What Size Screwdrivers Do Electricians Need?

With so many screwdrivers available, what’s the best screwdriver to buy? And how many different screwdrivers do you need as an electrician? 

The type of screw being used determines the size of the screwdriver needed. Typically an electrician uses 5.5 mm or 8 mm screwdrivers. However, there are standards in the electrical industry that make screwdriver sizes easy to select.

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What type of screwdrivers do electricians use?

Electricians use a wide range of screwdrivers, don’t forget electricians are not only terminating wires into connectors and fuse boards. They fit channelling to conceal the wires and use screwdrivers for many other applications.

However, not any old screwdriver will suffice for an electrician even though it may be gleaming and have some shelf appeal.

Electricians tend to use insulated VDE screwdrivers and help prevent the electrician from receiving a shock or, worse, being electrocuted.

What is a VDE screwdriver?

VDE is an international body that rates screwdrivers for insulative properties that protect electricians when working on live open circuits.

The handle is heavily insulated, and the shaft is insulated with a sheath to prevent accidental shocks.

What does VDE stand for?

VDE is an acronym for Verband der Elektrotechnik, Elektronik und Informationstechnik (association for electrical, electronic & information technologies).

Why do electricians carry so many screwdrivers?

It’s a case of being prepared for any eventuality that may present itself during an installation. How embarrassing would it be for a professional electrician not to have the right tools, especially the staple tools of the trade like screwdrivers?

Included with screwdrivers are also the screwdriver bits that an electrician carries with him to insert into a drill. These screwdriver bits allow the electrician to use power tools and safe hours of manual screwing!

How are screwdrivers measured?

Unfortunately, the way screwdrivers are measured can sometimes be a mystery and not really make common sense, but here are some examples of screwdriver sizes for electricians.

Philps screwdrivers do not follow the same Imperial/metric SAE sizing because a Phillips screw can accept up to 5 times larger screwdriver heads without damaging the screw.

Slotted Precisions Size ChartSlotted Standard Size Chart
Tip Width (SAE)Tip Width (Metric)Tip Width (SAE)Tip Width (Metric)
0.8 mm3/16″
1 mm4.5 mm
1.2 mm5 mm
1.5 mm7/32″5.5 mm
1.8 mm6 mm
2 mm1/4″6.5 mm
3/32″2.5 mm5/16″
1/8″3 mm3/8″
3.5 mm
5/32″4 mm

Philps screwdrivers do not follow the same Imperial/metric SAE sizing because a phillips screw can accept up to 5 times larger screwdriver heads without damaging the screw.

Phillips Precision Size Chart

Phillips #Tip Width (Metric)Fit Screw Sizes
#00001 mm
#0001.5 mm
#002 mm
#02.5 mm0-1
#13 mm2-4

Phillips Standard Size Chart

Phillips #Tip Width (Metric)Fit Screw Sizes
#23.5 mm5-9
#35 mm10-14, 16
#46 mm18, 20, 24
#58 mm5/8″ and 3/4″(machine screws)

Why is it called Phillips screwdriver?

Henry Phillips in the US designed the Phillips screwdriver. He was born in 1889 and died in 1958 at the age of 69. He would have seen his invention prosper and his family name immortalised.

There are many benefits to the ubiquitous Phillips head screw, they provide a solid location of the screwdriver head, and you can use oversize screwdrivers to tighten.

What tool brands do electricians use?

Electricians will try to choose the best brand within their budget. RS stick their own branded VDE screwdrivers that have always been commonly used in the electrical industry.

Milwaukee tools are becoming very popular in the UK and leave brands like Bosch and Makita in the dust.

Fluke has been an industry-leading multimeter manufacturer for decades, but they also have electricians’ screwdrivers.

The fluke screwdriver is ergonomically designed to be comfortable but allows the electrician to supply adequate torque to the scores.

A lot depends on budget, but if a particular tool is your bread and butter, you should buy the best available without breaking the bank.

How do I know if my screwdriver is insulated?

It will have a red handle, and maybe some yellow accents, the shaft of the screwdriver will have an insulating sheath that extends through the screwdriver to the top of the handle.

The fluke screwdriver is perfectly insulated for the busy electrician combined with the plastic handle.

Does electrical tape protect from shock?

If you wrap a standard screwdriver shaft and handle it with electrical tape, will this provide sufficient insulation to prevent an electric shock?

No. Electrical screwdrivers are designed to eliminate the possibility of electricity flowing through the shaft and the handle shocking the user.

The shaft insulation does not stop at the handle. And it continues through the handle to provide double insulation.

Why do we still use slotted screws?

Slotted screws are generally stronger than Phillips head screws unless the Phillips is made from hardened steel.

In addition, if you have a decorative item that has a screw head in it, the flathead is more aesthetically pressing over the crux Phillips design.

Why don’t electricians use Torx?

Torx is used in heavier engineering when a torque load is needed to be greater than that applied to a standard screw.

However, there are constant changes to industry regulations concerning safety. If it’s deemed that a Torx or a Robertson is better suited to day fusebox terminations, electricians would need to change their tools over to suit the regulations.

Do screwdrivers wear out?

Yes, particularly cheap screwdrivers wear out. Electricians should invest in quality screwdrivers; without the humble screwdriver, the electrician is screwed!

How do I know what size screwdriver I need?

Sizes should be printed on the packaging of screws.

  • Look at the head of your screw and assess the size. You can fit a screwdriver if you are unsure of the size
  • Measure your screw head blade against the slot in the screw
  • Check for standard sizes in imperial and metric

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