Types of Screwdriver Tips

Flat-Head Screwdrivers

• Flat-head screwdrivers, or slotted screwdrivers, have a flat, line-shaped tip. Flat-head screws are among the most common types of screws, so you are likely to encounter them in home repair projects or when taking apart equipment. The sizes of the slots on flat-head screws can vary significantly, so you may need flat-head screwdrivers of several different sizes to remove all the flat-head screws you encounter.

Phillips Screwdrivers

• Phillips screwdrivers have a cross-shaped tip. Phillips screws are exceedingly common in a wide range of applications. It may be possible to remove a Phillips screw with a flat-head screwdriver in some cases, but using the wrong type of screwdriver can damage screws and make them more difficult to remove.

Square-Head Screwdrivers

• Square-head screwdrivers have square-shaped tips. Square-shaped screws are advantageous in that the screwdriver head fits snugly into the screw so the tool is less likely to slip out of the screw and damage it as you're applying pressure.

TORX Screwdrivers

• TORX screwdrivers have tips that look like six-pointed stars with rounded edges. TORX screws are commonly used in electronic devices.

Hex Screwdrivers

• Hex screwdrivers have hexagon-shaped tips. Hex-headed screwdrivers are an alternative to Allen wrenches or hex keys, which are hexagonal pieces of metal with a 90-degree bend that are commonly used to remove hexagonal screws and bolts.

Tamper-resistant Screws

• Some screws are designed with pins in the middle that make them impossible to remove without a special screwdriver. Phillips screwdrivers, square-head screwdrivers, hex screwdrivers and TORX screwdrivers also come in versions that can accommodate tamper-resistant screws.