Quick answer: Start with the gentlest method and work upward. Try a rubber band or piece of duct tape between the screwdriver and the screw head for extra grip. If that fails, use locking pliers on a protruding screw, then a manual impact driver with a hammer. For a completely stripped screw, drill a hole and use a screw extractor as a last resort.
A stripped screw turns a five-minute job into a frustrating standoff, but the fix is usually just a matter of working through a few reliable tricks in the right order. Most stripped screws come loose with basic household items before you ever need specialist tools.
Why Screws Get Stripped
A screw strips when the notches in its head become worn or mangled, leaving nothing for the screwdriver to grip onto. This usually happens from using the wrong size or type of screwdriver, over-tightening with a power drill, working with old or rusted screws, or applying uneven pressure while driving the screw in.
Before You Start
Protect the surrounding surface from scratches while you work by cutting a notch into a piece of cardboard and fitting it around the screw. Wear safety glasses if you plan to use a drill or hammer at any point.
Method 1: Rubber Band or Duct Tape
This is the simplest fix and works well when the screw is only lightly stripped.
- Place a wide rubber band, or a folded piece of duct tape, over the screw head.
- Press your screwdriver firmly into the head through the rubber band or tape, so it fills the worn grooves.
- Apply steady downward pressure while turning slowly counterclockwise.
- The added material gives the screwdriver extra grip on surfaces the metal alone can no longer catch.
Method 2: Steel Wool
Similar in principle to the rubber band trick, a small amount of steel wool pressed into the stripped head can add just enough friction for the screwdriver to bite.
Method 3: Locking Pliers
If enough of the screw protrudes above the surface, pliers can grip it directly.
- Clamp locking pliers or vice grips firmly onto the sides of the screw head.
- Rotate slowly and steadily counterclockwise to back the screw out.
- Avoid turning too quickly, since this risks snapping the screw rather than loosening it.
Method 4: Screwdriver and Hammer
This works well when the slots are too worn for a screwdriver to sit securely on its own.
- Choose a flathead screwdriver that fits the full width of the screw head.
- Seat the screwdriver firmly into the head.
- Tap the end of the screwdriver handle with a hammer to drive it slightly deeper into the metal, creating a fresh grip.
- Turn the screwdriver counterclockwise while applying steady downward pressure.
Method 5: Manual Impact Driver
An impact driver combines downward force with a rotational strike, which is often enough to shift a screw that hand tools alone cannot budge.
- Fit the correct bit into the impact driver and insert it into the screw head.
- Hold the driver firmly in place and strike the top with a hammer using controlled, firm blows.
- The mechanism converts the hammer strike into a turning force, which should begin to loosen the screw.
Method 6: Cutting a New Slot
If the head is too damaged for any grip-based method, you can create a new one to work with.
- Using a small rotary tool or angle grinder with a cutting disc, carefully cut a fresh, deep notch across the top of the screw head.
- Fit a flathead screwdriver into the new slot and turn counterclockwise as normal.
- Work slowly and keep the disc steady, since it is easy to slip and mark the surrounding material.
Method 7: Drill and Screw Extractor
This is the most reliable method for a completely stripped screw and works especially well when the screw sits flush with, or below, the surface.
- Use a metal drill bit to drill a small pilot hole into the centre of the screw head, running the drill at a low speed to avoid splitting the surrounding material.
- Switch to the extractor bit, which is typically double-ended, with one end for drilling and the other for extraction.
- Insert the extractor end into the hole and turn counterclockwise. Its reverse-threaded design bites into the screw as you turn, gripping it tightly enough to back it out.
Removing a Broken Screw
If the head has snapped off entirely rather than just stripping, the same drill and extractor method applies, though you may need to first create a flat, centred starting point with a centre punch before drilling, so the drill bit does not wander across the broken surface.
Repairing the Surrounding Area
Pulling out a stubborn or broken screw can sometimes enlarge or damage the surrounding hole, particularly in softer materials like wood or plasterboard. Fill any enlarged hole with wood filler or plasterboard filler before driving in a new screw, or use a slightly larger replacement screw to get a secure grip in the original hole.
Preventing Stripped Screws in Future
- Match the screwdriver size and type exactly to the screw head, rather than making do with whatever is nearest to hand.
- Use a manual screwdriver rather than a power drill for smaller or more delicate jobs, since it gives you a better feel for when the screw is about to strip.
- Drill a pilot hole before inserting screws into hard or dense material, which reduces resistance and the risk of stripping.
- Avoid over-tightening, especially with an electric screwdriver, and ease off once the screw is seated firmly.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do screws get stripped in the first place?
The most common causes are using the wrong screwdriver size, over-tightening with a power tool, working with old or rusted screws, or applying uneven pressure while driving the screw in.
What household item works best for removing a stripped screw?
A rubber band or a piece of duct tape placed over the screw head before inserting the screwdriver is usually the quickest and most accessible first attempt.
How do I remove a stripped screw that’s flush with the surface?
A screw extractor is usually the best option here. Drill a small pilot hole into the screw head, then use the extractor’s reverse-threaded end to grip and back the screw out.
Can WD-40 help loosen a stripped screw?
It can help if the screw is also rusted or seized, since it loosens corrosion around the threads, but it will not restore grip to a worn screw head on its own, so it works best combined with one of the grip-improving methods above.
Final Thoughts
Most stripped screws respond to the simplest fixes first, a rubber band or a bit of duct tape for extra grip, before you need to reach for pliers, a hammer, or a screw extractor. Work through the methods in order of least to most destructive, and you will free almost any stripped screw without damaging the surrounding material.