M36×4 Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill

M36×4 is the ISO metric coarse thread for 36 mm fasteners, which is why it is usually written simply as M36. It has a 60° profile with a pitch of 4 mm (6.3 threads per inch). ISO 261 lists M36 as a first-choice diameter. Fine-pitch versions of the same diameter are M36×3, M36×2 and M36×1.5.

Thread profile

major Ø36 mm10 threads = 40 mm
M36×4 drawn to scale: 21 threads in 82.5 mm of length.
60°Nut (internal thread)Bolt (external thread)P = 4 mmmajor Ø d36.000 mmpitch Ø d233.402 mmminor Ø D131.670 mm5H/8 = 2.165 mmthread axis
Basic profile with the M36×4 dimensions. The nut and bolt share the same pitch diameter.

M36×4 basic dimensions

Dimensionmmin
Major diameter d = D36.0001.4173
Pitch P4.0000.1575
Pitch diameter d2 = D233.4021.3150
Minor diameter, internal thread D131.6701.2468
Minor diameter, external thread d331.0931.2241
Height of fundamental triangle H3.4640.1364
Thread height, internal (5H/8)2.1650.0852
Thread height, external (17H/24)2.4540.0966
Crest flat of external thread (P/8)0.5000.0197
Crest flat of internal thread (P/4)1.0000.0394
PropertyValue
Threads per inch6.35
Flank angle60° (30° each side)
Lead angle at the pitch diameter2.18°
Tensile stress area As817 mm² (1.27 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.

M36×4 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 60 µm, so even at its largest it sits 0.060 mm below the basic size and leaves room for a thin plating.

External thread 6gMax (mm)Min (mm)Tolerance (mm)
Major diameter d35.94035.4650.475
Pitch diameter d233.34233.1180.224
Internal thread 6HMax (mm)Min (mm)Tolerance (mm)
Minor diameter D132.27031.6700.600
Pitch diameter D233.70233.4020.300

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

M36×4 tap drill size

Tap drill for M36×4: 32 mm

This leaves about 77% thread in the tapped hole.

The rule for metric tap drills is diameter minus pitch: 36 − 4 = 32 mm, which is a stocked drill size.

The 6H minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 31.670 and 32.270 mm. The recommended drill falls inside that band.

Other drills that work for M36×4

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
31.25 mm31.251.230391%no
31.5 mm31.501.240287%no
31.75 mm31.751.250082%yes
32 mmrecommended32.001.259877%yes
1-17/64" (1.2656 in)32.151.265674%yes
32.5 mm32.501.279567%no
33 mm33.001.299258%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.

M36×4 proof and breaking loads

Loads for steel bolts and screws by property class, from the tensile stress area of 817 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)
4.6225400184327
4.8310420253343
5.6280500229408
5.8380520310425
6.8440600359490
8.8600830490678
10.98301040678850
12.99701220792997

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.

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; M36×4 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 M36×4. The nearest is 1-3/8-6 UNC, which is 1.08 mm smaller in diameter with a pitch of 4.233 mm against 4.000 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)
M36×4 (this thread)36.0004.0006.35—
1-3/8-6 UNC34.9254.2336.00-1.075
1-1/2-6 UNC38.1004.2336.00+2.100
1-3/8-12 UNF34.9252.11712.00-1.075

Identify a thread from measurements

How the M36×4 dimensions are calculated

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

  • P = 4 mm
  • H = 0.866025 × P = 3.464 mm
  • d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 36 − 2.598 = 33.402 mm
  • D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 36 − 4.330 = 31.670 mm
  • d3 = d − 1.226869 × P = 36 − 4.907 = 31.093 mm (external root, 17H/24 deep)
  • As = π/4 × ((d2 + d3) ÷ 2)² = π/4 × 32.247² = 816.72 mm²
  • Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 2.18°

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.