What Screws Should I Use for Furniture? A Practical Fixing Guide
Furniture fixings are not all the same. A screw that works well in timber can be too aggressive for flat-pack board, too long for a cabinet panel, or the wrong thread for a connector fitting.
Quick answer: choose furniture screws by the material, board thickness, fitting type and whether you are replacing an existing connector. For flat-pack furniture, match the original fixing as closely as possible.
Start with the furniture material
The first check is the material you are fixing into. Solid timber, MDF, chipboard and laminated flat-pack board all behave differently. A fixing that grips well in solid timber may split or strip thinner board.
- Solid timber: often suits woodscrews, cabinet screws or pilot-drilled fixings.
- MDF and chipboard: needs careful length choice and good thread engagement.
- Flat-pack board: often uses connector bolts, dowel screws, cam locks or specialist fittings.
- Visible furniture hardware: finish and head style matter as well as size.
Flat-pack connector screws and cam fittings
Flat-pack furniture often uses connector systems rather than normal woodscrews. Cam lock dowel screws are a common example. They screw into one panel and lock into a cam fitting in the next panel.
If you are replacing one, match the thread, shoulder, length and diameter as closely as possible. A small difference can stop the cam from pulling the joint tight.
Cabinet handles, hinges and visible fittings
Cabinet and furniture hardware often needs a clean visible finish. For handles, hinges and plates, check the screw head type, finish and length so the screw sits neatly without punching through the other side.
For handles and knobs, also check the door or drawer thickness. Screws supplied with fittings are not always the right length for every panel.
Board thickness and screw length
Length is one of the easiest mistakes to make. A screw needs enough bite to hold, but not so much length that it breaks through the opposite face or damages the board.
| Job | What to check |
|---|---|
| Replacing flat-pack fittings | Match the old connector length, thread and shape. |
| Fixing into board | Check panel thickness before choosing screw length. |
| Visible hardware | Match finish, head style and screw length. |
When to use normal woodscrews
Woodscrews can work for solid timber furniture, workshop builds and some repairs. They are less suitable where the original furniture used a connector fitting or where the board is thin and likely to split.
If you are building from timber rather than repairing flat-pack furniture, start with a suitable timber screw and check head type, length and finish.
Replacing lost furniture fixings
If a fixing is missing, measure the matching part from the furniture before ordering. Check the length, thread, diameter, head type and whether it connects into a cam, insert nut or pre-drilled hole.
If the original fixing is unusual, replacing the whole matching pair or connector set can be safer than mixing parts.
Check before buying
- Measure the old screw or connector if replacing one.
- Check board thickness before choosing length.
- Confirm whether the fixing is a normal screw or a furniture connector.
- Match visible finishes where the screw head will show.
- Use pilot holes where needed to avoid splitting timber.
- For repeat repairs, keep common connector sizes together.
Shop furniture fixings
Find cam dowel screws, cabinet hardware, connector fixings and practical furniture repair parts.
FAQs
Can I use normal screws for flat-pack furniture?
Sometimes, but not when the furniture relies on cam locks, dowel screws or connector fittings. Match the original fixing style where possible.
How do I know what length furniture screw I need?
Measure the board thickness and the old fixing if available. The screw needs enough grip without coming through the opposite side.
What is a cam lock dowel screw?
It is a furniture connector screw used with a cam lock fitting. It helps pull two flat-pack panels together when the cam is turned.