Types of Screw Heads: A Complete Visual Guide to Head Styles and Drive Types
The head of a screw does more than give you something to turn. It controls how the screw sits in the material, how much load it can bear on the surface, what tool you need to drive it, and whether it can be removed by someone without the right tool.
Get the head style wrong and you end up with a fastener that sticks out where it should be flush, strips out because you grabbed the wrong bit, or backs out in a high-vibration environment because you needed a locking drive.
This guide breaks down every major screw head style and drive type — what they look like, how they work, and when to use them.
Part 1: Head Styles (The Shape)
Head style refers to the physical geometry of the screw head — how it sits on or in the material surface.
Flat Head (Countersunk)
The most common head for woodworking and finish applications. The underside of the head is angled (typically 82° in the US, 90° for some metric screws) to match a countersunk hole, allowing the head to sit perfectly flush with — or below — the surface.
Best for: Wood, composite decking, cabinet work, finish carpentry, any application where a flush surface is required Drive types available: Phillips, Slotted, Torx/Star, Square/Robertson, Combination
Oval Head (Raised Countersunk)
Similar to flat head but with a slightly domed top surface. It seats in a countersunk hole like a flat head, but the dome protrudes slightly above the surface for a decorative finished appearance.
Best for: Decorative applications, hinges, hardware installation where a finished look matters Drive types available: Phillips, Slotted, Combination
Pan Head
Flat on the bottom, slightly domed on top with a large, low-profile bearing surface. The most common head style for machine screws and sheet metal screws. Sits on top of the surface (does not countersink).
Best for: General-purpose machine screw work, sheet metal, electrical boxes, equipment panels, anywhere you need a large bearing surface without a countersink Drive types available: Phillips, Slotted, Torx/Star, Square/Robertson, Hex Socket (Allen)
Round Head
A fully domed, semicircular head that sits on top of the material. Once the standard for wood screws, largely replaced in modern work by pan head and flat head styles. Still common in vintage restorations and certain specialty applications.
Best for: Decorative work, vintage or period-correct restoration, some electrical applications Drive types available: Phillips, Slotted
Truss Head (Mushroom Head)
An extra-wide, low-profile domed head with a very large bearing surface. The wide diameter distributes clamping force over a greater area and helps prevent pull-through in softer materials.
Best for: Sheet metal, thin panels, metal framing, automotive trim, soft or thin materials prone to pull-through Drive types available: Phillips, Slotted, Square/Robertson
Hex Head
A six-sided head driven with a wrench or socket — not a screwdriver. Provides the highest torque transfer of any common head style and is extremely resistant to stripping.
Best for: High-torque applications, structural connections, outdoor use, anywhere maximum tightening force is needed Drive types available: Wrenching (external hex) — see also hex socket/Allen for internal drive hex
Hex Washer Head
A hex head with a built-in flange or washer underneath. Combines the torque advantage of a hex head with a large bearing surface that eliminates the need for a separate washer.
Best for: Self-drilling screws in metal framing and roofing, high-vibration environments, sheet metal, HVAC Drive types available: Wrenching (external hex)
Bugle Head
A variant of the flat head with a concave underside taper rather than a straight countersink angle. The curved profile prevents the head from tearing the paper face of drywall as it sinks flush.
Best for: Drywall installation — this is the standard head for drywall screws Drive types available: Phillips (almost exclusively)
Button Head (Low-Profile Socket Cap)
A low, dome-shaped head with a hex socket (Allen) drive. Smaller profile than a standard socket cap screw, sits above the surface but with a clean, finished appearance.
Best for: Machinery, consumer products, electronics, anywhere a low-profile but tamper-resistant fastener is preferred Drive types available: Hex Socket (Allen), Torx/Star
Socket Cap Head (Cylinder Head)
A cylindrical head with a hex socket drive. The standard choice in precision machining, tooling, and anywhere tight tolerances require a strong, compact fastener.
Best for: Machine components, jigs and fixtures, tooling, precision assemblies Drive types available: Hex Socket (Allen), Torx/Star
Fillister Head
A thick, cylindrical head with a flat top and small bearing surface. The tall head allows for a deeper drive slot, giving good tool engagement in a compact footprint.
Best for: Instrumentation, electrical panels, applications with limited vertical clearance above the fastener Drive types available: Phillips, Slotted
Part 2: Drive Types (The Recess)
Drive type refers to the recess in the top of the screw head — the interface between the screw and the driving tool. This is often more important than head style for installation efficiency and security.
Slotted (Flat)
A single straight slot. The oldest drive type. Inexpensive to manufacture but prone to cam-out (the driver slipping sideways out of the slot), especially at higher torques.
Best for: Light-duty, low-torque applications; vintage and period restoration; applications where overtightening is actually a concern Avoid for: Power tool driving, high-torque applications, production work
Phillips (#1, #2, #3)
The cross-shaped recess. The most common drive type in North America. Designed with a slight taper that causes the driver to cam out before overtightening — useful in assembly-line production, but frustrating in the field where stripped heads are common.
#2 Phillips is the dominant size for general use. #1 is used for small machine screws. #3 for larger drywall and deck screws.
Best for: General purpose, wood screws, drywall screws, sheet metal screws Avoid for: Critical joints where cam-out is unacceptable
Torx® / Star (T10, T15, T20, T25, T27, T30, T40)
Six-point star recess. Transfers torque more efficiently than Phillips with virtually no cam-out. Increasingly the professional standard for deck, cabinet, and structural screws.
Best for: High-torque applications, production work, deck screws, structural screws, automotive Note: Tamper-Resistant Torx (TR) has a pin in the center to prevent standard Torx driver engagement — used for security applications
Square / Robertson (#1, #2, #3)
Square recess. Extremely popular in Canada, gaining ground in the US. Excellent torque transfer, minimal cam-out, and the driver tends to "self-hold" the screw for one-handed installation.
Best for: Cabinetry, furniture, decking, anywhere you value bit engagement over cam-out Note: #2 Square is common for most decking and cabinet screws
Hex Socket / Allen (Hex Key)
Hexagonal internal recess. Driven with an Allen (hex) wrench or ball-end driver. Allows high torque in a compact head profile and is difficult to strip. Very common in machinery, furniture with assembly hardware, and socket cap screws.
Best for: Machine components, furniture assembly, cap screws, set screws, precision assemblies Sizes: Metric (mm) or Fractional inch (e.g., 5/32", 3/16", 1/4")
Combination (Phillips/Slotted)
Combines both a Phillips cross and a straight slot in the same recess. Accepts both driver types. Common on older hardware and some decorative screws.
Best for: Situations where both bit types may be used; general-purpose light hardware
Security / Tamper-Resistant Drives
When standard drives won't do — in public spaces, electronics, and infrastructure — tamper-resistant drives require a specialty bit for removal:
- Pin-in Torx (Torx TR) — Torx with a center pin
- Pin-in Phillips (One-Way) — One-way slotted or Phillips that drives in but won't back out with a standard bit
- Spanner / Snake Eyes — Two holes requiring a specialty two-pronged driver
- Tri-Wing — Three-wing recess; common in consumer electronics
- Pentalobe — Five-point recess; used extensively in Apple devices
Mutual Screw carries a full range of security screws for commercial, public infrastructure, and electronics applications.
Head Style + Drive Type Quick Reference
| Head Style | Common Drive Types | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|
| Flat/Countersunk | Phillips, Torx, Square | Wood, finish carpentry |
| Pan | Phillips, Slotted, Torx, Hex Socket | Machine screws, sheet metal |
| Hex | Wrenching | Structural, outdoor |
| Bugle | Phillips | Drywall |
| Socket Cap | Hex Socket, Torx | Machinery, precision |
| Truss | Phillips, Square | Sheet metal, thin panels |
| Hex Washer | Wrenching | Self-drilling, metal framing |
| Oval | Phillips, Slotted | Decorative hardware |
| Button | Hex Socket, Torx | Low-profile machinery |
Find the Right Screw at Mutual Screw
We carry screws in every head style and drive type listed above — in steel, stainless, zinc, and more — from #0 machine screws to 1" lag screws. If you know what you need, shop our full screw catalog. If you're not sure, give us a call at 1-800-222-0324 or email sales@mutualscrew.com.
Our team has been matching the right fastener to the right job since 1947. We'll get you sorted.
It's Better When It's Mutual.