2-4.5 UNC Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill

2-4.5 UNC is the Unified coarse thread for the 2 in (50.80 mm) diameter: 4.5 threads per inch, a pitch of 0.22222 in (5.644 mm), on a 60° profile. ASME B1.1 lists it in the UNC series.

Thread profile

major Ø2.000 in10 threads = 2.222 in
2-4.5 UNC drawn to scale: 21 threads in 4.58 in of length.
60°Nut (internal thread)Bolt (external thread)P = 0.2222 inmajor Ø d2.0000 inpitch Ø d21.8557 inminor Ø D11.7594 in5H/8 = 0.1203 inthread axis
Basic profile with the 2-4.5 UNC dimensions. The nut and bolt share the same pitch diameter.

2-4.5 UNC basic dimensions

Dimensioninmm
Major diameter d = D2.000050.800
Pitch P0.222225.644
Pitch diameter d2 = D21.855747.134
Minor diameter, internal thread D11.759444.690
Minor diameter, external UNR thread d31.735444.079
Height of fundamental triangle H0.19254.888
Thread height, internal (5H/8)0.12033.055
Thread height, external (11H/16)0.13233.361
Crest flat of external thread (P/8)0.02780.706
Crest flat of internal thread (P/4)0.05561.411
PropertyValue
Threads per inch4.5
Flank angle60° (30° each side)
Lead angle at the pitch diameter2.18°
Tensile stress area As2.5 in² (1610 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.

2-4.5 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 0.0029 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 diameter1.99711.97510.0220
Pitch diameter1.85281.84330.0095
Internal thread 2BMax (in)Min (in)Tolerance (in)
Minor diameter1.7951.7590.0360
Pitch diameter1.86811.85570.0124

Limits of size from ASME B1.1 Table 2.

2-4.5 UNC tap drill size

Tap drill for 2-4.5 UNC: 1-25/32" (1.7812 in, 45.24 mm)

This leaves about 76% thread in the tapped hole.

1-25/32" is the drill listed for 2-4.5 UNC in standard tap drill charts. It is 0.2188 in under the 2.0000 in major diameter.

The 2B minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 1.759 and 1.795 in. The recommended drill falls inside that band.

Other drills that work for 2-4.5 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
1-3/4"44.451.750087%no
45 mm45.001.771779%yes
1-25/32"recommended45.241.781276%yes
1-13/16"46.041.812565%no
1-27/32"46.831.843854%no

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

Clearance hole for 2 in

ASME B18.2.8 covers sizes up to 1-1/2 in, so there is no standard clearance hole for the 2 in size. Size the hole from the fit the joint needs.

2-4.5 UNC strength

SAE J429 stops at 1-1/2 in, so the SAE grades give no proof load for 2-4.5 UNC. Bolts this large are made to specifications such as ASTM A307, A449 or A354, whose strengths depend on diameter. For an estimate, multiply the tensile stress area of 2.5 in² by the strength of the material: for example, 60,000 psi gives 150,000 lbf.

Closest metric thread

No metric thread is interchangeable with 2-4.5 UNC. The nearest is M52×5, which is 1.20 mm larger in diameter with a pitch of 5.000 mm against 5.644 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)
2-4.5 UNC (this thread)50.8005.6444.50—
M52×552.0005.0005.08+1.200
M48×548.0005.0005.08-2.800
M48×348.0003.0008.47-2.800

Identify a thread from measurements

How the 2-4.5 UNC dimensions are calculated

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

  • P = 0.22222 in = 1 ÷ 4.5 threads per inch
  • H = 0.866025 × P = 0.1925 in
  • d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 2.0000 − 0.1443 = 1.8557 in
  • D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 2.0000 − 0.2406 = 1.7594 in
  • d3 = d − 1.190785 × P = 2.0000 − 0.2646 = 1.7354 in (external root, 11H/16 deep)
  • As = 0.7854 × (d − 0.9743 × P)² = 0.7854 × 1.7835² = 2.49823 in²
  • Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 2.18°

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.