Which Nail And Screw Holding Strength Brand Wins?
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
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.
Drywall screw
Price shown in test: 6 cents each
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Pull Out Samples | Summary | Value Per Penny | Corrosion | Category Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Deck screw galvanized coated13 cents each | 973, 1299, 792, 1174, 1001, 1281, 1059 lb across seven samples | provided nearly three times as much holding strength as the strongest nail and over 400 lb more strength than the drywall screw | second place for holding power per penny paid | no visible signs of corrosion after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test | not tested |
| 2Drywall screw 3.5 in number 10 coarse thread6 cents each | 703, 841, 693, 758, 695, 699, 743 lb across seven samples | 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 | best value of all fasteners tested at 114 lb of holding power per penny | small amount of corrosion after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test | not tested |
| 316d common nail uncoated5 cents each | 120, 110, 164, 98, 168, 139, 134 lb across seven samples | not tested | not tested | most rust formed of all fasteners tested after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test | 131 lb after throwing out the high and low samples |
| 416d coated smooth shank sinker | 277, 269, 245, 199, 219, 250 lb (six samples given in transcript) | not tested | not tested | small amount of corrosion after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test | 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 shank | 488, 393, 280, 327, 535, 237, 422 lb across seven samples | not tested | not tested | no visible signs of corrosion after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test | 382 lb, which is 249 lb more than the uncoated nail and 140 lb more than the coated sinker |
| 6Galvanized spiral shank nail9 cents each | 108, 130, 149, 147, 91, 119, 173 lb across seven samples | not tested | not tested | no visible signs of corrosion after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test | 131 lb, the worst holding strength result of all fasteners tested |
| 7Ring shank nail uncoated6.5 cents each | 425, 357, 462, 385, 491, 227, 341 lb across seven samples | not tested | 1 penny of cost for roughly 59 lb of holding force | most rust formed of all fasteners tested after 48 hours of the hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt test | nearly 400 lb, tied with the galvanized smooth shank nail for the best-performing nail type |
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.”