1-3/8-6 UNC Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill

1-3/8-6 UNC is the Unified coarse thread for the 1-3/8 in (34.92 mm) diameter: 6 threads per inch, a pitch of 0.16667 in (4.233 mm), on a 60° profile. ASME B1.1 lists it in the UNC series. Finer threads on the same diameter are 1-3/8-12 UNF and 1-3/8-18 UNEF.

Thread profile

major Ø1.375 in10 threads = 1.667 in
1-3/8-6 UNC drawn to scale: 19 threads in 3.15 in of length.
60°Nut (internal thread)Bolt (external thread)P = 0.1667 inmajor Ø d1.3750 inpitch Ø d21.2667 inminor Ø D11.1946 in5H/8 = 0.0902 inthread axis
Basic profile with the 1-3/8-6 UNC dimensions. The nut and bolt share the same pitch diameter.

1-3/8-6 UNC basic dimensions

Dimensioninmm
Major diameter d = D1.375034.925
Pitch P0.166674.233
Pitch diameter d2 = D21.266732.175
Minor diameter, internal thread D11.194630.342
Minor diameter, external UNR thread d31.176529.884
Height of fundamental triangle H0.14433.666
Thread height, internal (5H/8)0.09022.291
Thread height, external (11H/16)0.09922.520
Crest flat of external thread (P/8)0.02080.529
Crest flat of internal thread (P/4)0.04171.058
PropertyValue
Threads per inch6
Flank angle60° (30° each side)
Lead angle at the pitch diameter2.40°
Tensile stress area As1.155 in² (745 mm²)

Basic (nominal) sizes per ASME B1.1, before tolerances. A UN external thread with a flat root has the same basic minor diameter as the nut (D1); d3 applies to the rounded UNR root.

1-3/8-6 UNC limits of size (class 2A bolt, 2B nut)

Classes 2A and 2B are the general-purpose fits for commercial bolts, screws and nuts. The 2A external thread has an allowance of 0.0024 in, so its maximum size is that much below basic; the 2B nut starts at the basic size.

External thread 2AMax (in)Min (in)Tolerance (in)
Major diameter1.37261.35440.0182
Pitch diameter1.26431.25630.0080
Internal thread 2BMax (in)Min (in)Tolerance (in)
Minor diameter1.2251.1950.0300
Pitch diameter1.27711.26670.0104

Limits of size from ASME B1.1 Table 2.

1-3/8-6 UNC tap drill size

Tap drill for 1-3/8-6 UNC: 1-7/32" (1.2188 in, 30.96 mm)

This leaves about 72% thread in the tapped hole.

1-7/32" is the drill listed for 1-3/8-6 UNC in standard tap drill charts. It is 0.1562 in under the 1.3750 in major diameter.

The 2B minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 1.195 and 1.225 in. The recommended drill falls inside that band.

Other drills that work for 1-3/8-6 UNC

A larger drill cuts less thread and taps more easily; a smaller one gives a fuller thread but loads the tap harder.

Drillmmin% threadWithin 2B limitsThread engagement
1-3/16"30.161.187587%no
1-13/64"30.561.203179%yes
1-7/32"recommended30.961.218872%yes
31 mm31.001.220571%yes
1-15/64"31.351.234465%no
1-1/4"31.751.250058%no
1-17/64"32.151.265651%no

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

Clearance hole for 1-3/8 in

The clearance hole depends only on the 1.3750 in diameter, not on the thread series. The normal fit, a 1-1/2 in drill, is the usual choice for general assembly.

FitDrillHole Ø (in)Hole Ø (mm)Clearance on Ø (in)
Close1-7/16 in1.437536.510.0625
Normal1-1/2 in1.500038.100.1250
Loose1-39/64 in1.609440.880.2344

Nominal drill sizes from ASME B18.2.8.

1-3/8-6 UNC proof and breaking loads

Loads for steel bolts by SAE grade, from the tensile stress area of 1.155 in². The proof load is the highest load the bolt must carry without permanent set.

SAE gradeProof stress (psi)Min tensile strength (psi)Proof load (lbf)Min breaking load (lbf)Proof load (kN)
Grade 233,00060,00038,10069,300170
Grade 574,000105,00085,500121,000380
Grade 8120,000150,000139,000173,000617

Strengths from SAE J429 for this diameter; stress area from ASME B1.1. Loads rounded to three significant figures.

1-3/8 in pitches compared

All standard pitches on the 1-3/8 in 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.

1-3/8-6 UNCdepth 0.0902 in1-3/8-12 UNFdepth 0.0451 in1-3/8-18 UNEFdepth 0.0301 in
1-3/8 in pitches at the same scale with crests aligned; 1-3/8-6 UNC is outlined.
ThreadTPIPitch Ø (in)Minor Ø D1 (in)Stress area (in²)Tap drill
1-3/8-6 UNC61.26671.19461.1551-7/32"
1-3/8-12 UNF121.32091.28481.3151-19/64"
1-3/8-18 UNEF181.33891.31491.371-21/64"

When to choose a coarse or a fine thread

Closest metric thread

No metric thread is interchangeable with 1-3/8-6 UNC. The nearest is M36×4, which is 1.08 mm larger in diameter with a pitch of 4.000 mm against 4.233 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)
1-3/8-6 UNC (this thread)34.9254.2336.00—
M36×436.0004.0006.35+1.075
M33×3.533.0003.5007.26-1.925
M36×336.0003.0008.47+1.075

Identify a thread from measurements

How the 1-3/8-6 UNC dimensions are calculated

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

  • P = 0.16667 in = 1 ÷ 6 threads per inch
  • H = 0.866025 × P = 0.1443 in
  • d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 1.3750 − 0.1083 = 1.2667 in
  • D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 1.3750 − 0.1804 = 1.1946 in
  • d3 = d − 1.190785 × P = 1.3750 − 0.1985 = 1.1765 in (external root, 11H/16 deep)
  • As = 0.7854 × (d − 0.9743 × P)² = 0.7854 × 1.2126² = 1.15488 in²
  • Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 2.40°

Related sizes and tools

Sources: ASME B1.1 (profile, series, limits of size and stress area), ASME B18.2.8 (clearance holes), SAE J429 (mechanical properties) and the tap drill tables of Machinery’s Handbook. How this site checks its data. Last reviewed 29 September 2026.