2.5in SATA / SAS hard drives and SSDs (SFF-8201) screw size
M3 · 2 to 7 mm long
If you are replacing a screw on 2.5in SATA / SAS hard drives and SSDs (SFF-8201), the thread is M3 in lengths from 2 to 7 mm.
The record covers the 2.5in drive form-factor standard tabulates M3 threads for the side and bottom mounting holes.
This entry is marked confirmed and comes from members.snia.org.
M3 means a 3 mm nominal diameter with a 0.5 mm thread pitch. Imperial look-alike: #5-40 (3.18 mm) or #4-40 — neither interchanges with M3.
2.5in SATA / SAS hard drives and SSDs (SFF-8201) screw specifications
One row per fitment record. Head, drive are shown only where the source states them; pitch is the ISO coarse pitch for the thread.
| Thread | Length | Pitch | Head | Drive | Where it goes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 | 2–7 mm | 0.5 mm | not stated | not stated | The 2.5in drive form-factor standard tabulates M3 threads for the side and bottom mounting holes | Confirmed |
Fitment records and sources
The 2.5in drive form-factor standard tabulates M3 threads for the side and bottom mounting holes
pitch 0.5 mm · tap 2.5 mm · clearance 3.4 mm · PH1 / Torx T10
How to check the screw before you buy
- Board standoffs and enclosure bosses set the usable length: the screw should clamp the board without bottoming in the standoff.
- Diameter: across the threads an M3 screw measures about 3 mm with calipers (usually a hair under). If yours measures noticeably more or less, it is a different thread.
- Pitch: 0.5 mm from one thread crest to the next (20 crests per centimetre). A thread pitch gauge or the pitch-gauge tool settles it in seconds.
- Length: measure from under the head to the tip for pan, button, wafer and cap heads; countersunk (flat) heads are measured overall.
- The records span 2–7 mm, which means different positions take different lengths — match each hole to its own screw.
- Driver: the source does not name the drive. Standard M3 heads take PH1 for Phillips and T10 for Torx, and a 2.5 mm hex key for socket heads; a bit that fits loosely will cam out and strip the head.
- Tightening: no device-specific torque is published in these records. The site's general figure for M3 is about 80-130 N·cm into metal threads and 35-60 N·cm into plastic bosses; snug it up and stop.
Common mix-ups with M3
- 3.5in desktop and enterprise hard drives are 6-32 UNC imperial, not M3 - only the 2.5in form factor is metric.
- PC cases mix M3 (fans, optical and 2.5in drives) with imperial 6-32 (3.5in drives, motherboard standoffs) - don't force one into the other.
Buy these screws at TechSpare Warehouse
In stock and shipped from South Carolina. Our black screws are Phillips wafer head (low profile); match the head style and length to the original before you order.
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M3 x 3mm Wafer Head Screws for Synology NAS Drive Canister 2.5 SSD Bay 10-Pack
$4.99 -
M3 x 3mm SSD Mounting Screws for HP Desktop 2.5 SATA Drive Replacement 10-Pack
$4.99 -
M3 x 4mm Phillips Wafer Head Screws for 2.5 SATA SSD Mounting 10-Pack
$4.99 -
M3 x 4mm Screws for Installing SSD into Synology NAS 10-Pack
$4.99 -
M3 x 5mm Phillips Wafer Head Screw for Electronics & Project Box Repair - Pack of 50 Black
$4.79 each · min. 2
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M3 x 6mm Phillips Wafer Head Carbon Steel Machine Screws for XLR Audio Connectors | 50-Pack (Black)
$4.99 -
M3 x 6mm Replacement Screws for XLR Audio Connectors Phillips Wafer Head 50-Pack
$4.99
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M3 x 4mm Phillips Wafer Head Screws for HDD Caddy Bracket 10-Pack
$4.99
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Devices whose records share a thread with 2.5in SATA / SAS hard drives and SSDs (SFF-8201), closest length match first.
- Canford D-series BNC panel connector (broadcast/RF) also M3 × 6–7 mm
- J-GUANG 301R / 2EDGK-5.0 & 5.08 PCB screw terminal block also M3 × 6 mm
- Eurorack module panel mounting also M3 × 6–7 mm
- Metcase Technomet-Control instrument enclosure also M3 × 6–7 mm
- Eurorack modular synthesizer cases also M3 × 6–7 mm
- Oracle MICROS Universal PED kiosk mount also M3 × 4 mm
- Dell PowerEdge R7525 also M3 × 4.5 mm
- PEM self-clinching flush-head stud, sheet-metal enclosures (ATM/kiosk/POS chassis use case) also M3 × 6 mm
Questions about 2.5in SATA / SAS hard drives and SSDs (SFF-8201) screws
- What size screw does 2.5in SATA / SAS hard drives and SSDs (SFF-8201) use?
- M3 × 2–7 mm for the 2.5in drive form-factor standard tabulates M3 threads for the side and bottom mounting holes.
- How long are the screws in 2.5in SATA / SAS hard drives and SSDs (SFF-8201)?
- The records range from 2 to 7 mm depending on the position, so match each screw to its own hole.
- What is the thread pitch of an M3 screw?
- 0.5 mm (coarse), which is the standard pitch for M3 machine screws; a 0.35 mm fine pitch exists but is uncommon. The tap drill is 2.5 mm and the normal clearance hole is 3.4 mm.
- What screwdriver do I need for 2.5in SATA / SAS hard drives and SSDs (SFF-8201)?
- The sources do not name the drive. For M3, Phillips heads normally take PH1 and Torx heads T10; socket heads take a 2.5 mm hex key.
- Can I use an imperial screw instead of M3?
- No. Imperial look-alike: #5-40 (3.18 mm) or #4-40 — neither interchanges with M3. Use a true M3 screw so it does not cross-thread or strip the hole.
- Where can I buy replacement screws for 2.5in SATA / SAS hard drives and SSDs (SFF-8201)?
- TechSpareWarehouse (our own store) lists M3 x 3mm, M3 x 4mm and M3 x 5mm, which match lengths in the records above.