M8×1 Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill

M8×1 is an ISO metric fine-pitch thread: the 8 mm diameter with a 1 mm pitch (25.4 threads per inch) instead of the coarse 1.25 mm of M8×1.25. The thread is 0.14 mm shallower, so the tensile stress area rises from 36.6 to 39.2 mm² (7% more) and the lead angle falls from 3.17° to 2.48°.

Thread profile

major Ø8 mm10 threads = 10 mm
M8×1 drawn to scale: 18 threads in 18.3 mm of length.
60°Nut (internal thread)Bolt (external thread)P = 1 mmmajor Ø d8.000 mmpitch Ø d27.350 mmminor Ø D16.917 mm5H/8 = 0.541 mmthread axis
Basic profile with the M8×1 dimensions. The nut and bolt share the same pitch diameter.

M8×1 basic dimensions

Dimensionmmin
Major diameter d = D8.0000.3150
Pitch P1.0000.0394
Pitch diameter d2 = D27.3500.2894
Minor diameter, internal thread D16.9170.2723
Minor diameter, external thread d36.7730.2667
Height of fundamental triangle H0.8660.0341
Thread height, internal (5H/8)0.5410.0213
Thread height, external (17H/24)0.6130.0242
Crest flat of external thread (P/8)0.1250.0049
Crest flat of internal thread (P/4)0.2500.0098
PropertyValue
Threads per inch25.40
Flank angle60° (30° each side)
Lead angle at the pitch diameter2.48°
Tensile stress area As39.2 mm² (0.0608 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.

M8×1 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 26 µm, so even at its largest it sits 0.026 mm below the basic size and leaves room for a thin plating.

External thread 6gMax (mm)Min (mm)Tolerance (mm)
Major diameter d7.9747.7940.180
Pitch diameter d27.3247.2120.112
Internal thread 6HMax (mm)Min (mm)Tolerance (mm)
Minor diameter D17.1536.9170.236
Pitch diameter D27.5007.3500.150

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

M8×1 tap drill size

Tap drill for M8×1: 7 mm

This leaves about 77% thread in the tapped hole.

The rule for metric tap drills is diameter minus pitch: 8 − 1 = 7 mm, which is a stocked drill size.

The 6H minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 6.917 and 7.153 mm. The recommended drill falls inside that band.

Other drills that work for M8×1

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
6.9 mm6.900.271785%no
7 mmrecommended7.000.275677%yes
J (0.2770 in)7.040.277074%yes
7.1 mm7.100.279569%yes
7.2 mm7.200.283562%no
7.25 mm7.250.285458%no
7.3 mm7.300.287454%no

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

Clearance hole for M8

The clearance hole depends only on the 8 mm diameter, not on the pitch. The medium series, 9 mm, is the usual choice for general assembly.

SeriesHole Ø (mm)Hole Ø (in)Clearance on Ø (mm)
Fine (H12)8.40.33070.4
Medium (H13)90.35431
Coarse (H14)100.39372

Hole diameters from ISO 273.

M8×1 proof and breaking loads

Loads for steel bolts and screws by property class, from the tensile stress area of 39.2 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)
4.62254008.8215.7
4.831042012.216.5
5.628050011.019.6
5.838052014.920.4
6.844060017.223.5
8.858080022.731.4
9.865090025.535.3
10.9830104032.540.8
12.9970122038.047.8

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

M8 pitches compared

All standard pitches on the M8 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.

M8×1.25depth 0.677 mmM8×1depth 0.541 mmM8×0.75depth 0.406 mm
M8 pitches at the same scale with crests aligned; M8×1 is outlined.
ThreadPitch (mm)Pitch Ø (mm)Minor Ø D1 (mm)Stress area (mm²)Tap drill
M8×1.251.257.1886.64736.66.8 mm
M8×117.3506.91739.27 mm
M8×0.750.757.5137.18841.87.2 mm

When to choose a coarse or a fine thread

Closest inch thread

No inch thread is interchangeable with M8×1. The nearest is 5/16-24 UNF, which is 0.06 mm smaller in diameter with a pitch of 1.058 mm against 1.000 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)
M8×1 (this thread)8.0001.00025.40—
5/16-24 UNF7.9381.05824.00-0.062
5/16-32 UNEF7.9380.79432.00-0.062
5/16-18 UNC7.9381.41118.00-0.062

Identify a thread from measurements

How the M8×1 dimensions are calculated

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

  • P = 1 mm
  • H = 0.866025 × P = 0.866 mm
  • d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 8 − 0.650 = 7.350 mm
  • D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 8 − 1.083 = 6.917 mm
  • d3 = d − 1.226869 × P = 8 − 1.227 = 6.773 mm (external root, 17H/24 deep)
  • As = π/4 × ((d2 + d3) ÷ 2)² = π/4 × 7.062² = 39.17 mm²
  • Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 2.48°

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.