Fastener Selection Guide: Find the Right Screw, Bolt, or Anchor
Use this fastener selection guide to narrow down the right screw, bolt, anchor, or other fastener based on material, environment, load, access, and appearance.
What Fastener Do I Need?
Answer a few quick questions to narrow down the best type of fastener for your application.
What type of project are you working on?
This helps narrow down the most common fastener families used in your type of application.
What materials are you joining together?
Fasteners are often chosen by substrate. This helps narrow down whether you likely need screws, bolts, anchors, or another fastening method.
Where will these fasteners be used?
The environment affects corrosion resistance, finish, and what material may hold up best over time.
What type of load will the fasteners support?
Load and movement help determine whether you likely need a lighter-duty fastener, a stronger bolted connection, or locking hardware.
Do you have access to both sides of the materials?
Access affects whether you can use a nut and bolt, need a one-sided fastener, or already have a threaded hole.
How important is appearance?
Appearance can influence head style, finish, and whether you may want a more decorative or lower-profile option.
Recommended Fastener Types
Based on your answers, here are the most common types of fasteners to compare next. Your result is a practical starting point. Final selection may still depend on size, length, thread type, finish, strength, and code or engineering requirements.
Need Help with Sizing or Specifications?
Our fastener experts can help you determine the exact size, grade, thread type, and quantity you need for your application.
How to Choose the Right Fastener
Choosing the right fastener is about more than picking a screw or bolt that looks close enough. The best fastener depends on what materials you are joining, where the fastener will be used, how much load or vibration the connection will experience, whether you can access both sides of the assembly, and how important the finished appearance is.
This guide is designed to help homeowners, contractors, maintenance teams, fabricators, and DIYers quickly narrow down the most common fastener types for wood, metal, drywall, and masonry applications. After you answer the questions, you will get a general fastener recommendation, installation guidance, and product categories to explore next.
Better Starting Point
Quickly narrow down whether you likely need a wood screw, machine screw, bolt, rivet, drywall screw, or concrete anchor.
Less Trial and Error
Match the fastener type to your materials and environment before spending time on the wrong product.
More Useful Results
See why a recommendation was made, what features matter, and what to compare before choosing size and finish.
Learn More About Choosing the Right Fastener
Finished with the selection wizard? Use the guide below to better understand how project type, materials, environment, load, and access affect fastener choice.
Why These Questions Matter
Project Type
The type of project helps narrow down the most common fastener families. Deck and fence projects often need exterior-rated wood fasteners, while metal fabrication may point toward machine screws, bolts, self-drilling screws, or rivets. Home repair projects can span wood, drywall, masonry, and mixed-material applications, so project type is the first step in narrowing the field.
Materials Being Joined
Fasteners are often selected by substrate. Wood-to-wood applications commonly use wood screws, deck screws, lag screws, or bolts depending on the load and environment. Metal-to-metal assemblies may use machine screws, bolts, self-drilling screws, or rivets. Concrete and masonry usually require anchors or concrete screws rather than standard wood or sheet metal fasteners.
Environment
Environment affects corrosion resistance and service life. Indoor dry spaces may allow a wider range of finishes, while outdoor, wet, coastal, marine, or chemical-exposure environments often need more corrosion-resistant material and finish options. Matching the fastener to the environment helps prevent premature rust, staining, and failure.
Load and Movement
Decorative trim, shelving, equipment, and heavier assemblies do not place the same demands on a fastener. Load level and vibration can influence not just fastener type, but also whether washers, lock nuts, threadlocker, or stronger bolted connections should be considered.
Access to Both Sides
If you can access both sides of the assembly, bolts with nuts and washers may be an option. If you only have access from one side, self-drilling screws, self-tapping screws, blind rivets, drywall anchors, or masonry anchors may make more sense depending on the materials involved. If you already have a threaded hole, machine screws or socket products may be more appropriate.
Appearance
Some projects prioritize speed and holding power, while others need a cleaner visible finish. Appearance can influence head style, finish, material choice, and whether low-profile, decorative, or polished-looking hardware should be considered.
Common Fastener Types and When to Use Them
Wood Screws
Wood screws are commonly used for wood-to-wood fastening in furniture, cabinetry, trim, and many repair projects. They are often selected when good holding power and a cleaner finished look are needed.
Deck Screws and Exterior Wood Fasteners
For decks, fences, gates, railings, and many outdoor wood projects, exterior-rated fasteners are commonly preferred because they are better suited for weather exposure than standard interior screws.
Machine Screws and Bolts
Machine screws and bolts are often used in metal-to-metal assemblies, brackets, equipment, and projects where a nut, washer, or threaded hole is involved. They come in many diameters, thread pitches, materials, finishes, and strengths.
Self-Drilling and Self-Tapping Screws
These fasteners are commonly used when fastening into metal from one side. They can reduce installation time in sheet metal and light-gauge applications by drilling or forming threads during installation.
Concrete Anchors
Standard screws do not work the same way in concrete, brick, or block. Masonry applications usually require anchors or concrete screws designed for those base materials.
Drywall Screws and Drywall Anchors
Drywall screws are designed for attaching drywall to studs. When mounting items to finished drywall, a drywall anchor or another appropriate wall-fastening solution may be needed depending on the load and what is behind the wall.
Fastener Selection FAQs
How do I choose the right fastener for my project?
Start by identifying the materials being joined, the environment, the expected load or vibration, whether both sides are accessible, and how important appearance is. Those factors usually narrow the field quickly.
What is the best fastener for outdoor use?
Outdoor applications often require more corrosion resistance than indoor projects. The best choice depends on the project, substrate, and exposure level, but exterior-rated, stainless steel, or galvanized options are commonly compared.
What fastener should I use for wood to wood?
Wood-to-wood applications commonly use wood screws, deck screws, lag screws, or bolts depending on load, environment, and whether the connection is decorative, structural, or general-purpose.
What is best for metal to metal fastening?
Metal-to-metal applications often use machine screws, bolts, self-drilling screws, self-tapping screws, or rivets depending on thickness, access, and whether a nut or threaded hole is available.
Can I use regular screws in concrete?
Concrete and masonry usually require anchors or concrete screws rather than standard fasteners intended for wood or sheet metal.
What if I only have access to one side?
One-sided access may point you toward self-drilling screws, self-tapping screws, blind rivets, drywall anchors, or masonry anchors depending on the material and application.