How to remove a stripped screw
Three methods that work, in order of how badly the screw is stripped.
Riley Brand
February 3, 2026
Method 1: Rubber band
Place a flat rubber band over the screw head. Press a screwdriver firmly into the band, into the screw.
The rubber fills the stripped grooves. Turn slowly. Works on lightly stripped screws every time.
Method 2: Screw extractor
A reverse-thread bit that bites into the stripped head. ~$15 set on Amazon. Insert into a drill, run in reverse.
Works on screws that are mostly stripped but still have some metal to grab.
Method 3: Drill it out
Last resort. Use a drill bit slightly smaller than the screw shaft. Drill straight down through the head.
The head pops off. Remove whatever it was holding. Then grip the exposed screw shank with locking pliers and turn out.
People also ask
Why does my screwdriver keep slipping?+
Wrong size, or worn bits. Phillips screws strip especially fast with a too-small driver. Use the right size — #1, #2, or #3.
Should I tap the screwdriver with a hammer?+
Yes — a few taps with the hammer can reseat the bit firmly into the head, sometimes preventing strip.
Will the rubber band trick mark the wood?+
Slightly, sometimes. Cosmetic only. A drop of beeswax or paint touch-up handles it.