You are staring at a screw and have no idea what driver to use. This is the reference guide: every screw head type, what it looks like, the driver it needs, and where you will typically find it.
Master Identification Table
| Screw Head Shape | Drive Name | Driver Type | Where You'll Find It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple cross (+) | Phillips | PH000 – PH4 | Everywhere - construction, electronics, automotive, furniture |
| Cross with tick marks at 45° | Pozidriv | PZ0 – PZ4 | European cabinetry, drywall, IKEA furniture |
| Single straight slot | Slotted (flat head) | Flat blade 2–12 mm | Electrical terminals, old hardware, decorative fixtures |
| Six-point star | Torx | T1 – T100 | Automotive, electronics, appliances, machinery |
| Six-point star with centre pin | Security Torx | T8H – T40H | Game consoles, public fixtures, Ring doorbells |
| Hexagonal hole | Hex / Allen | 0.7 mm – 19 mm | Furniture, bikes, socket head cap screws |
| Square recess | Robertson | #0 – #4 | Canadian construction, decking, electrical boxes |
| Five-lobe flower | Pentalobe | P2, P5, P6 | Apple devices - iPhones (P2), MacBooks (P5) |
| Three-wing Y shape | Tri-Wing | Y00 – Y5 | Nintendo consoles, some aerospace, Apple internals |
| Three-prong Y with 120° spacing | Tri-point / Y-type | Y000, Y00, Y0 | iPhone internals, Apple Watch |
| Equilateral triangle | Triangle (TA) | TA14 – TA27 | Toy battery compartments, McDonald's equipment |
| Bowtie / figure-8 | Clutch head | Type A, Type G | Older GM vehicles, mobile homes |
| 12-point star (double hex) | Spline / Triple Square | M4 – M18 | European automotive (VW, BMW cylinder head bolts) |
| Hexagonal with centre pin | Security hex | 2 mm – 10 mm | Public fixtures, anti-tamper enclosures |
| Cross with narrow ribs (like Phillips but sharper) | JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) | JIS #0 – #3 | Japanese motorcycles, electronics, cameras |
| Oval with two notches | Snake-eye / Spanner | Various | Elevator panels, utility covers, bathroom stalls |
How to Identify an Unknown Screw
Follow this sequence to identify any screw drive:
- Is there a single straight slot? → Slotted (flat head)
- Is there a cross shape? → Count the additional markings. No extras = Phillips. Tick marks at 45° = Pozidriv. Sharper, narrower cross with a dimple mark on the head = JIS.
- Is there a star shape? → Count the points. Six points = Torx. Six points with a centre pin = Security Torx. Five lobes = Pentalobe.
- Is there a hexagonal hole? → No pin = hex/Allen. Centre pin = security hex.
- Is it a square? → Robertson (especially if coloured green, red, or black).
- Does it have three wings or prongs? → Y-shape with three wings = Tri-Wing. Y-shape with three prongs at 120° = Tri-point.
- Is it a triangle? → Triangular recess (TA).
- Is it a bowtie or figure-8? → Clutch head.
- Two small round holes? → Spanner (snake-eye).
Common vs Uncommon Drives
Drives You'll Use Weekly
Phillips, flat head, Torx, and hex cover the vast majority of everyday screws. A basic toolbox with PH1, PH2, flat head 5.5 mm, Torx T20/T25, and hex 4/5 mm handles most household and automotive work.
Drives You'll Use Occasionally
Pozidriv (European furniture and switchgear), Robertson (Canadian construction and decking), and Security Torx (game consoles, Ring doorbells) come up regularly in specific contexts.
Drives You'll Rarely Encounter
Pentalobe (Apple devices only), Tri-Wing (Nintendo consoles), Triangle (toy battery compartments), Clutch head (vintage GM vehicles), and Spanner (commercial restroom hardware) are niche. You may go years without needing them - but when you do, nothing else fits.
A 100-piece security bit set covers every drive type on this list for under $20. If you encounter unknown screws regularly, it is the cheapest insurance against stripped fasteners.
Quick Reference
- Phillips, flat head, Torx, and hex handle 90%+ of everyday screws
- Look for tick marks at 45° to distinguish Pozidriv from Phillips
- Count star points: 6 = Torx, 5 = Pentalobe
- Centre pin in the recess = security variant (Torx or hex)
- Three-pronged Y shapes: Tri-Wing (wider wings) vs Tri-point (narrow prongs)
- When in doubt, a security bit set covers every type listed here
Related Guides
Types of Screwdrivers: The Complete Guide
From Phillips to Torx, flat head to hex - every screwdriver type explained with sizes, uses, and selection tips.
Phillips Screwdriver: Sizes, Uses & How to Choose the Right One
PH0 to PH4 sizes explained - which Phillips head screwdriver to use and when.
Torx Screwdriver Guide: Sizes, Stars & When to Use Them
Torx star drive screwdriver sizes from T1 to T100, plus security Torx and where they're used.