What Size Screws for Fence Pickets
Pickets run 5/8 to 3/4 in thick over 2x4 rails — the screw crosses the picket and needs 1 in of rail bite without poking out the back. #8 x 1-3/4 to 2 in exterior screws are the answer for standard pickets, coated or stainless for weather. Two screws per rail, every rail.
What to Look For
- Standard 5/8 to 3/4-in pickets: #8 x 1-3/4 to 2 in.
- Bite 1 in into the rail — less loosens, more pokes through.
- Exterior-rated only — coated, ceramic, or stainless.
- Star drive — hundreds of screws per fence demand it.
- Two screws per picket per rail — one allows cupping.
Top Picks
1. Power Pro #8 x 1-3/4 in exterior wood screws Best overall
Epoxy-coated, Type-17 point, sized for standard pickets — the fence-builder default.
Check price on Amazon →2. GRK R4 #8 x 2 in multipurpose screws For thick pickets
Extra length for 1-in rough-sawn pickets and double-layer board-on-board.
Check price on Amazon →3. Hillman 305 stainless #8 x 1-3/4 in deck screws For cedar
Stainless that never streaks cedar or redwood — the premium-fence pick.
Check price on Amazon →What to Avoid
Avoid
- Drywall screws outdoors — they rust, streak, and snap.
- 3-in screws in pickets — they blow through the back of 2x4 rails.
- One screw per rail — pickets cup and twist within a season.
Also in the toolbox
- 20V impact driver plus spare battery — a fence is 500-plus screws; one battery will not finish
- String line plus line level — straight rails make straight fences
FAQ
Screws or nails for fence pickets?
Screws hold better and allow easy picket replacement — one backed-out screw vs pried nails. Nails (6d ring-shank) go in 5x faster with a coil nailer. Pros pick screws for cedar shows and nails for long pine runs; both last if they are exterior-rated.
What size screws for 1-inch thick pickets?
Step up to #8 or #9 x 2 to 2-1/4 in — the 1-in picket plus 1-in rail bite needs the extra length. Keep the same two-per-rail pattern and exterior coating.
How many screws per fence picket?
Two per rail, and most fences have two or three rails — so four to six screws per picket. Space them evenly across the picket width, about 1 in from each edge to prevent splitting.
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