1-1/4-12 UNF Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill

1-1/4-12 UNF is the Unified fine thread for the 1-1/4 in (31.75 mm) diameter: 12 threads per inch, a pitch of 0.08333 in (2.117 mm), on a 60° profile. ASME B1.1 lists it in the UNF series. Against the coarse 1-1/4-7 UNC it has 12 threads per inch instead of 7, a stress area 11% larger and a lead angle of 1.27° instead of 2.25°.

Thread profile

major Ø1.250 in10 threads = 0.833 in
1-1/4-12 UNF drawn to scale: 34 threads in 2.86 in of length.
60°Nut (internal thread)Bolt (external thread)P = 0.0833 inmajor Ø d1.2500 inpitch Ø d21.1959 inminor Ø D11.1598 in5H/8 = 0.0451 inthread axis
Basic profile with the 1-1/4-12 UNF dimensions. The nut and bolt share the same pitch diameter.

1-1/4-12 UNF basic dimensions

Dimensioninmm
Major diameter d = D1.250031.750
Pitch P0.083332.117
Pitch diameter d2 = D21.195930.375
Minor diameter, internal thread D11.159829.459
Minor diameter, external UNR thread d31.150829.230
Height of fundamental triangle H0.07221.833
Thread height, internal (5H/8)0.04511.146
Thread height, external (11H/16)0.04961.260
Crest flat of external thread (P/8)0.01040.265
Crest flat of internal thread (P/4)0.02080.529
PropertyValue
Threads per inch12
Flank angle60° (30° each side)
Lead angle at the pitch diameter1.27°
Tensile stress area As1.073 in² (692 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.

1-1/4-12 UNF 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 0.0018 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 diameter1.24821.23680.0114
Pitch diameter1.19411.18790.0062
Internal thread 2BMax (in)Min (in)Tolerance (in)
Minor diameter1.1781.1600.0180
Pitch diameter1.20391.19590.0080

Limits of size from ASME B1.1 Table 2.

1-1/4-12 UNF tap drill size

Tap drill for 1-1/4-12 UNF: 1-11/64" (1.1719 in, 29.77 mm)

This leaves about 72% thread in the tapped hole.

1-11/64" is the drill listed for 1-1/4-12 UNF in standard tap drill charts. It is 0.0781 in under the 1.2500 in major diameter.

The 2B minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 1.160 and 1.178 in. The recommended drill falls inside that band.

Other drills that work for 1-1/4-12 UNF

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
1-5/32"29.371.156287%no
29.75 mm29.751.171373%yes
1-11/64"recommended29.771.171972%yes
1-3/16"30.161.187558%no

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

Clearance hole for 1-1/4 in

The clearance hole depends only on the 1.2500 in diameter, not on the thread series. The normal fit, a 1-11/32 in drill, is the usual choice for general assembly.

FitDrillHole Ø (in)Hole Ø (mm)Clearance on Ø (in)
Close1-9/32 in1.281232.540.0312
Normal1-11/32 in1.343834.130.0938
Loose1-7/16 in1.437536.510.1875

Nominal drill sizes from ASME B18.2.8.

1-1/4-12 UNF proof and breaking loads

Loads for steel bolts by SAE grade, from the tensile stress area of 1.073 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 233,00060,00035,40064,400158
Grade 574,000105,00079,400113,000353
Grade 8120,000150,000129,000161,000573

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

1-1/4 in pitches compared

All standard pitches on the 1-1/4 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.

1-1/4-7 UNCdepth 0.0773 in1-1/4-12 UNFdepth 0.0451 in1-1/4-18 UNEFdepth 0.0301 in
1-1/4 in pitches at the same scale with crests aligned; 1-1/4-12 UNF is outlined.
ThreadTPIPitch Ø (in)Minor Ø D1 (in)Stress area (in²)Tap drill
1-1/4-7 UNC71.15721.09540.9691-7/64"
1-1/4-12 UNF121.19591.15981.0731-11/64"
1-1/4-18 UNEF181.21391.18991.1231-13/64"

When to choose a coarse or a fine thread

Closest metric thread

No metric thread is interchangeable with 1-1/4-12 UNF. The nearest is M33×2, which is 1.25 mm larger in diameter with a pitch of 2.000 mm against 2.117 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)
1-1/4-12 UNF (this thread)31.7502.11712.00—
M33×233.0002.00012.70+1.250
M30×230.0002.00012.70-1.750
M33×1.533.0001.50016.93+1.250

Identify a thread from measurements

How the 1-1/4-12 UNF dimensions are calculated

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

  • P = 0.08333 in = 1 ÷ 12 threads per inch
  • H = 0.866025 × P = 0.0722 in
  • d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 1.2500 − 0.0541 = 1.1959 in
  • D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 1.2500 − 0.0902 = 1.1598 in
  • d3 = d − 1.190785 × P = 1.2500 − 0.0992 = 1.1508 in (external root, 11H/16 deep)
  • As = 0.7854 × (d − 0.9743 × P)² = 0.7854 × 1.1688² = 1.07295 in²
  • Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 1.27°

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.