Purchase Tapcon Anchors


Tapcon® concrete screws are a brand name for a concrete screw. Tapcon® concrete screws are designed to tap threads into base materials such as concrete, brick or block. They have been manufactured since the late 1970’s by ITW/Redhead. Tapcons are American made as well as the original concrete screw. A hole for this screw must first be drilled into the base material before it can be inserted into the hole.

Hole Size

The hole size required for a Tapcon® is slightly smaller than the diameter of the screw being used. The size of the hole is critical. The hole must be drilled using a carbide tipped drill bit that meets ANSI standards and a hammer drill.

Drill Bit Diameter

Each diameter of the concrete screw has a specific diameter of carbide drill bit that must be used to ensure proper hole tolerance. The bit size required for each of the diameters are as follows:

Diameter of Tapcon Concrete Screw	Diameter of Carbide Bit
3/16”	5/32”
1/4”	3/16”
3/8”	5/16”
1/2”	3/8”
5/8”	1/2”
3/4”	5/8”

Number of Holes per Bit

The number of holes that can be drilled by a carbide tipped drill bit depends on many factors. The depth of the hole is a significant factor. For example, a bit used to drill a 3” deep hole will drill 1/3 the number of holes made by a bit used to drill a 1” deep hole. The abrasiveness of the base material is another large factor; red brick is more abrasive and will wear a bit faster than concrete. Operator technique is another variable since how hard the operator pushes on the bit during the drilling operation can have a significant influence on the bit's life. The answer to the question of how many holes a bit can drill is not 100% answerable. When in doubt, have extra bits available before starting to drill the holes for concrete screws.

Depth of Hole

The hole in the base material that Tapcons will be inserted into must be a minimum of 1/4” to 1/2” deeper than the concrete screw will penetrate. This extra space at the bottom of the hole provides an area where the dust created during the drilling operation can fall. This helps ensure that it will not be in the way of the installation process.

Embedment Depth

Tapcon® concrete screws require a minimum of 1” embedment into the base material. The maximum embedment is 1-3/4”.

Length of Tapcon® Screw

The minimum length of concrete screw to use in any application is determined by adding the minimum embedment of 1” to the thickness of the material being fastened. The maximum length of the screw can be calculated by adding the thickness of the material to the maximum embedment of 1-3/4”. The length of Tapcon® to use should be no shorter or no longer than the numbers derived from these formulas.

Tapcon® Head Types

Tapcons are available with two different head choices. The choice of head style will depend on the application. If the application calls for the fastener to be countersunk into the material being fastened then the flat head Phillips countersunk screw should be used. If the application requires the use of a fastener with a wide bearing surface that does not need to be countersunk then the hex washer headed concrete screw can be used.

Purchasing Tapcons

If only a couple of Tapcon® concrete screws are required for a job, you can purchase Tapcons at the local hardware store or big box store. These retail outlets sell Tapcons in small quantities and the price you pay tends to be high . If the job calls for large quantities of 75 pcs or more, go online to purchase Tapcons. Online pricing will be less expensive.

Installing Concrete Screws

1. Using a hammer drill and a carbide bit meeting ANSI standards, drill a hole in the base material. Make sure that the hole depth is a minimum of 1/4” deeper than the screw will penetrate.

2. With compressed air, wire brush or vacuum, clean out the hole of all dust and debris.

3. Align the hole in the fixture with the hole in the base material.

4. Insert the Tapcon® through the hole in the fixture and into the hole in the base material.

5. A wrench or drill can be used to turn the screw until the head of the Tapcon® concrete screw is snug against the fixture.

Purchase Tapcon Anchors


Tapcon® concrete screws are a brand name for a concrete screw. Tapcon® concrete screws are designed to tap threads into base materials such as concrete, brick or block. They have been manufactured since the late 1970’s by ITW/Redhead. Tapcons are American made as well as the original concrete screw. A hole for this screw must first be drilled into the base material before it can be inserted into the hole.