> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://commodorehdcovers.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Best Screws for Cedar Siding: Grip-Rite Leads - URL: https://commodorehdcovers.com/best-screws-cedar-siding/ - Published: 2026-09-07T07:36:06.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-07T09:49:17.000Z - Description: Seven fasteners lined up by alloy grade, length and head style, with a clear winner for cedar clapboard and honest notes on the two that are really metal-panel screws. - Author: Aidyn Meadows - Tags: Computers & Networking, Fasteners, #Exterior Siding The best screws for cedar siding are Grip-Rite's MAXS214TH3051, a 2-1/4 in. #7 trim head fastener in 305 stainless steel with a listing that names cedar directly. If you need volume instead of a small box, the US4 #8 x 2-1/2" trim head screw ships 350 pieces in the same 305 stainless. Cedar is the reason this choice is fussy: its natural tannins attack ordinary plated steel and streak the face of the board black. In this guide 1. [Best screws for cedar siding at a glance](#best-screws-for-cedar-siding-at-a-glance) 2. [How I screened these seven fasteners](#how-i-screened-these-seven-fasteners) 3. [Why does stainless matter so much on cedar?](#why-does-stainless-matter-so-much-on-cedar) 4. [What length do you actually need?](#what-length-do-you-actually-need) 5. [Trim head, hex head or nail: which finish suits cedar siding?](#trim-head-hex-head-or-nail-which-finish-suits-cedar-siding) 6. [1\. Grip-Rite MAXS214TH3051 Trim Head Screw — Best overall](#1-grip-rite-maxs214th3051-trim-head-screw-%E2%80%94-best-overall) 7. [2\. US4 #8 x 2-1/2" Cedar Trim Head Screws — Best for pros](#2-us4-8-x-2-12-cedar-trim-head-screws-%E2%80%94-best-for-pros) 8. [3\. Power Pro Premium 305 Stainless Trim Screws — Best for beginners](#3-power-pro-premium-305-stainless-trim-screws-%E2%80%94-best-for-beginners) 9. [4\. Tandefio 1-3/4 in. Siding Nails — Runner-up](#4-tandefio-1-34-in-siding-nails-%E2%80%94-runner-up) 10. [5\. Primesource DCK Screw STR 2" 25LB — Best premium](#5-primesource-dck-screw-str-2-25lb-%E2%80%94-best-premium) 11. [6\. LIONMAX Metal Roofing Screws #10 — Best large-capacity](#6-lionmax-metal-roofing-screws-10-%E2%80%94-best-large-capacity) 12. [7\. HanTof Metal Roofing Screws #10 — Best budget pick](#7-hantof-metal-roofing-screws-10-%E2%80%94-best-budget-pick) 13. [What more money buys across these seven](#what-more-money-buys-across-these-seven) 14. [Mistakes that cost people a whole wall](#mistakes-that-cost-people-a-whole-wall) 15. [The verdict](#the-verdict) 16. [FAQ](#faq) ## Best screws for cedar siding at a glance | Pick | Material | Length & count | Price | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Best overall**[Grip-Rite MAXS214TH3051 Trim Head Screw](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTZL6DDD?tag=commodorehd-20) | 305 stainlesstrim head | 2-1/4 in.55 count | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTZL6DDD?tag=commodorehd-20) | | **Best for pros**[US4 #8 x 2-1/2" Cedar Trim Head Screws](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP3PP94Q?tag=commodorehd-20) | 305 stainlessT15 star drive | 2-1/2 in.350 count | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP3PP94Q?tag=commodorehd-20) | | **Best for beginners**[Power Pro Premium 305 Stainless Trim Screws](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01508X70Q?tag=commodorehd-20) | 305 stainlessdiamond shank | 3 in.97 count | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01508X70Q?tag=commodorehd-20) | | **Runner-up**[Tandefio 1-3/4 in. Siding Nails](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLRVQTY7?tag=commodorehd-20) | 304 stainless claimring shank nail | 1-3/4 in.2.07 lb box | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLRVQTY7?tag=commodorehd-20) | | **Best premium**[Primesource DCK Screw STR 2" 25LB](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WCS1KZ1?tag=commodorehd-20) | PrimeGuard Plus polymercoated steel | 25 lb bulk1 box | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WCS1KZ1?tag=commodorehd-20) | | **Best large-capacity**[LIONMAX Metal Roofing Screws #10](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5D2JV5C?tag=commodorehd-20) | Ruspert coating claimhex head, EPDM washer | 1-1/2 in.300 count | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5D2JV5C?tag=commodorehd-20) | | **Best budget pick**[HanTof Metal Roofing Screws #10](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDQRTQLZ?tag=commodorehd-20) | 1022A carbon steelRuspert coating claim | 1-1/2 in.hex socket incl. | [Check Price](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDQRTQLZ?tag=commodorehd-20) | ## How I screened these seven fasteners I compared the published specifications side by side and sorted them on three things: alloy grade, length, and head style. That order is deliberate. Grade decides whether the wall still looks clean in five years. Length decides whether the fastener reaches framing. Head style decides whether you see it from the sidewalk. Two things became obvious fast. First, only four of the seven are wood screws or nails at all. The LIONMAX and HanTof picks sit in a sheet metal screw category and carry EPDM rubber washers, which is a metal panel fastener, not a clapboard fastener. They stay in the roundup because "siding" covers metal walls too, and both listings say so. But they are not what you drive through a red cedar bevel board. Second, three of the seven name 305 stainless steel in their listings: Grip-Rite, US4 and Power Pro. Only the Tandefio nails claim 304 stainless. The Primesource box relies on a proprietary polymer coating instead of an alloy. That single split is the most useful thing in the whole data set, and it is the reason the top three picks are the three that are stainless *and* trim-headed. Counts range from 55 pieces up to 350, plus a 25 lb bulk box. So the second question after grade is simply how much wall you have. ## Why does stainless matter so much on cedar? Cedar contains tannic acid. Water carries that acid into contact with the fastener, and with ordinary plated or galvanised steel the reaction leaves a dark run down the face of the board from every screw head. On a stained or clear-finished wall it is permanent. Three of these picks answer that with alloy rather than coating: - **Grip-Rite** lists 305 stainless in the title and its feature copy names "319 Grade Stainless Steel Screws for extreme climates and cedar applications", along with cedar, redwood, composite and PVC. - **US4** lists 305-grade stainless steel and says it provides corrosion resistance for long-lasting performance. - **Power Pro** lists 305 stainless and is the only pick here whose warranty field states something concrete: a limited lifetime guarantee against rust and corrosion. That last line is worth pausing on. Two other picks have a warranty field that says nothing more than the word "warranty", which tells you nothing. One pick states its terms. When you are choosing among the best screws for cedar siding, a published corrosion guarantee is a rare, checkable data point. Coated steel is not automatically wrong. Primesource's PrimeGuard Plus polymer is described as protecting the fastener against corrosive elements, and its copy names cedar and redwood specifically. But a coating can be scratched by a driver bit or a countersinking head, and once it is breached the steel underneath is exposed to the same tannins. Stainless has no coating to lose. ## What length do you actually need? Here's the trick with cedar siding: the fastener has to pass through the board, through the sheathing, and bite solid framing. Too short and it holds nothing but sheathing. Too long and the tip pushes through the interior side of the stud bay, or the head keeps driving until it crushes the cedar face. The published lengths here give you a real ladder: 1. **1-3/4 in.** (Tandefio nails) suits thinner clapboard over sheathing, face-nailed in the traditional way. 2. **2-1/4 in.** (Grip-Rite) is the middle of the road and the reason it wins. It clears 1/2 to 3/4 in. cedar plus typical sheathing with thread left over for the stud. 3. **2-1/2 in.** (US4) adds a bit more reach for thicker boards or a rainscreen gap. 4. **3 in.** (Power Pro) is a lot of screw for siding, and better suited to thick stock, trim boards or corner detail. The two metal-panel picks are both 1-1/2 in. That length makes sense through a thin panel into a purlin. Through a cedar board and sheathing it is short. Measure your board thickness before you buy anything. If you are unsure, pull one nail from an existing course and look at how deep it went. That single check is faster than returning a box. ## Trim head, hex head or nail: which finish suits cedar siding? Head style is where the picks split hardest, and it is the visual decision. **Trim head** is a small-diameter head that sinks close to flush and leaves a modest dot rather than a washer. Grip-Rite, US4 and Power Pro all use it. Power Pro adds countersinking blades under the head, which its listing says gives a discreet, clean finish in wood, and a diamond shank it claims reduces drive friction and wood splitting. US4 says its trim head design minimises visibility after installation. On stained cedar, this is the look most people are after. **Nail heads** are the traditional answer. Tandefio's siding nails are 1-3/4 in. long with a 0.095 in. shank diameter, and the copy says the large-diameter handle increases pull-out resistance. Nails set fast and look period-correct. They also do not come back out cleanly, which matters if you ever replace a board. **Hex head with a rubber washer** is the metal panel answer. LIONMAX and HanTof both use a 5/16 in. hex head over an EPDM washer that compresses to seal the hole. On a metal wall that seal is the whole point. On cedar, a compressed rubber washer sitting proud of the board is a fussy, industrial look and a dirt trap. Drive type matters too. US4 lists a T15 star drive and says it reduces cam-out. Power Pro lists a star drive and says there is no stripping or slipping of the bit. LIONMAX ships a magnetic hex socket in the box, and HanTof includes a hex socket as well, so neither needs a separate bit purchase. ## 1\. Grip-Rite MAXS214TH3051 Trim Head Screw — Best overall **A 2-1/4 in. 305 stainless trim head screw whose own listing calls out cedar applications by name, which is exactly the match you want here.** [![Grip-Rite 2-1/4 inch stainless trim head screw and its packaging — the trim head is the small profile that stays discreet on a cedar face](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41dTL-gRv0L._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTZL6DDD?tag=commodorehd-20) **Best for:** 1/2 to 3/4 in. cedar clapboard over sheathing **Skip it if:** you need more than 55 fasteners Length and grade together are what put this one first. At 2-1/4 in. it clears a standard bevel board and sheathing with thread to spare in the stud, and the head is a #7 trim profile rather than a broad flange, so it sits discreetly on the face. Grip-Rite's copy is unusually direct about the application: it lists stainless steel screws for extreme climates and cedar applications, and says the screw can be used with cedar, redwood, composite and PVC. It also names decking, siding, roofing, finish and trim as intended uses, and notes it replaces the older MAXS62786. The box is small. 55 pieces at 2.4 oz, shipped in a 5.27 x 2.11 x 3.94 in. carton. That covers a repair, a patch, a section of trim, maybe a single wall depending on your stud spacing. It will not cover a house. The trade-off against the rest of this set is quantity, plainly. US4 gives you 350 screws in a comparable alloy and a longer length, and Primesource sells 25 lb at once. Grip-Rite wins on fit and on how specifically the listing addresses cedar, then asks you to buy several boxes if the job is large. **Pros:** - 305 stainless steel, no coating to scratch through - Listing names cedar and redwood applications directly - 2-1/4 in. suits standard clapboard over sheathing - Small #7 trim head stays discreet on the face - Model number published: MAXS214TH3051 **Cons:** - Only 55 screws per box - Warranty field states no actual terms - Drive type is not published in the listing - Only one seller lists it [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTZL6DDD?tag=commodorehd-20) ## 2\. US4 #8 x 2-1/2" Cedar Trim Head Screws — Best for pros **350 pieces of 305 stainless trim head screw with a T15 star drive, which is the volume answer if you are doing a whole elevation.** [![US4 cedar-coloured stainless trim head screws with T15 star drive — the 350-count box is the volume option in this set](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51hFi0QGIGL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP3PP94Q?tag=commodorehd-20) **Best for:** whole-wall installs needing one big box **Skip it if:** you only have a wall or two to do This is the pick that scales. 350 screws at #8 x 2-1/2", finished in a cedar colour rather than bare silver, so the heads read closer to the board than a bright stainless dot does. US4 lists 305-grade stainless construction for corrosion resistance and durability, a trim head design that minimises visibility after installation, and a T-15 star drive that it says gives superior grip and reduces cam-out during installation. The title also calls them self-drilling, aimed at decking, flooring and siding. The extra quarter inch over the Grip-Rite matters more than it sounds. 2-1/2 in. gives you room for slightly thicker stock or a furring strip behind the board, which is common on a rainscreen wall. It is the most expensive pick in this set, and it is the slowest seller of the four wood-screw options here. Those two facts sit together: it is a large box aimed at people doing a full job, not a hardware-aisle grab. The published data is also thin on some points, with no warranty field and a weight figure of 14.2 g that clearly describes something other than 350 screws. **Pros:** - 350 count, the largest piece count among the wood screws - 305 stainless steel and a cedar-tone finish - T15 star drive resists cam-out on long drives - 2-1/2 in. suits thicker stock or furring - Trim head sinks close to flush **Cons:** - The most expensive pick here - No warranty terms published - Listed weight of 14.2 g does not match a 350-count box - Sells slower than the other stainless trim screws in this set [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FP3PP94Q?tag=commodorehd-20) ## 3\. Power Pro Premium 305 Stainless Trim Screws — Best for beginners **The only pick with published warranty terms, a limited lifetime guarantee against rust and corrosion, paired with a shank designed to reduce splitting.** [![Power Pro 305 stainless trim screws in a 1 lb box, #8 by 3 inches — the countersinking head is what pulls itself flush without a pilot hole](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/418SdjDCPcL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01508X70Q?tag=commodorehd-20) **Best for:** first-timers driving into thick cedar without pre-drilling **Skip it if:** your boards are thin and 3 in. would blow through Cedar splits. That is the failure a first-timer hits, usually at the end of a board or near an edge. Power Pro's listing addresses it in two ways: a diamond shank that it says reduces drive friction and wood splitting, and a small trim head with countersinking blades that it says gives a discreet, clean finish. It also claims an extra sharp point with thread-to-tip engagement so no pre-drilling is needed, a star drive with no stripping or slipping of the bit, and 30% faster installation time versus competition. The concrete part is the warranty. Alone among these seven, this listing spells out its terms: a limited lifetime guarantee against rust and corrosion on the 305 stainless. That is a claim you can hold someone to. Length is the catch. #8 x 3" is a long screw for siding, and 97 pieces in a 1 lb box. On thin clapboard, 3 in. can push the point out the far side of a 2x4 stud bay or overdrive before the head seats. It suits thick stock, trim boards and corner detail better than a lightweight bevel siding course. **Pros:** - Limited lifetime guarantee against rust and corrosion - 305 stainless steel, no coating dependency - Countersinking trim head seats itself cleanly - Star drive resists bit slip - 97 pieces per 1 lb box **Cons:** - 3 in. is too long for thin clapboard - Speed and splitting claims are the manufacturer's, unverified - Fewer pieces than the US4 box - Only one seller lists it [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01508X70Q?tag=commodorehd-20) ## 4\. Tandefio 1-3/4 in. Siding Nails — Runner-up **A 2.07 lb box of 1-3/4 in. stainless siding nails, which is the traditional fastener for face-nailed cedar clapboard.** [![Tandefio stainless siding nails, 1-3/4 inch with a 0.095 inch shank — the traditional face-nail profile for cedar clapboard](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51fVy6AgJeL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLRVQTY7?tag=commodorehd-20) **Best for:** traditional face-nailed cedar clapboard **Skip it if:** you want to back a fastener out later Cedar siding has been nailed for a century, and there is a case for staying with it. This box holds 2.07 lb of nails at 1-3/4 in. long with a 0.095 in. shank diameter. Tandefio says they are made from 304 stainless steel, so they are resistant to corrosion and rust, and that the large-diameter handle increases pull-out resistance. The copy names redwood and cedar wood siding specifically, alongside decoration and roof panels. 1-3/4 in. is the shortest wood fastener here, which is right for thinner clapboard over sheathing but leaves less margin if you are going through a thick board. The reason this is a runner-up rather than the winner comes down to reversibility and control. A nail goes in fast, but it does not come out cleanly, and you cannot back it off a hair if the head starts crushing the cedar. A screw gives you that control. The listing is also loose in a way I do not love, describing the same product as hardwood flooring nails, fence nails and concrete nails in different bullets, and it does not publish a piece count, only a weight. **Pros:** - 304 stainless steel claim, cedar named in the copy - 2.07 lb box, plenty of pieces for the weight - 0.095 in. shank published - Traditional face-nailed look on clapboard **Cons:** - No piece count published, only weight - Cannot be backed out or adjusted once driven - Listing copy calls them flooring, fence and concrete nails interchangeably - Shortest length here, tight on thick boards [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLRVQTY7?tag=commodorehd-20) ## 5\. Primesource DCK Screw STR 2" 25LB — Best premium **A 25 lb bulk box of polymer-coated exterior deck screw whose copy names cedar and redwood, sold by weight rather than count.** [![Primesource 25 lb bulk box of coated exterior deck screws — buying by weight is what changes the maths on a large job](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31lBUJVYPaL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WCS1KZ1?tag=commodorehd-20) **Best for:** large exterior jobs beyond siding alone **Skip it if:** you want a published length before you buy Buying fasteners by the 25 lb box changes the arithmetic on a big job. This one ships in a 7.9 x 9.8 x 9.8 in. carton, model LP2STBK, and Primesource's copy points it at decks, fencing, siding and other general exterior projects, calling it ideal for pressure treated lumber, cedar and redwood. Protection comes from PrimeGuard Plus, a proprietary polymer coating the company says shields the fastener against corrosive elements. That coating is the fault line. On cedar specifically, stainless is the safer answer, because a coating can be nicked by the driver or scraped by the countersink, and cedar's tannins go to work on whatever is underneath. The three stainless picks above do not have that exposure. The listed specifications are also frustratingly bare. Size reads "One Size", colour reads "No Color", count reads 1, and the only real number is the 25 lb capacity. The 2" in the product title is the length you are relying on. For a professional buying in volume for mixed exterior work, that is workable. For someone fastening one cedar wall, it is a lot of screw and a lot of unknowns. **Pros:** - 25 lb bulk box, the largest quantity in this set - Cedar and redwood named in the manufacturer's copy - PrimeGuard Plus polymer coating claimed for corrosion resistance - Model number published: LP2STBK **Cons:** - Coated steel rather than stainless, riskier against cedar tannins - Size, colour and count fields are effectively blank - No piece count, only a weight - The slowest seller in this entire set by a wide margin [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WCS1KZ1?tag=commodorehd-20) ## 6\. LIONMAX Metal Roofing Screws #10 — Best large-capacity **300 hex-head screws with EPDM washers and a magnetic driver included, built for metal panel walls rather than wood clapboard.** [![LIONMAX #10 metal roofing screws with EPDM rubber washers and magnetic hex socket — the washer is what seals a metal panel hole](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51UX3h6LbnL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5D2JV5C?tag=commodorehd-20) **Best for:** metal panel siding and barn walls **Skip it if:** your siding is cedar clapboard If your walls are metal panel, this is the fastener shape you need. 300 pieces at #10 x 1-1/2" with a 5/16 in. hex head, plus one upgraded 5/16 in. magnetic hex socket in the box so you can start driving immediately. LIONMAX claims a Ruspert coating that withstands 1000-hour salt spray testing, a type 17 sharp point that penetrates metal and wood without pre-drilling, aggressive high-low threads for holding power, and an EPDM rubber washer that compresses into a watertight seal. The copy names metal roof panels, corrugated roofing, tin sheds, pole barns and DIY siding projects, with metal thickness capped at 2 mm. It is also the one buyers choose most often here, by a clear margin over everything else in this set. That tells you how many people are fastening metal panels. On cedar it is the wrong tool twice over. 1-1/2 in. is short once you add board thickness and sheathing, and a rubber washer squashed against a cedar face leaves a raised ring that catches dirt and holds water against the wood. Coated carbon steel against cedar tannins is the same concern that applies to the Primesource box. **Pros:** - 300 pieces, high count for the price position - Magnetic 5/16 in. hex socket included - EPDM washer for a sealed panel hole - 1000-hour salt spray claim on the Ruspert coating - Type 17 point claimed to need no pre-drilling **Cons:** - Wrong head style and washer for cedar clapboard - 1-1/2 in. too short for board plus sheathing - Coated carbon steel, not stainless - Only three specifications published [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5D2JV5C?tag=commodorehd-20) ## 7\. HanTof Metal Roofing Screws #10 — Best budget pick **The cheapest of the seven, a 60-piece metal-to-wood screw with a sealing washer and a hex socket in the box.** [![HanTof #10 by 1-1/2 inch grey roofing screws with rubber washers and included hex socket — a small pack sized for patch work](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51vyVSWTkvL._SL500_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDQRTQLZ?tag=commodorehd-20) **Best for:** small metal-to-wood patch jobs **Skip it if:** you are fastening wood to wood This is the small-pack, low-cost entry, and it is honest about what it is: 60 pieces of #10 x 1-1/2" hex head screw in grey, model HTF0125, for attaching sheet metal to wood. HanTof says the screws are 1022A carbon steel with a Ruspert coating finish that passes 1000 hours of salt spray testing, that the EPDM rubber washer seals against leaks in heavy rain and snow, that the type 17 sharp point penetrates metal and wood without pre-drilling, and that they work across metal, wood, fibreglass and plastic. A hex socket is included. For a shed panel, a flashing repair or a run of trim on a metal wall, 60 pieces is a sensible quantity and nothing goes to waste. For cedar clapboard, though, it is not the fastener. Carbon steel under a coating is exactly what cedar tannins punish, the washer leaves a proud rubber ring on a wood face, and 1-1/2 in. does not reach framing through a board and sheathing. The published data is also the thinnest of all seven: three specification fields, no count, no weight, no dimensions, no warranty. **Pros:** - Cheapest of the seven - Hex socket included, no separate bit needed - EPDM washer for a sealed metal-panel hole - 1000-hour salt spray claim on the coating **Cons:** - Carbon steel with a coating, not stainless - Only three specifications published, no count or weight - 1-1/2 in. too short for cedar over sheathing - Rubber washer looks wrong on a wood face [Check Price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDQRTQLZ?tag=commodorehd-20) ## What more money buys across these seven Money does not buy corrosion resistance in a straight line here, and that is the useful surprise. - **The cheapest two** are both metal-panel screws: HanTof and LIONMAX. You get coated carbon steel, washers, an included driver and high counts. Neither is stainless. - **The Grip-Rite winner** sits in the same entry position as those two, yet it is 305 stainless with cedar in the copy. It is the value anomaly of the group, and the reason it took the top spot. - **The mid position** is the Tandefio nail box, which buys you a claimed 304 stainless and a lot of pieces by weight, at the cost of adjustability. - **The three most expensive** are Power Pro, US4 and Primesource. Two of them are 305 stainless trim screws, so what you are paying for is quantity, a longer length, a star drive, or in Power Pro's case a published warranty. The third is coated steel sold by the 25 lb box, so what you are paying for is bulk. Read that list and the pattern is clear: alloy is not priced at the top of this set. Volume is. If you only need enough screws for a section of wall, the cheapest stainless option is a genuinely good buy. ## Mistakes that cost people a whole wall A few failure modes come up again and again with the best screws for cedar siding, and every one is avoidable. - **Using plated or galvanised steel to save money.** The tannin streaks show up in the first wet season and they do not wash off. This is the whole reason the stainless picks lead. - **Overdriving the head.** Cedar is soft. A trim head with countersinking blades, like Power Pro's, seats itself, but a heavy trigger still crushes the fibre around it and opens a water path. Back the clutch off and drive to flush, not below. - **Fastening too close to a board edge.** Cedar splits at the ends. Keep back from the edge and, on brittle stock, pre-drill even when the listing says you do not need to. - **Mixing metals.** A stainless screw beside a coated steel one on the same wall gives you two different weathering rates and two different stain patterns. Pick one and finish the job with it. - **Buying a washer-head screw for wood.** The EPDM washers on the LIONMAX and HanTof picks are excellent on metal panel and out of place on a cedar face. - **Guessing at length.** Board plus sheathing plus bite into framing. Add it up once before you order. ## The verdict If you are fastening cedar clapboard over sheathing, the Grip-Rite MAXS214TH3051 is the pick. 305 stainless, 2-1/4 in., a #7 trim head, and a listing that names cedar and redwood applications outright. It is also in the entry price position, which makes it the least compromised choice in the set for the money. The limit is quantity: 55 screws per box, so a full elevation means several boxes. If you are doing an entire house, the US4 #8 x 2-1/2" is the better buy. Same 305 stainless alloy, 350 pieces in one box, a cedar-tone finish that hides the head better than bright silver, and a T15 star drive that US4 says reduces cam-out, which matters when you are driving hundreds in a row. You pay the most in this set for it. The cutoff is roughly one wall. Below that, Grip-Rite's small box wins on fit and price position. Above it, buying 350 at once beats buying seven boxes of 55. Two conditions flip both of those. If your stock is thick and you want a written corrosion guarantee, Power Pro's 3 in. screw is the only pick here with published warranty terms. And if your siding is metal panel rather than wood, ignore all three and take the LIONMAX 300-count, washers and magnetic socket included. ## FAQ ### Are stainless screws worth the extra cost on cedar? Stainless screws are worth the extra cost on cedar in almost every case, because cedar's tannic acid reacts with plated steel and leaves permanent dark streaks down the board face. Repainting or replacing stained clapboard costs far more than the fastener upgrade. Grip-Rite, US4 and Power Pro all list 305 stainless steel, and Grip-Rite sits in the entry price position anyway. ### What length screw do I need for cedar siding? The length you need for cedar siding is board thickness plus sheathing thickness plus enough thread to bite framing solidly. For 1/2 to 3/4 in. bevel board over sheathing, the 2-1/4 in. Grip-Rite lands well. Thicker stock or a furring strip behind the board pushes you to the 2-1/2 in. US4\. The 3 in. Power Pro suits heavy trim rather than thin siding. ### Grip-Rite or US4: which of these best screws for cedar siding should I buy? Choose between Grip-Rite and US4 on quantity and length. Both are 305 stainless trim head screws. Grip-Rite gives 55 pieces at 2-1/4 in. and sits at an entry price, which suits repairs and single walls. US4 gives 350 pieces at 2-1/2 in. with a T15 star drive and a cedar-tone head, at the highest price position here, which suits a full elevation. ### Can I use metal roofing screws on cedar siding? Metal roofing screws on cedar siding are the wrong fastener. The LIONMAX and HanTof picks are #10 x 1-1/2", which is too short once you add board and sheathing thickness, and their EPDM rubber washers sit proud of a wood face where they trap dirt and hold moisture. Both are coated carbon steel rather than stainless. Save them for metal panel walls and sheds. ### Do I need to pre-drill cedar siding before screwing? Pre-drilling cedar siding is often skippable but rarely wasted. Power Pro claims a sharp point with thread-to-tip engagement that needs no pilot hole, and a diamond shank it says reduces splitting. Even so, cedar splits readily near board ends and edges. On those spots, drill a pilot hole. It takes seconds and saves replacing a full-length board. Pull one existing fastener before you order anything. It tells you your board thickness, your sheathing depth and what the last person used, and those three facts settle the whole decision in about a minute. Then buy stainless. The Grip-Rite 2-1/4 in. trim head is the default I'd start with, because it is the only pick here that combines a 305 stainless body, a length that matches standard clapboard, a head small enough to disappear into a stained wall, and a listing that talks about cedar rather than leaving you to guess. Buy two boxes if the wall is long. *Last updated: October 2, 2026\. Product availability re-checked.* *This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.*