Which Nail And Screw Holding Strength Brand Wins?
In our test we compared 7 nail and screw holding strength options head to head. Deck screw came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Deck screw
Price shown in test: 13 cents each
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Drywall screw
Price shown in test: 6 cents each
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Drywall screw
Price shown in test: 6 cents each
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The quick take
The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.
“Finally, the deck screws provided nearly three times as much holding strength as the strongest nail and over 400 lb more strength than the drywall screw.”
Placed top three in 1 of 2 measurements.
Best in 1 of 2 measurements, including Value Per Penny.
Best in 1 of 2 measurements, including Value Per Penny.
The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.
Pull Out Samples
- 1Deck screw galvanized coated973
1299, 792, 1174, 1001, 1281, 1059 lb across seven samples
- 2Drywall screw 3.5 in number 10 coarse thread703
841, 693, 758, 695, 699, 743 lb across seven samples
- 316d common nail uncoated120
110, 164, 98, 168, 139, 134 lb across seven samples
- 416d coated smooth shank sinker277
269, 245, 199, 219, 250 lb (six samples given in transcript)
- 516d galvanized nail hot dipped, smooth shank488
393, 280, 327, 535, 237, 422 lb across seven samples
- 6Galvanized spiral shank nail108
130, 149, 147, 91, 119, 173 lb across seven samples
- 7Ring shank nail uncoated425
357, 462, 385, 491, 227, 341 lb across seven samples
Corrosion
- 1Deck screw galvanized coated
no visible signs of corrosion after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test
- 2Drywall screw 3.5 in number 10 coarse thread
small amount of corrosion after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test
- 316d common nail uncoated
most rust formed of all fasteners tested after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test
- 416d coated smooth shank sinker
small amount of corrosion after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test
- 516d galvanized nail hot dipped, smooth shank
no visible signs of corrosion after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test
- 6Galvanized spiral shank nail
no visible signs of corrosion after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test
- 7Ring shank nail uncoated
most rust formed of all fasteners tested after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test
Category Average
- 316d common nail uncoated131 lb
after throwing out the high and low samples
- 416d coated smooth shank sinker
the coating gave the nails an extra 109 lb of holding force over the uncoated common nail's 131 lb average
- 516d galvanized nail hot dipped, smooth shank382 lb
which is 249 lb more than the uncoated nail and 140 lb more than the coated sinker
- 6Galvanized spiral shank nail131 lb
the worst holding strength result of all fasteners tested
- 7Ring shank nail uncoatednearly400 lb
tied with the galvanized smooth shank nail for the best-performing nail type
- 1Deck screw galvanized coatednot tested
- 2Drywall screw 3.5 in number 10 coarse threadnot tested
Value Per Penny
- 1Deck screw galvanized coated
second place for holding power per penny paid
- 2Drywall screw 3.5 in number 10 coarse thread
best value of all fasteners tested at 114 lb of holding power per penny
- 7Ring shank nail uncoated1
penny of cost for roughly 59 lb of holding force
- 316d common nail uncoatednot tested
- 416d coated smooth shank sinkernot tested
- 516d galvanized nail hot dipped, smooth shanknot tested
- 6Galvanized spiral shank nailnot tested
All measurements (1 more)+
Summary
- 1Deck screw galvanized coated
provided nearly three times as much holding strength as the strongest nail and over 400 lb more strength than the drywall screw
- 2Drywall screw 3.5 in number 10 coarse thread
beat all of the nails tested, providing nearly twice the holding power as the nails, but quickly lost holding power once it began to slip as the wood fibers ripped loose
- 316d common nail uncoatednot tested
- 416d coated smooth shank sinkernot tested
- 516d galvanized nail hot dipped, smooth shanknot tested
- 6Galvanized spiral shank nailnot tested
- 7Ring shank nail uncoatednot tested
How it was tested
- pull-out holding strength test on untreated 2x4 lumber, seven samples per fastener with high and low outliers discarded
- holding power per penny of cost
- 48 hour corrosion resistance test using a hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt mix
“Finally, the deck screws provided nearly three times as much holding strength as the strongest nail and over 400 lb more strength than the drywall screw.”
