Quick answer: Raspberry Pi boards use M2.5 screws. On the Raspberry Pi 5, the four mounting holes are 2.7mm in diameter and sit on a 58mm x 49mm rectangle. Case assembly and HAT mounting (including PoE HATs) use M2.5 x 8mm. M2 and M3 screws look similar but won't fit: M2 spins loose, and M3 won't thread in.
Raspberry Pi 5 screw sizes
| Job | Screw | Order |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 case assembly | M2.5 x 8mm | 10-pack, single |
| Raspberry Pi 5 case + PoE HAT | M2.5 x 8mm | 10-pack |
| Raspberry Pi 5 PoE / NVMe HAT install | M2.5 x 8mm | single |
| Raspberry Pi 5 case (alternate listing) | M2.5 x 8mm | by the screw |
All are black carbon-steel Phillips flat-head screws. Single-screw listings are sold by the screw. A 10-pack covers four corners with spares for a second build or a stacked HAT.
Raspberry Pi 5 mounting hole dimensions
- Hole diameter: 2.7mm, a clearance hole for an M2.5 screw.
- Hole spacing: 58mm along the long side and 49mm along the short side, centre to centre.
- Thread: the holes in the board aren't threaded. The screw passes through the board into a threaded standoff, a case boss or a nut.
Designing your own case or bracket? Lay out four M2.5 standoffs on the 58 x 49mm rectangle, and check against the official mechanical drawing for your board before you cut or print.
Choosing the right length
The screw has to pass through everything it clamps and still catch the standoff or boss by several threads, without bottoming out.
- Case screws: match the case maker's length. For Pi 5 cases that call for it, that is M2.5 x 8mm.
- HAT stacks: the screw goes through the HAT into the top of a standoff. If you have added a spacer or a thicker HAT, you may need a longer screw.
- Too long? It will bottom out in a blind standoff and leave the board loose. In a case, it can push against the base.
Other M2.5 lengths, in case your build needs one: M2.5 x 5mm, M2.5 x 6mm, M2.5 x 10mm and M2.5 x 12mm. They are listed for other devices, but the M2.5 thread is the same.
How to check a screw is M2.5
- With calipers, measure across the outside of the threads. About 2.5mm means M2.5.
- Next to an M2 screw (such as an M.2 SSD screw), an M2.5 is visibly thicker. Next to an M3 (a 2.5" drive screw), it is visibly thinner.
- In a known M2.5 standoff, it should turn two full turns by hand with no force and no wobble.
The full comparison, including the imperial screws that look similar, is in M2 vs M2.5 vs M3 screws.
Fitting a HAT (PoE, NVMe and others)
- Power off and unplug the Pi before you touch the GPIO header.
- Fit the standoffs to the Pi first. Pass an M2.5 screw up through each mounting hole from underneath and into a standoff, or use the threaded studs on male-female standoffs. Leave them finger-tight.
- Line up the header and press the HAT straight down onto the GPIO pins, keeping it level so no pins bend.
- Fix the HAT with M2.5 screws through its corner holes into the tops of the standoffs.
- Snug all the screws in a cross pattern, and check that the HAT sits level and fully on the header.
Standoff height is set by the HAT, so use the height the HAT maker specifies. The screws are what wear out or go missing, and those are always M2.5.
Lost a screw from a case?
Most Pi 5 cases use M2.5 x 8mm. If yours used something different, measure a remaining screw: thread diameter first (it should be about 2.5mm), then the length under the head. Order that length in M2.5. A slightly shorter screw is safer than a longer one if you are unsure, as long as it still catches several threads.
Assembly tips
- Don't overtighten. Stop when the screw is snug. Plastic case bosses and nylon standoffs strip easily, and brass standoffs can twist out of the case.
- Use a Phillips bit that fills the recess. A small, worn bit cams out and chews the head.
- Fit all four screws loosely first, then snug them in a cross pattern so the board sits flat and the GPIO header lines up with any HAT.
- Keep spares. Pi screws are small and easy to drop into a case or under a desk.
Other small screws for maker projects
Building more than a Pi? Our Hobby & DIY screws collection covers drones, keyboards and models, and the 3D printer screw guide covers M3 to M5 frame screws.
FAQ
What screw size does the Raspberry Pi 5 use?
M2.5. For case assembly and HAT mounting, M2.5 x 8mm.
What are the Raspberry Pi 5 mounting hole dimensions?
Four 2.7mm holes on a 58mm x 49mm rectangle, centre to centre.
Are Raspberry Pi screws metric or imperial?
Metric. The board, the official cases and most HATs are designed around M2.5. An imperial screw such as a #2-56 or #4-40 may look close, but its thread won't match an M2.5 standoff.
Can I use M3 screws on a Raspberry Pi?
Not in M2.5 standoffs or case bosses. M3 is 0.5mm larger and won't thread in, and forcing it ruins the standoff.
Can I use M2 screws instead?
No. M2 is too small to grip an M2.5 thread, and it will spin loose.
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