List of drill and tap sizes explained

Below is a comprehensive drill and tap size chart for all drills and taps, imperial and metric, up to 36.5mm in diameter.

In manufactured parts, holes with female screw threads are often needed; they accept male screws to facilitate the building and fastening of a finished assembly. One of the most common ways to produce such threaded holes is to drill a hole of appropriate size with a drill bit and then tap it with a tap. Each standard size of female screw thread has one or several corresponding drill bit sizes that are within the range of appropriate size—slightly larger than the minor diameter of the mating male thread, but smaller than its pitch and major diameters. Such an appropriately sized drill is called a tap drill for that size of thread, because it is a correct drill to be followed by the tap. Many thread sizes have several possible tap drills, because they yield threads of varying thread depth between 50% and 100%. Usually thread depths of 60% to 75% are desired.

People frequently use a chart such as this to determine the proper tap drill for a certain thread size or the proper tap for an existing hole.

Rules of thumb

Regarding the proportion of tap drill to thread major diameter, for standard V threads (ISO V thread and UTS V thread), there are several rules of thumb with strong predictive power:

Below, these guidelines are explored with examples.

Examples

Chart

Drill bit diameterFractional sizeDrill wire
 gauge[2] [3]
Tap size[4] [5] [6] ClearanceThread
depth[7] [8] (%)
Outer
diameter
(mm, 4 d.p.)(in, 5 d.p.)(in)Close fit[9] Free fit[10]
0.04830.00190107
0.05000.00197
0.05840.00230106
0.06860.00270105
0.07870.00310104
0.08890.00350103
0.09910.00390102
0.10000.00394
0.10920.00430101
0.11940.00470100
0.12950.0051099
0.13970.0055098
0.14990.0059097
0.16000.0063096
0.17020.0067095
0.18030.0071094
0.19050.0075093
0.20070.0079092
0.20000.00787
0.21080.0083091
0.22100.0087090
0.23110.0091089
0.24130.0095088
0.25000.00984
Drill bit diameterFractional sizeDrill wire
 gauge
Tap sizeClearanceThread
depth[11] (%)
Outer
diameter
(mm, 4 d.p.)(in, 5 d.p.)(in)Close fitFree fit
0.25400.0100087
0.26670.0105086
0.27940.0110085
0.29210.0115084
0.30000.01181
0.30480.0120083
0.31750.0125082
0.33020.0130081
0.34290.0135080
0.35000.01378
0.36800.0144979
0.39690.01563
  1. 0000-160
0.02400in0.021 in
0.40000.01575
0.40640.0160078
0.42000.01654
0.44000.01732
0.45000.01772
0.45720.0180077
0.46000.01811
0.48000.01890
0.50000.01969
0.50800.0200076
0.53340.0210075
0.55000.02165
Drill bit diameterFractional sizeDrill wire
 gauge
Tap sizeClearanceThread
depth[12] (%)
Outer
diameter
(mm, 4 d.p.)(in, 5 d.p.)(in)Close fitFree fit
0.57150.0225074
0.60000.02362
0.60960.0240073
0.63500.0250072
0.65000.02559
0.66040.0260071
  1. 000-120
0.03700in
0.70000.02756
0.71120.0280070
0.74170.0292069
0.75000.02953
0.78740.0310068
0.79380.03125
0.80000.03150
0.81280.0320067
0.83820.0330066
0.85000.03346
0.88900.0350065
  1. 00-90
0.05200in
0.90000.03543
0.91440.0360064
0.93980.0370063
0.95000.03740
0.96520.0380062
0.99060.0390061
1.00000.03937
1.01600.0400060
Drill bit diameterFractional sizeDrill wire
 gauge
Tap sizeClearanceThread
depth[13] (%)
Outer
diameter
(mm, 4 d.p.)(in, 5 d.p.)(in)Close fitFree fit
1.04140.0410059
1.05000.04134
1.06680.0420058
1.09220.0430057
1.10000.04331
1.15000.04528
1.18110.0465056
1.19060.04688
  1. 0-80
0.06350in0.07000in
1.20000.04724
1.25000.04921
1.30000.05118
1.32080.0520055
1.35000.05315
1.39700.0550054
1.40000.05512
1.45000.05709
1.50000.05906
1.51130.0595053
  1. 1-64, #1-72
0.07600in0.08100in
1.55000.06102
1.58750.06250
1.60000.06299M2×0.42.2mm
1.61290.0635052
1.65000.06496
1.70000.06693
1.70180.0670051
  1. 2-56
0.08900in0.09600in
1.75000.06890M2.2×0.452.25mm
Drill bit diameterFractional sizeDrill wire
 gauge
Tap sizeClearanceThread
depth[14] (%)
Outer
diameter
(mm, 4 d.p.)(in, 5 d.p.)(in)Close fitFree fit
1.77800.0700050
  1. 2-56, #2-64
0.08900in0.09600in
1.80000.07087
1.85000.07283
1.85420.0730049
1.90000.07480
1.93040.0760048
1.95000.07677
1.96000.07717
  1. 3-48
0.10400in0.11000in81
1.97000.07756
  1. 3-48
0.10400in0.11000in79
1.98440.07813
  1. 3-48
0.10400in0.11000in78
1.99390.0785047
  1. 3-48
0.10400in0.11000in76
2.00000.07874
  1. 3-48
0.10400in0.11000in75
2.01000.07913
  1. 3-48
0.10400in0.11000in74
2.02000.07953
  1. 3-48
0.10400in0.11000in72
2.03000.07992
  1. 3-48
0.10400in0.11000in71
2.04000.08031
  1. 3-48
    #3-56
0.10400in0.11000in69
81
2.05000.08071
  1. 3-48
    #3-56
    M2.5×0.45
0.10400in
 
0.11000in
 
68
79
 
2.05740.0810046
  1. 3-48
    #3-56
0.10400in0.11000in66
77
2.07000.08150
  1. 3-48
    #3-56
0.10400in0.11000in65
75
2.08280.0820045
  1. 3-48
    #3-56
0.10400in0.11000in66
74
2.09000.08228
  1. 3-48
    #3-56
0.10400in0.11000in62
72
2.10000.08268
  1. 3-48
    #3-56
0.10400in0.11000in60
70
2.11000.08307
  1. 3-48
    #3-56
0.10400in0.11000in59
69
2.12000.08346
  1. 3-56
0.10400in0.11000in67
2.13000.08386
  1. 3-56
0.10400in0.11000in65
2.14000.08425
  1. 3-56
0.10400in0.11000in63
2.15000.08465
  1. 3-56
    M2.5×0.35
0.10400in0.11000in62
2.16000.08504
  1. 3-56
0.10400in0.11000in60
2.17000.08543
  1. 3-56
0.10400in0.11000in59
2.18440.0860044
  1. 4-36
0.11600in0.12850in81
2.19000.08622
  1. 4-40
0.11600in0.12850in81
2.20000.08661
  1. 4-40
0.11600in0.12850in78
2.21000.08701
  1. 4-40
0.11600in0.12850in77
2.22000.08740
  1. 4-40
0.11600in0.12850in76
2.23000.08780
  1. 4-40
0.11600in0.12850in75
2.24000.08819
  1. 4-40
0.11600in0.12850in73
2.25000.08858
  1. 4-40
0.11600in0.12850in72
2.26000.08898
  1. 4-40
0.11600in0.12850in71
2.26060.0890043
  1. 4-40
0.11600in0.12850in71
2.27000.08937
  1. 4-40
0.11600in0.12850in70
2.28000.08976
  1. 4-40
0.11600in0.12850in68
2.29000.09016
  1. 4-40
    #4-48
0.11600in0.12850in67
81
2.30000.09055
  1. 4-40
    #4-48
0.11600in0.12850in66
79
2.31000.09094
  1. 4-40
    #4-48
0.11600in0.12850in65
78
2.32000.09134
  1. 4-40
    #4-48
0.11600in0.12850in64
76
2.33000.09173
  1. 4-40
    #4-48
0.11600in0.12850in63
75
2.34000.09213
  1. 4-40
    #4-48
0.11600in0.12850in61
74
2.35000.09252
  1. 4-40
    #4-48
0.11600in0.12850in60
72
2.37490.0935042
  1. 4-48
0.11600in0.12850in69
2.38130.09375
2.40000.09449
2.43840.0960041
2.45000.09646
2.48920.0980040
2.50000.09843M3×0.53.2mm75
2.52730.0995039
  1. 5-40
0.12850in0.13600in78
2.57810.1015038
  1. 5-40
0.12850in0.13600in72
2.60000.10236
2.64160.1040037
  1. 5-44
0.12850in0.13600in71
2.70000.10630
2.70510.1065036
  1. 6-32
0.14400in0.14950in770.14in
2.75000.10827
2.77810.10938
2.79400.1100035
2.80000.11024
2.81940.1110034
2.87020.1130033
  1. 6-40
0.1563in0.14in
2.90000.11417M3.5×0.6
2.94640.1160032
3.00000.11811
3.04800.1200031
  1. 6-48
3.10000.12205
3.17500.12500
3.20000.12598
3.25000.12795
3.26390.1285030
3.30000.12992M4×0.74.10mm75
3.40000.13386
3.45440.1360029
  1. 8-32, #8-36
0.16950in0.17700in69
3.50000.13780M4×0.54.10mm60
3.56870.1405028
  1. 8-40
3.57190.14063
3.60000.14173
3.65760.1440027
3.70000.14567
3.73380.1470026
3.75000.14764
3.79730.1495025
  1. 10-24
0.19600in0.20100in75
3.80000.14961
3.86080.1520024
3.90000.15354
3.91160.1540023
3.96880.15625
3.98780.1570022
4.00000.15748
4.03860.1590021
  1. 10-32
0.1960in0.2010in
4.08940.1610020
4.10000.16142
4.20000.16535M5×0.85.10mm75
4.21640.1660019
4.25000.16732
4.30530.1695018
4.36560.17188
4.39420.1730017
4.40000.17323
4.49580.1770016
  1. 12-24
0.22100in0.22800in72
4.50000.17717
4.57200.1800015
4.60000.18110
4.62280.1820014
4.69900.1850013
4.70000.18504
4.75000.18701
4.76250.18750
4.80000.18898
4.80060.1890012
4.85140.1910011
4.90000.19291
4.91490.1935010
4.97840.196009
5.00000.19685M6×1.06.10mm75
5.05460.199008
5.10000.20079
5.10540.201007-200.25700in0.26600in72
5.15940.20313
5.18160.204006
5.20000.20472M6×0.75 [15] 6.10mm60
5.21970.205505
5.25000.20669
5.30000.20866
5.30860.209004
5.40000.21260
5.41020.213003-280.25700in0.26600in80
5.50000.21654-280.25700in0.26600in70
5.55630.21875-28
-32
(-32 UNEF for glow plugs)
0.25700in0.26600in68
5.60000.22047-280.25700in0.26600in63
5.61340.221002-280.25700in0.26600in60
5.70000.22441
5.75000.22638
5.79120.228001
5.80000.22835
5.90000.23228
5.94360.23400A
5.95310.23438
6.00000.23622
6.04520.23800B
6.10000.24016M7×1.075
6.14680.24200C
6.20000.24409
6.24840.24600D
6.25000.24606
6.30000.24803
6.35000.25000
E
6.40000.25197
6.50000.25591M7×0.5
6.52780.25700F-180.32300in0.33200in77
6.60000.25984
6.62940.26100G
6.70000.26378
6.74690.26563-1874
6.75000.26575
6.75640.26600H
6.80000.26772
6.90000.27165M8×1.2575
6.90880.27200I-240.32300in0.33200in75
7.00000.27559
7.03580.27700J-1850
7.10000.27953M8×1.075
7.13740.28100K
7.14380.28125-32
7.20000.28346
7.25000.28543
7.30000.28740
7.36600.29000L
7.40000.29134
7.49300.29500M
7.50000.29528
7.54060.29688
7.60000.29921
7.67080.30200N
7.70000.30315
7.75000.30512
7.80000.30709
7.90000.31102
7.93750.31250-160.38600in0.39700in77
8.00000.31496
8.02640.31600O
8.10000.31890
8.20000.32283
8.20420.32300P
8.25000.32480
8.30000.32677
8.33440.32813
8.40000.33071
8.43280.33200Q-240.38600in0.39700in79
8.50000.33465M10×1.5
8.60000.33858
8.61060.33900R
8.70000.34252
8.73130.34375
8.75000.34449M10×1.25
8.80000.34646
8.83920.34800S
8.90000.35039
9.00000.35433M10×1.0
(spark plug)
9.09320.35800T
9.10000.35827
9.12810.35938
9.20000.36220
9.25000.36417
9.30000.36614
9.34720.36800U-140.45310in0.46870in75
9.40000.37008
9.50000.37402
9.52500.37500
9.57580.37700V
9.60000.37795
9.70000.38189
9.75000.38386
9.80000.38583
9.80440.38600W
9.90000.38976
9.92190.39063-200.45313in0.46785in72
10.00000.39370
10.08380.39700X
10.26160.40400Y
10.31880.40625-40
10.49020.41300Z
10.50000.41339M12×1.7575
10.70000.42126M12×1.575
10.71560.42188-130.51563in0.53125in78
10.9000.42913M12×1.25
(spark plug)
11.00000.43307
11.11250.43750
11.50000.45276
11.50940.45313-200.51563in0.53125in72
11.90630.46875-120.56250in87
12.00000.47244
12.20000.48031M14×275
12.30310.48438-120.56250in68
12.50000.49213
12.70000.50000-180.56250in87
M14×1.575
12.80000.50393M14×1.25
(spark plug)
13.00000.51181
13.09690.51563-180.56250in65
13.49380.53125-110.62500in79
13.50000.53150
13.89060.54688-110.62500in66
14.00000.55118
14.20000.55906M16×275
14.28750.56250-180.62500in87
14.50000.57087
14.68440.57813-180.62500in65
14.70000.57874M16×1.575
15.00000.59055
15.08130.59375
15.47810.60938
15.50000.61024
15.87500.62500
16.00000.62992
16.27190.64063-1084
16.50000.64961
16.66880.65625-1072
16.80000.66141M18×1.5
(spark plug)
17.00000.66929
17.06560.67188
17.46250.68750-1677
17.50000.68898
17.85940.70313
18.00000.70866
18.25630.71875
18.50000.72835
18.65310.73438
19.00000.74803
19.05000.75000
19.44690.76563-976
19.50000.76772
19.84380.78125-965
20.00000.78740
20.24060.79688-1484
20.50000.80709
20.63750.81250-1467
21.00000.82677
21.03440.82813-18 NS
(spark plug)
21.43130.84375
21.50000.84646
21.82810.859381-887
22.00000.86614
22.22500.875001-877
22.50000.88583
22.62190.890631-867
23.00000.90551
23.01880.906251-1287
23.41560.921881-12
1-14
72
84
23.50000.92520
23.81250.937501-1467
24.00000.94488
24.20940.95313
24.50000.96457
24.60630.96875-784
25.00000.98425
25.00310.98438-776
25.40001.000001-767
25.50001.00394
25.79691.01563
26.00001.02362
26.19381.03125-1287
26.50001.04331
26.59061.04688-1272
26.98751.06250
27.00001.06299
27.50001.08268
28.00001.10236
28.17811.10938-776
28.50001.12205
28.57501.12500-767
29.00001.14173
29.36881.15625-1287
29.50001.16142
29.76561.17188-1272
30.00001.18110
30.16251.18750-687
30.50001.20079
30.55941.20313-679
30.95631.21875-672
31.00001.22047
31.35311.23438-665
31.50001.24016
32.00001.25984
32.50001.27953
32.54381.28125-1287
32.94061.29688-1272
33.00001.29921
33.33751.31250-687
33.50001.31890
33.73441.32813-679
34.00001.33858
34.13131.34375-672
34.50001.35827
34.52811.35938-665
35.00001.37795
35.50001.39764
35.71881.40625-1287
36.00001.41732
36.11561.42188-1272
36.50001.43701
If theoretical thread percentage not given, assume 75% ± 10%
  Theoretical percentage of thread should not be relied upon for threads of included angles other than 60 degrees.
See http://www.newmantools.com/taps/micro.htm for more information.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Drill Bit Size Charts and Rule of Thumb.
  2. Web site: Continuous Drill Bit Sizes . 2006-08-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060719084558/http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/toki/codrills.htm . 2006-07-19 . dead .
  3. Web site: Decimal Equivalents . Ohio State University . 2006-08-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060902095350/http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~kelch/decimal.html . 2006-09-02 . dead .
  4. Web site: Tap Drill Sizes and Calculator. newmantools.com. 2006-08-04.
  5. Web site: Tap Drill Sizes for Universal and M-Profile Screw Threads. precisiontwistdrill.com. 2006-08-04.
  6. Web site: NC, NF, NEF to one inch in diameter. Sizes.com. 2006-09-01. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20060929162504/http://www.sizes.com/tools/thread_NCNF.htm. 2006-09-29.
  7. Web site: High performance taps . guhring.com. 2010-10-07.
  8. Web site: Tap Drill Sizes. widell.com. 2006-09-01. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20061114071651/http://www.widell.com/drillsiz.html. 2006-11-14.
  9. Web site: Tap & Clearance Drills For Common Screws. Small Parts Inc.. 2010-10-07 .
  10. Web site: Tap Drill Sizes. efunda.com. 2006-08-04.
  11. Web site: High performance taps . guhring.com. 2010-10-07.
  12. Web site: High performance taps . guhring.com. 2010-10-07.
  13. Web site: High performance taps . guhring.com. 2010-10-07.
  14. Web site: High performance taps . guhring.com. 2010-10-07.
  15. http://www.littlemachineshop.com/reference/tapdrillsizes.pdf