M14×1.5 Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill

M14×1.5 is an ISO metric fine-pitch thread: the 14 mm diameter with a 1.5 mm pitch (16.9 threads per inch) instead of the coarse 2 mm of M14×2. The thread is 0.27 mm shallower, so the tensile stress area rises from 115 to 125 mm² (8% more) and the lead angle falls from 2.87° to 2.10°.

M14×1.5 is used for wheel bolts and studs on many European cars and light trucks, and for oil drain plugs.

Thread profile

major Ø14 mm10 threads = 15 mm
M14×1.5 drawn to scale: 21 threads in 32.1 mm of length.
60°Nut (internal thread)Bolt (external thread)P = 1.5 mmmajor Ø d14.000 mmpitch Ø d213.026 mmminor Ø D112.376 mm5H/8 = 0.812 mmthread axis
Basic profile with the M14×1.5 dimensions. The nut and bolt share the same pitch diameter.

M14×1.5 basic dimensions

Dimensionmmin
Major diameter d = D14.0000.5512
Pitch P1.5000.0591
Pitch diameter d2 = D213.0260.5128
Minor diameter, internal thread D112.3760.4873
Minor diameter, external thread d312.1600.4787
Height of fundamental triangle H1.2990.0511
Thread height, internal (5H/8)0.8120.0320
Thread height, external (17H/24)0.9200.0362
Crest flat of external thread (P/8)0.1880.0074
Crest flat of internal thread (P/4)0.3750.0148
PropertyValue
Threads per inch16.93
Flank angle60° (30° each side)
Lead angle at the pitch diameter2.10°
Tensile stress area As125 mm² (0.194 in²)

Basic (nominal) sizes per ISO 724, before tolerances. d3 is the root diameter of a bolt with the rounded root that ISO 898-1 uses for the stress area.

M14×1.5 tolerance limits (6g bolt, 6H nut)

6g and 6H are the general-purpose tolerance classes for commercial screws and nuts. The 6g screw has a fundamental deviation of 32 µm, so even at its largest it sits 0.032 mm below the basic size and leaves room for a thin plating.

External thread 6gMax (mm)Min (mm)Tolerance (mm)
Major diameter d13.96813.7320.236
Pitch diameter d212.99412.8540.140
Internal thread 6HMax (mm)Min (mm)Tolerance (mm)
Minor diameter D112.67612.3760.300
Pitch diameter D213.21613.0260.190

Computed from the ISO 965-1 deviations and tolerances for normal length of engagement; the results match the limits tabulated in ISO 965-2.

M14×1.5 tap drill size

Tap drill for M14×1.5: 12.5 mm

This leaves about 77% thread in the tapped hole.

The rule for metric tap drills is diameter minus pitch: 14 − 1.5 = 12.5 mm, which is a stocked drill size.

The 6H minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 12.376 and 12.676 mm. The recommended drill falls inside that band.

Other drills that work for M14×1.5

A larger drill cuts less thread and taps more easily; a smaller one gives a fuller thread but loads the tap harder.

Drillmmin% threadWithin 6H limitsThread engagement
12.25 mm12.250.482390%no
12.3 mm12.300.484387%no
31/64" (0.4844 in)12.300.484487%no
12.4 mm12.400.488282%yes
12.5 mmrecommended12.500.492177%yes
12.6 mm12.600.496172%yes
12.7 mm12.700.500067%no
12.75 mm12.750.502064%no

% thread = (major diameter − drill diameter) ÷ (1.299 × pitch). See the tap drill chart for how to choose a percentage.

Clearance hole for M14

The clearance hole depends only on the 14 mm diameter, not on the pitch. The medium series, 15.5 mm, is the usual choice for general assembly.

SeriesHole Ø (mm)Hole Ø (in)Clearance on Ø (mm)
Fine (H12)150.59061
Medium (H13)15.50.61021.5
Coarse (H14)16.50.64962.5

Hole diameters from ISO 273.

M14×1.5 proof and breaking loads

Loads for steel bolts and screws by property class, from the tensile stress area of 125 mm². The proof load is the highest load the fastener must carry without permanent set.

Property classProof stress (MPa)Min tensile strength (MPa)Proof load (kN)Min breaking load (kN)
4.622540028.150.0
4.831042038.852.5
5.628050035.062.5
5.838052047.565.0
6.844060055.075.0
8.858080072.5100
9.865090081.2112
10.98301040104130
12.99701220121152

Stresses from ISO 898-1:2013 Table 3; As from ISO 898-1. Loads rounded to three significant figures.

M14 pitches compared

All standard pitches on the M14 diameter. A finer pitch gives a shallower thread, a larger core and a smaller lead angle; a coarser pitch is faster to assemble and more tolerant of damage and plating.

M14×2depth 1.083 mmM14×1.5depth 0.812 mmM14×1.25depth 0.677 mmM14×1depth 0.541 mm
M14 pitches at the same scale with crests aligned; M14×1.5 is outlined.
ThreadPitch (mm)Pitch Ø (mm)Minor Ø D1 (mm)Stress area (mm²)Tap drill
M14×2212.70111.83511512 mm
M14×1.51.513.02612.37612512.5 mm
M14×1.251.2513.18812.64712912.8 mm
M14×1113.35012.91713413 mm

When to choose a coarse or a fine thread

Closest inch thread

No inch thread is interchangeable with M14×1.5. The nearest is 9/16-18 UNF, which is 0.29 mm larger in diameter with a pitch of 1.411 mm against 1.500 mm. A nut may start on the wrong thread and then bind or strip, so identify by both diameter and pitch.

ThreadMajor Ø (mm)Pitch (mm)TPIØ difference (mm)
M14×1.5 (this thread)14.0001.50016.93—
9/16-18 UNF14.2871.41118.00+0.287
9/16-24 UNEF14.2871.05824.00+0.287
9/16-12 UNC14.2872.11712.00+0.287

Identify a thread from measurements

How the M14×1.5 dimensions are calculated

Every basic dimension follows from the major diameter and the pitch:

  • P = 1.5 mm
  • H = 0.866025 × P = 1.299 mm
  • d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 14 − 0.974 = 13.026 mm
  • D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 14 − 1.624 = 12.376 mm
  • d3 = d − 1.226869 × P = 14 − 1.840 = 12.160 mm (external root, 17H/24 deep)
  • As = π/4 × ((d2 + d3) ÷ 2)² = π/4 × 12.593² = 124.55 mm²
  • Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 2.10°

Related sizes and tools

Sources: ISO 68-1 and ISO 724 (profile and basic dimensions), ISO 261 (diameter and pitch series), ISO 965-1 (tolerances), ISO 273 (clearance holes), ISO 898-1 (mechanical properties) and tap drill tables based on ISO 2306. How this site checks its data. Last reviewed 29 September 2026.