How long are the screws in M.2 standoff on PC motherboards?

The records range from 2.5 to 6.1 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 M.2 standoff on PC motherboards?

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 M.2 standoff on PC motherboards?

TechSpareWarehouse (our own store) lists M3 x 3mm, M3 x 4mm and M3 x 5mm, which match lengths in the records above.

M.2 standoff on PC motherboards screw size

M3 · 2.5 to 6.1 mm long

The screws used on M.2 standoff on PC motherboards are M3 in lengths from 2.5 to 6.1 mm.

Where it is used: silverStone CA04 kit spec: "M.2 cylindrical screw nut (thick) (M3 x 2.5 + 6.1mm)" — the standoff the SSD screw threads into.

This entry is marked confirmed and comes from silverstonetek.com.

For reference, M3 is 3 mm across the threads at 0.5 mm pitch. The imperial size people confuse it with: #5-40 (3.18 mm) or #4-40 — neither interchanges with M3.

M.2 standoff on PC motherboards 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	2.5–6.1 mm	0.5 mm	not stated	not stated	SilverStone CA04 kit spec: "M.2 cylindrical screw nut (thick) (M3 x 2.5 + 6.1mm)" — the standoff the SSD screw threads into	Confirmed

Fitment records and sources

M32.5 mm thread + 6.1 mm bodyconfirmed

SilverStone CA04 kit spec: "M.2 cylindrical screw nut (thick) (M3 x 2.5 + 6.1mm)" — the standoff the SSD screw threads into

pitch 0.5 mm · tap 2.5 mm · clearance 3.4 mm · PH1 / Torx T10

Source

How to check the screw before you buy

Laptop covers and brackets often mix two or three lengths of the same thread, so lay the screws out in the order they came out (a magnetic mat or a sheet of paper with the hole pattern drawn on it works).
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 2.5–6.1 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

Intel's ATX and microATX specs never state a metric standoff thread; PC motherboard standoffs are usually imperial 6-32, and PC fan screws are commonly 6-32 self-tapping.
Motherboard screws must not poke past the standoff and touch traces on the back of the board.

Pitch gauge · Screw size finder · Torque guide

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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The same screw also fits

Devices whose records share a thread with M.2 standoff on PC motherboards, closest length match first.

Lenovo ThinkPad W510 also M3 × 5 mm
HP Compaq 325 also M3 × 4 mm
Dell Latitude D531 also M3 × 3 mm
HP Pavilion DV6500 also M3 × 3 mm
HP EliteBook 6930p also M3 × 4 mm
Dell Inspiron 15 3515 also M3 × 3 mm
Dell Inspiron 15 3501 also M3 × 3 mm
Lenovo ideapad 520S-14IKB also M3 × 3 mm

Questions about M.2 standoff on PC motherboards screws

What size screw does M.2 standoff on PC motherboards use?: M3 × 2.5–6.1 mm for silverStone CA04 kit spec: "M.2 cylindrical screw nut (thick) (M3 x 2.5 + 6.1mm)" — the standoff the SSD screw threads into.
How long are the screws in M.2 standoff on PC motherboards?: The records range from 2.5 to 6.1 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 M.2 standoff on PC motherboards?: 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 M.2 standoff on PC motherboards?: TechSpareWarehouse (our own store) lists M3 x 3mm, M3 x 4mm and M3 x 5mm, which match lengths in the records above.

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