What is the most commonly used type of lockwasher?

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Locking against vibration relies on a washer that provides a spring force and a biting action between the fastener and the surface. The helical spring washer does this best among common lockwashers because its split creates a continuous spring effect that presses the washer against both the bolt head and the mating surface as the fastener tries to back out. That spring tension increases friction and helps resist rotation, so the fastener stays tight under vibration. This simple, inexpensive design is why it’s the most commonly used lockwasher in general fastening applications. Crescent washers are mainly for spacing and load distribution rather than preventing loosening, and Belleville washers are conical preload springs used for maintaining load and distributing forces—though they can contribute locking in some stack configurations, they aren’t the standard choice for general locking purposes.