Qbonway 10PCS Deck Spacers,Durable Deck Spacer Tool to Uniform Gap Between Installed Deck Boards for Treated Lumber and Composite Decking Handy Deck Building Tools Deck Board Spacers

On a recent deck rebuild, I reached for a handful of bright blue spacers and never looked back. The Qbonway deck spacers aren’t glamorous, but they do exactly what you want: give you consistent gaps and a faster, cleaner install with less second-guessing. After running them across pressure-treated lumber and a few composite sections, I came away impressed by how much efficiency and accuracy a small plastic tool can add.

What they are and how they’re built

Each spacer is a T-shaped, four-in-one tool: one body, four labeled gap sizes—1/16, 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4 inch. The design lets you choose a spacing edge that matches your material and climate, then flip to another size as conditions change along the build. The bright blue plastic is a thoughtful touch; I could spot them quickly on decking, on the lawn, and in the bed of the truck, which meant fewer interruptions hunting for the one that got away.

The profile is slim enough to slip between boards without fighting you, but substantial enough that they don’t twist or crumble under light pressure. The “T” top matters: it keeps the spacer perched on the board surface rather than disappearing into the gap. There’s also a half-moon cutout on the head that serves as a visual guide for screw placement. It’s not a precision jig, but it’s a solid reminder to keep fasteners in a consistent line.

The set includes ten spacers. For a small landing or a couple of steps, that’s plenty. On a full deck, you can work with one set, but two sets are faster: you can blanket a full board run, fix it in place, and walk your way down the row without shuffling spacers every few feet.

Setup and the spacing choices that matter

I tested these on southern yellow pine and capped composite. The four sizes cover the common recommendations I see in manuals and code notes:

• 1/16 inch: useful for very dry hardwood or indoor/outdoor transitions where you need a fine reveal.
• 1/8 inch: a practical default for many composites and for seasoned lumber.
• 3/16 inch: often in the sweet spot for composite and PVC profiles where drainage and thermal expansion need room.
• 1/4 inch: my go-to for fresh pressure-treated stock that’s going to shrink.

Being able to switch sizes on the fly is the point. If a bundle of PT boards arrives saturated, I’ll start with 1/4 inch. As I move into a drier section, I might step down to 3/16. With these spacers, the change is just a rotate-and-go operation.

On-site performance

On a 12-by-20 rebuild with a picture-frame border and a short diagonal inlay, the spacers did three things well:

1) Kept the line honest: I set four to six spacers across each 10–12 foot board as I brought it into position, clamped, then drove fasteners. Once locked, I leapfrogged the spacers forward. Even on diagonal runs—where cumulative error can creep in—the gaps stayed uniform.

2) Saved me measuring time: The half-moon notch is a quick sightline for screws. I still snapped chalk lines for the border and mid-span blocking, but the notch reduced the number of tape pulls for every face-screw line, especially on the field boards.

3) Stayed visible and accessible: The blue color and T head meant they didn’t disappear between boards. I could kick them forward with my boot and grab them with gloved hands. When a board pinched tight and a spacer got wedged, a quick tug with pliers freed it without damage.

Accuracy and consistency

Uniform spacing is more than aesthetics. Water drainage, debris shedding, and expansion gaps all ride on consistent reveals. These spacers are cut accurately and labeled clearly. I spot-checked with feeler gauges and calipers; the edges were true to size within what matters for deck work. Over long runs, consistent spacing helped my screw pattern read as a straight line, which is noticeable from standing height and especially when sunlight rakes across the deck.

For composite, consistent gaps also keep hidden fasteners happier. Even if you’re not face-screwing, placing spacers as you seat grooved boards helps the clips set evenly and reduces the swearing later when a board binds halfway down the run.

Durability

They’re made from a tough, slightly resilient plastic that takes knocks. I stepped on them, pried against them, and yanked them out of overly tight spots with pliers. The 1/16-inch edge is the most vulnerable—no surprise—but it held up as long as I didn’t try to force it between boards that had already fully cinched. The thicker edges (1/8 and up) feel robust and didn’t show any permanent deformation in normal use.

If you’re building in high heat, the material stays stable enough not to soften or curl. And plastic is gentler on composite caps; I prefer these over metal or printed spacers that can scratch.

Ease of use and workflow tips

• Stage more than you think: Ten spacers will work, but twenty makes the workflow smoother on anything beyond a small porch. You’ll cover more points per board and keep everything aligned while you’re driving both screws at each joist.
• Don’t force the thinnest edge: Use the 1/16-inch side only when the boards will accept it easily. If a board is too tight, back off, adjust the board, or step up a size rather than hammering the spacer.
• Leverage the T shape: Set the spacers with the head resting across the board face; they’re less likely to slide down or disappear. This also keeps your fingers clear of the drill.
• Near obstructions: Against a wall, ledger, or post, the T can bump into vertical surfaces. Rotate the spacer and use the narrowest part of the head, or place the edge first and hold it by hand while you set that first fastener. In a pinch, a sacrificial shim or a trim offcut can stand in for the first board near a wall; after that, switch back to the spacers.

Limitations

No tool is perfect. I ran into three minor drawbacks:

• Tight quarters: The T head can interfere near walls and posts. It’s workable with a rotation or by holding the spacer edge in place, but it’s not as effortless as in open field boards.
• Thin edge fragility: The 1/16-inch side can nick or snap if you force it into a pinched gap. This is solvable with better board prep or stepping up a size, but it’s worth noting if you build primarily with unruly lumber.
• Set size: Ten pieces suffice for small projects. On larger decks, you’ll either shuffle them constantly or wish you had a second set.

None of these were dealbreakers, and all are fairly typical of plastic deck spacers in this format.

Value

For the cost of a couple of boards, you get a set of spacers that should last through multiple projects. The four-in-one design means you’re buying fewer single-size shims, and the bright color and T profile reduce lost-tool tax over the course of a build. Compared to improvising with nails, pencils, or scraps, these deliver faster setup and more repeatable results, which translates into a cleaner finished deck and less rework.

Who they’re for

• DIYers tackling a first deck or replacing a few courses will appreciate the foolproof sizing and the visual screw guide.
• Pros and handypeople who build a few decks a season will like the speed and consistency, especially on composite and PVC jobs where uniform reveals are part of the spec.
• Remodelers can throw a handful into the toolbox and use them for stairs, privacy screens, and any project where consistent spacing matters.

The bottom line

The Qbonway deck spacers do the simple things right: accurate sizes, easy handling, high visibility, and a smart T shape that keeps them where you put them. They sped up my install, tightened up my lines, and held up to abuse without becoming consumables. I’d add a second set for larger jobs and treat the 1/16-inch edge with a bit of care, but those are small notes on an otherwise very solid accessory.

Recommendation: I recommend these spacers. They’re durable, accurate, and thoughtfully designed, with the four most useful gap sizes on each piece and a bright, easy-to-find color. For anyone installing decking—pressure-treated, composite, PVC, or hardwood—they simplify spacing, improve consistency, and pay for themselves in saved time and better results.