Best Screws for Cedar Fences
Cedar tannins react with zinc and plain steel, bleeding black streaks down every picket — so fence screws must be stainless or polymer-coated. Pick the metal first, then size by joint: pickets to rails need less screw than rails to posts.
What to Look For
- Stainless or coated only: zinc and galvanized fasteners stain cedar black within a season.
- 304 stainless inland, 316 near salt water or pools.
- Size by joint: #10 x 2 in for pickets to rails; structural screws for rails to posts.
- Star drive: you will drive hundreds of screws — cam-out-free driving is not optional.
Top Picks
1. 304 stainless steel fence screws (bulk box) Best overall
No staining, no rust bleed, decades of life — the only fastener that matches cedar’s lifespan. Buy in bulk; a fence eats hundreds.
Check price on Amazon →2. Polymer-coated exterior deck screws Best value
A heavy epoxy coating isolates the steel from cedar tannins at half the price of stainless — inspect the coating for nicks as you drive.
Check price on Amazon →3. Simpson Strong-Drive SDWS structural screws Rails to posts
Code-listed structural screws for the load-bearing rail-to-post joints — replaces lag bolts with no pre-drilling.
Check price on Amazon →What to Avoid
Avoid
- Galvanized or zinc screws — they bleed black streaks into cedar within months.
- Ring-shank nails as the only fastener — pickets work loose; screws hold.
- Under-building structural joints — rail-to-post connections carry the fence in wind.
Also in the toolbox
- 18V impact driver kit — drives a whole fence on two batteries
- Torx bit set (T25) — fresh bits for hundreds of screws
FAQ
Why do screws leave black stains on cedar fences?
Cedar contains tannins that react with iron and zinc, forming dark compounds that bleed down the pickets with rain. Stainless steel and intact polymer coatings isolate the metal from the wood, preventing the reaction.
Are nails or screws better for fence pickets?
Screws. Ring-shank nails hold better than smooth nails, but pickets still work loose over time as the wood cycles. Screws resist withdrawal far better and let you replace individual pickets without destroying the rails.
How many screws does a fence need?
Roughly 2 screws per picket per rail — a 100 ft fence with 6 in pickets and 2 rails needs about 800 screws. Buy bulk boxes; running out mid-fence is how mismatched fasteners (and stains) happen.
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