7/16-14 UNC Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill

7/16-14 UNC is the Unified coarse thread for the 7/16 in (11.11 mm) diameter: 14 threads per inch, a pitch of 0.07143 in (1.814 mm), on a 60° profile. ASME B1.1 lists it in the UNC series. Finer threads on the same diameter are 7/16-20 UNF and 7/16-28 UNEF.

Thread profile

major Ø0.438 in10 threads = 0.714 in
7/16-14 UNC drawn to scale: 14 threads in 1.00 in of length.
60°Nut (internal thread)Bolt (external thread)P = 0.0714 inmajor Ø d0.4375 inpitch Ø d20.3911 inminor Ø D10.3602 in5H/8 = 0.0387 inthread axis
Basic profile with the 7/16-14 UNC dimensions. The nut and bolt share the same pitch diameter.

7/16-14 UNC basic dimensions

Dimensioninmm
Major diameter d = D0.437511.112
Pitch P0.071431.814
Pitch diameter d2 = D20.39119.934
Minor diameter, internal thread D10.36029.148
Minor diameter, external UNR thread d30.35248.952
Height of fundamental triangle H0.06191.571
Thread height, internal (5H/8)0.03870.982
Thread height, external (11H/16)0.04251.080
Crest flat of external thread (P/8)0.00890.227
Crest flat of internal thread (P/4)0.01790.454
PropertyValue
Threads per inch14
Flank angle60° (30° each side)
Lead angle at the pitch diameter3.33°
Tensile stress area As0.1063 in² (68.6 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.

7/16-14 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 0.0014 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 diameter0.43610.42580.0103
Pitch diameter0.38970.38500.0047
Internal thread 2BMax (in)Min (in)Tolerance (in)
Minor diameter0.3760.3600.0160
Pitch diameter0.39720.39110.0061

Limits of size from ASME B1.1 Table 2.

7/16-14 UNC tap drill size

Tap drill for 7/16-14 UNC: U (0.3680 in, 9.35 mm)

This leaves about 75% thread in the tapped hole.

U is the drill listed for 7/16-14 UNC in standard tap drill charts. It is 0.0695 in under the 0.4375 in major diameter.

The 2B minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 0.360 and 0.376 in. The recommended drill falls inside that band.

Other drills that work for 7/16-14 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
T9.090.358086%no
23/64"9.130.359484%no
9.3 mm9.300.366177%yes
Urecommended9.350.368075%yes
3/8"9.520.375067%yes
V9.580.377065%no
W9.800.386056%no
25/64"9.920.390651%no

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

Clearance hole for 7/16 in

The clearance hole depends only on the 0.4375 in diameter, not on the thread series. The normal fit, a 15/32 in drill, is the usual choice for general assembly.

FitDrillHole Ø (in)Hole Ø (mm)Clearance on Ø (in)
Close29/64 in0.453111.510.0156
Normal15/32 in0.468811.910.0312
Loose31/64 in0.484412.300.0469

Nominal drill sizes from ASME B18.2.8.

7/16-14 UNC proof and breaking loads

Loads for steel bolts by SAE grade, from the tensile stress area of 0.1063 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 255,00074,0005,8507,87026.0
Grade 585,000120,0009,04012,80040.2
Grade 8120,000150,00012,80015,90056.7

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

7/16 in pitches compared

All standard pitches on the 7/16 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.

7/16-14 UNCdepth 0.0387 in7/16-20 UNFdepth 0.0271 in7/16-28 UNEFdepth 0.0193 in
7/16 in pitches at the same scale with crests aligned; 7/16-14 UNC is outlined.
ThreadTPIPitch Ø (in)Minor Ø D1 (in)Stress area (in²)Tap drill
7/16-14 UNC140.39110.36020.1063U
7/16-20 UNF200.40500.38340.118725/64"
7/16-28 UNEF280.41430.39880.1274Y

When to choose a coarse or a fine thread

How the 7/16-14 UNC dimensions are calculated

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

  • P = 0.07143 in = 1 ÷ 14 threads per inch
  • H = 0.866025 × P = 0.0619 in
  • d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 0.4375 − 0.0464 = 0.3911 in
  • D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 0.4375 − 0.0773 = 0.3602 in
  • d3 = d − 1.190785 × P = 0.4375 − 0.0851 = 0.3524 in (external root, 11H/16 deep)
  • As = 0.7854 × (d − 0.9743 × P)² = 0.7854 × 0.3679² = 0.10631 in²
  • Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 3.33°

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.