Packers & Shims

For the Trade

What matters first is how much adjustment you need and how much movement the job is likely to see once it’s fixed. With packers and shims, you’re usually choosing between a firmer pack that stays put under load and a thinner shim where you only need a small correction. The jobs that come back are the ones where the pack creeps after the fix goes in, so look at the gap, the access, and whether you need a single piece or a stack that won’t crush. In tight settings, plastic packers usually save time because they’re easier to keep consistent.

Packers & Shim Options Compared

For packers and shims, the first call is usually whether you need a solid spacer or a finer adjustment. Packers suit jobs where you want a consistent pack that won’t compress. Shims come in when you’re trimming out a small variation and need more control.

Plastic packers are the usual pick where you want the pack to stay true under load. Thinner shims give you more feel, but they’re easier to overdo if you keep stacking them. If you’re buying across a few jobs, the Fixings & Fasteners range is where you’ll usually compare the rest of the fixing alongside them.

Choosing Materials and Size

Material is usually the first call. Plastic packers and plastic shims are what most trades reach for because they don’t crush easily, stay consistent, and are easy to sort on site.

Go thicker when the pack needs to carry the load cleanly. Go thinner when you’re only taking out a small correction and don’t want to overpack the gap. A firmer pack sits steadier. A thinner shim gives you more control, but it asks for a bit more care during fit-out.

If the job runs into cabinets or trims, Furniture Fixings is often the next stop. If you’re fixing into board, Plasterboard Fixings is the more relevant sibling.

Completing the Setup

Once you’ve picked the packers and shims, the next call is what’s going around them. On window and door work, that usually means the frame, trims and any glazing or setting details that need the pack held without creeping.

On fit-outs, it’s the furniture or panel fixings that finish the run cleanly. A good pack is wasted if the fixing choice lets the assembly move later. Once the support is right, the rest of the job comes down to what needs to sit flush, stay aligned and not get pulled out of shape.