Choosing the Right Screwdriver Bit

Written By: Richard

Comments: 29

Difficulty

Very easy

Steps

Time Required

1 - 2 minutes

Introduction

Choosing the wrong screwdriver bit can sometimes mean the difference between repair success and repair distress. Follow the tips in this guide to correctly identify your screwdriver bits and prevent those woeful stripped screws.

If you're still running into trouble with your screws after reviewing the information here, check out this awesome guide for some screwdriver tips.

Tools

Pro Tech Toolkit

Step 1

The screw bits in our iFixit bit kits have engraved prefixes that indicate the head type. These prefixes are typically followed by a number that indicates bit size. For example:
PH2 - (Phillips #2) A large Phillips bit.
PH0 - (Phillips #0) A medium Phillips bit.
PH000 - (Phillips #000) A small Phillips bit.
Choose the bit size that fills the screw head entirely. A bit that is too big or too small will not seat properly, and you'll end up with a stripped screw.

Step 2

If you find yourself scratching your head over identifying the bits in your tool kit, feel free to use this reference list.
Physical bit shape followed by proper name.
Bit size.
If there is no prefix engraved in your bit, simply use the full proper name and size when using your bit in a guide. (For example: "Use a 1.5 mm Flathead bit to remove the two 5 mm case screws.")

Step 3

Bits with the prefix "J" and "PH" are often thought to be the same bit. Don't be fooled by their similar appearance—they are quite different.
Phillips (PH) screws are designed to make a Phillips screwdriver cam out if too much torque is applied. This prevents damage to screws and screwdrivers or bits.
Japanese Industrial Standard (J) screws do not provide a cam-out option, and have 90 degree corners.
J (or JIS) and PH (Phillips) driver bits are not always interchangeable. As you can see, they do not share identical physical properties.

which is which? why not tag each with a label?

Jay Heldman - 05/06/18

Japanese Industrial Standard (J) screws do not provide a cam-out option, and have 90 degree corners

Oscar - 26/06/18

Does a PH bit also fit into a J screw?

Alberto - 04/03/19

Hiya, Alberto! Great question. Smaller screws found in electronics aren’t particularly durable, and using a Phillips screwdriver on a Japanese Industrial Standard screw head (or vice versa) can lead to some pretty major problems. I highly recommend using the proper screwdriver or bit to avoid stripping screws.

Richard - 04/03/19

Which one should I get in America for iPhone and laptop type repairs , PH or J?

eliyahu Stein - 13/04/20

According to JIS and ISO standard, both recess dimension seem to be the same, having a rounded corner between two flats. I think, the recess without rounded corners (as right drawing) is a recess of CIPA (older JCIS) standard. According to CIPA, the edge between two flats is R0.06mm rounded shape, which seems to be neary sharp edge. Anyway, CIPA is a Japanese Standard and used mainly for the screws of Japanese electrical instruments.

gk3lglink - 12/01/21

I have two Phillips heads, one is labelled PH.2, the other labeled SH.0.

The second one has a very snub nose, which is what I need for the screws I need to work on. The more pointed PH one is too loose as the point doesn't allow it to fully seat into the screw head.

A seemingly identical snub-nosed one from another set is labelled: CR-V3#, and another seeming clone as ACR-2..

I'm having a bit of confusion on how to buy another screw bit like I need.

Guthrie -

I have the small screwdriver kit you make. (Forgot the name) There are J1 and PH1 drivers. However, apart from the stamped label, those two especially are identical. The J1 is as rounded as the PH1 and all angles and lengths are the same. (I looked closely with a good magnifying glass.)

There is a very visible difference between J0 and PH0. So I assume either my PH1 or my J1 has a manufacturing error.

̷ ̴ ̸ɢ̸ʟ̶ɪ̸ᴛ̶ᴄ̶ʜ̷ ̶ ̶ -

Hi @glitchglitch, email support@ifixit.com to open a ticket.

Happy fixing!

Amber Taus -

Great guide, but i have a question about some other bits.

Is there a difference between the "Tri-wing" and "Tri-Point" there are two bits available at the store both designated "Y0" or are they interchangeable

Emerson Rosa (xXNibblesXx) -

Definitely different! You can find some more info on that here, and there's some helpful Wikipedia info here. Absolutely go for the correct fit. The potential to strip the screw head is just too great.

Richard -

Author

Richard

Member since: 07/02/17

29767 Reputation

18 comments

Excellent guide. could not figure out the difference by looking.

Lawrence Steinheuer-Turner - 01/03/19

It would be clearer if the displayed drawing of each bit actually said J-bit or PH-bit, and because both have 90 degree corners, maybe change the J-bit description to “have 90 degree square inside corners“ and include in the PH description “have 90 degree rounded inside corners.

Otherwise, with interpretation, your article helped me.

Phil - 30/04/19

what size hex shaft do these smaller bits have?. i have an electric precision screw driver, for electronics. i go through the PH1 bits very quickly. i can NOT find them for sale anywhere on earth. does anybody know where to purchase these things?? and/or tell me how i should word the query. all im getting is 1/4 hex shaft results. very frustrating

brett everett - 17/10/20

In the picture on the top of the page the bits with a 90° corner are marked as Phillips heads, the ones with the rounded corners are markes as JIS heads. But it seems to be the other way, as mentioned in Step 3 of this instruction, and also according to other pages like Phillips #000 Screwdriver

Andreas Brunner - 19/04/21

Sharp eye, Andreas! Thanks for catching that. We’ve updated the image at the top of the guide with the correct labels.

Marty Rippens - 20/04/21

Right on the money there! 👍

Ross McPherson -

i have just bought an ifixit kit, has some ph and j bits. I’ve looked at them under a microscope, compared angles, tried them on screws... i have found no difference whatsoever, they seem to be identical. What gives?

Victor Titov -

Hi @deepsoic, that’s a pretty interesting find you’ve made! Send an email over to our customer service team at support@ifixit.com and they’ll help you get this issue sorted.

Amber Taus -

The label indicating the drivers on the Mako 64-bit driver set is almost impossible to read (embossed black-on-black). You can print a better one from the diagram on the catalog page. See https://twitter.com/isonno/status/146455...

isonno -

I got this set as a gift and I’m very disappointed it doesn’t include larger Phillips head bits. The largest in this set is too small for a lot of the screwheads on my electronics, especially since I’ve never seen some of these screwheads in my entire life. Do you have any larger Phillips bits for sale?

Matt -

Hi, Matt! Sorry to hear that your current kit doesn't meet your needs. We do have a larger 1/4" driver kit that goes up to PH #3 (Mahi).

Richard -

Where does pozidriv (PZ) fit in. I know its not Phillips, so seem to be another bit type?

Alan -

Probeer de volgende link eens: https://shop4fasteners.co.uk/blog/pozidr...

Misschien wordt het dan duidelijker.

Toon Konings -

Il manque (cruellement) l'empreinte POZIDRIV souvent source de confusion.

Roland29 -

I think the English information about jis may be wrong and outdated. I google Japanese,旧JISネジ vs iso ，Statement from Vessel,ねじにある丸い刻印「ISOマーク」 "point"screws are rare in Japan now. "point"means new jis/ISO(only M3/4/5) ， "no point" is old jis in japan in 1960'， The difference is the "screw pitch". and new JIS B 4633 screws also no point. only ISO 8764. You can test pb/wiha/wera/vessle with your jis screw, it won't make a difference.

sean zhang -

What are philips #1,2 & 3 sizes? Are they different in thickness? Can Philips #1 Screwdriver be used on any Phillips screws?

Amit ghosh -

A Phillips screwdriver has a head with pointed edges in the shape of a cross, which fits neatly into the cross slots of a Phillips screw. Phillips screwdrivers are available in five different sizes, from zero to four. If you don’t use the right size, you can easily strip a Phillips screw, making it difficult to remove.

Toon Konings -

Das sagt mir nicht welcher BIt für Kreutzschlitz 2,2- 3,5 mm ich benötige. Für mich völlig wertlos. Wird jetzt ein 000.00,0,oder 1,2, gebraucht?

Gerd Schaper -