabrics to surfaces. It provides a secure hold due to its design, which allows for easy removal and repositioning. On the other hand, a pin is typically longer and thinner, with a pointed end and sometimes a decorative or functional head. Pins are widely used in sewing, crafting, and as markers on bulletin boards, relying on their sharp point to pierce through materials.
Tacks are often made of metal and can sometimes be found in plastic varieties. They are designed to be hammered into a surface, providing a temporary or semi-permanent attachment. Pins, whereas, come in a variety of materials including metal, wood, and plastic, and are not usually hammered but pushed through materials by hand, making them ideal for delicate tasks where a hammer could cause damage.
In terms of application, tacks are commonly used in construction and upholstery, where they secure materials like fabrics or thin boards to larger, more stable surfaces. Pins, on the other hand, are more associated with crafts, sewing, and temporary fixings, such as holding fabric pieces together before sewing or pinning notes to a corkboard.
The removal process also differentiates tacks from pins. Tacks can be easily pried out using a tack lifter or flat tool due to their broad head. Pins, however, often require careful pulling, sometimes with the aid of a pincushion or magnet, especially if they have been deeply embedded into materials.
Despite their differences, both tacks and pins serve the fundamental purpose of joining materials together, albeit in different contexts and with varying degrees of permanence. Their selection depends on the specific needs of the project, material, and desired outcome.
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Comparison Chart

Design

Short nail with a broad, flat head
Thin, pointed piece of metal

Material

Mainly metal, sometimes plastic
Metal, wood, plastic

Usage

Upholstery, securing carpets
Sewing, crafts, marking

Application Method

Hammered into surface
Pushed through materials by hand

Removal

Pried out with a tool
Pulled out, often with a pincushion

Compare with Definitions

Tack

A short nail with a broad head.
The poster was held up by a tack in each corner.

Pin

Can be decorative.
He wore a lapel pin to the formal event.

Tack

Used for upholstery.
She used a tack to secure the fabric to the chair frame.

Pin

A thin, sharp piece of metal for fastening.
She used a pin to hold the two pieces of fabric together.

Tack

For temporary attachment.
He used a tack to fix the carpet temporarily.

Pin

Requires careful removal.
She carefully removed the pins from the dress after sewing.

Tack

Easily removed for adjustments.
The tack was easily removed to adjust the position of the fabric.

Pin

Used in sewing and crafts.
Pins were scattered across the sewing table.

Tack

Requires a hammer for insertion.
She hammered the tack into the wall to hang the picture.

Pin

Inserted by hand.
She carefully pinned the note to the board.

Tack

A short, light nail with a sharp point and a flat head.

Pin

A pin is a device used for fastening objects or material together, and can have three sorts of body: a shaft of a rigid inflexible material meant to be inserted in a slot, groove, or hole (as with pivots, hinges, and jigs); a shaft connected to a head and ending in a sharp tip meant to pierce one or more pieces of soft materials like cloth or paper (the straight or push pin); a single strip of a rigid but flexible material (e.g. a wire) whose length has been folded into parallel prongs in such fashion that the middle length of each curves towards the other so that, when anything is inserted between them, they act as a clamp (e.g.

Tack

A rope for holding down the weather clew of a course.

Pin

An identifying number allocated to an individual by a bank or other organization and used for validating electronic transactions.

Tack

A rope for hauling the outer lower corner of a studdingsail to the boom.

Pin

Attach or fasten with a pin or pins
Her hair was pinned back
He pinned the badge on to his lapel

Tack

The part of a sail, such as the weather clew of a course, to which this rope is fastened.

Pin

Hold (someone) firmly in a specified position so they are unable to move
Richards pinned him down until the police arrived
She was standing pinned against the door

Tack

The lower forward corner of a fore-and-aft sail.

Pin

Hinder or prevent (a piece or pawn) from moving because of the danger to a more valuable piece standing behind it along the line of an attack
The black rook on e4 is pinned

Tack

The position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails.

Pin

A short, straight, stiff piece of wire with a blunt head and a sharp point, used especially for fastening.

Tack

The act of changing from one position or direction to another.

Pin

Something, such as a safety pin, that resembles such a piece of wire in shape or use.

Tack

The distance or leg sailed between changes of position or direction.

Pin

A whit; a jot
Didn't care a pin about the matter.

Tack

An approach to accomplishing a goal or a method of dealing with a problem.

Pin

A thin rod for securing the ends of fractured bones.

Tack

A large, loose stitch made as a temporary binding or as a marker.

Pin

A peg for fixing the crown to the root of a tooth.

Tack

Stickiness, as that of a newly painted surface.

Pin

A cotter pin.

Tack

Food, especially coarse or inferior foodstuffs.

Pin

The part of a key stem entering a lock.

Tack

The harness for a horse, including the bridle and saddle.

Pin

(Music) One of the pegs securing the strings and regulating their tension on a stringed instrument.

Tack

To fasten or attach with a tack or tacks
Tacked the carpet down.

Pin

(Nautical) A belaying pin.

Tack

To fasten or mark (cloth or a seam, for example) with a loose basting stitch.

Pin

(Nautical) A thole pin.

Tack

To put together loosely and arbitrarily
Tacked some stories together in an attempt to write a novel.

Pin

An ornament fastened to clothing by means of a clasp.

Tack

To add as an extra item; append
Tacked two dollars onto the bill.

Pin

A rolling pin.

Tack

(Nautical) To bring (a vessel) into the wind in order to change course or direction.

Pin

One of the wooden clubs at which the ball is aimed in bowling.

Tack

To change the direction of a sailing vessel, especially by turning the bow into and past the direction of the wind
Stand by to tack.

Pin

A flagstick.

Tack

To sail a zigzag course upwind by repeatedly executing such a maneuver.

Pin

See fall.

Tack

To change tack
The ship tacked to starboard.

Pin

Pins(Informal) The legs
Is steady on his pins.

Tack

To change one's course of action.

Pin

(Electronics) A lead on a device that plugs into a socket to connect the device to a system.

Tack

A small nail with a flat head.

Pin

Any of the pegs on the platen of a printer, which engage holes at the edges of paper.

Tack

A thumbtack.

Pin

Any of the styluses that form a dot matrix on a printer.

Tack

(sewing) A loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth.

Pin

Any of the small metal prongs at the end of a connector that fit into the holes in a port.

Tack

(nautical) The lower corner on the leading edge of a sail relative to the direction of the wind.

Pin

To fasten or secure with or as if with a pin or pins.

Tack

(nautical) A course or heading that enables a sailing vessel to head upwind.

Pin

To transfix.

Tack

(figurative) A direction or course of action, especially a new one.

Pin

To place in a position of trusting dependence
He pinned his faith on an absurdity.

Tack

(nautical) The maneuver by which a sailing vessel turns its bow through the wind so that the wind changes from one side to the other.

Pin

To hold fast; immobilize
He was pinned under the wreckage of the truck.

Tack

(nautical) The distance a sailing vessel runs between these maneuvers when working to windward; a board.

Pin

(Sports) To win a fall from in wrestling.

Tack

(nautical) A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses when the vessel is close-hauled; also, a rope employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail to the boom.

Pin

To give (a woman) a fraternity pin in token of attachment.

Tack

Any of the various equipment and accessories worn by horses in the course of their use as domesticated animals.

Pin

Having a grain suggestive of the heads of pins. Used of leather.

Tack

The stickiness of a compound, related to its cohesive and adhesive properties.
The laminate adhesive has very aggressive tack and is hard to move once in place.

Pin

A needle without an eye (usually) made of drawn-out steel wire with one end sharpened and the other flattened or rounded into a head, used for fastening.

Tack

Food generally; fare, especially of the bread kind.
Soft tack

Pin

A small nail with a head and a sharp point.

Tack

That which is attached; a supplement; an appendix.

Pin

A cylinder often of wood or metal used to fasten or as a bearing between two parts.
Pull the pin out of the grenade before throwing it at the enemy.

Tack

(obsolete) Confidence; reliance.

Pin

The victory condition of holding the opponent's shoulders on the wrestling mat for a prescribed period of time.

Tack

A stain; a tache.

Pin

A slender object specially designed for use in a specific game or sport, such as skittles or bowling.

Tack

(obsolete) A peculiar flavour or taint.
A musty tack

Pin

A leg.
I'm not so good on my pins these days.

Tack

(colloquial) That which is tacky; something cheap and gaudy.

Pin

(electricity) Any of the individual connecting elements of a multipole electrical connector.
The UK standard connector for domestic mains electricity has three pins.

Tack

A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease.

Pin

A piece of jewellery that is attached to clothing with a pin.

Tack

To nail with a tack small nail with a flat head.

Pin

(US) A simple accessory that can be attached to clothing with a pin or fastener, often round and bearing a design, logo or message, and used for decoration, identification or to show political affiliation, etc.

Tack

To sew/stitch with a tack loose seam used to temporarily fasten pieces of cloth.

Pin

(chess) Either a scenario in which moving a lesser piece to escape from attack would expose a more valuable piece to being taken instead, or one where moving a piece is impossible as it would place the king in check.

Tack

(nautical) To maneuver a sailing vessel so that its bow turns through the wind, i.e. the wind changes from one side of the vessel to the other.

Pin

(golf) The flagstick: the flag-bearing pole which marks the location of a hole

Tack

To add something as an extra item.
To tack (something) onto (something)

Pin

(curling) The spot at the exact centre of the house (the target area)
The shot landed right on the pin.

Tack

To place the tack on a horse; often paired with "up".

Pin

(archery) The spot at the exact centre of the target, originally a literal pin that fastened the target in place.

Tack

A stain; a tache.

Pin

(obsolete) A mood, a state of being.

Tack

A peculiar flavor or taint; as, a musty tack.

Pin

One of a row of pegs in the side of an ancient drinking cup to mark how much each person should drink.

Tack

A small, short, sharp-pointed nail, usually having a broad, flat head.

Pin

Caligo.

Tack

A rope used to hold in place the foremost lower corners of the courses when the vessel is closehauled (see Illust. of Ship); also, a rope employed to pull the lower corner of a studding sail to the boom.

Pin

A thing of small value; a trifle.

Tack

A contract by which the use of a thing is set, or let, for hire; a lease.

Pin

A peg in musical instruments for increasing or relaxing the tension of the strings.

Tack

Confidence; reliance.

Pin

(engineering) A short shaft, sometimes forming a bolt, a part of which serves as a journal.

Tack

To fasten or attach.
And tacks the center to the sphere.

Pin

The tenon of a dovetail joint.

Tack

Especially, to attach or secure in a slight or hasty manner, as by stitching or nailing; as, to tack together the sheets of a book; to tack one piece of cloth to another; to tack on a board or shingle; to tack one piece of metal to another by drops of solder.

Pin

A size of brewery cask, equal to half a firkin, or eighth of a barrel.

Tack

In parliamentary usage, to add (a supplement) to a bill; to append; - often with on or to; as, to tack on a non-germane appropriation to a bill.

Pin

(informal) A pinball machine.
I spent most of my time in the arcade playing pins.

Tack

To change the direction of (a vessel) when sailing closehauled, by putting the helm alee and shifting the tacks and sails so that she will proceed to windward nearly at right angles to her former course.

Pin

(locksmithing) A small cylindrical object which blocks the rotation of a pin-tumbler lock when the incorrect key is inserted.

Tack

The heading or position of a vessel relative to the trim of its sails

Pin

(often followed by a preposition such as "to" or "on") To fasten or attach (something) with a pin.

Tack

A short nail with a sharp point and a large head

Pin

To cause (a piece) to be in a pin.

Tack

Gear for a horse

Pin

(wrestling) To pin down (someone).
He pinned his opponent on the mat.

Tack

(nautical) a line (rope or chain) that regulates the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind

Pin

To enclose; to confine; to pen; to pound.

Tack

(nautical) the act of changing tack

Pin

To attach (an icon, application, message etc.) to another item so that it persists.
To pin a folder to the taskbar

Tack

Sailing a zigzag course

Pin

To fix (an array in memory, a security certificate, etc.) so that it cannot be modified.
When marshaling data, the interop marshaler can copy or pin the data being marshaled.

Tack

Fasten with tacks;
Tack the notice on the board

Pin

5.0|page=244

Tack

Turn into the wind;
The sailors decided to tack the boat
The boat tacked

Pin

(transitive) To cause an analog gauge to reach the stop pin at the high end of the range.

Tack

Make by putting pieces together;
She pieced a quilt
He tacked together some verses

Pin

To peen.

Tack

Sew together loosely, with large stitches;
Baste a hem

Pin

To inclose; to confine; to pen; to pound.

Tack

Fix to; attach;
Append a charm to the necklace

Pin

To fasten with, or as with, a pin; to join; as, to pin a garment; to pin boards together.

Tack

Reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action)

Pin

A piece of wood, metal, etc., generally cylindrical, used for fastening separate articles together, or as a support by which one article may be suspended from another; a peg; a bolt.
With pins of adamantAnd chains they made all fast.

Pin

Especially, a small, pointed and headed piece of brass or other wire (commonly tinned), largely used for fastening clothes, attaching papers, etc.

Pin

Hence, a thing of small value; a trifle.
He . . . did not care a pin for her.

Pin

That which resembles a pin in its form or use

Pin

One of a row of pegs in the side of an ancient drinking cup to mark how much each man should drink.

Pin

The bull's eye, or center, of a target; hence, the center.

Pin

Mood; humor.

Pin

Caligo. See Caligo.

Pin

An ornament, as a brooch or badge, fastened to the clothing by a pin; as, a Masonic pin.

Pin

The leg; as, to knock one off his pins.

Pin

A piece of jewelry that is pinned onto the wearer's garment

Pin

When a wrestler's shoulders are forced to the mat

Pin

Small markers inserted into a surface to mark scores or define locations etc.

Pin

A number you choose and use to gain access to various accounts

Pin

Informal terms of the leg;
Fever left him weak on his sticks

Pin

Axis consisting of a short shaft that supports something that turns

Pin

Cylindrical tumblers consisting of two parts that are held in place by springs; when they are aligned with a key the bolt can be thrown

Pin

Flagpole used to mark the position of the hole on a golf green

Pin

A small slender (often pointed) piece of wood or metal used to support or fasten or attach things

Pin

A holder attached to the gunwale of a boat that holds the oar in place and acts as a fulcrum for rowing

Pin

A club-shaped wooden object used in bowling; set up in groups as a target

Pin

To hold fast or prevent from moving;
The child was pinned under the fallen tree

Pin

Attach or fasten with pins

Pin

Pierce with a pin;
Pin down the butterfly

Pin

Immobilize a piece

Common Curiosities

Can pins be used in place of tacks?

While pins can temporarily hold materials together, they lack the holding power of tacks for heavier or more permanent applications.

What is the primary use of a tack?

Tacks are primarily used for securing fabrics, carpets, and light materials to surfaces, often in upholstery or construction projects.

How do you remove a tack from a surface?

A tack can be removed by prying it out with a tack lifter or a flat tool, leveraging its broad head.

Do pins have heads like tacks?

Pins can have heads, but they are usually smaller and not as flat as tack heads, and sometimes decorative.

Can tacks be reused?

Yes, tacks can often be reused if they are not bent or damaged upon removal.

Are there specialized pins for specific tasks?

Yes, there are specialized pins, such as safety pins and sewing pins, designed for specific tasks.

Are tacks and pins made of the same materials?

Tacks are mostly made of metal, while pins can be made of metal, wood, or plastic, offering a wider range of uses.

Are pins safe to use on all fabrics?

Yes, but care should be taken with delicate fabrics to avoid leaving holes or marks.

Are there different sizes of tacks and pins?

Yes, both tacks and pins come in various sizes to suit different projects and materials.

Is it easier to insert a pin or a tack?

Pins are generally easier to insert by hand into soft materials, while tacks require a hammer but provide a stronger hold.

Can both tacks and pins be used in crafting?

Yes, both can be used in crafting, but the choice depends on the material and the permanence of the attachment needed.

Can tacks be used on walls without causing damage?

Tacks can cause small holes, so their use on walls should be considered based on the wall material and the acceptability of minor damage.

How do you choose between a tack and a pin for a project?

Consider the material, the permanence of the attachment, and whether the item will bear weight to decide.

Can pins be magnetic?

Some pins, especially sewing pins, can be made of magnetic materials, making them easy to collect with a magnet.

Do professionals prefer tacks or pins for upholstery?

Professionals often prefer tacks for upholstery due to their strength and durability in holding fabrics to furniture frames.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat

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