Screw & Driver Size Reference
Which screwdriver a device actually takes, and why the wrong one strips the head.
What you provide
Filter by driver, size or device — leave empty for the full table.
Result
14 common sizes
Sizes are given with what they are typically found in, because the driver alone is not enough — Torx spans T3 to T15 across devices that look similar from outside, and picking by name rather than by size is how heads get rounded. Two are worth knowing specifically: pentalobe exists to deter opening rather than for any mechanical reason, so a Phillips in a pentalobe head will destroy it; and security Torx has a pin in the centre that stops a plain Torx seating at all. Where a device is not listed, measure rather than guess — a driver one size down turns in the head and strips it.
- Pentalobe P2 (TS1)Apple's deliberate deterrent. A Phillips will destroy the head.
- iPhone bottom screws, most models since the iPhone 4
- Pentalobe P5 (TS5)
- MacBook Air and Pro bottom case
- Pentalobe P6 (TS6)
- Older MacBook Pro battery screws
- Tri-point Y000
- iPhone internal brackets, Apple Watch
- Torx T3 – T5
- Phone and tablet internals, camera brackets
- Torx T6 – T8
- Laptop hinges, drive caddies, game controllers
- Torx Security T8H – T10HThe pin in the centre is why a plain Torx will not seat.
- Games consoles
- Torx T10 – T15
- Desktop drive cages, some laptop bottom cases
- Phillips PH00
- Phone and laptop internals — the most common small electronics size
- Phillips PH0
- Laptop bottom cases, drive brackets
- Phillips PH1
- Desktop drive cages, PSU screws
- Phillips PH2The size most household screwdrivers already are.
- Desktop case screws, motherboard standoffs
- Hex H1.5 – H2.5
- Drone and camera gear, some laptop hinges
- Flathead 1.5 – 2.5 mmUsing one on a Phillips head is how heads get stripped.
- Prying and battery connectors rather than screws
What this cannot tell you
- A reference for common cases, not an exhaustive list. Where a device is not listed, measure rather than guess — a driver one size down turns inside the head and rounds it.
- Sizes vary between models and revisions of the same product. Treat this as a starting point rather than a specification.
- Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is looked up, transmitted or stored.
Take this with you
How this calculation works
Each entry pairs a driver type and size with what it is typically found in, because the type alone is not enough to buy from — Torx runs from T3 to T15 across devices that look identical from outside. Two entries are worth knowing beyond the sizing. Pentalobe exists to deter opening rather than for any mechanical advantage, which is why a Phillips driver in a pentalobe head destroys it rather than merely slipping. And security Torx has a pin in the centre of the screw, so a plain Torx bit will not seat at all no matter how correct the size is.
What the results mean
- Pentalobe
- Apple's anti-tamper head. Five lobes, and no Phillips will ever fit it.
- Torx Security
- A Torx with a pin in the centre. Needs a hollow bit; a solid one cannot seat.
- PH00
- The most common size in phone and laptop internals, and the one most household sets lack.
- Flathead
- For prying and battery connectors. Using one on a Phillips head is the usual way heads get stripped.
Common problems and fixes
- The driver turns but the screw does not
- The bit is too small and is rounding the head. Stop and step up a size — once a head is rounded, extraction gets much harder.
- My Torx bit will not go in
- Check for a pin in the centre of the screw. That is security Torx and needs a hollow bit.
- Which size for a MacBook bottom case?
- P5 pentalobe on modern Air and Pro models. The internal screws are usually Torx or tri-point rather than pentalobe.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Apple use pentalobe screws?
To deter opening. There is no mechanical advantage over Torx or Phillips at these sizes — the head exists because the driver was uncommon when it was introduced, though inexpensive sets are now easy to find.
What is the difference between PH and PZ?
Phillips and Pozidriv. They look similar and are not interchangeable: a Phillips driver in a Pozidriv screw cams out under load, which is how it rounds. Electronics almost always use Phillips.
Can I use a flathead on a Phillips screw?
It will sometimes turn and it will damage the head. The cross recess gives a flathead only two contact points, so the force concentrates and rounds them.
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