Thread Pitch Chart
Photo via Unsplash
Complete reference for inch (UNC & UNF) and metric thread pitch, threads-per-inch (TPI), thread series, and major diameters. Identify any bolt, nut, or tapped hole.
Photo via Unsplash
Complete reference for inch (UNC & UNF) and metric thread pitch, threads-per-inch (TPI), thread series, and major diameters. Identify any bolt, nut, or tapped hole.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. See all recommendations
Whether you're matching a replacement bolt, setting up a tap, or identifying a mystery fastener, knowing the thread pitch is essential. This chart covers the two inch thread series — UNC (coarse) and UNF (fine) — with threads-per-inch (TPI) and major diameters, plus the full metric range with coarse and fine pitch in millimeters. Use it alongside our tap drill chart to drill and tap threads accurately.
Thread pitch describes how fine or coarse a thread is. Inch threads use TPI (threads per inch) in two series — UNC (coarse) and UNF (fine); e.g. 1/4" comes as 1/4-20 (UNC) or 1/4-28 (UNF), and 1/2" as 1/2-13 or 1/2-20. Metric threads use pitch in mm (distance between threads); e.g. M6 coarse = 1.0mm, M8 = 1.25mm, M10 = 1.5mm, M12 = 1.75mm. Coarse threads are stronger/faster and more damage-tolerant; fine threads resist vibration and adjust more precisely. See the full UNC/UNF and metric charts below.
Inch fasteners use the Unified Thread Standard, expressed as threads per inch (TPI). Every nominal size is available in a coarse (UNC) and a fine (UNF) version. The number after the size in a callout is the TPI — for example, 1/4-20 means a 1/4" major diameter with 20 threads per inch (UNC), while 1/4-28 is the fine version. Sizes #12 and smaller are numbered gauges; 1/4" and up are fractional.
| Size | Major Diameter (in) | UNC TPI (Coarse) | UNF TPI (Fine) |
|---|---|---|---|
| #4 | 0.112" | 40 | 48 |
| #6 | 0.138" | 32 | 40 |
| #8 | 0.164" | 32 | 36 |
| #10 | 0.190" | 24 | 32 |
| #12 | 0.216" | 24 | 28 |
| 1/4 | 0.250" | 20 | 28 |
| 5/16 | 0.3125" | 18 | 24 |
| 3/8 | 0.375" | 16 | 24 |
| 7/16 | 0.4375" | 14 | 20 |
| 1/2 | 0.500" | 13 | 20 |
| 9/16 | 0.5625" | 12 | 18 |
| 5/8 | 0.625" | 11 | 18 |
| 3/4 | 0.750" | 10 | 16 |
| 7/8 | 0.875" | 9 | 14 |
| 1" | 1.000" | 8 | 12 |
A higher TPI means a finer thread. For a given size, UNF always has more threads per inch than UNC. The most common general-purpose inch threads are the UNC values — 1/4-20, 5/16-18, 3/8-16, and 1/2-13.
Metric threads describe pitch as the distance in millimeters between adjacent thread crests, not as TPI. A smaller pitch number means a finer thread. The "M" number is the nominal major diameter in millimeters — so an M8 bolt has an 8mm major diameter. When no pitch is given, the coarse pitch is assumed.
| Size | Major Diameter (mm) | Coarse Pitch (mm) | Fine Pitch (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| M3 | 3.0mm | 0.5 | 0.35 |
| M4 | 4.0mm | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| M5 | 5.0mm | 0.8 | 0.5 |
| M6 | 6.0mm | 1.0 | 0.75 |
| M8 | 8.0mm | 1.25 | 1.0 |
| M10 | 10.0mm | 1.5 | 1.25 |
| M12 | 12.0mm | 1.75 | 1.25 |
| M14 | 14.0mm | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| M16 | 16.0mm | 2.0 | 1.5 |
| M20 | 20.0mm | 2.5 | 1.5 |
The classic source of confusion is M10: the coarse pitch is 1.5mm, but M10-1.25 (fine) and M10-1.0 (extra-fine) also exist and look identical to the eye. Always confirm the pitch with a gauge before buying a replacement bolt or nut.
There are three reliable ways to determine the pitch of an unknown thread. For best results, combine a pitch reading with a caliper measurement of the major (outside) diameter.
Both series share the same major diameters; they differ only in how many threads occupy each inch. The choice between coarse and fine affects strength, vibration resistance, speed of assembly, and durability.
A thread callout packs the size, pitch, series, and fit class into a short code. Here is how to decode the two most common formats.
| Callout | What Each Part Means |
|---|---|
| 1/4-20 UNC 2A | 1/4 = major diameter (0.250"). 20 = threads per inch (TPI). UNC = Unified National Coarse series. 2A = fit/tolerance class (A = external thread, e.g. a bolt; B = internal thread, e.g. a nut). Class 2 is the standard general-purpose fit. |
| M8-1.25 | M8 = metric thread, 8mm major diameter. 1.25 = pitch in millimeters (distance crest-to-crest). This is the standard M8 coarse thread; an M8-1.0 would be the fine version. |
In inch callouts, the letter after the class number tells you which part it describes: A is an external thread (bolt or screw) and B is an internal thread (nut or tapped hole). So a bolt is 2A and the matching nut is 2B.
This chart identifies thread pitch and major diameter, but cutting your own internal threads requires drilling a correctly sized hole first. The drill diameter is smaller than the major diameter and is matched to the pitch.
To drill and tap these threads, see our tap drill chart for the exact bit size to use before tapping each UNC, UNF, and metric thread.
View Tap Drill ChartThese tools cover cutting, restoring, measuring, and identifying threads. All links are affiliate links - we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
As an Amazon Associate, WorkshopCalc earns from qualifying purchases. This helps support the site at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we would use in our own workshops.
Tap drill sizes plus fractional, number, letter, and metric drill bits.
View Chart →Recommended torque values by bolt size, grade, and thread series.
View Chart →SAE and metric socket sizes matched to bolt and nut head sizes.
View Chart →Browse every WorkshopCalc reference chart in one place.
Browse All →Thread pitch describes how fine or coarse a thread is. For inch (imperial) threads, pitch is expressed as TPI — threads per inch — so a higher number means finer threads. For metric threads, pitch is the distance in millimeters between two adjacent thread crests, so a smaller number means finer threads. For example, a 1/4-20 bolt has 20 threads per inch, while an M8 coarse bolt has a 1.25mm pitch.
UNC (Unified National Coarse) and UNF (Unified National Fine) are the two main inch thread series. UNC has fewer threads per inch (coarser), while UNF has more threads per inch (finer). A 1/4-20 is UNC and a 1/4-28 is UNF, even though both are 1/4 inch in diameter. Coarse UNC threads are stronger in soft materials, faster to assemble, and more tolerant of damage and dirt. Fine UNF threads resist vibration loosening, allow finer adjustment, and have higher tensile strength in the same diameter.
A standard M8 coarse bolt has a thread pitch of 1.25mm, meaning there is 1.25mm between adjacent thread crests. The common M8 fine pitch is 1.0mm. The full callout for the standard bolt is M8-1.25, and a fine version is M8-1.0. If a pitch is not specified, coarse (1.25mm) is assumed for M8.
The fastest way is to use a thread pitch gauge: try each leaf against the threads until one seats perfectly into the grooves with no gaps, then read the TPI or mm value stamped on that leaf. Without a gauge, for inch threads count the number of thread crests in one inch to get TPI, and for metric threads measure the distance from one crest to the next in millimeters. Combine the pitch reading with a caliper measurement of the major (outside) diameter to fully identify the thread.
It depends on how you define strength. Fine threads have a slightly larger minor diameter and more thread engagement, giving them higher tensile and stripping strength for the same nominal size, plus better resistance to vibration loosening. Coarse threads are stronger and more reliable in soft or brittle materials like aluminum, cast iron, and plastic, install faster, and tolerate nicks, dirt, and corrosion far better. For most general workshop and structural use, coarse threads are the safer default.