Hex / Allen vs. JIS Cross
Comparing 2 standards across 10 specifications. 10 key differences identified.
The Hex drive (Allen socket / Internal Hexagon, standardized under ISO 4026 and DIN 912) is a 6-sided symmetrical polygonal drive recess developed in the early 1900s by William G. Allen. Widely used in socket head cap screws, bicycle components, and flat-pack furniture, it provides high clamping torque with compact cylindrical head profiles.
JIS B 1012 is a Japanese Industrial Standard cruciform screw drive commonly found on Japanese motorcycles (Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki), cameras, and consumer electronics. Visually similar to Phillips, it features a shallower center pit and parallel 90-degree cross-wings engineered not to cam out, which easily strip when turned with standard Phillips screwdrivers.
Specification Comparison Table
10 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Cam-Out Tendency
|
Low (Requires axial insertion depth; strips if bit is worn or undersized) | Zero (Engineered to stay fully seated under high torque) |
|
Primary Applications
|
Machine tools, bicycle components (4/5/6mm), 3D printers (2.5/3mm), flat-pack furniture | Japanese motorcycles (engine cases, carburetors), Shimano bicycle components, Nikon/Canon cameras |
|
Standard Specifications
|
ISO 4762 / DIN 912 (Socket head cap screws) / ASME B18.3 | — |
|
Drive Geometry
|
Symmetrical 6-sided internal hexagon socket | — |
|
Metric Standard Sizes
|
1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 14.0, 17.0 mm | — |
|
Imperial Standard Sizes
|
0.050", 1/16", 5/64", 3/32", 1/8", 5/32", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8" | — |
|
Standard Specification
|
— | JIS B 1012 (Cruciform cross-recessed screws) |
|
Visual Identification
|
— | A single small raised circular dimple or dot stamped into the head face |
|
Flank Geometry
|
— | Parallel cross walls with a flat, shallow bottom recess (no cam-out slope) |
|
Common Sizing Tiers
|
— | JIS #000, JIS #00, JIS #0, JIS #1, JIS #2, JIS #3 |