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Deck screws: what to buy, and how not to overpay

By Simon Lafortune, Co-founder, Buildsavr · September 19, 2026

Deck screws look like the boring line on a deck budget. They are also the line where the price tag lies most often, because boxes are not the same size and almost nobody checks.

On one price survey we ran, the two cheapest looking boxes of the same Camo deck screw were forty cents apart. One held 1,750 screws. The other held 700.

2.5x
cost per screw between two boxes 40 cents apart
350 to 400
screws for a typical 12 x 16 ft deck surface
Coating
what has to match treated lumber, not brand

Read the count, not the sticker

This is the whole article in one paragraph. Deck screws are sold in boxes ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand, and retailers do not standardise the count. A shelf price only means something once you divide it by what is inside.

From our 24 May 2026 survey of the same Camo #7 x 2 3/8 in deck screw: Patrick Morin was $19.99 for a 1,750 screw box, about 1.1 cents per screw. RONA was $20.39 for a 700 screw box, about 2.9 cents per screw. Forty cents apart on the shelf, two and a half times apart on what you actually pay.

**So the only fair comparison is price per screw.** If a listing does not show the count, that is the first number to go find.

What six retailers were charging

Observed 24 May 2026 for a Camo #7 x 2 3/8 in deck screw. **These are box prices and the box counts are not identical**, which is exactly the trap above. Use this as a starting point for where to look, not as a ranking.

**This is an archive, not a live comparison.** These prices are not refreshed, they change weekly, and they vary by branch.

Hidden fasteners or face screwing

A hidden fastener system drives the screw into the side of the board through a jig, so the deck surface has no visible heads. Face screwing drives straight down through the board, the way decks have always been built.

Hidden costs more, in fasteners and in time, and it looks better. Face screwing is faster, cheaper, and easier to take apart in five years when one board rots. Neither is wrong.

What matters more than the choice: a hidden system locks you into its own screw. Once you buy the jig, you are buying that brand for the life of the deck, so price the screws before you commit to the system, not after.

The coating still decides everything

Deck screws go into pressure treated lumber, and modern treatments are copper based. Copper against plain zinc plating sets up a galvanic reaction that eats the fastener from inside the joint, where nobody sees it until a board moves underfoot.

**Anything going into treated lumber is ceramic coated, hot dip galvanized, or stainless.** That is not a premium option, it is the spec. For cedar, or anywhere near salt air, go stainless.

How many screws a deck takes

Rough numbers so you buy one box instead of making a second trip at full price.

  • Surface boards: about two screws per joist crossing. On a 12 x 16 ft deck with joists at 16 in on centre, plan on roughly 350 to 400 screws.
  • Stairs and railings: add 100 to 150, depending on the design.
  • Framing and blocking underneath: that is structural, and it wants structural screws or proper connectors, not deck screws.
  • Buy about 10 percent over. Dropped screws, stripped heads and a miscount are all normal.

Where the savings actually are

Deck screws are a small line next to the lumber, and that is precisely why they get bought on autopilot at whatever store the boards came from.

  • Divide by the count. Always. It is the single highest leverage habit on this page.
  • Buy the large box if the deck is real. The per screw price drops sharply past a few hundred.
  • Do not buy the premium structural screw for surface boards. Save it for the ledger and the stringers.
  • Price the screws with the lumber, in one list, not as an afterthought at the till.
  • Watch April and September. Deck season promotions land in those two windows.

Frequently asked questions

How much do deck screws cost?
In our 24 May 2026 Quebec survey of a Camo #7 x 2 3/8 in deck screw, box prices ran from $19.99 to $27.18 across six retailers. Box counts differ, though: the $19.99 box held 1,750 screws and a $20.39 box held 700, so per screw the gap was about 2.5 times. Compare price per screw, never the box price alone.
How many screws do I need for a 12 x 16 deck?
Roughly 350 to 400 for the surface boards, figuring about two screws per joist crossing with joists at 16 inches on centre. Add 100 to 150 for stairs and railings, and buy about 10 percent over for drops and mistakes.
Are Camo screws worth it over a generic deck screw?
The Camo system buys you a deck surface with no visible screw heads, which is a look, not a structural benefit. It costs more in fasteners and in time, and it locks you into that brand for future repairs. A good ceramic coated deck screw holds the same board just as well.
Should a deck be screwed or nailed?
Screwed, for the surface. Screws hold against the seasonal movement of treated lumber and come out cleanly when a board needs replacing. Nails back out over time. Structural connections underneath are a separate question and follow the connector manufacturer.
What length of deck screw do I need?
For 5/4 decking, a 2 to 2 1/2 inch screw. For full 2x decking, 3 to 3 1/2 inches. The rule of thumb is that the screw should reach about two thirds into the joist below.

Price the screws with the lumber, in one list

Buildsavr compares your whole deck list across every retailer we cover and returns the cheapest store for each line. Live in Quebec, rolling out across Canada. First comparison free.