Pilot Hole Size

Pilot holes are needed to securely and without damage attach wood to another surface. It is important to use the right size hole depending on the screw size. This chart is for tapered screws only, not drywall screws. Note that the pilot hole will vary between a hard and soft wood.

American Wood Screw Pilot Hole Sizes

Screw
Size

Body Dia.

Shank
Pilot Hole

Pilot Hole
in Softwood

Pilot Hole
in Hardwood

0

0.060

1/16

1/64

1/32

1

0.073

5/64

1/32

1/32

2

0.086

3/32

1/32

3/64

3

0.099

7/64

3/64

1/16

4

0.112

7/64

3/64

1/16

5

0.125

1/8

1/16

5/64

6

0.138

9/64

1/16

5/64

7

0.151

5/32

1/16

3/32

8

0.164

11/64

5/64

3/32

9

0.177

3/16

5/64

7/64

10

0.190

3/16

3/32

7/64

11

0.203

13/64

3/32

1/8

12

0.216

7/32

7/64

1/8

14

0.242

1/4

7/64

9/64

16

0.268

17/64

9/64

5/32

18

0.294

19/64

9/64

3/16

20

0.320

21/64

11/64

13/64

24

0.372

3/8

3/16

7/32

*All sizes in inches