What Size Nails for Joist Hangers
Joist hangers are engineered connectors — the hanger table specifies the nail, and substituting wrong sizes can cut capacity by a third or more. The two answers: 10d x 1-1/2-in TECO nails into the joist (short, fat, shear-rated) and 16d commons into the header or beam. Diameter (.148 in) matters more than length.
What to Look For
- Joist side: 10d x 1-1/2-in TECO (.148 dia) — fits hanger holes, full shear.
- Header and beam side: 16d common (3-1/2-in) or per the hanger table.
- Fill EVERY hole — empty holes are missing capacity.
- Never substitute sinkers or brights — wrong diameter voids the rating.
- Simpson SD structural screws are the listed alternative — never drywall screws.
Top Picks
1. Simpson Strong-Tie N10HDG 10d hanger nails Best overall
The TECO nail — .148 diameter, HDG, exactly what hanger tables specify.
Check price on Amazon →2. Grip-Rite 16d HDG common nails (3-1/2-in) For headers
Full-diameter commons for the beam side where length counts.
Check price on Amazon →3. Simpson Strong-Tie SD9112 structural connector screws Best upgrade
Code-listed screws that replace hanger nails with higher values — no hammer needed.
Check price on Amazon →What to Avoid
Avoid
- Drywall screws in hangers — brittle, undersized, zero rating.
- 8d gun nails (.131) — smaller diameter cuts capacity about 30 percent.
- Skipping holes — the most common and most dangerous shortcut.
Also in the toolbox
- 22-oz framing hammer — sinks TECOs in hangers without bending
- Simpson Quik Drive auto-feed system — for decks with 50-plus hangers
FAQ
Can you use screws instead of nails in joist hangers?
Only code-listed structural connector screws (Simpson SD series, GRK equivalents) — and only where the hanger evaluation report allows them. Regular wood, deck, or drywall screws have neither the diameter nor the shear rating and must never substitute.
What is a TECO nail?
A short, fat nail — 10d diameter (.148 in) at just 1-1/2 in long — designed to fit joist-hanger holes and deliver full shear capacity in shallow members. The name comes from the Timber Engineering Company that originated connector ratings.
What happens if you use the wrong nails in hangers?
You lose rated capacity — often 30 to 60 percent with undersized gun nails — and fail inspection where hangers are structural. In the worst case the connection fails under load. The hanger table is not a suggestion.
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