Nails vs. Screws: When to Use Each Kind of Fastener - MT Copeland (2024)

Nails and screws perform a similar function, and some types of nails (like spiral shank nails) even look like screws—which might lead you to believe that these two fasteners are interchangeable for construction and home improvement projects. They are not. Each one has different strengths and is best suited to different tasks.

Among the factors to consider when choosing between nails and screws are:

• The types of stresses the fasteners will be subject to
• The scale of the project and the speed at which you need to complete it
• Whether the structure is temporary or permanent
• What tools you’ll be using to install the fasteners
• The materials that they are being used in
• The project budget
• Whether the fastener head will be visible or not in the completed structure.

In general, screws have better holding power and superior strength than nails, and they are more easily removable. They can be used in almost all cases, except for when the fastener needs to disappear (here you’ll want to use finish carpentry nails), when speed is king (here’ you’ll want to use a framing nailer), and when cost is a major factor.

Nails are cheaper, faster to install, and easier to hide in finish details.

The Stress Factor

When deciding between screws vs. nails, the most important factor to consider is the types of pressures that they can best withstand.

Shear strength refers to the ability of a fastener or other construction element to withstand lateral, or side to side, pressures: Think of wind blowing against a house. This is where nails excel. Even if the pressure becomes extreme, they will bend rather than snap (as screws often will as they are typically made of hardened steel).

Tensile strength refers to a fastener’s ability to withstand pressures that pull a structure apart. Think of the fasteners used to attach a subfloor to a joist, where repeated deflections (that is the bending of the subfloor under a load) can cause a nail to work its way up and out of the subfloor over time. A screw, however, will hold, thanks to its threads.

Why don’t structures fall down or come apart? Learn all about the stuff that holds building materials together in the MT Copeland online Fasteners and Adhesives course. Taught by professional builder Jordan Smith, the course covers topics ranging from nails and screws to glues and epoxies.

When Are Nails Best?

Nails are cheap and fast, and are usually better for finish carpentry, since they are less visible than screws.

Large projects

Nails are often preferable for large projects because they can be installed quickly with nail guns. They are also less expensive than screws.

Finish carpentry (usually)

With their thin shafts, nails are less likely to split wood making them a better option with wood molding and other details. Another plus is that finishing nails, with their small flat heads, are less visible than screw heads. There are, however, some situations where trim will require more holding strength than a nail can provide, and in those cases you’ll want to reach for a trim screw (which has a smaller head than a typical screw).

When Are Screws Best?

Screws have more holding power than nails and have a high failure strength that makes them well suited for high-stress structural projects. They’re also easier to remove.

Structural projects and weight-bearing installations

Structural screws have completely replaced lag bolts and large nails for structural fastening, given their high failure strength. They’re also the better choice for non-structural element like a cabinet or handrail will be bearing weight. If the principal concern is preventing two materials from pulling apart, then screws are the better fastener.

Temporary and smaller projects

While it is generally easier to install nails, it’s generally easier to remove a screw. This makes them the better option for many temporary projects. For example, if you want to fasten a board to a wall to support cabinets during installation, reach for screws before nails.

Drywall or gypsum board

Drywall or gypsum board will often crumble when a nail is hammered into them. Another advantage of screws with drywall is their holding power. Nails, with their smooth shanks, are more likely to simply pull out of it.

You’ll often use both nails and screws

With many projects, you’ll find yourself using both nails and screws. For example, with a deck you may use nails to attach a joist to the deck frame but screws to fasten the decking itself. Screws can also be used to repair and prevent head pop—the tendency of nails to pop out of the framing and penetrate a house’s drywall. And, as always, keep building codes in mind. They may dictate whether you should use a nail, screw, or other fastener in a particular situation.

MT Copeland offers video-based online classes that give you a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications. Classes include professionally produced videos taught by practicing craftspeople, and supplementary downloads like quizzes, blueprints, and other materials to help you master the skills.

Featured Instructor

Jordan Smith

Jordan Smith is the CEO and Founder of Smith House Company, a design+build firm based in Austin, Texas. He learned to build and weld while working on the farm with his grandad, and after earning a degree in Welding and Materials Engineering, he spent the next 10 years working in the heavy construction building everything from robots to ships to offshore oil rigs before transitioning to residential construction. After spending a couple of years working with industry leading builders in Austin, Jordan and his wife Veronica struck out on their own to form Smith House Co.Smith House Co. strives to build more beautiful, functional and resilient spaces which are self sustaining and harmonize with their natural surroundings.

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