Recommended Core Drill Diameters for Thread Cutting Taps

Metric Thread Metric ISO Thread from M 1 up to M 56

Nut thread

Designation
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

Tol.
class

1
1,1
1,2
1,4
1,6
1,8
2
2,2
2,5
3
3,5
4
4,5

5
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H

Nut thread

Drill
dia.

Minor dia.
Limits
max.

min.

0,785
0,885
0,985
1,142
1,321
1,521
1,679
1,838
2,138
2,599
3,010
3,422
3,878

0,729
0,829
0,929
1,075
1,221
1,421
1,567
1,713
2,013
2,459
2,850
3,242
3,688

Designation
0,75
0,85
0,95
1,10
1,25
1,45
1,60
1,75
2,05
2,50
2,90
3,30
3,70

M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

Tol.
class

5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
14
16
18
20
22

6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

Nut thread

Drill
dia.

Minor dia.
Limits

H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H

max.

min.

4,334
5,153
6,153
6,912
7,912
8,676
9,676
10,441
12,210
14,210
15,744
17,744
19,744

4,134
4,917
5,917
6,647
7,647
8,376
9,376
10,106
11,835
13,835
15,294
17,294
19,294

Designation
4,20
5,00
6,00
6,80
7,80
8,50
9,50
10,20
12,00
14,00
15,50
17,50
19,50

Drill
dia.

Minor dia.

M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

24
27
30
33
36
39
42
45
48
52
56

Tol.
class
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H

Limits
max.

min.

21,252
24,252
26,771
29,771
32,270
35,270
37,799
40,799
43,297
47,297
50,796

20,752
23,752
26,211
29,211
31,670
34,670
37,129
40,129
42,587
46,587
50,046

21,00
24,00
26,50
29,50
32,00
35,00
37,50
40,50
43,00
47,00
50,50

Metric Fine Thread from M 1 0,2 up to M 48 4

Nut thread
Minor dia.
Designation
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

1 0,2
1,1 0,2
1,2 0,2
1,4 0,2
1,4 0,25
1,6 0,2
1,8 0,2
2 0,25
2,2 0,25
2,5 0,35
3 0,35
3,5 0,35
4 0,5
4,5 0,5
5 0,5
5,5 0,5
6 0,75
7 0,75
8 0,75
8 1
9 0,75
9 1
10 0,75
10 1
10 1,25
11 0,75
11 1
12 1
12 1,25
12 1,5
14 1

Tol.
class
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H

Nut thread

Drill
dia.

Minor dia.
Designation

Limits
max.

min.

0,821
0,921
1,021
1,221
1,185
1,421
1,621
1,785
1,985
2,221
2,721
3,221
3,599
4,099
4,599
5,099
5,378
6,378
7,378
7,153
8,378
8,153
9,378
9,153
8,912
10,378
10,153
11,153
10,912
10,676
13,153

0,783
0,883
0,983
1,183
1,129
1,383
1,583
1,729
1,929
2,121
2,621
3,112
3,459
3,959
4,459
4,959
5,188
6,188
7,188
6,917
8,188
7,917
9,188
8,917
8,647
10,188
9,917
10,917
10,647
10,376
12,917

0,80
0,90
1,00
1,20
1,15
1,40
1,60
1,75
1,95
2,15
2,65
3,15
3,50
4,00
4,50
5,00
5,20
6,20
7,20
7,00
8,20
8,00
9,20
9,00
8,80
10,20
10,00
11,00
10,80
10,50
13,00

M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

14
14
15
15
16
16
17
17
18
18
18
20
20
20
22
22
22
24
24
24
25
25
25
26
27
27
27
28
28
28
30

1,25
1,5
1
1,5
1
1,5
1
1,5
1
1,5
2
1
1,5
2
1
1,5
2
1
1,5
2
1
1,5
2
1,5
1
1,5
2
1
1,5
2
1

Tol.
class
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H

0,2
0,25
0,35
0,5
0,75

Limits
max.

min.

12,912
12,676
14,153
13,676
15,153
14,676
16,153
15,676
17,153
16,676
16,210
19,153
18,676
18,210
21,153
20,676
20,210
23,153
22,676
22,210
24,153
23,676
23,210
24,676
26,153
25,676
25,210
27,153
26,676
26,210
29,153

12,647
12,376
13,917
13,376
14,917
14,376
15,917
15,376
16,917
16,376
15,835
18,917
18,376
17,835
20,917
20,376
19,835
22,917
22,376
21,835
23,917
23,376
22,835
24,376
25,917
25,376
24,835
26,917
26,376
25,835
28,917

Designation
12,80
12,50
14,00
13,50
15,00
14,50
16,00
15,50
17,00
16,50
16,00
19,00
18,50
18,00
21,00
20,50
20,00
23,00
22,50
22,00
24,00
23,50
23,00
24,50
26,00
25,50
25,00
27,00
26,50
26,00
29,00

Drill
dia.

Minor dia.

M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

30
30
30
32
32
33
33
33
35
36
36
36
38
39
39
39
40
40
40
42
42
42
42
45
45
45
45
48
48
48
48

1,5
2
3
1,5
2
1,5
2
3
1,5
1,5
2
3
1,5
1,5
2
3
1,5
2
3
1,5
2
3
4
1,5
2
3
4
1,5
2
3
4

Tol.
class
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
6

H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H
H

Limits
max.

min.

28,676
28,210
27,252
30,676
30,210
31,676
31,210
30,252
33,676
34,676
34,210
33,252
36,676
37,676
37,210
36,252
38,676
38,210
37,252
40,676
40,210
39,252
38,270
43,676
43,210
42,252
41,270
46,676
46,210
45,252
44,270

28,376
27,835
26,752
30,376
29,835
31,376
30,835
29,752
33,376
34,376
33,835
32,752
36,376
37,376
36,835
35,752
38,376
37,835
36,752
40,376
39,835
38,752
37,670
43,376
42,835
41,752
40,670
46,376
45,835
44,752
43,670

28,50
28,00
27,00
30,50
30,00
31,50
31,00
30,00
33,50
34,50
34,00
33,00
36,50
37,50
37,00
36,00
38,50
38,00
37,00
40,50
40,00
39,00
38,00
43,50
43,00
42,00
41,00
46,50
46,00
45,00
44,00

Metric Thread M 1,7, M 2,3, M 2,6

acc. to DIN 13, p. 1 (Feb. 1949)

Metric Fine Thread

Pitch

Nut thread

Drill
dia.

Drill and core

Drill dia. =
Nominal dia. minus
following value
0,20
0,25
0,35
0,50
0,80

Pitch

1
1,5
2
3
4

Drill and core

Drill dia. =
Nominal dia. minus
following value
1,00
1,50
2,00
3,00
4,00

Nut thread
Designation
M 1,7
M 2,3
M 2,6

Drill dia.

Minor dia.
Limits
max.

min.

1,346
1,920
2,176

1,256
1,795
2,036

1,30
1,90
2,10

Recommended Core Drill Diameters for Thread Cutting Taps

Unified Thread
Unified Coarse Thread UNC = American National Coarse-Thread

Designation

1 - 64 UNC
2 - 56 UNC
3 - 48 UNC
4 - 40 UNC
5 - 40 UNC
6 - 32 UNC
8 - 32 UNC
10 - 24 UNC
12 - 24 UNC
1/4 - 20 UNC
5/16 - 18 UNC
3/8 - 16 UNC
7/16 - 14 UNC
1/2 - 13 UNC
9/16 - 12 UNC
5/8 - 11 UNC
3/4 - 10 UNC
7/8 - 9 UNC
1 - 8 UNC
1 1/8 - 7 UNC
1 1/4 - 7 UNC
1 3/8 - 6 UNC
1 1/2 - 6 UNC
1 3/4 - 5 UNC
2 - 41/2 UNC

Minor dia. mm
for fit 2 B
min.

max.

1,425
1,694
1,941
2,156
2,487
2,642
3,302
3,683
4,343
4,976
6,411
7,805
9,149
10,584
11,996
13,376
16,299
19,169
21,963
24,648
27,823
30,343
33,518
38,951
44,689

1,582
1,872
2,146
2,385
2,697
2,896
3,531
3,962
4,597
5,268
6,734
8,164
9,550
11,013
12,456
13,868
16,833
19,748
22,598
25,349
28,524
31,120
34,295
39,814
45,598

Drill sizes mm
(extract from
ISO 2306-1972)
1,55
1,85
2,10
2,35
2,65
2,85
3,50
3,90
4,50
5,10
6,60
8,00
9,40
10,80
12,20
13,50
16,50
19,50
22,25
25,00
28,00
30,75
34,00
39,50
45,00

UNJC to ISO 3161

Unified Fine Thread UNF = American National Fine-Thread

Designation

1 -72
2 -64
3 -56
4 -48
5 -44
6 -40
8 -36
10 -32
12 -28
1/4 -28
5/16 -24
3/8 -24
7/16 -20
1/2 -20
9/16 -18
5/8 -18
3/4 -16
7/8 -14
1 -12
1 1/8 -12
1 1/4 -12
1 3/8 -12
1 1/2 -12

UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF

Minor dia. mm
for fit 2 B
min.

max.

1,473
1,755
2,024
2,271
2,550
2,819
3,404
3,962
4,496
5,367
6,792
8,379
9,738
11,326
12,761
14,348
17,330
20,262
23,109
26,284
29,459
32,634
35,809

1,613
1,913
2,197
2,459
2,741
3,023
3,607
4,166
4,724
5,580
7,038
8,626
10,030
11,618
13,084
14,671
17,689
20,663
23,569
26,744
29,919
33,094
36,269

Drill sizes mm
(extract from
ISO 2306-1972)
1,55
1,90
2,15
2,40
2,70
2,95
3,50
4,10
4,70
5,50
6,90
8,50
9,90
11,50
12,90
14,50
17,50
20,40
23,25
26,50
29,50
32,75
36,00

UNJF to ISO 3161

Designation

Diameter

Designation

Diameter

No. 1-64
No. 2-56
No. 3-48
No. 4-40
No. 5-40
No. 6-32
No. 8-32
No. 10-24
No. 12-24
1/4-20
5/16-18
3/8-16
7/16-14
1/2-13
9/16-12
5/8-11
3/4-10

1,5
1,8
2,05
2,3
2,65
2,8
3,5
3,9
4,6
5,2
6,7
8,1
9,5
10,9
12,3
13,7
16,75

No. 0-80
No. 1-72
No. 2-64
No. 3-56
No. 4-48
No. 5-44
No. 6-40
No. 8-36
No. 10-32
No. 12-28
1/4-28
5/16-24
3/8-24
7/16-20
1/2-20
9/16-12
5/8-18

1,25
1,55
1,85
2,1
2,4
2,7
2,95
3,6
4,15
4,7
5,6
7
8,6
10,0
11,5
12,3
14,5

Recommended Core Drill Diameters for Thread Cutting Taps

Whitworth-, Whitworthpipe-, Pipe-, PG- and NPT-Thread
Whitworth Thread BSW

Whitworth Pipe Thread

DIN 2999
cylindrical internal turcad/taper external thread

Designation
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW
BSW

1/16
3/32
1/8
5/32
3/16
7/32
1/4
5/16
3/8
7/16
1/2
5/8
3/4
7/8
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3

1/8
1/4
3/8
1/2
5/8
3/4
1/4
1/2
3/4

Minor dia. mm
min.
max.

4,744
6,151
7,512
8,809
10,015
12,948
15,831
18,647
21,375
23,976
27,151
29,558
32,733
34,834
38,009
43,643
49,100
55,450
60,648
66,699

5,224
6,661
8,052
9,379
10,610
13,598
16,538
19,411
22,185
24,879
28,054
30,555
33,730
35,921
39,096
44,823
50,420
56,770
62,108
68,459

Drill size mm
1,20
1,90
2,50
3,20
3,60
4,50
5,10
6,50
7,90
9,30
10,50
13,50
16,50
19,25
22,00
24,75
28,00
30,50
33,50
35,50
39,00
44,50
50,00
57,00
61,00
68,00

Steel Conduit Thread PG

DIN 40430
Designation
Pg
Pg
Pg
Pg
Pg
Pg
Pg
Pg
Pg
Pg

7
9
11
13,5
16
21
29
36
42
48

Minor dia. mm
min.
max.
11,30
13,86
17,26
19,06
21,16
26,78
35,48
45,48
52,48
57,78

11,45
14,01
17,41
19,21
21,31
27,03
35,73
45,73
52,73
58,03

Drill size mm
11,40
14,00
17,25
19,00
21,25
27,00
35,50
45,50
52,50
58,00

Designation
Rp
Rp
Rp
Rp
Rp
Rp
Rp
Rp
Rp
Rp

Minor dia. mm
min.
max.

1/16
1/8
1/4
3/8
1/2
3/4

6,490
8,495
11,341
14,846
18,489
23,975
30,111
38,772
44,665
56,476

1
1 1/4
1 1/2
2

6,632
8,637
11,549
15,054
18,773
24,259
30,471
39,132
45,025
56,836

Drill size mm
6,60
8,60
11,50
15,00
18,75
24,25
30,25
39,00
45,00
56,50

Pipe Thread
DIN-ISO 228
Cylindrical internal thread/cylindrical external thread
pressure tight joint not made on thread
Designation
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G
G

Minor dia. mm
min.
max.

1/16
1/8
1/4
3/8
1/2
5/8
3/4
7/8
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3

6,561
8,566
11,445
14,950
18,631
20,587
24,117
27,877
30,291
34,939
38,952
44,845
50,788
56,656
62,752
72,226
78,576
84,926

1/8
1/4
1/2
3/4
1/4
1/2
3/4

6,843
8,848
11,890
15,395
19,172
21,128
24,658
28,418
30,931
35,579
39,592
45,485
51,428
57,296
63,392
72,866
79,216
85,566

Drill size mm
6,80
8,80
11,80
15,25
19,00
21,00
24,50
28,25
30,75
35,50
39,50
45,00
51,00
57,00
63,00
73,00
79,00
85,00

NPT-Thread
Tapered pipe thread 1: 16
Designation
1/8
1/4
3/8
1/2
3/4

Nominal
thread
size mm
8,50
11,10
14,50
17,75
23,00

Designation
1
1 1/4
1 1/2
2

Nominal
thread
size mm
29,00
38,00
44,00
56,00

Recommended Core Drill Diameters for Cold Forming Taps

Tapping Drill Sizes for Forming Taps

Metric Thread
Recommendations: Forming drill dia. = Major dia. of thread 0,5 pitch
This formula results in the following values:
Pitch
mm

Major dia.
M
M
M
M
(M
M
M
M
(M
M
(M
M

1
1,2
1,4
1,6
1,7)
1,8
2
2,2
2,3)
2,5
2,6)
3

0,25
0,25
0,30
0,35
0,35
0,35
0,40
0,45
0,40
0,45
0,45
0,50

Forming
drill sizes
mm
0,88
1,08
1,26
1,45
1,55
1,65
1,82
2,00
2,10
2,30
2,40
2,80

Major dia.
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

3,5
4
5
6
8
10
12
14
16

2 -56
3 -48
4 -40
5 -40
6 -32
8 -32
10 -24
12 -24
1/4 -20
5/16-18
3/8 -16

Values shown are given for

guidance only.
Forming drill size is influenced
by:
component material
thread profile
drilling depth
wall thickness
desired minor diameter

Unified Fine Thread UNF

Forming drill sizes
mm

UNC
UNC
UNC
UNC
UNC
UNC
UNC
UNC
UNC
UNC
UNC

1,97
2,26
2,55
2,87
3,15
3,80
4,30
5,00
5,75
7,25
8,75

Major dia.
4 -48
5 -44
6 -40
8 -36
10 -32
12 -28
1/4 -28
5/16-24
3/8 -24

Pipe Thread G

Forming drill sizes

mm

UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF
UNF

2,60
2,90
3,20
3,85
4,45
5,05
5,90
7,45
9,00

Metric ISO Fine Thread

Major dia.
G
G
G
G
G

0,60
0,70
0,80
1,00
1,25
1,50
1,75
2,00
2,00

Sizes in brackets are not ISO

Standard.

Unified Coarse Thread

Major dia.

Forming
drill sizes
mm
3,25
3,70
4,65
5,55
7,40
9,30
11,20
13,10
15,10

Pitch
mm

1/16
1/8
1/4
3/8
1/2

Pitch
0,907
0,907
1,337
1,337
1,814

Forming
drill sizes
mm
7,30
9,30
12,50
16,00
20,10

Major dia.
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M

4
5
6
8
6
8
10
8
10
12
14
16
18
12
14
16
18
20

Pitch
mm
0,5
0,5
0,5
0,5
0,75
0,75
0,75
1
1
1
1
1
1
1,5
1,5
1,5
1,5
1,5

Forming
drill sizes
mm
3,80
4,80
5,80
7,80
5,65
7,65
9,65
7,55
9,55
11,55
13,55
15,55
17,55
11,30
13,30
15,30
17,30
19,30