What is the difference between a bolt and a screw?

What is the difference between a bolt and a screw?

• A. A bolt is used with a nut; a screw threads into material or into a threaded insert
• B. A screw is used with a nut; a bolt threads into material
• C. A bolt is not threaded
• D. A screw can only be used in metal

Answer: (A)

Bolts and screws differ by how they form or use threads in the joint. A bolt is designed to be used with a nut; it passes through the parts and is clamped with a nut on the opposite side, pulling the pieces together. A screw, on the other hand, is meant to cut or follow threads in the material itself (or into a pre-threaded insert), so it creates its own mating threads as it’s driven and usually does not require a nut in the same way a bolt does. Some bolts do go into tapped holes, but the common distinction is that bolts pair with nuts, while screws thread into the material. Screws can be used in wood, metal, and other materials, not just metal.

Bolts and screws differ by how they form or use threads in the joint. A bolt is designed to be used with a nut; it passes through the parts and is clamped with a nut on the opposite side, pulling the pieces together. A screw, on the other hand, is meant to cut or follow threads in the material itself (or into a pre-threaded insert), so it creates its own mating threads as it’s driven and usually does not require a nut in the same way a bolt does. Some bolts do go into tapped holes, but the common distinction is that bolts pair with nuts, while screws thread into the material. Screws can be used in wood, metal, and other materials, not just metal.