Fastening Know-How
Screw Head Types: A Guide to Common Head Styles
What each common screw head looks like, which ones need a countersunk hole, and how to choose between them.
Countersunk vs Non-Countersunk Heads
Screw heads fall into two families. Non-countersunk heads sit on top of the surface and cover the widest variety of shapes. Countersunk heads, mainly flat, oval and bugle, sit in a cone-shaped recess so little or none of the head stands proud. Unless the material is very soft, flat and oval heads need a countersunk hole.
Screw Head Types Chart
The most common head styles, grouped by whether they need a countersink.
| Head type | Countersunk? | What it looks like and where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Pan | No | A low disc with a rounded, high outer edge and a large bearing surface. |
| Button (dome) | No | Cylindrical with a rounded top. |
| Round | No | A dome-shaped head, often chosen for appearance. |
| Truss | No | A lower-profile dome, used where a low head is wanted and to discourage tampering. |
| Cheese | No | Cylindrical. |
| Fillister | No | Cylindrical with a slightly convex top. |
| Flanged | No | Any non-countersunk head with a built-in flange at its base, which removes the need for a flat washer. |
| Hex | No | Hex-shaped like the head of a hex bolt, driven with a wrench or socket. Sometimes flanged. |
| Flat | Yes | Needs a countersunk hole so the head sits flush with the surface. |
| Oval (raised) | Yes | A countersunk underside with a rounded, decorative top. |
| Bugle | Yes | Like a flat head, but with a smooth curve from shank to head. Common on drywall screws, where the head forms its own countersink. |
Sources: Wikipedia, "Screw", Head section (accessed 25 Sep 2026); Fastener Mart, "Understanding Screw Heads and Drive Styles" (accessed 25 Sep 2026).
Head Style vs Drive Style
The head is the shape; the drive is the recess the tool fits. The most common drives are slotted, Phillips, combination, hex, hex socket, square and Torx. Square, hex and Torx drives are less likely than slotted or Phillips to let the driver cam out and mark the part, and hex heads are turned with a wrench or socket instead of a driver.
Compare two drives in Torx vs Phillips.
How to Choose a Screw Head
- Flush finish: a flat head in a countersunk hole, or an oval head where a finished look matters.
- Thin or soft material: a head with a wide bearing surface, such as pan or truss, spreads the load.
- No washer: a flanged head builds the washer in.
- High torque or wrench access: a hex head.
Go deeper: pan head vs truss head screws, flat head screws and types of flat head bolts. Need a head style to print? Request a quote.
Specifying a Safety-Critical Joint?
These charts are reference values drawn from published standards. Send us your drawing or specification and our team will review the fastener choice with you.