M22×2.5 Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill

M22×2.5 is the ISO metric coarse thread for 22 mm fasteners, which is why it is usually written simply as M22. It has a 60° profile with a pitch of 2.5 mm (10.2 threads per inch). ISO 261 lists M22 as a second-choice diameter. Fine-pitch versions of the same diameter are M22×2, M22×1.5 and M22×1.

Thread profile

major Ø22 mm10 threads = 25 mm
M22×2.5 drawn to scale: 20 threads in 50.4 mm of length.
60°Nut (internal thread)Bolt (external thread)P = 2.5 mmmajor Ø d22.000 mmpitch Ø d220.376 mmminor Ø D119.294 mm5H/8 = 1.353 mmthread axis
Basic profile with the M22×2.5 dimensions. The nut and bolt share the same pitch diameter.

M22×2.5 basic dimensions

Dimensionmmin
Major diameter d = D22.0000.8661
Pitch P2.5000.0984
Pitch diameter d2 = D220.3760.8022
Minor diameter, internal thread D119.2940.7596
Minor diameter, external thread d318.9330.7454
Height of fundamental triangle H2.1650.0852
Thread height, internal (5H/8)1.3530.0533
Thread height, external (17H/24)1.5340.0604
Crest flat of external thread (P/8)0.3120.0123
Crest flat of internal thread (P/4)0.6250.0246
PropertyValue
Threads per inch10.16
Flank angle60° (30° each side)
Lead angle at the pitch diameter2.24°
Tensile stress area As303 mm² (0.470 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.

M22×2.5 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 42 µm, so even at its largest it sits 0.042 mm below the basic size and leaves room for a thin plating.

External thread 6gMax (mm)Min (mm)Tolerance (mm)
Major diameter d21.95821.6230.335
Pitch diameter d220.33420.1640.170
Internal thread 6HMax (mm)Min (mm)Tolerance (mm)
Minor diameter D119.74419.2940.450
Pitch diameter D220.60020.3760.224

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

M22×2.5 tap drill size

Tap drill for M22×2.5: 19.5 mm

This leaves about 77% thread in the tapped hole.

The rule for metric tap drills is diameter minus pitch: 22 − 2.5 = 19.5 mm, which is a stocked drill size.

The 6H minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 19.294 and 19.744 mm. The recommended drill falls inside that band.

Other drills that work for M22×2.5

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
19.25 mm19.250.757985%no
49/64" (0.7656 in)19.450.765679%yes
19.5 mmrecommended19.500.767777%yes
19.75 mm19.750.777669%no
20 mm20.000.787462%no
20.25 mm20.250.797254%no

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

Clearance hole for M22

The clearance hole depends only on the 22 mm diameter, not on the pitch. The medium series, 24 mm, is the usual choice for general assembly.

SeriesHole Ø (mm)Hole Ø (in)Clearance on Ø (mm)
Fine (H12)230.90551
Medium (H13)240.94492
Coarse (H14)261.02364

Hole diameters from ISO 273.

M22×2.5 proof and breaking loads

Loads for steel bolts and screws by property class, from the tensile stress area of 303 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)
4.622540068.2121
4.831042093.9127
5.628050084.8152
5.8380520115158
6.8440600133182
8.8600830182251
10.98301040251315
12.99701220294370

Class 9.8 applies only up to 16 mm and is omitted. Stresses from ISO 898-1:2013 Table 3; As from ISO 898-1. Loads rounded to three significant figures.

M22 pitches compared

All standard pitches on the M22 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.

M22×2.5depth 1.353 mmM22×2depth 1.083 mmM22×1.5depth 0.812 mmM22×1depth 0.541 mm
M22 pitches at the same scale with crests aligned; M22×2.5 is outlined.
ThreadPitch (mm)Pitch Ø (mm)Minor Ø D1 (mm)Stress area (mm²)Tap drill
M22×2.52.520.37619.29430319.5 mm
M22×2220.70119.83531820 mm
M22×1.51.521.02620.37633320.5 mm
M22×1121.35020.91734821 mm

When to choose a coarse or a fine thread

Closest inch thread

No inch thread is interchangeable with M22×2.5. The nearest is 7/8-9 UNC, which is 0.22 mm larger in diameter with a pitch of 2.822 mm against 2.500 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)
M22×2.5 (this thread)22.0002.50010.16—
7/8-9 UNC22.2252.8229.00+0.225
7/8-14 UNF22.2251.81414.00+0.225
7/8-20 UNEF22.2251.27020.00+0.225

Identify a thread from measurements

How the M22×2.5 dimensions are calculated

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

  • P = 2.5 mm
  • H = 0.866025 × P = 2.165 mm
  • d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 22 − 1.624 = 20.376 mm
  • D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 22 − 2.706 = 19.294 mm
  • d3 = d − 1.226869 × P = 22 − 3.067 = 18.933 mm (external root, 17H/24 deep)
  • As = π/4 × ((d2 + d3) ÷ 2)² = π/4 × 19.655² = 303.40 mm²
  • Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 2.24°

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.