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Mechanical engineering reference

Metric Bolt Threads Chart

Find common ISO metric bolt thread designations, compare coarse and fine pitches, and inspect calculated basic thread-profile dimensions.

Profile
ISO metric, 60°
Units
Millimetres
Range
M2 through M64
Default
M10 × 1.5

Interactive thread finder

Find a Metric Bolt Thread Size

Choose a designation or enter measured diameter and pitch to find the closest listed metric thread.

Use a thread-pitch gauge when possible. The closest-match result is an identification aid, not a tolerance inspection.

Selected threadM10 × 1.5
SeriesCoarse
Pitch diameter9.026 mm
Approx. TPI16.93
Basic profile of the selected ISO metric bolt thread A dimensioned 60-degree metric thread profile showing pitch, major diameter, pitch diameter, and internal and external minor diameters. M10 × 1.5 metric thread profile
The profile is normalized for clarity. Numeric values update with the selected thread and remain listed beside the diagram.
Designation
M10 × 1.5
Nominal major diameter, d
10.000 mm
Pitch, P
1.500 mm
Basic pitch diameter, d₂
9.026 mm
Basic internal minor diameter, D₁
8.376 mm
Basic external minor diameter, d₃
8.160 mm
Fundamental triangle height, H
1.299 mm
Lead, L (single-start)
1.500 mm/rev

Basic dimensions only

These values describe the ideal ISO metric thread profile. Manufacturing limits depend on the specified tolerance class, internal or external thread, coating, plating, and the applicable ISO 965 requirements.

Searchable reference

Metric Bolt Thread Sizes and Basic Dimensions

Representative commercial metric bolt-thread combinations with dimensions calculated from the ISO basic profile.

Search by designation, diameter, pitch, or series. Choose View to synchronize the diagram and result panel.

Representative ISO metric bolt-thread designations and calculated basic-profile dimensions in millimetres. This is not a complete reproduction of ISO 261, ISO 262, or ISO 724.
ViewThreadSeriesBasic dimensions and conversionPreferred coarse
M2 × 0.4Coarse20.41.7401.5671.5090.463.50Yes
M2 × 0.25Fine20.251.8381.7291.6930.25101.60No
M2.5 × 0.45Coarse2.50.452.2082.0131.9480.4556.44Yes
M2.5 × 0.35Fine2.50.352.2732.1212.0710.3572.57No
M3 × 0.5Coarse30.52.6752.4592.3870.550.80Yes
M3 × 0.35Fine30.352.7732.6212.5710.3572.57No
M4 × 0.7Coarse40.73.5453.2423.1410.736.29Yes
M4 × 0.5Fine40.53.6753.4593.3870.550.80No
M5 × 0.8Coarse50.84.4804.1344.0190.831.75Yes
M5 × 0.5Fine50.54.6754.4594.3870.550.80No
M6 × 1Coarse615.3504.9174.773125.40Yes
M6 × 0.75Fine60.755.5135.1885.0800.7533.87No
M6 × 0.5Extra fine60.55.6755.4595.3870.550.80No
M8 × 1.25Coarse81.257.1886.6476.4661.2520.32Yes
M8 × 1Fine817.3506.9176.773125.40No
M8 × 0.75Extra fine80.757.5137.1887.0800.7533.87No
M10 × 1.5Coarse101.59.0268.3768.1601.516.93Yes
M10 × 1.25Fine101.259.1888.6478.4661.2520.32No
M10 × 1Extra fine1019.3508.9178.773125.40No
M12 × 1.75Coarse121.7510.86310.1069.8531.7514.51Yes
M12 × 1.5Fine121.511.02610.37610.1601.516.93No
M12 × 1.25Fine121.2511.18810.64710.4661.2520.32No
M12 × 1Extra fine12111.35010.91710.773125.40No
M14 × 2Coarse14212.70111.83511.546212.70Yes
M14 × 1.5Fine141.513.02612.37612.1601.516.93No
M14 × 1.25Fine141.2513.18812.64712.4661.2520.32No
M16 × 2Coarse16214.70113.83513.546212.70Yes
M16 × 1.5Fine161.515.02614.37614.1601.516.93No
M16 × 1Extra fine16115.35014.91714.773125.40No
M18 × 2.5Coarse182.516.37615.29414.9332.510.16Yes
M18 × 2Fine18216.70115.83515.546212.70No
M18 × 1.5Fine181.517.02616.37616.1601.516.93No
M20 × 2.5Coarse202.518.37617.29416.9332.510.16Yes
M20 × 2Fine20218.70117.83517.546212.70No
M20 × 1.5Fine201.519.02618.37618.1601.516.93No
M22 × 2.5Coarse222.520.37619.29418.9332.510.16Yes
M22 × 2Fine22220.70119.83519.546212.70No
M22 × 1.5Fine221.521.02620.37620.1601.516.93No
M24 × 3Coarse24322.05120.75220.31938.47Yes
M24 × 2Fine24222.70121.83521.546212.70No
M24 × 1.5Fine241.523.02622.37622.1601.516.93No
M27 × 3Coarse27325.05123.75223.31938.47Yes
M27 × 2Fine27225.70124.83524.546212.70No
M27 × 1.5Fine271.526.02625.37625.1601.516.93No
M30 × 3.5Coarse303.527.72726.21125.7063.57.26Yes
M30 × 3Fine30328.05126.75226.31938.47No
M30 × 2Fine30228.70127.83527.546212.70No
M30 × 1.5Fine301.529.02628.37628.1601.516.93No
M33 × 3.5Coarse333.530.72729.21128.7063.57.26Yes
M33 × 2Fine33231.70130.83530.546212.70No
M36 × 4Coarse36433.40231.67031.09346.35Yes
M36 × 3Fine36334.05132.75232.31938.47No
M36 × 2Fine36234.70133.83533.546212.70No
M42 × 4.5Coarse424.539.07737.12936.4794.55.64Yes
M42 × 3Fine42340.05138.75238.31938.47No
M48 × 5Coarse48544.75242.58741.86655.08Yes
M48 × 3Fine48346.05144.75244.31938.47No
M56 × 5.5Coarse565.552.42850.04649.2525.54.62Yes
M56 × 4Fine56453.40251.67051.09346.35No
M64 × 6Coarse64660.10357.50556.63964.23Yes
M64 × 4Fine64461.40259.67059.09346.35No

The table is an original transformed reference of representative combinations. Calculated dimensions are basic-profile values rounded for display and are not tolerance limits or acceptance criteria.

Table tools and filters

How to Read a Metric Bolt Thread

M = ISO metric thread 10 = 10 mm nominal diameter 1.5 = 1.5 mm pitch 60° = included thread angle

M10 × 1.5 identifies a metric thread with a nominal 10 mm major diameter and 1.5 mm axial spacing between adjacent thread crests. When pitch is omitted in ordinary fastener notation, a coarse pitch is often implied, but the drawing or specification should control.

Key takeaways

What the Chart Tells You

  • Diameter and pitch define the designation. M10 × 1.25 and M10 × 1.5 have the same nominal diameter but are not interchangeable.
  • Pitch diameter controls functional fit. It is the diameter where thread ridge and groove widths are theoretically equal.
  • Basic dimensions are not tolerances. Use the specified tolerance class and applicable limits for machining, inspection, or acceptance.
  • TPI is only a conversion aid. Metric threads remain designated by pitch in millimetres.

Metric Thread Dimensions and Formulas

The calculator uses the ideal 60-degree ISO metric basic profile. It keeps full internal precision and rounds displayed dimensions to three decimal places.

Fundamental triangleH = 0.8660254P

H is the height of the fundamental equilateral triangle and P is pitch.

Basic pitch diameterd₂ = D₂ = d − 0.649519P

The basic pitch diameter is common to the mating ideal profiles.

Internal minor diameterD₁ = d − 1.082532P

Basic minor diameter of the internal thread.

External minor diameterd₃ = d − 1.226869P

Basic minor diameter of the external thread design profile.

Symbols

  • d, DBasic major diameter, mm
  • PPitch, mm
  • d₂, D₂Basic pitch diameter, mm
  • D₁Internal-thread basic minor diameter, mm
  • d₃External-thread basic minor diameter, mm

How to Identify an Unknown Metric Thread

  1. Clean the thread and check for damage, plating buildup, or flattened crests.
  2. Measure the external major diameter across the crests with calipers.
  3. Measure pitch with a metric thread-pitch gauge. If unavailable, measure several crest spacings and divide by the number of intervals.
  4. Enter both measurements in the thread finder and compare the reported diameter and pitch differences.
  5. Confirm the candidate with a known mating part, GO/NO-GO gauge, or the drawing’s tolerance-class requirements.

Example: M10 × 1.5

A nominal diameter near 10 mm and a measured pitch near 1.50 mm points to M10 × 1.5. Its calculated basic pitch diameter is 9.026 mm.

Sanity check: 25.4 ÷ 1.5 = 16.93 TPI, but the proper designation remains metric.

Example: M8 × 1.0

An outside diameter near 8 mm with 1.00 mm crest spacing indicates an M8 fine thread, not the common M8 × 1.25 coarse thread.

Governing limitation: Caliper diameter alone cannot distinguish these two pitches.

Metric Coarse vs Fine Threads

Coarse threads

  • Commonly stocked and easier to identify.
  • Greater pitch and deeper thread form.
  • Often preferred for general assembly and softer materials.
  • More tolerant of dirt, minor damage, and rapid installation.

Fine threads

  • Smaller pitch provides finer axial adjustment.
  • Larger tensile stress area for the same nominal diameter.
  • May suit thin-wall or limited-engagement applications when properly designed.
  • More sensitive to damage, contamination, and cross-threading.

Selection rule

  • Follow the drawing, equipment specification, or governing product standard.
  • Do not substitute pitch based only on matching diameter.
  • Evaluate preload, fatigue, material strength, engagement, coating, and service environment separately.

Basic Dimensions vs Thread Tolerances

A basic dimension is the exact theoretical size from which limits and deviations are applied. A real bolt or nut is manufactured within a tolerance zone, commonly identified by a class such as 6g for an external thread or 6H for an internal thread.

Do not use this chart as a GO/NO-GO limit table

Acceptance requires the correct tolerance class, standard edition, coating allowance, gauging practice, and product specification. The chart intentionally does not reproduce copyrighted ISO tolerance tables.

Engineering Basis and Data Scope

Representative M2–M64 commercial thread combinations; calculated basic dimensions; no tolerance-limit table or complete ISO dataset.

The page uses the current ISO metric-thread profile and basic-dimension framework. ISO standards are copyrighted, so this page provides an original explanatory diagram, calculated dimensions, and a limited representative reference rather than reproducing the standards.

Dataset and Review Details

Publisher
Turn2Engineering
Generated
August 3, 2026
Dataset label
metric-thread-reference-v1.0.0
Units
Millimetres; TPI shown only as a conversion
Calculation precision
Full floating-point precision; three decimals displayed
Rights status
Original calculations and diagram; ISO source tables not reproduced in full
Excluded
Tolerance limits, gauging limits, multi-start threads, trapezoidal threads, and product-specific head dimensions
Use
Educational lookup and preliminary identification

Metric Bolt Thread FAQs

It identifies an ISO metric thread with a nominal 10 mm major diameter and a 1.5 mm pitch measured axially from one thread crest to the next.

Use the Diameter and Pitch Together

A metric bolt thread is not fully identified by diameter alone. Confirm the nominal diameter and pitch, use the diagram to understand each basic dimension, and consult the controlling tolerance and product standards before machining, inspecting, or approving a threaded component.

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