How it connects
The tapered cross-tipped driver tip is pushed axially into the recess and rotated; torque is transferred through the four flanks. The tapered design tends to cam out under high torque. No sealing function.
Male and female halves
The recess in the screw head is the female half; the screwdriver/bit tip is the male half. This connection is the female recess.
Usually connects to
- Matching-size Phillips screwdriver or driver/power bit, from PH000 through PH4, including common #2/PH2
Common sizes
- Phillips sizes PH000/PH00 for tiny screws and PH0–PH4; PH2 is most common.
- PH2 typically fits #6–#10 or M3.5–M5 screws, with some M4–M6 examples, including a #8 pan head or about 7 mm head on an M4 screw.
- A #2 recess may be about 4.4–4.8 mm across and 2.0–2.4 mm deep, depending on the head; a 6 mm cam-screw example is likely PH2.
Where it is used
Wood/sheet-metal/machine screwsElectrical boxes/devicesElectronics/consumer appliancesConstruction/drywallWoodworking/cabinetryAutomotive/machinery/furniture assemblyScrew installation/removal
Variations
- Phillips/slot combination; Phillips square (combo); Phillips II (ribbed / ACR)
- PH000
- PH00
- PH0
- PH1
- PH2
- PH3
- PH4
How to recognise it
A plus-shaped recess in the screw head with tapered arms and a rounded/relieved centre, no tick marks between the arms.
Often confused with
| Confused with | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Pozidriv (PZ, ISO type Z) | Pozidriv has four extra small radial tick marks between the cross arms and parallel-sided flanks; Phillips has a plain cross with rounded inner corners. Pozidriv has four extra thin tick-mark lines at 45° between the wings, and its wing walls are parallel rather than tapered. |
| Frearson (Reed & Prince) | Frearson cross has sharp V-shaped arms meeting at a pointed centre; Phillips has a rounded centre. |
| JIS B 1012 cross recess | Japanese screws often carry a small dot marking; visually near-identical. |
| Pozidriv (#2 / PZ2) | Pozidriv features four additional shallow radial ribs/lines embossed at 45 degrees between the main slots and parallel flank walls, whereas Phillips has smooth flanks with rounded interior corners and tapered walls. |
| JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard B 1012 Type S) | JIS recesses have parallel side walls without intentionally engineered cam-out tapers and often feature a single indentation dot on the head. |
Also called
Phillips recessPH drivecrossheadcruciform recessPhillips #2; Phillips headPH2Type H cross recess size 2; #2 cross headPhillips screw drive
Good to know
A Phillips screwdriver actuates the screw through this recess. The drive size must be checked on the fastener.
Related connections
Design with real parts
Crafti checks which parts connect, right in your browser.