GoPro/action cam thumbscrew screw size
M5 · 18 mm long
The screws used on GoPro/action cam thumbscrew are M5, 18 mm long.
It is listed for de facto GoPro thumbscrew thread is M5-0.8, 18mm.
Head and drive, as the source states them: thumb screw (knurled) head.
This entry is marked confirmed and comes from airsoftspecops.com.
An M5 screw is 5 mm in diameter with a 0.8 mm pitch, tapped with a 4.2 mm drill; imperial look-alike: #10-32 (4.83 mm) — the other common rack thread; check before mixing.
GoPro/action cam thumbscrew 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M5 | 18 mm | 0.8 mm | Thumb screw (knurled) | not stated | De facto GoPro thumbscrew thread is M5-0.8, 18mm | Confirmed |
Fitment records and sources
De facto GoPro thumbscrew thread is M5-0.8, 18mm
pitch 0.8 mm · tap 4.2 mm · clearance 5.5 mm · PH2 / Torx T25
How to check the screw before you buy
- Vibration loosens small screws on drones and RC models, so builders commonly add a drop of medium (blue) threadlocker on metal-to-metal joints — never on plastic.
- Diameter: across the threads an M5 screw measures about 5 mm with calipers (usually a hair under). If yours measures noticeably more or less, it is a different thread.
- Pitch: 0.8 mm from one thread crest to the next (12.5 crests per centimetre). A thread pitch gauge or the pitch-gauge tool settles it in seconds.
- Length: for thumb screw (knurled) screws, measure from under the head to the tip (countersunk heads are the exception: they are measured overall).
- The record states 18 mm. Going longer risks bottoming out or touching parts behind the hole; going shorter loses thread engagement.
- Driver: the source does not name the drive. Standard M5 heads take PH2 for Phillips and T25 for Torx, and a 4 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 M5 is about 4.0-6.0 N·m into metal threads and 1.5-2.5 N·m into plastic bosses; snug it up and stop.
Common mix-ups with M5
- GoPro's mount thumbscrew is M5 x 0.8 — very close to imperial 10-32; a 10-32 will start to thread and then bind or strip.
- The GoPro thumbscrew is often mistaken for an imperial 10-32 thread, but it is an M5 x 0.8 metric thread.
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Devices whose records share a thread with GoPro/action cam thumbscrew, closest length match first.
- Home safe hinge and strike bolts also M5 × 18 mm
- Stage light yoke brackets also M5 × 18 mm
- DIN 965 / ISO 7046 countersunk Phillips screw also M5 × 18 mm
- 2020 extrusion T-nuts (standard) also M5 × 18 mm
- Voron 2.4 frame corner brackets also M5 × 18 mm
- DIN 912 socket-head cap screw also M5 × 18 mm
- Bicycle water bottle cage mounts also M5 × 18 mm
- TEKTELIC Kona Photon Gen-2 LoRaWAN gateway also M5 × 18 mm
Questions about GoPro/action cam thumbscrew screws
- What size screw does GoPro/action cam thumbscrew use?
- M5 × 18 mm for de facto GoPro thumbscrew thread is M5-0.8, 18mm.
- How long are the screws in GoPro/action cam thumbscrew?
- The record gives 18 mm. Measure the original from under the head (overall for a countersunk head) to confirm before ordering.
- What is the thread pitch of an M5 screw?
- 0.8 mm (coarse), which is the standard pitch for M5 machine screws; a 0.5 mm fine pitch exists but is uncommon. The tap drill is 4.2 mm and the normal clearance hole is 5.5 mm.
- What screwdriver do I need for GoPro/action cam thumbscrew?
- The sources do not name the drive. For M5, Phillips heads normally take PH2 and Torx heads T25; socket heads take a 4 mm hex key.
- Can I use an imperial screw instead of M5?
- No. Imperial look-alike: #10-32 (4.83 mm) — the other common rack thread; check before mixing. Use a true M5 screw so it does not cross-thread or strip the hole.