---
type: "drill"
designation: "12 mm"
series: "metric"
series_name: "Metric Drill Sizes"
diameter_in: 0.472441
diameter_mm: 12
standard: "ANSI/ASME B94.11M; BS 328"
verified: "August 1, 2026"
url: https://shopmath.org/drills/metric/12mm
---

# 12 mm Drill Bit Size — 0.4724 in / 12.000 mm

A 12 mm drill bit is 0.4724 in (12.000 mm) in diameter. It belongs to the metric series of standard twist drills.

- **Designation**: 12 mm
- **Series**: Metric
- **Diameter**: 0.4724 in (12.000 mm)

## 12 mm Drill Diameter

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Designation | 12 mm |
| Series | Metric |
| Diameter (in) | 0.4724 |
| Diameter (mm) | 12.000 |

## 12 mm Drill Equivalents in the Other Size Series

The nearest standard drill to 12 mm in each of the other three series. Nothing here is an exact match unless the difference column reads 0.0000 in.

| Series | Nearest drill | Diameter (in) | Diameter (mm) | Difference |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Number | [#1](https://shopmath.org/drills/number/1.md) | 0.2280 | 5.791 | -0.2444 in |
| Letter | [Z](https://shopmath.org/drills/letter/z.md) | 0.4130 | 10.490 | -0.0594 in |
| Fractional | [15/32](https://shopmath.org/drills/fractional/15-32.md) | 0.4688 | 11.906 | -0.0037 in |

## Sources and Method for the 12 mm Drill Size

### Drill index

- **Source**: Number/letter: bd_warehouse drill_sizes.csv (Apache-2.0) cross-checked against Wikipedia Drill bit sizes (CC BY-SA 4.0). Fractional: computed 1/64 in steps per ANSI B94.11M. Metric: computed BS 328 increment pattern.
- **Method**: computed
- **Verified against**: Wikipedia Drill bit sizes (CC BY-SA 4.0); 31/31 checks passed

### Assumptions

- Drill diameters are nominal. A worn or run-out drill cuts oversize; measure the hole, not the shank, when the fit matters.
- Dataset scope: Number sizes #61-#80 are stored but tagged demandTier 'extended' — query-space-map.md Appendix A found the tail thinning in the 60s. Sizes below #80 and metric sizes above 25.0 mm excluded.

**Data last verified**: August 1, 2026

## Common Questions About the 12 mm Drill Bit

### What size is a 12 mm drill bit size?

A 12 mm drill bit is 0.4724 in (12.000 mm) in diameter.

### What fraction is a 12 mm drill bit?

12 mm is 0.4724 in (12.000 mm), which is not itself a fractional size. The closest fractional drill is 15/32 at 0.4688 in (11.906 mm).

## Related pages

- Next size down (any series): [15/32](https://shopmath.org/drills/fractional/15-32.md) — 0.4688 in (11.906 mm)
- Next size up (any series): [12.1 mm](https://shopmath.org/drills/metric/12-1mm.md) — 0.4764 in (12.100 mm)
- Previous in the metric series: [11.9 mm](https://shopmath.org/drills/metric/11-9mm.md)
- Next in the metric series: [12.1 mm](https://shopmath.org/drills/metric/12-1mm.md)
- All metric sizes: [Metric drill sizes](https://shopmath.org/drills/metric.md)
- All drill sizes: [Drill bit size reference](https://shopmath.org/drills.md)
- Complete index by diameter: [Drill size chart](https://shopmath.org/charts/drill-sizes.md)
- Tap drills by thread: [Tap drill chart](https://shopmath.org/charts/tap-drill.md)

---

*Source: [ShopMath](https://shopmath.org/drills/metric/12mm) — data verified August 1, 2026. Reference data; verify against the governing standard before manufacture.*