Inch/Metric Threaded Hole Depth

This guide establishes the recommended minimum tap drill length in order
to have a maximum amount of full threads. The depth of a threaded hole
beyond the length of letter A requires special tooling. The taper at the
beginning of the tap, does not produce useable full form threads. This is
why the tap drill is longer, otherwise a more costly bottom tap is required.
The thread depth stated on the drawing is the depth of full form threads.
The drawing should not specify a tap drill depth because the machinist will
make the tap drill deep enough to meet the full thread requirement.

THREAD TAP

A
B
(Full Threads)
A
(Min. Tap Drill Length)
.250-20 UNC - 2B
.62 MIN

METRIC THREADS

INCH THREADS
Nominal Length of
Thread
Thread
A
Size
(inch)
(inch)

Length of
Full Thread
B
(inch)

Nominal Length of
Thread
Thread
Size
A
(mm)
(inch)

#0
#1
#2
#3
#4

.3125
.375
.4375
.500
.5625

.218
.262
.306
.350
.394

1.6
2
2.5
3
3.5

#5
#6
#8
# 10
# 12

.625
.6875
.750
.875
.9375

.438
.481
.525
.612
.656

4
4.5
5
6
7

.250
.3125
.375
.4375
.500

1.000
1.125
1.250
1.4375
1.656

.750
.844
.938
1.078
1.242

.5625
.625
.6875
.750
.875
1.000

1.656
1.8125
1.8125
2.000
2.2188
2.500

1.242
1.359
1.359
1.500
1.664
1.875

.3125
.4375
.500
.625
.6875

Length of
Full Thread
B
(inch)
.218
.306
.350
.438
.481

.750
.875
.875
1.000
1.125

.525
.612
.612
.750
.844

8
10
12
14
16

1.125
1.250
1.656
1.656
1.8125

.900
.938
1.242
1.242
1.359

20
24
30
36

2.000
2.2188
2.5625
3.000

1.500
1.664
1.922
2.250