Screw Abbreviations
Screw abbreviations can feel overwhelming when you’re comparing fasteners, reading spec sheets, or planning a precise build. These shorthand codes identify head styles, thread types, materials, and drive systems, allowing you to choose the exact hardware your project needs. When you understand what each abbreviation means, selecting the correct screw becomes faster, easier, and far more accurate. Clear knowledge also helps you avoid mismatched parts, stripped threads, or unnecessary returns.
Tradespeople, engineers, and DIY builders rely on screw abbreviations to communicate clearly and eliminate confusion across drawings and component lists. Codes like PH, FH, SHCS, and UNC instantly describe key features, so every tool and material aligns with the project requirements. By learning these terms, you streamline your workflow and improve build quality. This familiarity boosts confidence, improves purchasing decisions, and ensures the final assembly meets both structural and aesthetic expectations.
| Abbreviations | Description |
|---|---|
| General Fasteners | |
| FH | Flat Head |
| PH | Pan Head |
| RH | Round Head |
| SH | Socket Head |
| CSK | Countersunk |
| HEX | Hex Head |
| TRI | Truss Head |
| SQ | Square Drive |
| Thread and Shaft | |
| UNC | Unified National Coarse |
| UNF | Unified National Fine |
| UNEF | Unified National Extra Fine |
| M | Metric Thread |
| TPI | Threads Per Inch |
| LH | Left-Hand Thread |
| RH | Right-Hand Thread |
| ID | Inside Diameter |
| OD | Outside Diameter |
| Screws and Bolts | |
| SHCS | Socket Head Cap Screw |
| BHCS | Button Head Cap Screw |
| FHCS | Flat Head Cap Screw |
| HHCS | Hex Head Cap Screw |
| HCS | Hex Cap Screw |
| LAG | Lag Screw |
| SEMS | Pre-assembled Screw with Washer(s) |
| Nuts | |
| HN | Hex Nut |
| NL | Nylon Insert Lock Nut (Nyloc) |
| WN | Wing Nut |
| CN | Coupling Nut |
| JF | Jam Nut |
| K-Lock / KEP | Keps Nut (with captive washer) |
| Washers | |
| FW | Flat Washer |
| LW | Lock Washer |
| SAE | SAE Standard Washer |
| USS | USS Standard Washer |
| FWP | Fender Washer |
| Anchors | |
| SSA | Sleeve Anchor |
| Wedge / WA | Wedge Anchor |
| LDA | Large Diameter Anchor |
| TA | Toggle Anchor |
| Rivets | |
| POP | Blind Rivet |
| SSR | Solid Steel Rivet |
| OSR | Oversize Rivet |
