Laptop screw listings are full of jargon. This glossary defines every term you'll meet while identifying or buying laptop repair hardware — bookmark it, or jump straight to the Screw Size Finder Tool when you're holding a mystery screw.
Size & Thread Terms
M2, M2.5, M3 (metric thread size): The "M" number is the screw's outer thread diameter in millimeters. An M2 screw is 2mm across the threads. Laptops almost exclusively use M1.2 through M3.
Length: Measured from under the head to the tip for flat/pan heads (so "M2 x 4mm" = 2mm diameter, 4mm long shaft). Countersunk screws are measured including the head.
Thread pitch: Distance between threads. Laptop metric screws use standard coarse pitch (M2 = 0.4mm, M2.5 = 0.45mm, M3 = 0.5mm) — you rarely need to specify it.
Head Types
Phillips flat head (countersunk): Cone-shaped underside that sits flush — the most common laptop screw head. Pan head: Rounded top, flat underside, sits proud of the surface. Wafer/thin head: Ultra-low profile for tight clearances under keyboards and covers. Shoulder screw: Has an unthreaded smooth section — used for mounting hard drives with grommets.
Drive Types
PH000 / PH00 / PH0: Phillips driver sizes, smallest to largest — most laptop screws take PH00 or PH000. Torx (T5, T6, T8): Star-shaped recess used by Dell XPS bottom covers, MacBook internals and gaming laptops. Pentalobe (P2, P5): Apple's 5-point security screws on modern MacBook bottom cases. Tri-point (Y00): Found inside Apple devices and some Nintendo hardware.
Materials & Finishes
Carbon steel: Standard laptop screw material — strong and inexpensive. Black oxide: The matte black finish on most laptop screws; mild corrosion resistance, no glare. Zinc plated: Silver appearance, better corrosion resistance. Nickel plated: Bright silver, hardest common finish.
Hardware Terms
Standoff: A threaded post that raises a board or M.2 SSD off the motherboard — the screw threads into it. Brass insert: Threaded metal sleeve embedded in a laptop's plastic that receives screws; strips if overtightened (see our torque guide). Captive screw: Stays retained in the panel when unscrewed — common on bottom covers. Grommet: Rubber isolator used with shoulder screws on hard drives.
Put It to Work
Now that you speak screw: find your machine in the model-by-model guides, identify unknowns with the finder tool, check the complete size chart, or grab a complete screw kit for your laptop family.