How to Choose a 1/4-20 Screw for Mounting a Camera to a Tripod

The short answer

A 1/4-20 tripod screw has a quarter-inch diameter and 20 threads per inch. It is the widely used standard thread for the mounting socket on consumer cameras, many webcams with a tripod hole, small lights and phone clamps. If your device has a threaded hole on the bottom and the manual lists a 1/4-inch or 1/4-20 socket, a 1/4-20 screw is the right thread. The remaining decisions are length, head style and whether your tripod needs an adapter.

One ambiguity changes the answer. "1/4 inch tripod screw" almost always means 1/4-20, the coarse thread. A 1/4-28 fine thread also exists in hardware stores. It has the same diameter but a different pitch and will not fit a camera socket. Buy screws labeled 1/4-20 or 1/4"-20 UNC, not just "1/4 inch".

Confirm which thread your gear uses

Two other threads often get confused with 1/4-20:

Thread | Typical use | Compatible with 1/4-20?

1/4-20 UNC | Camera and webcam sockets, small tripod plates, accessories | Yes, this is the standard

3/8-16 UNC | Larger tripod heads and some professional plates | No; requires a reducer bushing or adapter

M6 x 1.0 (metric) | General hardware, some non-camera mounts | No; diameter is 6 mm vs about 6.35 mm and pitch is 1.0 mm vs about 1.27 mm

M6 is close in size, so it can start to thread and then bind. Forcing it can damage the threads in the camera socket. If a screw resists after a turn or two, stop and check the label rather than tightening harder.

Some tripod heads have a 3/8-16 stud. Many of these come with a brass reducer bushing that converts the stud to 1/4-20. If your tripod has the larger thread and no bushing, buy a 3/8-16 to 1/4-20 adapter instead of a different screw.

Choose the right screw length

Length matters as much as thread. A screw that is too long can bottom out before the camera seats flat, which leaves a wobbly mount. On some devices it can also press against internal parts. A screw that is too short engages only a few threads and can strip or pull loose.

• Check the device manual for the maximum screw depth, if it lists one.
• If the manual doesn't list a depth, gently measure the socket with a thin, nonmetallic probe such as a toothpick, marking where it stops.
• Add the thickness of whatever the screw passes through first: the quick-release plate, a clamp jaw or a rubber pad.
• Choose a screw whose threaded length roughly equals that combined thickness plus the usable socket depth, slightly short of the bottom of the socket.

The supplied evidence does not include socket depths for particular cameras or webcams, so this guide gives no specific length. Use the manual or your own measurement.

Pick a head style and material

• D-ring or thumb screw: tightens by hand without tools. Convenient for quick setup on a desk tripod or webcam mount.
• Slotted or coin-slot head: low profile. Sits flush under quick-release plates and can be tightened with a coin.
• Hex (Allen) head: compact and allows firm tightening. Common on cages, rigs and fixed installations.
• Shoulder screw: has an unthreaded section near the head, so the plate can sit on it without wearing the threads.
• Stainless steel: strong and corrosion-resistant, and a common choice for screws carrying weight.
• Brass: softer, often used in adapters and bushings.

Mount the camera and verify it

• Look into the socket and clear any debris.
• Start the screw by hand, keeping it straight. It should turn smoothly for several rotations.
• Tighten until the camera sits flat and doesn't twist. Snug is enough; don't crank it.
• Test the mount: gently try to rotate the camera on the plate and tilt the tripod head through its range. Nothing should shift or creak.
• If the camera still rotates, check that the plate's rubber or cork pad isn't too thick for the screw length and that the screw isn't bottoming out.

A secure mount only shows the hardware is holding. It doesn't confirm that the camera works on a call. After mounting a webcam, separately check that the operating system and browser can access it and that a live video preview appears.

What this guide can't tell you

No verified product specifications, prices, load ratings or tests were available for this guide. It therefore names no brands and makes no claims about how much weight a particular screw can hold. If your camera is heavy or will be mounted overhead, check the load rating in the screw's and tripod's manufacturer specifications before relying on the mount.