In simple words, bolt is a large pin made of metal. It is a kind of threaded fastener with external thread called male, whereas, a screw is a sharp-pointed metal pin, which is short and slender. With a slotted head, it has a thread in helical form running all around it. This gives you a basic idea of bolt vs screw argument.
bolt vs screw difference
The difference between a bolt and screw is almost negligible to notice, yet some of it is listed below as bolt vs screw comparison table.:
Bolt
Screw
2 unthreaded components are assembled together using a bolt and nut.
Screw requires at least on component with a thread.
They are often used in the making of bolted joints.
They cannot be involved in bolted joint making due to the presence of at least one thread.
Though the difference is almost negligible, yet the combination of a fastener with a nut is termed as bolt.
Screw has no place for itself in the combination of a nut and fastener.
A fastener with the ability to form its own thread within the component being fastened is not categorized under bolt.
The Fastener’s ability of its own thread has been dedicated to the part of Screw.
They are always fixed at a single position with the use of a tool.
It has to be turned every time it has to be assembled.
The above differences are in accordance with the famous Machinery’s handbook that gives the technical differences between bolt vs screw.
