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Tripod threads

The 1/4-20 thread: the socket under almost every camera

Almost every camera has a 1/4-20 socket underneath: a quarter-inch screw with 20 threads per inch. It is how cameras attach to tripods, plates and rigs.

By

What it defines

A 1/4-20 UNC screw; ISO 1222 describes tripod connections.

What it does not promise

The thread holds the camera; it says nothing about the load a support can carry.

Where it turns up

Every tripod and monopod on this site, and many lights such as the NEEWER BASICS SL90C.

How to check before buying

Check whether a head or stand uses 1/4-20 or 3/8-16, and whether an adapter is included.

What people ask before they commit

What does 1/4-20 mean?

A screw a quarter inch in diameter with 20 threads per inch, UNC.

Does every camera use it?

Almost every camera and many accessories, from phones in holders to LED lights.

How does it relate to 3/8-16?

Larger heads and stands use 3/8-16; adapters and reversible screws connect the two.

Last reviewed November 2, 2026