Steps FOR READING DIMENSIONS

1.

Many different sizes.

Read the numbers. They will look something like one of these:

o
o
o

#4-40 x .5
1/4-20 x 5/8
M3-50 x 10

2.

The major diameter for the threaded portion of the screw.

Interpret the first number. The first number gives the major, or largest, diameter.

In Unified threads (measured in inches) there are numbered diameters #0 through #10, with 0

the smallest and 10 the largest. (Diameters #12 and #14 may also be found, but are usually on older
equipment and needed for repairs or restorations. #14 is close to, but not exactly the same as, 1/4inch.) The major diameter in Unified threads = 0.060" + 0.013"*(numbered diameter). So #2 has a
major diameter of 0.086". The odd numbers exist, but the even numbers are in far more common use.
o
For screws larger than a #10, the diameters are listed in fractional inches. For instance, a 1/420 screw has a 1/4-inch major diameter.

For metric threads, e.g. M3.5, the number following the M is the major diameter of the external

thread in millimeters.

3.

The distance between adjacent threads, or thread pitch.

Interpret the second number. It has to do with the distance between adjacent threads. It may be given as the
number of threads per unit length; or it may be given as the distance between threads, also called the thread
pitch.

For Unified threads, the number given is threads per inch. For instance, a 1/4-20 screw has

20 threads per inch.

o
For metric threads, the thread pitch is given in millimeters per thread. Thus, an M2 x 0.4 screw
has threads every 0.4mm. Although most metric fasteners have two or more standard pitches (fine &
coarse threads), the pitch is often omitted from a thread callout, it is always helpful to carry a sample
with you to the hardware store.

There are two major metric "industrial standards": DIN Deutsches Institut fr

Normung (German) and the JIS Japanese Industrial Standards. Although these standards are
closely related and often identical, there will be cases where say a JIS M8 bolt may not have
the same pitch as a DIN M8 bolt.

4.

The length of most screws is measured from the bottom of the head.

Read the length, which is generally given after the "x". The length of most screws is measured from the
bottom of the head, as shown. Note, however, that a flathead screw, designed to sit flush in a countersunk
material, is measured to the top of the head.

For unified threads the length is given in inches. A 1/4-20 x 3/4 screw is .75 inches long. The

length may be given in fractional inches or the decimal equivalent.

o
For metric threads, the length is given in millimeters.

5.

Understand some other nomenclature that sometimes goes with screw threads.

o
Nuts have internal threads.

Thread classes refer to fit, how loosely or tightly the screw fits in the nut. The most common thread
classes are 2A or 2B. A indicates an external thread, such as on a screw or bolt. B indicates an
internal thread, such as on a nut. The 2 (or, far less commonly, 1 or 3) describes the tightness of the
fit.

You may see the abbreviations UNC and UNF. These stand for unified coarse and unified

fine, respectively, and they refer to standard series of thread pitch. Each series assigns a pitch to
diameter. For instance, a #10 UNC screw has 24 threads per inch, whereas a #10 UNF screw has 32
threads per inch. If a thread is specified by its series, look for the pitch in a table.
o
Minor diameter is the smallest diameter of the thread, the innermost diameter. Major diameter
is the largest diameter of the thread, the outermost diameter. The diameter given is typically the
nominal major diameter of an external, or male, thread.

6.

American/United National Threads

Hex SAE
SAE
SAE
TPI TPI Root Dia.
Size Diameter
Head Washer Washer Washer
Coarse Fine Coarse
Size
ID
OD Thickness
#0

0.0600

80

0.0447

#1

0.0730

64

72

0.0560

#2

0.0860

56

64

0.0668

#3

0.0990

48

56

0.0771

#4

0.1120

40

48

0.0813

#5

0.1250

40

44

0.0971

#6

0.1380

32

40

#8

0.1640

32

36

/32"

/4"

/8"

/16"

0.1073

/32"

/8"

0.1299

/16"

/2"

/16"

/32"
/32"
/64"
/64"

#10 0.1900

24

32

0.1570

/32"

#12 0.2160

24

28

0.1722

/4"

/16"

/32"

/16"
/16"

0.2500

20

28

0.1850

/16" 0.3125

18

24

0.2400

/2"

11

11

0.2940

/16"

13

13

15

15

/4"

/8"

0.3750

/16" 0.4375

/2"

0.5000

/16" 0.5625

/8"

/4"

0.6250
0.7500

16

24

/8"

/32"
/32"

/8"
/16"
/16"

/16"
/16"
/16"

14

20

0.3440

13

20

0.4000

17
19

1- /16"

/16"

21

1-5/16"

13

/8"
/4"

12

18

0.4540

11

18

0.5070

15

10

16

0.6200

/8"

1- /8"

/32"
/32"
/32"
/32"
/16"

/16"

1-1/16"
3

1- /2"

/16"

/32"
/32"
/32"
/8"

/8"

1"

0.8750
1.0000

9
8

14
12

0.7310
0.8370

1-5/16"
1

1- /2"

15

/16"

1- /16"

1-3/4"

1- /4"

/8"
/8"

Metric Threads
Metric threads use the same thread profile as SAE threads. The biggest difference is that the
thread pitch (distance between consecutive threads) is given instead of threads per unit distance.
Hex ISO
ISO
ISO
Coarse Fine Root Dia.
Head Washer Washer Washer
Diameter Pitch Pitch Coarse
Size
ID
OD Thickness
mm mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
mm
1

0.25

0.7294

1.1

0.25

0.8294

1.2

0.25

0.9294

1.4

0.30

1.075

1.6

0.35

1.221

1.8

0.35

1.421

0.40

1.567

2.2

0.45

1.713

2.5

0.45

2.013

0.50

2.459

5.5

3.5

0.60

2.850

3.2
4

3.4

7.0

0.6

0.70

0.50

3.242

4.5

0.75

0.50

3.688

0.80

0.50

5.5

4.5

9.0

0.9

4.134

5.5

10

11

10

6.7

12.5

1.8

13

8.7

17

1.8

16

10.9

21

2.2

13.4

24

2.7

0.50

1.00

0.50

4.917

1.00

0.75

5.917

1.25

0.75

6.647

1.25

0.75

7.647

10

1.50

0.75

8.376

11

1.50

0.75

9.376

12

1.75

0.75

10.11

18

14

2.00

1.00

11.83

21

16

2.00

1.00

13.83

24

17.4

30

3.3

18

2.50

1.00

15.29

20

2.50

1.00

17.29

30

21.5

37.9

3.3

Bolt Strength
Bolt Strength
The Society of Automotive Engineering has issued standard J429, which sets forth standards for
both strength. The SAE grade of a bolt is marked on it's head in the form of short radial lines, the
number of lines being two less than the SAE grade (i.e.. 3 lines for grade 5).
SAE Grade Size Range Strength (psi)
1
1
/4" to 1-1/2"
60,000
1
3
2
/4" to /4"
74,000
7
1
2
/8" to 1- /2"
60,000
1
5
/4" to 1"
120,000
5
1-1/8" to 1-1/2"
105,000
1
1
7
/4" to 1- /2"
133,000
1
1
8
/4" to 1- /2"
150,000
ASTM standards are sometimes used as well; A325 bolts are the equivalent of SAE 5, and A490
bolts are the equivalent of SAE 8.

Preload
A very misunderstood part of bolting stuff together is preload, which is the tension placed on the
bolt by the nut (as opposed to the load). A sufficiently high preload will protect the bolt from

fatigue as the load changes, as the varying load will change the clamping force on the bolted
components, rather than the tension on the bolt. (This is not strictly true, but for a tinkerer like
me, it's adequate.) As a rule of thumb, the preload should exceed the maximum load by 15% or
so.
In order for this to work, however, the joint must be stiffer than the bolt. For this reason, the
shank of high-tech bolts are often necked down to the same diameter of the root of the thread. As
long as it isn't thinner than the root of the thread, it isn't any weaker than the thread, and therefore
doesn't effect overall bolt strength, but it is significantly less stiff than the original shank.
There are two ways to measure preload on a bolt; a torque wrench, and by measuring the angle
the nut has turned. Of the two, the latter is more accurate, as friction plays a significant - and
more importantly, indeterminate - role when using a torque wrench.
Torque = K preload diameter
K, the so-called Nut Factor, usually varies between 0.3 and 0.1, and is very sensitive to a number
of factors, ranging from temperature to thread condition, even to how fast the bolt is tightened.
Measuring the angle the nut has turned is simply measuring how much the bolt is stretching,
equal to the pitch (distance between threads) times the number of turns. Using this requires that
the components being bolted don't compress much (or compress a known amount), and that the
"spring rate" of the bolt be known.
Turns = preload (spring rate pitch)
For example, if the "spring rate" of a 1/2-13 bolt is 50,000 pounds per inch (note that I made that
up, and that most bolts will yield long before stretching an inch), and you need 500 pounds of
preload, you'll need to stretch the bolt 500 50000 = 0.01 inch. At 13 threads per inch (0.0769
inches per thread), this would equate to 0.13 turns, or about 45 past snug.
If more than one bolt is used in a joint, and those bolts are closer together than about four
diameters, the preload on one bolt will effect the preload on the other bolts by compressing the
joint. This effect is called "crosstalk", and then all bets are off. Joints that are significantly less
stiff than the bolts, such as joints involving gaskets, suffer much worse from crosstalk. The best
way to control crosstalk is to use a carefully thought out tightening sequence (usually a spiral
starting at the center, or for circular patterns, alternating bolts), and to tighten the bolts in small
steps. Even so, it's a crap shoot.

Table of Bolt Sizes ...ISO metric precision hexagon bolts , Coarse Thread Series,
Bolt tolerance class 6g
Thread Form to BS 3643

Nominal (D)

Thread.

Size

Pitch

Bolt dia
Major(d)
max - min

Bolt Head

Pitch
Minor(d3 ) Diameter (d2
Thick (Zb)
max - min
)
max - min

Bolt Nut
Acc/Flats
(A/F)
max - min

Acc./Corn
(A/C)

M3

0,5

2,980 - 2,874 2,439 -2,272

2,655 - 2,580 2,125

5,50 - 5,38

6,40

M4

0,7

3,978 - 3,838 3,220 - 3,002 3,523 - 3,433 2,925

7,00 - 6,85

8,10

M5

0,8

4,976 - 4,826 3,869 - 4,110 4,456 - 4,361 3,650

8,00 - 7,85

9,20

M6

1,0

5,974 - 5,794 4,891 - 4,596 5,324 - 5,212 4,150

10,00 - 9,78

11,50

M8

1,25

7,972 - 7,760 6,272 - 6,619 7,160 - 7,042 5,650

13,00 - 12,73 15,00

M10

1,5

9,968 - 9,732 8,344 - 7,938 8,994 - 8,862 7,180

17,00 - 16,73 19,60

M12

1,75

11,966 11,701

10,072 9,601

10,829 10,679

8,180

19,00 - 18,67 22,10

M16

2,0

15,962 15,682

13,797 13,271

14,663 14,503

10,180

24,00 - 23,67 27,70

M20

2,5

19,958 19,623

17,252 16,624

18,334 18,164

13,215

30,00 - 29,67 34,60

M24

3,0

23,952 23,577

20,701 19,955

22,003 21,803

15,215

36,00 - 35,58 41,60

M30

3,50

29,947 29,522

26,158 25,306

27,674 27,462

19,260

46,00 - 45,38 53,1

M36

4,00

35,940 35,465

31,610 30,654

33,342 33,118

23,260

55,00 - 54,26 63,5

Nuts Sizes, Coarse Thread Series

Nut tolerance class 6H are dimensioned in BS3692
Thread form to BS 3643

Nominal

Thread.

Size

Pitch

Nut Diameter
Major (D)

Minor (D1 )
Max - min

Nut
Thick (Zn)

M3

0,5

3,000

2,599 - 2,459 2,40

M4

0,7

4,000

3,422 - 3,242 3,20

M5

0,8

5,000

4,334 - 4,134 4,00

M6

1,0

6,000

5,153 - 4,917 5,00

M8

1,25

8,000

6,912 - 6,647 6,50

M10

1,5

10,000

8,676 - 8,376 8,00

M12

1,75

12,000

10,441 10,106

10,00

M16

2,0

16,000

14,210 13,835

13,00

M20

2,5

20,000

17,744 17,294

16,00

M24

3,0

24,000

21,252 20,752

19,00

M30

3,5

30,000

26,771 26,211

24,00

M36

4,0

36,00

32,270 31,670

29,00

Bolt Sizes ...ISO metric precision hexagon bolts , Fine thread series
Bolt tolerance class 6g are dimensioned in BS3692:1967

Nominal

Thread.

Size

Pitch

Bolt dia (d)

Major
max - min

Minor
max - min

Bolt Head
Pitch
Diameter
max - min

Thick (Zb)

Bolt Nut
Acc/Flats
max - min
(A/F)

Acc./Corn
(A/C)

M6

0,75

5,978 - 5,838 5,166 - 4,929 5,491 - 5,391 4,150

10,00 - 9,78

M8

1,00

7,974 - 7,794 6,891 - 6,596 7,324 - 7,212 5,650

13,00 - 12,73 15,00

M10

1,25

9,972 - 9,760 8,619 - 8,272 9,160 - 9,042 7,180

17,00 - 16,73 19,60

M12

1,25

11,972 11,760

10,619 10,258

11,160 11,028

8,180

19,00 - 18,67 22,10

M16

1,50

15,968 15,732

14,344 13,930

14,994 14,854

10,180

24,00 - 23,67 27,70

M20

1,5

19,968 19,732

18,344 17,930

18,994 18,854

13,215

30,00 - 29,67 34,60

M24

2,0

23,962 23,682

21,797 21,261

22,663 22,493

15,215

36,00 - 35,58 41,60

M30

2,0

29,962 29,682

27,797 27,261

28,663 28,493

19,260

46,00 - 45,38 53,1

M36

3,00

35,952 35,577

32,704 31,955

34,003 33,803

23,260

55,00 - 54,26 63,5

Nuts Sizes - Fine Thread Series..

Nut tolerance class 6H are dimensioned in BS3692:1967

11,50

Nominal

Thread.

Size

Pitch

Nut Diameter

Nut

Minor
Max - min

Major

Thick (Zn)

M6

0,75

6,000

5,378 - 5,188 5,00

M8

1,00

8,000

7,153 - 6,917 6,50

M10

1,25

10,000

8,912 - 8,647 8,00

M12

1,25

12,000

10,912 10,647

10,00

M16

1,50

16,000

14,676 14,376

13,00

M20

1,50

20,000

18,676 18,376

16,00

M24

2,0

24,000

22,210 21,835

19,00

M30

2,0

30,000

28,210 27,835

24,00

M36

3,0

36,00

33,252 32,752

29,00

Washers.. Plain Washers , bright metric series

Bright Washers are dimensioned in BS4320: 1968
Nominal
Size

Washer Diameter

Washer Thickness

Internal
External
Thick
max - min max - min max - min

Thin

M3

3,4 - 3,2

7,0 - 6,7

0,6 - 0,4

M4

4,5 - 4,3

9,0 - 8,7

0,9 - 0,7

M5

5,5 - 5,3

10,0 - 9,7

1,1 - 0,9

M6

6,7 - 6,4

12,5 - 12,1

1,8 - 1,4

0,9 - 0,7

M8

8,7 - 8,4

17,0 - 16,6

1,8 - 1,4

1,1 - 0,9

M10

10,9 - 10,5

21,0 - 20,5

2,2 - 1,8

1,45 - 1,05

M12

13,4 - 13,0

24,0 - 23,5

2,7 - 2,3

1,8 - 1,4

M16

17,4 - 17,00 30,0 - 29,5

3,3 - 2,7

2,2 - 1,8

M20

21,5 - 21,0

37,0 - 36,2

3,3 - 2,7

2,2 - 1,8

M24

25,5 - 25,0

44,0 - 43,2

4,3 - 3,7

2,7 - 2,3

M30

31,6 - 31,0

56,0 - 55,0

4,3 - 3,7

2,7 - 2,3

M36

37,6 - 37,0

66,0 - 65,0

5,6 - 4,4

3,3 - 2,7

Washers.. Plain Washers , Black metric series

Black Washers are dimensioned in BS4320: 1968

Nominal
Size

Washer Diameter
Internal
max - min

External
max - min

Washer
Thickness
Thickness
max - min

M5

5,8 - 5,5

10,0 - 9,2

1,2 - 0,8

M6

7,0 - 6,6

12,5 - 11,7

1,9 - 1,3

M8

9,4 - 9,0

17,0 - 16,2

1,9 - 1,3

M10

11,5 - 11,0

21,0 - 20,2

2,3 - 1,7

M12

14,5 - 14,0

24,0 - 23,2

2,8 - 2,2

M16

18,5 - 18,00

30,0 - 29,2

3,6 - 2,4

M20

22,6 - 22,0

37,0 - 35,8

3,6 - 2,4

M24

26,6 - 26,0

44,0 - 42,8

4,6 - 3,4

M30

33,8 - 33,0

56,0 - 54,5

4,6 - 3,4

M36

39,8 - 39,0

66,0 - 64,5

6,0 - 4,0

M42

45,8 - 45,0

78,0 - 76,5

8,2 - 5,8

M48

53,0 - 52,0

92,0 -90,0

9,2 - 6,8

Grade and Strength Information

There are numerous standards that fasteners are manufactured to, and those standards describe
everything from material chemistry to surface finish to heat treatment. The most relevant numbers are
"Proof Stress," "Yield Stress" and "Tensile / Ultimate Stress." Tensile Strength is how much stress the
material can withstand before finally ripping apart. Yield Stress is the amount of stress that a material can
undergo before permanently stretching. Proof stress is similar to Yield stress except that it is slightly less
(about 90%), and only applies to fasteners. The thread geometry causes them to yield slightly before the
Yield stress level of the material, so Proof Stress can be thought of the true yield--in other words, the
fastener will behave like a spring below that stress level.

So which of these numbers should be used? While there are many arguments for tightening a screw
past its yield point (for instance), from this author's viewpoint, if an external load yields a screw, and if that
load is ever removed, the screw will now be permanently stretched and loose. Therefore, we recommend
designing so that the combined internal and external loads stay below the proof stress to avoid
any possibility of yielding. If proof stress is unknown, 85% of Yield stress can be used as an
approximation. The ultimate or tensile stress is sometimes designed to, but we do not know when this
acceptable or not. Also, the ultimate stress is used in designing joints for alternating loads, but this is
beyond our scope.
Several organizations publish standards for fasteners. For inch/english, this includes SAE, ASTM, ANSI,
ASME and others, although the most commonly used are the SAE "Grades." (standard J429). The most
common metric specifications are published by the ISO. (ANSI metric specs agree with ISO for all
practical purposes--Machinery's Handbook)

Common Inch / Imperial SAE Grades: (all values in ksi or 1000 lbs /
square inch)
Head
Grade Diameter (in) Proof Strength Yield Strength Tensile (Ultimate)
Marking
Strength
2

1/4 to 3/4

55

57

74

3/4 to 1-1/2

33

36

60

1/4 to 1

85

92

120

1 to 1-1/2

74

81

105

1/4 to 1-1/2

120

130

150

Socket Head Cap Screws made from alloy steel are typically manufactured to a higher strength than SAE
Grade 8: 180 ksi tensile strength for fasteners up to 1/2 inch, 170 ksi for larger sizes (ASTM A574, p. G34).
For many more head markings and their corresponding specifications, see here.

Metric ISO Marking

Metric fasteners are marked with two numbers separated by a decimal point, like 10.9. The 10 is 1/100 of
tensile strength in MPa, and the .9 represents the ratio of yield to tensile strength. So 10.9 represents a
tensile strength of 1000 MPa and yield of 900 MPa. Some strengths are stronger than this method shows,
see table 10 on this page. Other references for this table: here and here.
Grade size range proof
approx yield
strength (MPa) strength (MPa)

tensile
approx equiv.
strength (MPa) to SAE grade:

grade dec x tensile*

4.8

M1.6-M16 310

336

420

SAE 2

8.8

< M16

580

640

800

SAE 5

M16-M76

600

660

830

10.9

> M5

830

940

1040

SAE 8

12.9

M1.6-M100 970

1100

1220

ASTM-A574
alloy socket
screws

*these value aren't necessarily from the standards, they're calculated as described above.

Tensile stress areas and acceptable load estimates for various grades
For applications where there is any chance of bodily or property harm, don't rely on our external load
estimates--they are intended to give a rough approximation of what screws of various grades can
hold in non-critical applications, and are based on the following assumptions:

We use the proof strength as the maximum stress that should be endured from the combined
internal (original tightening) and external loads.

If proof load isn't specified in the above tables, we use 85% of yield

It is assumed that the joint is twice as stiff as the bolt, which implies that 1/3 of the external load is
seen by the bolt, and the other 2/3 goes into reducing clamping load. The forumla explained above
and used below is 60% * proof * tensile area / 1.0 (safety factor). We recommend using a 2.5
safety factor for non-critical / costly applications--ie, divide the numbers below by 2.5. For joints
clamping aluminum, plastic, gaskets or other softer material it's safer to assume that 100% of external
load is seen by the fastener (multiply by 20% instead of 60%).

tensile stress area:Tests have shown that the average of the minor and pitch diameters
approximates the effective area of a fastener. The Machinery's handbook has a different formula for
bolts with tensile strengths over 100ksi, but due to some doubt about its origins, we don't use it.

As far as we can tell, SAE Grades apply only to bolts at least 1/4" in diameter. Any unmarked
machine screws smaller than that are probably Grade 2; we show the higher Grades for reference
only on those sizes. Alloy steel socket head cap screws will most likely have a greater strength than
SAE Grade 8 unless their manufacturer says otherwise.

We assume shear loads and torsional loads from tightening are zero.

For alloy socket screws, yield strength is 180 ksi until 1/2" and 170 ksi for larger diameters. We
use 85% of these values to approximate proof strength.

Inch tensile areas and loads (in lbs), both fine and coarse thread
size -

dec. major

tensile

Grade 2

Grade 5

Grade 8

alloy socket

threads / in diameter (in) stress area (proof strength: (proof strength: (proof strength: head (ASTM A574)
square inches <=3/4": 55 ksi
120 ksi)
<=1/2": 153 ksi
>3/4": 33 ksi) 85 ksi)
>1/2": 144.5 ksi
#0-80

.0600

.00180

59.4

91.8

129.6

165.24

#2-56

.086

.00370

122.1

188.7

266.4

339.66

#2-64

.086

.00394

130.02

200.94

283.68

361.692

#4-40

.112

.00604

199.32

308.04

434.88

554.472

#4-48

.112

.00661

218.13

337.11

475.92

606.798

#6-32

.138

.00909

299.97

463.59

654.48

834.462

#6-40

.138

.01015

334.95

517.65

730.8

931.77

#8-32

.164

.0140

462

714

1008

1285.2

#8-36

.164

.01474

486.42

751.74

1061.28

1353.132

#10-24

.190

.0175

577.5

892.5

1260

1606.5

#10-32

.190

.0200

660

1020

1440

1836

1/4-20

.250

.0318

1049.4

1621.8

2289.6

2919.24

1/4-28

.250

.0364

1201.2

1856.4

2620.8

3341.52

5/16-18

.3125

.0524

1729.2

2672.4

3772.8

4810.32

5/16-24

.3125

.0580

1914

2958

4176

5324.4

3/8-16

.375

.0775

2557.5

3952.5

5580

7114.5

3/8-24

.375

.0878

2897.4

4477.8

6321.6

8060.04

7/16-14

.4375

.1063

3507.9

5421.3

7653.6

9758.34

7/16-20

.4375

.1187

3917.1

6053.7

8546.4

10896.66

1/2-13

.5

.1419

4682.7

7236.9

10216.8

13026.42

1/2-20

.5

.1599

5276.7

8154.9

11512.8

14678.82

9/16-12

.5625

.182

6006

9282

13104

15779.4

9/16-18

.5625

.203

6699

10353

14616

17600.1

5/8-11

.625

.226

7458

11526

16272

19594.2

5/8-18

.625

.256

8448

13056

18432

22195.2

3/4-10

.75

.334

6613.2

17034

24048

28957.8

3/4-16

.75

.373

7385.4

19023

26856

32339.1

7/8-9

.875

.462

9147.6

23562

33264

40055.4

7/8-14

.875

.509

10078.2

25959

36648

44130.3

1-8

1.0

.606

11998.8

30906

43632

52540.2

1-12

1.0

.663

13127.4

33813

47736

57482.1

alternative load carrying recommendations: here.

Standard Thread Pitches

Coarse Thread Series (UNC/UNRC) is the most common designation for general application bolts and nuts. Coarse
thread is beneficial, because they are less likely to cross thread, more tolerant in adverse conditions and facilitate
quick assembly.
Fine Thread Series (UNF/UNRF) is commonly used in precision applications. Because of the larger tensile stress
areas, they have high tension strength. However, a longer engagement is required for fine thread applications than
for coarse series threads to prevent stripping.
8 - Thread Series (8UN) is the specified thread forming method for several ASTM standards including A193 B7,
A193 B8/B8M, and A320. This series is used for diameters one inch and above.

Coarse Thread Series UNC

Fine Thread Series - UNF

8-Thread Series - 8UN

Nomi
Tensi
Sectio Tensil
Sectio Tensil
Secti
nal Basic
Nomin Basic
Nomin Basic
le
n at
e
n at
e
on at
Size Pitch
al Size Pitch
al Size Pitch
Stres
Minor Stress
Minor Stress
Minor
and Dia.
and Dia.
and Dia.
s
Dia. Area
Dia. Area
Dia.
Threa
Threa
Threa
Area
ds
ds Per
ds Per
Per
In.
In.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
In.
--

--

1 - 64

--

--

--

0 - 80

0.051 0.0015 0.0018

9
1
0

0.062 0.0021 0.0026

0.064 0.0023 0.0027
1 - 72
9
8
3
0
7
8
--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

10 24

0.162 0.0145
0.169
0.0175 10 - 32
0.0175 0.0200 -9
0
7

--

--

--

--

12 24

0.188
0.192
0.0206 0.0242 12 - 28
0.0226 0.0258 -9
8

--

--

--

--

4 - 20

0.217
0.226
0.0269 0.0318 14 - 28
0.0326 0.0364 -5
8

--

--

--

--

0.276 0.0454 0.0524 516 - 24 0.285 0.0524 0.0580 --

--

--

--

--

2 - 56

0.074 0.0031 0.0037

0.075 0.0033 0.0039
2 - 64
4
0
0
9
9
4

3 - 48

0.085 0.0040 0.0048

0.087 0.0045 0.0052
3 - 56
5
6
7
4
1
3

4 - 40

0.095 0.0049 0.0060

0.098 0.0056 0.0066
4 - 48
8
6
4
5
6
1

5 - 40

0.108 0.0067 0.0079

0.110 0.0071 0.0083
5 - 44
8
2
6
2
6
0

6 - 32

0.117 0.0074 0.0090

0.121 0.0087 0.0101
6 - 40
7
5
9
8
4
5

8 - 32

0.143 0.0119
0.146 0.0128 0.0147
0.0140 8 - 36
7
6
0
5
4

16 -

Coarse Thread Series UNC

Fine Thread Series - UNF

8-Thread Series - 8UN

Nomi
Tensi
Sectio Tensil Nomin
Sectio Tensil Nomin
Secti
nal Basic
Basic
Basic
le
al Size
al Size
n at
e
n at
e
on at
Size Pitch
Pitch
Pitch
Stres
Minor Stress and
Minor Stress and
Minor
and Dia.
Dia.
Dia.
s
Dia. Area Threa
Dia. Area Threa
Dia.
Threa
Area
ds Per
ds Per
ds
In.
In.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
Per
In.
18
4
4
0.334
0.347
0.0678 0.0775 38 - 24
0.0809 0.0878 -4
9

--

--

--

--

16 14

0.391
0.405
0.0933 0.1063 716 - 20
0.1090 0.1187 -1
0

--

--

--

--

2 - 13

0.450
0.467
0.1257 0.1419 12 - 20
0.1486 0.1599 -0
5

--

--

--

--

0.508
0.526
0.162 0.182 916 - 18
0.189 0.203
4
4

--

--

--

--

--

0.566
0.202 0.226
0

0.588
0.240 0.256
9

--

--

--

--

--

4 - 10

0.685
0.302 0.334
0

0.709
0.351 0.373
4

--

--

--

--

--

8 - 9

0.802
0.419 0.462
8

0.828
0.480 0.509
6

--

--

--

--

--

1-8

0.918
0.945
0.551 0.606 1 - 12
0.625 0.663
8
9

8 - 16
7

16 12

8 - 11

8 - 18

4 - 16

8 - 14

1-8

0.918
0.551 0.606
8

118 - 7

1.032
0.693 0.763
2

118 12

1.070
1.043
0.812 0.856 118 - 8
0.728 0.790
9
8

114 - 7

1.157
0.890 0.969
2

114 12

1.195
1.168
1.024 1.073 114 - 8
0.929 1.000
9
8

138 - 6

1.266
1.054 1.155
7

138 12

1.320
1.293
1.260 1.315 138 - 8
1.155 1.233
9
8

112 - 6 1.391 1.294 1.405

112 -

1.445 1.521 1.581 112 - 8 1.418 1.405 1.492

Coarse Thread Series UNC

Fine Thread Series - UNF

8-Thread Series - 8UN

Nomi
Tensi
Sectio Tensil Nomin
Sectio Tensil Nomin
Secti
nal Basic
Basic
Basic
le
al Size
al Size
n at
e
n at
e
on at
Size Pitch
Pitch
Pitch
Stres
Minor Stress and
Minor Stress and
Minor
and Dia.
Dia.
Dia.
s
Dia. Area Threa
Dia. Area Threa
Dia.
Threa
Area
ds Per
ds Per
ds
In.
In.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
Per
In.
7
12
9
8
--

--

134 - 5

--

--

--

--

1.620
1.74
1
--

--

--

--

--

--

--

--

158 - 8

1.543
1.68
8

1.78

1.90

--

--

--

--

--

134 - 8

1.668
1.98
8

2.08

--

--

--

--

--

--

178 - 8

1.793
2.30
8

2.41

2 - 412

1.855
2.30
7

2.50

--

--

--

--

--

2-8

1.918
2.65
8

2.77

214 4-12

2.105
3.02
7

3.25

--

--

--

--

--

214 - 8

2.168
3.42
8

3.56

212 - 4

2.337
3.72
6

4.00

--

--

--

--

--

212 - 8

2.418
4.29
8

4.44

234 - 4

2.587
4.62
6

4.93

--

--

--

--

--

234 - 8

2.668
5.26
8

5.43

3-4

2.837
5.62
6

5.97

--

--

--

--

--

3-8

2.918
6.32
8

6.51

314 - 4

3.087
6.72
6

7.10

--

--

--

--

--

314 - 8

3.168
7.49
8

7.69

312 - 4

3.337
7.92
6

8.33

--

--

--

--

--

312 - 8

3.418
8.75
8

8.96

334 - 4

3.587
9.21
6

9.66

--

--

--

--

--

334 - 8

3.668
10.11 10.34
8

--

--

--

--

--

4-8

3.918 11.57 11.81

4-4

3.837 10.61 11.08

Coarse Thread Series UNC

Fine Thread Series - UNF

8-Thread Series - 8UN

Nomi
Tensi
Sectio Tensil Nomin
Sectio Tensil Nomin
Secti
nal Basic
Basic
Basic
le
al Size
al Size
n at
e
n at
e
on at
Size Pitch
Pitch
Pitch
Stres
Minor Stress and
Minor Stress and
Minor
and Dia.
Dia.
Dia.
s
Dia. Area Threa
Dia. Area Threa
Dia.
Threa
Area
ds Per
ds Per
ds
In.
In.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
In. Sq in. Sq in.
Per
In.
6
8