Dimensions, drill sizes and wrench sizes for #12-32 UNEF.
Designation
#12-32 UNEF
Major (outside) diameter
5.486 mm · 0.216"
Pitch
0.794 mm · 32 TPI
Pitch diameter
4.971 mm · 0.1957"
Minor diameter (external)
4.513 mm · 0.1777"
Minor diameter (internal)
4.627 mm · 0.1822"
Recommended tap drill
#13 · 4.7 mm · ≈76% thread
Clearance hole
Close A · Normal D · Loose J - nominal + 1/64" / 1/32" / 1/16" to the nearest standard drill (common shop practice).
Close A · Normal D · Loose J - nominal + 1/64" / 1/32" / 1/16" to the nearest standard drill (common shop practice).
Tightening torque estimate
SAE J429 tabulates grades from 1/4 in upwards, so no proof load or tightening torque is published for numbered sizes.
Put #12-32 UNEF on a job sheet
The bolt schedule collects the fasteners for one job onto a single sheet - tap drill, wrench size, grade and tightening torque on every line, taken straight from pages like this one. Free schedules hold 3 lines and are saved in this browser only.
For a #12-32 UNEF thread, drill the hole with a #13 tap drill (4.7 mm) before tapping. That produces roughly 76% thread engagement, the usual target for a strong, tappable hole. The mating bolt has a major diameter of 5.486 mm and a pitch of 0.794 mm (32 TPI).
To pass a #12-32 UNEF bolt through a part rather than thread it, use a clearance hole: Close A · Normal D · Loose J - nominal + 1/64" / 1/32" / 1/16" to the nearest standard drill (common shop practice)..
All values are generated from the standard thread formulas (ISO 68-1 / ASME B1.1) and published standard tables - not hand-entered. See the full reference.
Frequently asked questions
What drill size do I need to tap a #12-32 UNEF thread?
Drill #13 (4.7 mm) before tapping #12-32 UNEF. That leaves roughly 76% thread engagement, the usual target for a strong hole that still taps cleanly.
Is #12-32 UNEF a coarse or fine thread?
#12-32 UNEF is a Unified extra-fine (UNEF) thread at 32 threads per inch, used for thin-wall parts, short thread engagement and fine adjustment.
What size clearance hole does a #12-32 UNEF bolt need?
Close A · Normal D · Loose J - nominal + 1/64" / 1/32" / 1/16" to the nearest standard drill (common shop practice). A clearance hole lets the #12-32 UNEF bolt pass through the part instead of threading into it.
What is the pitch diameter of #12-32 UNEF?
The pitch diameter of #12-32 UNEF is 4.971 mm (0.1957"). It is the diameter where the thread ridge and groove are equally wide, and the reference dimension for checking thread fit.
Nearest standard metric sizes by major diameter. These are substitutes by size only - the thread forms are not interchangeable, so never run one into the other.