How to Magnetize a Screwdriver

Try this simple trick and you’ll never drop a screw again!
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By Bob Vila

Updated on May 10, 2024 1:35 PM EDT

Woman slides neodymium magnet along the shaft of a screwdriver to magnetize it.
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

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Few things are as frustrating as trying to drive a screw into a tight corner or over your head, only to have it fall to the ground just as you’re getting it lined up. Fortunately, the solution to this problem is as simple as grade school science.

Running a neodymium or other rare-earth magnet in one direction along any metal tool that contains some iron will magnetize it to attract other iron-based items. This trick is especially useful for hand tools like screwdrivers, which will not just lift the screw but hold it in place while you work.

Take just 5 minutes to magnetize a screwdriver today for quicker, easier repairs down the line.

Tools & Materials

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Step 1: Get a neodymium magnet.

Materials needed to magnetize a screwdriver, including magnets, cloth, and screwdriver.
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Obtain a neodymium magnet with a pull force of ¼ pound to 1 pound. If you don’t already have one, they are easy enough to purchase online.

Step 2: Clean the screwdriver.

Woman wipes the shaft of a screwdriver with a blue microfiber cloth.
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Wipe any dirt or debris from all metal parts of the screwdriver with a dry rag or cloth. If especially dirty, dampen the rag to thoroughly clean the tool, then allow the metal to dry before proceeding.

Step 3: Slide the magnet along the screwdriver’s shaft.

Woman holds a neodymium magnet to the shaft of a Phillips head screwdriver in order to magnetize it.
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Hold the screwdriver in one hand and the magnet in the other. Slide the magnet slowly along the tool’s metal shaft from handle to tip, continuing the motion just past the end that will come into contact with the screws.

Repeat several times, going in one direction only; swiping the magnet back the other direction over your screwdriver’s shaft can undo any magnetism you’ve achieved thus far. Then give the tool a quarter turn and repeat.

Continue the quarter turn and stroke process four times. The more strokes (and the more iron content in the tool), the more powerful the magnetism will be.

Step 4: Check the screwdriver’s magnetism.

Woman holds a Philips head screwdriver that has a screw magnetized to its tip.
Photo: Tom Fenenga for Bob Vila

Test the strength of the newly magnetized screwdriver to see if it’s sufficient for your needs.

Touch the driver to a screw and see how well it lifts and holds the fastener. If you want a stronger pull, repeat Step 3.

Final Thoughts

The screwdriver should stay magnetized for at least 3 months; accidentally dropping the tool will throw the magnetic elements out of whack. To deliberately demagnetize the tool (useful if you need to drive a screw into something made of metal), reverse the direction in which you drag the magnet along the screwdriver shaft—in this case, from tip to handle.