3/8-16 UNC Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill
3/8-16 UNC is the Unified coarse thread for the 3/8 in (9.52 mm) diameter: 16 threads per inch, a pitch of 0.06250 in (1.587 mm), on a 60° profile. ASME B1.1 lists it in the UNC series. Finer threads on the same diameter are 3/8-24 UNF and 3/8-32 UNEF.
3/8-16 is the larger tripod and lighting stand thread (ISO 1222) and a very common general-purpose bolt.
- Tap drill5/16"77% thread, 7.94 mm
- Pitch16 TPI1.587 mm
- Major diameter0.3750 in9.525 mm
- Pitch diameter0.3344 in8.494 mm
- Minor diameter (nut)0.3073 in7.806 mm
- Tensile stress area0.0775 in²50.0 mm²
- Clearance hole13/32 innormal fit, ASME B18.2.8
Thread profile
3/8-16 UNC basic dimensions
| Dimension | in | mm |
|---|---|---|
| Major diameter d = D | 0.3750 | 9.525 |
| Pitch P | 0.06250 | 1.587 |
| Pitch diameter d2 = D2 | 0.3344 | 8.494 |
| Minor diameter, internal thread D1 | 0.3073 | 7.806 |
| Minor diameter, external UNR thread d3 | 0.3006 | 7.635 |
| Height of fundamental triangle H | 0.0541 | 1.375 |
| Thread height, internal (5H/8) | 0.0338 | 0.859 |
| Thread height, external (11H/16) | 0.0372 | 0.945 |
| Crest flat of external thread (P/8) | 0.0078 | 0.198 |
| Crest flat of internal thread (P/4) | 0.0156 | 0.397 |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Threads per inch | 16 |
| Flank angle | 60° (30° each side) |
| Lead angle at the pitch diameter | 3.40° |
| Tensile stress area As | 0.0775 in² (50.0 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.
3/8-16 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 0.0013 in, so its maximum size is that much below basic; the 2B nut starts at the basic size.
| External thread 2A | Max (in) | Min (in) | Tolerance (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major diameter | 0.3737 | 0.3643 | 0.0094 |
| Pitch diameter | 0.3331 | 0.3287 | 0.0044 |
| Internal thread 2B | Max (in) | Min (in) | Tolerance (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor diameter | 0.321 | 0.307 | 0.0140 |
| Pitch diameter | 0.3401 | 0.3344 | 0.0057 |
Limits of size from ASME B1.1 Table 2.
3/8-16 UNC tap drill size
Tap drill for 3/8-16 UNC: 5/16" (0.3125 in, 7.94 mm)
This leaves about 77% thread in the tapped hole.
5/16" is the drill listed for 3/8-16 UNC in standard tap drill charts. It is 0.0625 in under the 0.3750 in major diameter.
The 2B minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 0.307 and 0.321 in. The recommended drill falls inside that band.
Other drills that work for 3/8-16 UNC
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 2B limits | Thread engagement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | 7.67 | 0.3020 | 90% | no | |
| 7.9 mm | 7.90 | 0.3110 | 79% | yes | |
| 5/16"recommended | 7.94 | 0.3125 | 77% | yes | |
| O | 8.03 | 0.3160 | 73% | yes | |
| P | 8.20 | 0.3230 | 64% | no | |
| 21/64" | 8.33 | 0.3281 | 58% | no | |
| Q | 8.43 | 0.3320 | 53% | no |
% thread = (major diameter − drill diameter) ÷ (1.299 × pitch). See the tap drill chart for how to choose a percentage.
Clearance hole for 3/8 in
The clearance hole depends only on the 0.3750 in diameter, not on the thread series. The normal fit, a 13/32 in drill, is the usual choice for general assembly.
| Fit | Drill | Hole Ø (in) | Hole Ø (mm) | Clearance on Ø (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close | 25/64 in | 0.3906 | 9.92 | 0.0156 |
| Normal | 13/32 in | 0.4062 | 10.32 | 0.0312 |
| Loose | 27/64 in | 0.4219 | 10.72 | 0.0469 |
Nominal drill sizes from ASME B18.2.8.
3/8-16 UNC proof and breaking loads
Loads for steel bolts by SAE grade, from the tensile stress area of 0.0775 in². The proof load is the highest load the bolt must carry without permanent set.
| SAE grade | Proof stress (psi) | Min tensile strength (psi) | Proof load (lbf) | Min breaking load (lbf) | Proof load (kN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 2 | 55,000 | 74,000 | 4,260 | 5,740 | 19.0 |
| Grade 5 | 85,000 | 120,000 | 6,590 | 9,300 | 29.3 |
| Grade 8 | 120,000 | 150,000 | 9,300 | 11,600 | 41.4 |
Strengths from SAE J429 for this diameter; stress area from ASME B1.1. Loads rounded to three significant figures.
3/8 in pitches compared
All standard pitches on the 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.
| Thread | TPI | Pitch Ø (in) | Minor Ø D1 (in) | Stress area (in²) | Tap drill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/8-16 UNC | 16 | 0.3344 | 0.3073 | 0.0775 | 5/16" |
| 3/8-24 UNF | 24 | 0.3479 | 0.3299 | 0.0878 | Q |
| 3/8-32 UNEF | 32 | 0.3547 | 0.3412 | 0.0932 | 11/32" |
Closest metric thread
No metric thread is interchangeable with 3/8-16 UNC. The nearest is M10×1.5, which is 0.48 mm larger in diameter with a pitch of 1.500 mm against 1.587 mm. A nut may start on the wrong thread and then bind or strip, so identify by both diameter and pitch.
How the 3/8-16 UNC dimensions are calculated
Every basic dimension follows from the major diameter and the pitch:
- P = 0.06250 in = 1 ÷ 16 threads per inch
- H = 0.866025 × P = 0.0541 in
- d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 0.3750 − 0.0406 = 0.3344 in
- D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 0.3750 − 0.0677 = 0.3073 in
- d3 = d − 1.190785 × P = 0.3750 − 0.0744 = 0.3006 in (external root, 11H/16 deep)
- As = 0.7854 × (d − 0.9743 × P)² = 0.7854 × 0.3141² = 0.07749 in²
- Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 3.40°
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.