M36×1.5 Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill

M36×1.5 is an ISO metric fine-pitch thread: the 36 mm diameter with a 1.5 mm pitch (16.9 threads per inch) instead of the coarse 4 mm of M36×4. The thread is 1.35 mm shallower, so the tensile stress area rises from 817 to 940 mm² (15% more) and the lead angle falls from 2.18° to 0.78°.

Thread profile

major Ø36 mm10 threads = 15 mm
M36×1.5 drawn to scale: 55 threads in 82.5 mm of length.
60°Nut (internal thread)Bolt (external thread)P = 1.5 mmmajor Ø d36.000 mmpitch Ø d235.026 mmminor Ø D134.376 mm5H/8 = 0.812 mmthread axis
Basic profile with the M36×1.5 dimensions. The nut and bolt share the same pitch diameter.

M36×1.5 basic dimensions

Dimensionmmin
Major diameter d = D36.0001.4173
Pitch P1.5000.0591
Pitch diameter d2 = D235.0261.3790
Minor diameter, internal thread D134.3761.3534
Minor diameter, external thread d334.1601.3449
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 diameter0.78°
Tensile stress area As940 mm² (1.46 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.

M36×1.5 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 d35.96835.7320.236
Pitch diameter d234.99434.8440.150
Internal thread 6HMax (mm)Min (mm)Tolerance (mm)
Minor diameter D134.67634.3760.300
Pitch diameter D235.22635.0260.200

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

M36×1.5 tap drill size

Tap drill for M36×1.5: 34.5 mm

This leaves about 77% thread in the tapped hole.

The rule for metric tap drills is diameter minus pitch: 36 − 1.5 = 34.5 mm, which is a stocked drill size.

The 6H minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 34.376 and 34.676 mm. The recommended drill falls inside that band.

Other drills that work for M36×1.5

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
34.5 mmrecommended34.501.358377%yes
1-23/64" (1.3594 in)34.531.359476%yes
35 mm35.001.378051%no

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

Clearance hole for M36

The clearance hole depends only on the 36 mm diameter, not on the pitch. The medium series, 39 mm, is the usual choice for general assembly.

SeriesHole Ø (mm)Hole Ø (in)Clearance on Ø (mm)
Fine (H12)371.45671
Medium (H13)391.53543
Coarse (H14)421.65356

Hole diameters from ISO 273.

M36×1.5 strength

ISO 898-1 tabulates fine-pitch loads only for a selected set of threads from M8×1 to M39×3, so it gives no proof or breaking loads for M36×1.5. For an estimate, multiply the tensile stress area of 940 mm² by the stress of the material: for example, 800 MPa gives 752 kN.

M36 pitches compared

All standard pitches on the M36 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.

M36×4depth 2.165 mmM36×3depth 1.624 mmM36×2depth 1.083 mmM36×1.5depth 0.812 mm
M36 pitches at the same scale with crests aligned; M36×1.5 is outlined.
ThreadPitch (mm)Pitch Ø (mm)Minor Ø D1 (mm)Stress area (mm²)Tap drill
M36×4433.40231.67081732 mm
M36×3334.05132.75286533 mm
M36×2234.70133.83591534 mm
M36×1.51.535.02634.37694034.5 mm

When to choose a coarse or a fine thread

Closest inch thread

No inch thread is interchangeable with M36×1.5. The nearest is 1-7/16-18 UNEF, which is 0.51 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)
M36×1.5 (this thread)36.0001.50016.93—
1-7/16-18 UNEF36.5121.41118.00+0.512
1-3/8-18 UNEF34.9251.41118.00-1.075
1-1/2-18 UNEF38.1001.41118.00+2.100

Identify a thread from measurements

How the M36×1.5 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 = 36 − 0.974 = 35.026 mm
  • D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 36 − 1.624 = 34.376 mm
  • d3 = d − 1.226869 × P = 36 − 1.840 = 34.160 mm (external root, 17H/24 deep)
  • As = π/4 × ((d2 + d3) ÷ 2)² = π/4 × 34.593² = 939.85 mm²
  • Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 0.78°

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.