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#5 Wood Screw Pilot Hole — 5/64"

A #5 wood screw needs a 5/64" pilot hole. Hardwood may require a larger pilot hole to prevent splitting.

Result
Answer
5/64" drill bit
Screw Gauge#5
Shaft Diameter0.125"
Pilot Hole (softwood)5/64"
Pilot Hole (hardwood)3/32"
Clearance Hole1/8"

A #5 wood screw (0.125" shaft) needs a 5/64" pilot hole in softwood or 3/32" in hardwood. Clearance hole is 1/8". General-purpose light wood screws.

Note

Showing softwood pilot hole size by default. Hardwood requires a larger pilot hole to prevent splitting.

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About #5 Wood Screw Pilot Holes

A #5 wood screw has a shaft diameter of 0.125". In softwood (pine, cedar, spruce), drill a 5/64" pilot hole. In hardwood (oak, maple, cherry), use a 3/32" pilot hole to prevent splitting. The clearance hole for a #5 screw is 1/8". General-purpose light wood screws. Always drill a pilot hole in hardwood to avoid splitting and ensure the screw draws the joint tight.