Screws for Hanging and Joining Cabinets: Head, Gauge and Length

Cabinets are hung and joined with washer head or truss head screws, most often in #8 or #10 gauge. The wide, flat underside of both heads clamps the cabinet back, rail or frame without sinking into the wood, so no countersink is needed. The length is set by what the screw passes through.

Head

Round washer head. A domed head with a built-in washer face. The large bearing surface spreads the clamping force. It is used to screw a cabinet through its back or hanging rail into the wall, and to join one cabinet to the next. We stock it from 1/2 inch to 3‑1/2 inch long.

Truss head. A low, wide dome that sits close to the surface. It is used where the head must stay low, such as on hardware and back panels. We stock it from 3/8 inch to 2‑1/4 inch long. A modified truss head is a slightly smaller truss head.

Flat head. Sits flush with the surface and needs a countersunk hole. Use it where a raised head would be in the way. All cabinet screws.

Gauge

The gauge is the diameter across the outside of the threads. It says nothing about length.

• #8 is 0.164 inch, about 5/32 inch.
• #10 is 0.190 inch, about 3/16 inch.

Every gauge we stock: wood screw diameter chart.

Length

Add up the thickness of everything the screw passes through, then add the depth you want in the part that holds it.

Into a wall stud. A 3/4 inch hanging rail and 1/2 inch drywall add up to 1‑1/4 inch before the screw reaches the stud. A 3 inch screw puts 1‑3/4 inch into the stud. A 2‑1/2 inch screw puts 1‑1/4 inch into it.

Cabinet to cabinet. The screw has to stop short of the far face of the second part so the point does not show. Two 3/4 inch side panels add up to 1‑1/2 inch, so a 1‑1/4 inch screw stops 1/4 inch short. Two 1‑1/2 inch face frame stiles add up to 3 inch, so a 2‑1/2 inch screw stops 1/2 inch short.

Measure your own parts before you order. Where the cabinet maker's instructions give a screw size or spacing, follow them.

Every length we stock: screw length guide.

Drive, thread and point

• Drive. Quadrex is a square and Phillips combination and takes either bit. We also stock square drive and Phillips drive.
• Thread. 44 of the 49 have a deep thread, made for particleboard and end grain.
• Point. Sharp, Type 17, Type A and dual cutter. The sharp point starts without a pilot hole.
• Finish. Black phosphate, zinc, black oxide and dry lube.

Sizes in stock

Every size is sold by the box of 100 or 1,000, and in a larger box whose count depends on the size.

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