Wood screws vs drywall screws
Drywall screws are often used as a substitute for wood screws, but they are not equivalent. Drywall screws are harder and more brittle — they can snap under shear load. For structural wood joinery, use purpose-made wood or construction screws.
Side-by-side comparison
| Property | Wood screws | Drywall screws |
|---|---|---|
| Thread profile | Coarse with tapered shank | Very coarse (W-type) or fine (S-type); no shank taper |
| Head style | Flat, pan, round, oval — various | Bugle head only |
| Drive type | Phillips, Robertson, Torx | Phillips #2 (almost always) |
| Steel hardness | Medium — ductile, bends before snapping | Hardened — brittle, snaps under side load |
| Coating | Zinc, stainless, galvanized (varies) | Black phosphate — indoor only |
| Outdoor use? | Yes (with correct material) | No |
| Structural joints? | Yes | No |
When to use wood screws
- Cabinet assembly, furniture, shelving
- Deck boards, fencing, outdoor structures (use appropriate coating)
- Any application with shear load (brackets, hinges, shelf supports)
- Structural framing connections where screws are specified
When to use drywall screws
- Attaching drywall panels to wood or metal studs — this is their designed use
- Light interior tasks where load and vibration are negligible (cable clips, light blocking plates)
Why drywall screws fail in wood joinery
Drywall screws are hardened to drive quickly through gypsum without a pilot hole. That hardness makes them brittle — the steel does not yield under impact or lateral load, it fractures. A shelf bracket fastened with drywall screws can fail catastrophically with no warning under a load that wood screws would handle without issue.