{"id":15967,"date":"2025-12-01T10:33:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T16:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/?page_id=15967"},"modified":"2025-12-01T10:46:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T16:46:39","slug":"pilot-hole-sizes-wood-screws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/pilot-hole-sizes-wood-screws\/","title":{"rendered":"Pilot Hole Sizes – Wood Screws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pilot holes guide the screw, reduce driving torque, and help the threads bite evenly into the material. This chart will help you size pilot holes correctly for your next project using wood screws<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Pilot Hole Chart<\/title>\n <style>\n .pilot-hole-container {\n font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n max-width: 100%;\n overflow-x: auto;\n margin: 20px 0;\n }\n\n .pilot-hole-table {\n width: 100%;\n border-collapse: collapse;\n background-color: white;\n box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);\n }\n\n .pilot-hole-table thead {\n background-color: #000000;\n color: white;\n }\n\n .pilot-hole-table th {\n padding: 15px 10px;\n text-align: center;\n font-weight: 600;\n border: 1px solid #ddd;\n }\n\n .pilot-hole-table th.group-header {\n background-color: #0066CC;\n color: white;\n font-size: 14px;\n }\n\n .pilot-hole-table td {\n padding: 12px 10px;\n text-align: center;\n border: 1px solid #ddd;\n transition: background-color 0.3s ease;\n }\n\n .pilot-hole-table tbody tr:nth-child(even) {\n background-color: #f8f9fa;\n }\n\n .pilot-hole-table tbody tr:hover {\n background-color: #FFD700;\n cursor: pointer;\n }\n\n .pilot-hole-table tbody tr:hover td {\n color: #000000;\n }\n\n .screw-size-col {\n font-weight: 600;\n background-color: #f0f0f0;\n }\n\n .pilot-hole-table tbody tr:hover .screw-size-col {\n background-color: #FFC700;\n }\n\n @media screen and (max-width: 768px) {\n .pilot-hole-table {\n font-size: 12px;\n }\n \n .pilot-hole-table th,\n .pilot-hole-table td {\n padding: 8px 5px;\n }\n }\n <\/style>\n\n\n <div class=\"pilot-hole-container\">\n <table class=\"pilot-hole-table\">\n <thead>\n <tr>\n <th rowspan=\"2\">Screw<br>Size<\/th>\n <th colspan=\"2\" class=\"group-header\">Hardwood<\/th>\n <th colspan=\"2\" class=\"group-header\">Softwood<\/th>\n <th rowspan=\"2\">Countersink<br>Size<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <tr>\n <th>Tapered Bit<\/th>\n <th>Straight Bit<\/th>\n <th>Tapered Bit<\/th>\n <th>Straight Bit<\/th>\n <\/tr>\n <\/thead>\n <tbody>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#1<\/td><td>5\/64″<\/td><td>1\/32″<\/td><td>1\/32″<\/td><td>1\/64″<\/td><td>1\/4″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#2<\/td><td>3\/32″<\/td><td>1\/16″<\/td><td>1\/16″<\/td><td>1\/32″<\/td><td>1\/4″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#3<\/td><td>7\/64″<\/td><td>5\/64″<\/td><td>5\/64″<\/td><td>3\/64″<\/td><td>1\/4″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#4<\/td><td>7\/64″<\/td><td>5\/64″<\/td><td>5\/64″<\/td><td>1\/16″<\/td><td>1\/4″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#5<\/td><td>1\/8″<\/td><td>3\/32″<\/td><td>3\/32″<\/td><td>5\/64″<\/td><td>5\/16″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#6<\/td><td>9\/64″<\/td><td>7\/64″<\/td><td>7\/64″<\/td><td>3\/32″<\/td><td>5\/16″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#7<\/td><td>5\/32″<\/td><td>7\/64″<\/td><td>7\/64″<\/td><td>7\/64″<\/td><td>3\/8″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#8<\/td><td>11\/64″<\/td><td>1\/8″<\/td><td>1\/8″<\/td><td>7\/64″<\/td><td>3\/8″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#9<\/td><td>11\/64″<\/td><td>9\/64″<\/td><td>9\/64″<\/td><td>1\/8″<\/td><td>3\/8″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#10<\/td><td>3\/16″<\/td><td>9\/64″<\/td><td>9\/64″<\/td><td>1\/8″<\/td><td>1\/2″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#11<\/td><td>3\/16″<\/td><td>5\/32″<\/td><td>5\/32″<\/td><td>9\/64″<\/td><td>1\/2″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#12<\/td><td>7\/32″<\/td><td>5\/32″<\/td><td>5\/32″<\/td><td>9\/64″<\/td><td>1\/2″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#13<\/td><td>7\/32″<\/td><td>11\/64″<\/td><td>11\/64″<\/td><td>5\/32″<\/td><td>1\/2″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#14<\/td><td>1\/4″<\/td><td>3\/16″<\/td><td>3\/16″<\/td><td>5\/32″<\/td><td>5\/8″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#15<\/td><td>1\/4″<\/td><td>13\/64″<\/td><td>13\/64″<\/td><td>11\/64″<\/td><td>5\/8″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#16<\/td><td>17\/64″<\/td><td>7\/32″<\/td><td>7\/32″<\/td><td>3\/16″<\/td><td>5\/8″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#17<\/td><td>17\/64″<\/td><td>15\/64″<\/td><td>15\/64″<\/td><td>3\/16″<\/td><td>5\/8″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#18<\/td><td>9\/32″<\/td><td>1\/4″<\/td><td>1\/4″<\/td><td>13\/64″<\/td><td>3\/4″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#19<\/td><td>9\/32″<\/td><td>17\/64″<\/td><td>17\/64″<\/td><td>7\/32″<\/td><td>3\/4″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#20<\/td><td>5\/16″<\/td><td>9\/32″<\/td><td>9\/32″<\/td><td>7\/32″<\/td><td>3\/4″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#21<\/td><td>5\/16″<\/td><td>19\/64″<\/td><td>19\/64″<\/td><td>1\/4″<\/td><td>3\/4″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#22<\/td><td>11\/32″<\/td><td>5\/16″<\/td><td>5\/16″<\/td><td>1\/4″<\/td><td>7\/8″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#23<\/td><td>11\/32″<\/td><td>21\/64″<\/td><td>21\/64″<\/td><td>17\/64″<\/td><td>7\/8″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#24<\/td><td>3\/8″<\/td><td>11\/32″<\/td><td>11\/32″<\/td><td>9\/32″<\/td><td>7\/8″<\/td><\/tr>\n <tr><td class=\"screw-size-col\">#25<\/td><td>3\/8″<\/td><td>23\/64″<\/td><td>23\/64″<\/td><td>9\/32″<\/td><td>1″<\/td><\/tr>\n <\/tbody>\n <\/table>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<meta charset=\"UTF-8\">\n <meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0\">\n <style>\n .shop-button {\n background-color: #FFD700;\n color: #333;\n padding: 15px 30px;\n font-size: 18px;\n font-weight: bold;\n border: none;\n border-radius: 8px;\n cursor: pointer;\n text-decoration: none;\n display: inline-block;\n font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n transition: all 0.3s ease;\n box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);\n }\n \n .shop-button:hover {\n background-color: #FFC700;\n transform: translateY(-2px);\n box-shadow: 0 6px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15);\n }\n \n .shop-button:active {\n transform: translateY(0);\n box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);\n }\n <\/style>\n\n\n <a href=\"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/vona2\/mech_screw\/M3308000000\/M3308010000\/\" class=\"shop-button\">Shop Wood Screws<\/a>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>Disclaimer:<br><\/strong>The content on this webpage is for informational purposes only. MISUMI makes no guarantees, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or validity of the information. Performance parameters, tolerances, designs, materials, or processes should not be assumed to reflect third-party suppliers\u2019 or manufacturers\u2019 deliverables within MISUMI\u2019s network. Buyers are responsible for specifying their part requirements<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pilot holes guide the screw, reduce driving torque, and help the threads bite evenly into the material. This chart will help you size pilot holes correctly for your next project using wood screws. Pilot Hole Chart ScrewSize Hardwood Softwood CountersinkSize Tapered Bit Straight Bit Tapered Bit Straight Bit #1 5\/64″ 1\/32″ 1\/32″ 1\/64″ 1\/4″ #2 3\/32″ 1\/16″ 1\/16″ 1\/32″ 1\/4″ […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":15974,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15967"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/70"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15967"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15967\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15973,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15967\/revisions\/15973"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15974"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}