Why Do Vinyl Records Have That Big Hole in the Middle?

Written on 08/07/2026

That little hole in the middle of a vinyl record isn't random. It needs to fit onto the turntable's spindle and keep the record positioned correctly while it spins but there's another interesting part.

The size of the center hole has also been connected to different record formats and playback systems over time.

Some records even had much larger center holes, especially certain singles. So that tiny circle in the middle is actually part of the history of how music has been physically played.

Something you probably never think about when putting a record on.