What are the best screws for MDF?

Today we’re looking at screws for using in the face grain of MDF. These are commonly used for things like euro hinges, brackets, drawer runners and all sorts of other things. So, what are the best screws for MDF? Let’s find out – welcome back to Test Tuesday!

Watch the full video here:

What are the best screws for MDF face grain?

Watch this video on YouTube.

Screws on test

I’m using a selection of screws I have in stock in the workshop – some of them I commonly use for MDF face grain, others less so. Here’s what I’m testing:

Test #1: Screwfix EasyDrive 8ga x 1/2″
Test #2: Screwfix TurboGold 3.5mm x 20mm
Test #3: Screwfix GoldScrew 3.5mm x 16mm
Test #4: Unbranded 4.0mm x 16mm (approx.)
Test #5: Unbranded Euro Cabinet Screw
Test #6: Screwfix TurboGold 4mm x 16mm
Test #7: Screwfix TurboGold 4mm x 20mm
Test #8: Screwfix SilverScrew 4mm x 16mm

Test specifications

This is a really simple test, I’m simply using my test jig to pull the screw straight out of the 18mm MDF face grain, so this is an axial load test as opposed to a shear load test.

The results!

Here are the peak load results from from my tests. DO NOT use this as a guide for how much load these fixings can take in the real world. A safety factor should always be taken in to account and results can vary depending on many, many factors. Please watch my video above for some context on these tests.

Test #1: Screwfix EasyDrive 8ga x 1/2″ – 64.2kg
Test #2: Screwfix TurboGold 3.5mm x 20mm – 88.5kg
Test #3: Screwfix GoldScrew 3.5mm x 16mm – 85.6kg
Test #4: Unbranded 4.0mm x 16mm (approx.) – 86.2kg
Test #5: Unbranded Euro Cabinet Screw – 96.9kg
Test #6: Screwfix TurboGold 4mm x 16mm – 63.4kg
Test #7: Screwfix TurboGold 4mm x 20mm – 91.1kg
Test #8: Screwfix SilverScrew 4mm x 16mm – 103.3kg

IMPORTANT: Once again, a result of 103.3kg DOES NOT mean you can safely hang 100+ kg from a single screw. This is simply an overview of how these screws performed relative to each other in my particular test. Always refer to the screw manufacturer’s loading tables using an appropriate safety factor.

Measure Accurately

While I’m at it, it’s important to measure your work accurately. I prefer to use a double sided metric-only tape measure since it’s considerably easier to read than normal tape measures. These things are genuinely amazing. Pick one up here.

Best screws for MDF

Generally, due to the layered nature of MDF, you want a screw with a nice coarse thread. The problem is most small screws don’t have a particularly coarse thread. My personal favourites out of the above list are:

#1 – Screwfix SilverScrew 4mm x 16mm

These screws are idea for euro hinges and anything that can get away with the countersunk head where you don’t want to run ANY risk of the screw penetrating through the usual 18mm board thickness. That’s why this screw is so well suited to cabinet doors, not to mention it having the most impressive pull-out resistance.

#2 – Screwfix EasyDrive 8ga x 1/2″

Although this came second last in the test, the 60+kg of pull out resistance is still very good. The main advantage of this is the flat, non-countersunk back and the wide, flanged head. This makes it especially suitable for brackets, drawer runners and the like.

#3 – Screwfix GoldScrew 3.5mm x 16mm

Sometimes the SilverScrew head of the 4mm screw can be too big for certain drawer runners (same goes for the EasyDrive screw). So it’s always handy to have a screw on hand with a smaller head for such situations. This GoldScrew still offers excellent pull-out resistance without there being any risk of it penetrating the standard 18mm thick board.

The wildcard – Euro Cabinet Screw

Sometimes it can be tricky to get hold of the correct size versions of these. They’re often bespoke to hinge brackets and come with a tiny countersunk head. That said, they came second only to the SilverScrew listed above. The wider shank gives it a thread with a superior surface area making it especially suited to cabinet doors in pre-drilled 5mm holes. Whenever you smash up an old kitchen, salvage these from the hinges as they’re always handy to have around!

You can buy ALL of the screws in this test for under £20 (apart from the unbranded ones, obviously). I would personally suggest having all of them in stock, just in case. They all have their uses!

Last updated: 22 Apr 2023
Originally published: 6 Dec 2018

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Andy Mac

Andy ran a successful property maintenance and woodworking business for many years. He's established and run award winning companies, has been self employed most of his life and was co-host of the UK's first commercial joinery podcast. He now shares his experiences via one of the UK's biggest property maintenance YouTube channels.