1/2-20 UNF Thread Dimensions and Tap Drill
1/2-20 UNF is the Unified fine thread for the 1/2 in (12.70 mm) diameter: 20 threads per inch, a pitch of 0.05000 in (1.270 mm), on a 60° profile. ASME B1.1 lists it in the UNF series. Against the coarse 1/2-13 UNC it has 20 threads per inch instead of 13, a stress area 13% larger and a lead angle of 1.95° instead of 3.11°.
1/2-20 is a common wheel stud thread on American cars and light trucks and the thread of one-piece-crank bicycle pedals.
- Tap drill29/64"72% thread, 11.51 mm
- Pitch20 TPI1.270 mm
- Major diameter0.5000 in12.700 mm
- Pitch diameter0.4675 in11.875 mm
- Minor diameter (nut)0.4459 in11.325 mm
- Tensile stress area0.1599 in²103 mm²
- Clearance hole9/16 innormal fit, ASME B18.2.8
Thread profile
1/2-20 UNF basic dimensions
| Dimension | in | mm |
|---|---|---|
| Major diameter d = D | 0.5000 | 12.700 |
| Pitch P | 0.05000 | 1.270 |
| Pitch diameter d2 = D2 | 0.4675 | 11.875 |
| Minor diameter, internal thread D1 | 0.4459 | 11.325 |
| Minor diameter, external UNR thread d3 | 0.4405 | 11.188 |
| Height of fundamental triangle H | 0.0433 | 1.100 |
| Thread height, internal (5H/8) | 0.0271 | 0.687 |
| Thread height, external (11H/16) | 0.0298 | 0.756 |
| Crest flat of external thread (P/8) | 0.0063 | 0.159 |
| Crest flat of internal thread (P/4) | 0.0125 | 0.318 |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Threads per inch | 20 |
| Flank angle | 60° (30° each side) |
| Lead angle at the pitch diameter | 1.95° |
| Tensile stress area As | 0.1599 in² (103 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.
1/2-20 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 0.0013 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 | 0.4987 | 0.4906 | 0.0081 |
| Pitch diameter | 0.4662 | 0.4619 | 0.0043 |
| Internal thread 2B | Max (in) | Min (in) | Tolerance (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor diameter | 0.457 | 0.446 | 0.0110 |
| Pitch diameter | 0.4731 | 0.4675 | 0.0056 |
Limits of size from ASME B1.1 Table 2.
1/2-20 UNF tap drill size
Tap drill for 1/2-20 UNF: 29/64" (0.4531 in, 11.51 mm)
This leaves about 72% thread in the tapped hole.
29/64" is the drill listed for 1/2-20 UNF in standard tap drill charts. It is 0.0469 in under the 0.5000 in major diameter.
The 2B minor diameter of the finished nut thread must lie between 0.446 and 0.457 in. The recommended drill falls inside that band.
Other drills that work for 1/2-20 UNF
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.5 mm | 11.50 | 0.4528 | 73% | yes | |
| 29/64"recommended | 11.51 | 0.4531 | 72% | yes |
% thread = (major diameter − drill diameter) ÷ (1.299 × pitch). See the tap drill chart for how to choose a percentage.
Clearance hole for 1/2 in
The clearance hole depends only on the 0.5000 in diameter, not on the thread series. The normal fit, a 9/16 in drill, is the usual choice for general assembly.
| Fit | Drill | Hole Ø (in) | Hole Ø (mm) | Clearance on Ø (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close | 17/32 in | 0.5312 | 13.49 | 0.0312 |
| Normal | 9/16 in | 0.5625 | 14.29 | 0.0625 |
| Loose | 39/64 in | 0.6094 | 15.48 | 0.1094 |
Nominal drill sizes from ASME B18.2.8.
1/2-20 UNF proof and breaking loads
Loads for steel bolts by SAE grade, from the tensile stress area of 0.1599 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 | 8,790 | 11,800 | 39.1 |
| Grade 5 | 85,000 | 120,000 | 13,600 | 19,200 | 60.5 |
| Grade 8 | 120,000 | 150,000 | 19,200 | 24,000 | 85.4 |
Strengths from SAE J429 for this diameter; stress area from ASME B1.1. Loads rounded to three significant figures.
1/2 in pitches compared
All standard pitches on the 1/2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2-13 UNC | 13 | 0.4500 | 0.4167 | 0.1419 | 27/64" |
| 1/2-20 UNF | 20 | 0.4675 | 0.4459 | 0.1599 | 29/64" |
| 1/2-28 UNEF | 28 | 0.4768 | 0.4613 | 0.170 | 15/32" |
Closest metric thread
No metric thread is interchangeable with 1/2-20 UNF. The nearest is M12×1.25, which is 0.70 mm smaller in diameter with a pitch of 1.250 mm against 1.270 mm. A nut may start on the wrong thread and then bind or strip, so identify by both diameter and pitch.
How the 1/2-20 UNF dimensions are calculated
Every basic dimension follows from the major diameter and the pitch:
- P = 0.05000 in = 1 ÷ 20 threads per inch
- H = 0.866025 × P = 0.0433 in
- d2 = d − 0.649519 × P = 0.5000 − 0.0325 = 0.4675 in
- D1 = d − 1.082532 × P = 0.5000 − 0.0541 = 0.4459 in
- d3 = d − 1.190785 × P = 0.5000 − 0.0595 = 0.4405 in (external root, 11H/16 deep)
- As = 0.7854 × (d − 0.9743 × P)² = 0.7854 × 0.4513² = 0.15995 in²
- Lead angle = arctan(P ÷ (π × d2)) = 1.95°
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.