M12x1.5 tap drill size and thread dimensions
M12x1.5 has a major diameter of 12.000 mm and a pitch of 1.5 mm. Every other dimension below follows from those two numbers and the 60-degree thread form.
- Clearance hole
- 12.960
- Pitch diameter
- 11.0257
- Minor diameter of the nut thread
- 10.3762
- Minor diameter of the bolt thread
- 10.1597
- Tensile stress area
- 88.126 mm2
- Breaking load at that tensile strength
- 70 501
- The old "diameter minus pitch" drill
- 10.500
- Engagement that rule actually gives
- 92.4 %
- Threads engaged over that length
- 12.00
- Equivalent threads per inch
- 16.933
Show the working
- Thread engagement = 75
- Clearance hole allowance = 8
- Length of engagement = 18
- Material tensile strength = 800
- major = 12 = 12
- p = 1.5 = 1.5
- h = 1.5 * 0.8660254037844386 = 1.299 04
- Tap drill = 12 - 75/100 * 1.082532 * 1.5 = 10.7822
- The old "diameter minus pitch" drill = 12 - 1.5 = 10.5
- Engagement that rule actually gives = 100 / 1.082532 = 92.376
- Pitch diameter = 12 - 0.649519 * 1.5 = 11.0257
- Minor diameter of the nut thread = 12 - 1.082532 * 1.5 = 10.3762
- Minor diameter of the bolt thread = 12 - 1.226869 * 1.5 = 10.1597
- Tensile stress area = pi/4 * (12 - 0.938194 * 1.5)^2 = 88.126
- Clearance hole = 12 * (1 + 8/100) = 12.96
- Breaking load at that tensile strength = 88.126 * 800 = 70 500.8
- shear_area = pi * 10.3762 * 18 * (0.5 + 0.57735 * (11.0257 - 10.3762)/1.5) = 440.07
- Threads engaged over that length = 1.5 > 0 ? 18 / 1.5 : 0 = 12
- Equivalent threads per inch = 1.5 > 0 ? 25.4 / 1.5 : 0 = 16.9333
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- tap drill = D - (engagement / 100) x 1.082532 x P
- pitch diameter = D - 0.649519 P
- internal minor diameter = D - 1.082532 P
- tensile stress area = (pi/4)(D - 0.938194 P)^2
The familiar "drill equals diameter minus pitch" rule actually produces about 92% thread engagement, not 75%. Past roughly 75% the extra holding power is negligible and the tapping torque rises sharply, which is why 75% or even 65% is the shop standard.
The tensile stress area formula is the ISO 898-1 definition, based on the mean of the pitch and minor diameters.
Cut a clearance hole rather than a close fit unless the joint is dowelled: thread clearance is what lets parts line up.
M12x1.5 at common engagements
| Engagement | Tap drill (mm) | Tap drill (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 65% | 10.945 | 0.4309 |
| 70% | 10.863 | 0.4277 |
| 75% | 10.782 | 0.4245 |
| 80% | 10.701 | 0.4213 |
| 85% | 10.620 | 0.4181 |
| 90% | 10.539 | 0.4149 |
Pick the nearest drill above the figure, never below it.
Frequently asked
What drill size do I need for M12x1.5?
10.78 mm (0.4245 in) for 75% thread engagement. The traditional rule gives 10.50 mm, which is a tighter and harder-tapping hole.
What is the pitch of M12x1.5?
1.5 mm.
Where the numbers come from
- Thread geometry follows the ISO 68-1 basic profile shared by ISO metric and Unified inch threads; the stress-area definition is from ISO 898-1.