Wood screws
Everything for wood screw pilot holes in one place — the size finder, the full chart, and a page for every gauge from #4 to #14.
In this section
Pilot-hole size finderPick a screw gauge (#4–#14) and material and get the exact pilot-hole drill bit.the tool
Wood screw pilot hole chartStraight-bit pilot sizes for #4–#14, softwood and hardwood, in fractions and millimetres.full chart
Pilot hole for a #4 screwSoftwood 1/16" · Hardwood 5/64"
Pilot hole for a #6 screwSoftwood 5/64" · Hardwood 3/32"
Pilot hole for a #8 screwSoftwood 7/64" · Hardwood 1/8"
Pilot hole for a #10 screwSoftwood 1/8" · Hardwood 9/64"
Pilot hole for a #12 screwSoftwood 9/64" · Hardwood 5/32"
Pilot hole for a #14 screwSoftwood 5/32" · Hardwood 11/64"
These are general guidance sizes cross-referenced from common woodworking sources. For structural, load-bearing, or manufacturer-specific work, follow the fastener manufacturer’s or an engineer’s specifications.