Collated vs Loose Drywall Screws: Which Should You Buy?
Drywall screws come loose in boxes or collated on a plastic strip for an auto-feed screw gun. Both do the same job, so the choice comes down to how much plasterboard you are fixing, the tools you own, and the price per thousand screws. This guide compares collated and loose drywall screws, explains coarse and fine thread, and shows live prices for the Alpha range.
Quick answer
Use loose screws for small jobs and a standard drill or screwdriver. Use collated screws for larger jobs, when you have an auto-feed screw gun, because the strip feeds each screw straight into the board and saves a great deal of time. Use fine thread screws for metal studs and coarse thread screws for timber studs and joists.
Loose or collated: price comparison
| Screw | Loose box | Loose per 1000 | Collated box | Collated per 1000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha coarse thread 35mm | £4.49 box | £4.49 | £9.99 box of 1000 | £9.99 |
| Alpha coarse thread 50mm | £3.33 box | £6.66 | £11.24 box of 1000 | £11.24 |
| Alpha fine thread 50mm | £3.33 box | £6.66 | £11.24 box of 1000 | £11.24 |
Prices are live ex VAT prices on 28 October 2026 and they vary. The per 1000 figure is the box price scaled to 1000 screws. Browse drywall screws and fixings.
What is a collated screw?
Collated screws are joined by a plastic strip, so that they can be loaded into an auto-feed screw gun, often called a magazine gun, which drives them one after another as you move along the board. The strip is fed through the gun as the screws are driven. You need an attachment or a dedicated gun for them, so check what your tool takes, as strip types vary.
When to use loose screws
- Small jobs, such as one room or a repair, where the speed advantage of a magazine gun does not pay for the tool.
- Awkward corners, short runs and tight spaces where the gun does not fit.
- Jobs with a mix of fixings, where you also need different lengths.
- When you do not own, or do not wish to hire, an auto-feed gun.
When to use collated screws
- Large areas of plasterboard, such as a whole house of stud walls and ceilings.
- Repeated work, where the extra cost per screw is quickly saved in time.
- Fixing with an auto-feed gun on ceilings, where holding the screws is awkward.
- Teams that want a consistent depth, because the gun's depth stop sets it for you.
Coarse or fine thread?
- Fine thread: designed for metal studs and furring channels. The finer thread bites into thin steel.
- Coarse thread: designed for timber studs and joists, where the coarse thread grips the wood.
- Self-drilling: screws with a drill point are also available for thicker metal, as in our drywall screws collection.
Read our what size drywall screws do I need guide for the lengths to use with different board thicknesses.
Screw length in practice
As a general rule, the screw needs to go through the board and into the frame by a useful distance, so for a single layer of 12.5mm board on a timber frame a minimum 25mm penetration into timber means using a screw at least 37.5mm long, rounded up to a suitable available size, and for two layers, a longer one. Fixing into metal needs less penetration. Check the board maker's guidance for your system, especially with fire and sound walls, which are tested with specific fixings.
How many screws will you need?
Screw counts depend on the board size and the spacing the board maker specifies, so check their table. As a rough guide, a 2400 × 1200mm sheet needs a few dozen screws, so a pallet of boards uses several boxes of 1000. For a small room you might use a few hundred, so a single box of loose screws is plenty. Buy a little more than you calculate, because some screws will be wasted when they strip or break the paper, and having spares saves a trip. Our plasterboard calculator estimates the boards, and you can work out the screws from there.
Using a screw gun well
- Set the depth so that the screw head sits just below the paper face, without breaking it.
- Keep the gun square to the board and press firmly.
- Replace any screw that has torn the paper, and put another a short distance away.
- Wear eye protection and a dust mask, and keep fingers clear of the nose of the gun.
Storage and ordering
Keep boxes dry, because the black phosphate coating is for indoor use and can mark if it gets wet. Plasterboard screws are small, so they are easy to add to a larger order, but fixings have their own £15 delivery charge. Insulation and plasterboard orders to England have a £400 ex VAT minimum with free delivery; mainland Wales and Scotland have a £400 ex VAT minimum plus £40 + VAT delivery. See how much plasterboard, insulation and screws you need.
Frequently asked questions
What are collated screws?
Drywall screws joined on a plastic strip, so they can be driven by an auto-feed screw gun.
Are collated screws better?
They are faster on big jobs, but they need a compatible gun. Loose screws are fine for small jobs.
Can I use collated screws in a normal drill?
Not usually. They are made for magazine guns, so you need a suitable attachment.
Should I use coarse or fine thread?
Fine thread for metal studs and coarse thread for timber.
Prices are shown ex VAT and vary, so check the product page before ordering. Fixings have their own £15 delivery charge. Insulation and plasterboard orders to England have a £400 ex VAT minimum with free delivery. Mainland Wales and Scotland have a £400 ex VAT minimum plus £40 + VAT delivery. Check our delivery information or contact us about mixed orders and site access. Delivery timing is confirmed for your order. Call 03330 908479.