What Screws Should I Use for Sleepers and Garden Timber?
For fixing timber to timber outdoors (stacked sleepers, posts, pergolas, framing), use a structural timber screw rather than a traditional coach screw. The Timco Tx Wafer gives a flush, low-profile finish and comes up to 400mm long, which makes it our go-to for stacked sleepers. The Timco Hex Head Green does the same job with a hex head, up to 250mm. For fixing into brick with a plug, or for brackets in sheltered spots, use Advanced Coach Screws. For deck boards, use Timco C2 Deck-Fix. For green oak or highly corrosive spots, use stainless steel fixings instead.
Looking for everyday wood screws as well? See our guide to the 5 best wood screws. Shop the full outdoor range in Decking & Timber Screws. Orders over £49.99 ship free.
What screws should I use for railway sleepers?
For raised beds, steps and retaining walls built from stacked sleepers, choose a screw long enough to pass through the top sleeper and well into the one below.
- Timco Tx Wafer: the longest we sell, 8.0mm thick in 200, 225, 250, 275, 300, 350 and 400mm. The wafer head sits flush, which suits sleeper tops people will sit or step on.
- Timco Hex Head Green: 6.7mm, up to 250mm, if you prefer a hex head.
- Timberfix Plus Landscape Screws: 6.3mm in 125, 150 and 250mm, black coated, for landscaping and garden buildings (non-structural).
How do the outdoor timber screws compare?
| Screw | Head and drive | Sizes | Pack | Price per pack | Corrosion protection | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timco Tx Wafer | Wafer countersunk, TX30 (one TX30 bit included) | 6.7mm x 60-175mm; 8.0mm x 200-400mm | 50 (25 for 275mm and longer) | £5.49-£48.89 | Exterior green organic coating; 1,000 hours salt spray; corrosion rating 3 (urban and industrial, low salt) | Stacked sleepers, timber framing, a flush finish |
| Timco Hex Head Green | Hexagon head | 6.7mm x 60-250mm | 50 | £4.99-£26.20 | Patented multi-layer corrosion-resistant coating, exterior green | Landscaping, fencing, sleepers, pergolas, garden structures |
| Advanced Coach Screws | Hex flange (socket driver included) | 6mm x 25-100mm; 8mm x 40-120mm; 10mm x 40-160mm; 12mm x 80-160mm | 100 (6mm), 50 (8mm, 10mm), 25 (12mm) | £3.49-£15.99 | Zinc and yellow; corrosion rating 2 (occasionally damp, rural and sheltered) | Brackets, framing, fixing to brick with a nylon plug |
| Timco C2 Deck-Fix | Countersunk, Torx (TX) | 4.5mm x 50, 65, 75, 85mm | 250 | £6.79-£9.79 | Green organic multi-layer coating; 1,000 hours salt spray | Deck boards |
| Timberfix Plus Landscape Screws | 8mm hex flange, black coated | 6.3 x 125, 150, 250mm | 50 | £8.59-£23.49 | Up to 1,000 hours salt spray, for moderate outdoor use | Landscaping and garden buildings (non-structural) |
Prices include VAT and were correct on 27 October 2026. Check each product page for the latest price and stock.
What's the difference between a coach screw and a timber construction screw?
Traditional coach screws are made to DIN 571. Our Advanced Coach Screws are the modern replacement, with a hex flange head, a single slash point for easier driving and less splitting, and they go in with a power tool. They are three times faster to fit than standard coach screws.
Timber construction screws such as the Tx Wafer and Hex Head Green are designed as an alternative to coach screws, mainly for timber to timber. The Tx Wafer has a 50° deep single thread for high pull-out resistance, a helix shank that clears debris and improves clamping, and a single slash point that cuts the risk of splitting near the edge of the timber. Both Tx Wafer and Advanced Coach Screws are made to BS EN 14592:2008, the standard for dowel-type timber fasteners.
Should I choose a wafer head or a hex head?
Choose the wafer head (Tx Wafer) for a low-profile, flush finish and better clamping. It drives with a TX30 bit, and one comes in each pack; spare Torx TX30 bits are £3.99. Choose the hex head (Hex Head Green) for high-torque driving with a socket, where a visible head doesn't matter. We sell magnetic socket drivers in 6, 10, 11 and 13mm and in 1/4" and 5/16".
What screws should I use for decking boards?
Use Timco C2 Deck-Fix, 4.5mm in 50, 65, 75 or 85mm, in tubs of 250. The C2 twin-cut point picks up fast and cuts splitting, ribs under the head countersink for a flush finish, and the strengthened head resists shearing. The Torx drive grips the bit well and suits impact drivers. For the joists and frame underneath, use the Tx Wafer or Hex Head screws above.
Can I fix timber to brick or masonry?
Yes, with Advanced Coach Screws and a nylon plug. They suit softwood, hardwood, man-made board and brick (with a plug). They come in 6, 8, 10 and 12mm diameters, and a socket driver is included. The timber construction screws in this guide are for timber to timber only.
FAQ
Do I still need coach bolts? Not always. Hex head timber screws give a strong, reliable fixing without bulky coach bolts in many applications.
Are these screws OK outdoors? Yes, with different levels of protection. Tx Wafer is rated 3 (urban and industrial areas with a low salt atmosphere) and tested to 1,000 hours salt spray. Advanced Coach Screws are rated 2 (occasionally damp, rural and sheltered areas). C2 Deck-Fix is tested to 1,000 hours salt spray.
What should I use with green oak? Stainless steel fixings are recommended for green oak and highly corrosive environments.
How many screws are in a pack? Tx Wafer and Hex Head: 50 (Tx Wafer 275mm and longer: 25). Advanced Coach Screws: 100 for 6mm, 50 for 8mm and 10mm, 25 for 12mm. C2 Deck-Fix: 250. Timberfix Plus: 50.
Do you deliver free? Yes, on orders over £49.99.