1/4-32 UNEF Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill
1/4-32 UNEF is the Unified extra fine thread for the 1/4 in (6.35 mm) diameter: 32 threads per inch, a pitch of 0.03125 in (0.794 mm), on a 60° profile. ASME B1.1 lists it in the UNEF series. Against the coarse 1/4-20 UNC it has 32 threads per inch instead of 20, a stress area 19% larger and a lead angle of 2.48° instead of 4.18°.
- Tap drill7/32"77% thread, 5.56 mm
- Pitch32 TPI0.794 mm
- Major diameter0.2500 in6.350 mm
- Pitch diameter0.2297 in5.834 mm
- Minor diameter (nut)0.2162 in5.491 mm
- Tensile stress area0.0379 in²24.5 mm²
- Clearance hole9/32 innormal fit, ASME B18.2.8
Thread profile
1/4-32 UNEF basic dimensions
| Dimension | in | mm |
|---|---|---|
| Major diameter d = D | 0.2500 | 6.350 |
| Pitch P | 0.03125 | 0.794 |
| Pitch diameter d2 = D2 | 0.2297 | 5.834 |
| Minor diameter, internal thread D1 | 0.2162 | 5.491 |
| Minor diameter, external UNR thread d3 | 0.2128 | 5.405 |
| Height of fundamental triangle H | 0.0271 | 0.687 |
| Thread height, internal (5H/8) | 0.0169 | 0.430 |
| Thread height, external (11H/16) | 0.0186 | 0.473 |
| Crest flat of external thread (P/8) | 0.0039 | 0.099 |
| Crest flat of internal thread (P/4) | 0.0078 | 0.198 |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Threads per inch | 32 |
| Flank angle | 60° (30° each side) |
| Lead angle at the pitch diameter | 2.48° |
| Tensile stress area As | 0.0379 in² (24.5 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.
1/4-32 UNEF 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 0.0010 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 | 0.2490 | 0.2430 | 0.0060 |
| Pitch diameter | 0.2287 | 0.2255 | 0.0032 |
| Internal thread 2B | Max (in) | Min (in) | Tolerance (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor diameter | 0.224 | 0.216 | 0.0080 |
| Pitch diameter | 0.2339 | 0.2297 | 0.0042 |
Limits of size from ASME B1.1 Table 2.
1/4-32 UNEF tap drill size
Tap drill for 1/4-32 UNEF: 7/32" (0.2188 in, 5.56 mm)
This leaves about 77% thread in the tapped hole.
7/32" is the drill listed for 1/4-32 UNEF in standard tap drill charts. It is 0.0312 in under the 0.2500 in major diameter.
The 2B minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 0.216 and 0.224 in. The recommended drill falls inside that band.
Other drills that work for 1/4-32 UNEF
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3 | 5.41 | 0.2130 | 91% | no | |
| 7/32"recommended | 5.56 | 0.2188 | 77% | yes | |
| 5.6 mm | 5.60 | 0.2205 | 73% | yes | |
| #2 | 5.61 | 0.2210 | 71% | yes | |
| #1 | 5.79 | 0.2280 | 54% | no |
% thread = (major diameter − drill diameter) ÷ (1.299 × pitch). See the tap drill chart for how to choose a percentage.
Clearance hole for 1/4 in
The clearance hole depends only on the 0.2500 in diameter, not on the thread series. The normal fit, a 9/32 in drill, is the usual choice for general assembly.
| Fit | Drill | Hole Ø (in) | Hole Ø (mm) | Clearance on Ø (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close | 17/64 in | 0.2656 | 6.75 | 0.0156 |
| Normal | 9/32 in | 0.2812 | 7.14 | 0.0312 |
| Loose | 19/64 in | 0.2969 | 7.54 | 0.0469 |
Nominal drill sizes from ASME B18.2.8.
1/4-32 UNEF proof and breaking loads
Loads for steel bolts by SAE grade, from the tensile stress area of 0.0379 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 | 2,080 | 2,800 | 9.27 |
| Grade 5 | 85,000 | 120,000 | 3,220 | 4,550 | 14.3 |
| Grade 8 | 120,000 | 150,000 | 4,550 | 5,690 | 20.2 |
Strengths from SAE J429 for this diameter; stress area from ASME B1.1. Loads rounded to three significant figures.
1/4 in pitches compared
All standard pitches on the 1/4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4-20 UNC | 20 | 0.2175 | 0.1959 | 0.0318 | #7 |
| 1/4-28 UNF | 28 | 0.2268 | 0.2113 | 0.0364 | #3 |
| 1/4-32 UNEF | 32 | 0.2297 | 0.2162 | 0.0379 | 7/32" |
Closest metric thread
No metric thread is interchangeable with 1/4-32 UNEF. The nearest is M6×0.75, which is 0.35 mm smaller in diameter with a pitch of 0.750 mm against 0.794 mm. A nut may start on the wrong thread and then bind or strip, so identify by both diameter and pitch.
How the 1/4-32 UNEF dimensions are calculated
Every basic dimension follows from the major diameter and the pitch:
- P = 0.03125 in = 1 ÷ 32 threads per inch
- H = 0.866025 × P = 0.0271 in
- d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 0.2500 − 0.0203 = 0.2297 in
- D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 0.2500 − 0.0338 = 0.2162 in
- d3 = d − 1.190785 × P = 0.2500 − 0.0372 = 0.2128 in (external root, 11H/16 deep)
- As = 0.7854 × (d − 0.9743 × P)² = 0.7854 × 0.2196² = 0.03786 in²
- Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 2.48°
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.