M48×5 Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill
M48×5 is the ISO metric coarse thread for 48 mm fasteners, which is why it is usually written simply as M48. It has a 60° profile with a pitch of 5 mm (5.1 threads per inch). ISO 261 lists M48 as a first-choice diameter. Fine-pitch versions of the same diameter are M48×3, M48×2 and M48×1.5.
- Tap drill43 mm77% thread
- Pitch5 mm5.1 TPI
- Major diameter48.000 mm1.8898 in
- Pitch diameter44.752 mm1.7619 in
- Minor diameter (nut)42.587 mm1.6767 in
- Tensile stress area1470 mm²2.28 in²
- Clearance hole52 mmmedium fit, ISO 273
Thread profile
M48×5 basic dimensions
| Dimension | mm | in |
|---|---|---|
| Major diameter d = D | 48.000 | 1.8898 |
| Pitch P | 5.000 | 0.1969 |
| Pitch diameter d2 = D2 | 44.752 | 1.7619 |
| Minor diameter, internal thread D1 | 42.587 | 1.6767 |
| Minor diameter, external thread d3 | 41.866 | 1.6483 |
| Height of fundamental triangle H | 4.330 | 0.1705 |
| Thread height, internal (5H/8) | 2.706 | 0.1065 |
| Thread height, external (17H/24) | 3.067 | 0.1208 |
| Crest flat of external thread (P/8) | 0.625 | 0.0246 |
| Crest flat of internal thread (P/4) | 1.250 | 0.0492 |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Threads per inch | 5.08 |
| Flank angle | 60° (30° each side) |
| Lead angle at the pitch diameter | 2.04° |
| Tensile stress area As | 1470 mm² (2.28 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.
M48×5 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 71 µm, so even at its largest it sits 0.071 mm below the basic size and leaves room for a thin plating.
| External thread 6g | Max (mm) | Min (mm) | Tolerance (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major diameter d | 47.929 | 47.399 | 0.530 |
| Pitch diameter d2 | 44.681 | 44.431 | 0.250 |
| Internal thread 6H | Max (mm) | Min (mm) | Tolerance (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor diameter D1 | 43.297 | 42.587 | 0.710 |
| Pitch diameter D2 | 45.087 | 44.752 | 0.335 |
Computed from the ISO 965-1 deviations and tolerances for normal length of engagement; the results match the limits tabulated in ISO 965-2.
M48×5 tap drill size
Tap drill for M48×5: 43 mm
This leaves about 77% thread in the tapped hole.
The rule for metric tap drills is diameter minus pitch: 48 − 5 = 43 mm, which is a stocked drill size.
The 6H minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 42.587 and 43.297 mm. The recommended drill falls inside that band.
Other drills that work for M48×5
A larger drill cuts less thread and taps more easily; a smaller one gives a fuller thread but loads the tap harder.
| Drill | mm | in | % thread | Within 6H limits | Thread engagement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42.5 mm | 42.50 | 1.6732 | 85% | no | |
| 1-11/16" (1.6875 in) | 42.86 | 1.6875 | 79% | yes | |
| 43 mmrecommended | 43.00 | 1.6929 | 77% | yes | |
| 43.5 mm | 43.50 | 1.7126 | 69% | no | |
| 44 mm | 44.00 | 1.7323 | 62% | no | |
| 44.5 mm | 44.50 | 1.7520 | 54% | no |
% thread = (major diameter − drill diameter) ÷ (1.299 × pitch). See the tap drill chart for how to choose a percentage.
Clearance hole for M48
The clearance hole depends only on the 48 mm diameter, not on the pitch. The medium series, 52 mm, is the usual choice for general assembly.
| Series | Hole Ø (mm) | Hole Ø (in) | Clearance on Ø (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine (H12) | 50 | 1.9685 | 2 |
| Medium (H13) | 52 | 2.0472 | 4 |
| Coarse (H14) | 56 | 2.2047 | 8 |
Hole diameters from ISO 273.
M48×5 strength
ISO 898-1 covers coarse threads from M1.6 to M39, so it gives no proof or breaking loads for M48×5. For an estimate, multiply the tensile stress area of 1470 mm² by the stress of the material: for example, 800 MPa gives 1180 kN.
M48 pitches compared
All standard pitches on the M48 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.
Closest inch thread
No inch thread is interchangeable with M48×5. The nearest is 2-4.5 UNC, which is 2.80 mm larger in diameter with a pitch of 5.644 mm against 5.000 mm. A nut may start on the wrong thread and then bind or strip, so identify by both diameter and pitch.
| Thread | Major Ø (mm) | Pitch (mm) | TPI | Ø difference (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M48×5 (this thread) | 48.000 | 5.000 | 5.08 | — |
| 2-4.5 UNC | 50.800 | 5.644 | 4.50 | +2.800 |
How the M48×5 dimensions are calculated
Every basic dimension follows from the major diameter and the pitch:
- P = 5 mm
- H = 0.866025 × P = 4.330 mm
- d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 48 − 3.248 = 44.752 mm
- D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 48 − 5.413 = 42.587 mm
- d3 = d − 1.226869 × P = 48 − 6.134 = 41.866 mm (external root, 17H/24 deep)
- As = π/4 × ((d2 + d3) ÷ 2)² = π/4 × 43.309² = 1473.15 mm²
- Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 2.04°
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.