---
type: "thread"
name: "7/16\"-20 UNF"
designation: "7/16-20 UNF"
series: "unf"
series_name: "Unified Fine (UNF)"
system: "unified"
size_label: "7/16"
tpi: 20
pitch_in: 0.05
pitch_mm: 1.27
basic_major_dia_in: 0.4375
basic_major_dia_mm: 11.1125
basic_pitch_dia_in: 0.405
basic_pitch_dia_mm: 10.287
basic_minor_dia_in: 0.3834
basic_minor_dia_mm: 9.7384
tap_drill: "25/64"
tap_drill_dia_in: 0.390625
tap_drill_dia_mm: 9.9219
tap_drill_thread_pct: 72.2
clearance_normal_drill: "29/64"
tensile_stress_area_sqin: 0.118716
tensile_stress_area_sqmm: 76.591
internal_class_assumed: "2B"
standard: "ASME B1.1 (reference values based on the ASME B1.1 system; not a compliance claim)"
verified: "August 1, 2026"
url: https://shopmath.org/threads/unf/7-16-20
---

# 7/16"-20 UNF Thread — Dimensions, Tap Drill & Clearance

The tap drill for 7/16"-20 UNF is 25/64 — 0.3906 in (9.922 mm) — which leaves 72.2% thread engagement with a cut tap. Basic pitch diameter is 0.4050 in (10.287 mm) and basic minor diameter is 0.3834 in (9.738 mm). Tapped-hole figures on this page assume a class 2B thread; drill sizes for 50–85% engagement are in the tap drill table below.

- **Series**: Unified Fine (UNF)
- **Designation**: 7/16-20 UNF
- **Threads per inch**: 20
- **Tap drill**: 25/64
- **Standard**: ASME B1.1 (reference values based on the ASME B1.1 system; not a compliance claim)

## Basic Thread Dimensions for 7/16"-20 UNF

| Property | Inch | Millimetre |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic major diameter | 0.4375 | 11.113 |
| Threads per inch | 20 | — |
| Pitch | 0.0500 | 1.270 |
| Basic pitch diameter | 0.4050 | 10.287 |
| Basic minor diameter | 0.3834 | 9.738 |
| External thread root diameter | 0.3780 | 9.601 |
| Sharp V thread height (H) | 0.0433 | 1.100 |

_Basic dimensions are the theoretical values before any tolerance class is applied._

## Tap Drill Sizes for 7/16"-20 UNF

Cut taps, from 50% to 85% thread engagement. The shop default is 75% — a 25/64 drill.

| Thread % | Target hole Ø (in) | Target hole Ø (mm) | Drill | Drill Ø (in) | Drill Ø (mm) | Actual thread % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 50% | 0.4050 | 10.287 | Y | 0.4040 | 10.262 | 51.6 |
| 60% | 0.3985 | 10.122 | X | 0.3970 | 10.084 | 62.4 |
| 65% | 0.3953 | 10.041 | X | 0.3970 | 10.084 | 62.4 |
| 70% | 0.3920 | 9.957 | 25/64 | 0.3906 | 9.922 | 72.2 |
| 75% (default) | 0.3888 | 9.876 | 25/64 | 0.3906 | 9.922 | 72.2 |
| 80% | 0.3855 | 9.792 | W | 0.3860 | 9.804 | 79.3 |
| 85% | 0.3823 | 9.710 | W | 0.3860 | 9.804 | 79.3 |

_Target hole Ø is the theoretical hole for the stated engagement. The drill column is the nearest size in the standard number/letter/fractional/metric index, and actual thread % is what that real drill produces._

## Clearance Hole Sizes for 7/16"-20 UNF

The through-hole a 7/16"-20 UNF fastener passes freely, not the tapped hole.

| Fit | Drill | Hole Ø (in) | Hole Ø (mm) | Use |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Close | 7/16 | 0.4528 | 11.501 | Located joints, dowelled assemblies |
| Normal | 29/64 | 0.4685 | 11.900 | General assembly — the default |
| Loose | 15/32 | 0.4843 | 12.301 | Slotted or adjustable joints, weldments |

_Clearance holes per ISO 273 (metric) and ASME B18.2.8 (inch)._

## Thread Class Limits for 7/16"-20 UNF

Manufacturing limits for classes 2B, 3B, 2A, 3A. A gauge reading outside these bands is a reject, not a judgement call.

### External thread (bolt / screw) limits

| Limit | Class 2A (in) | Class 2A (mm) | Class 3A (in) | Class 3A (mm) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Major Ø max | 0.4362 | 11.079 | 0.4375 | 11.113 |
| Major Ø min | 0.4281 | 10.874 | 0.4294 | 10.907 |
| Pitch Ø max | 0.4038 | 10.257 | 0.4050 | 10.287 |
| Pitch Ø min | 0.3996 | 10.150 | 0.4019 | 10.208 |
| Pitch Ø tolerance | 0.0042 | 0.107 | 0.0031 | 0.079 |
| Minor Ø max | 0.3713 | 9.431 | 0.3725 | 9.461 |
| Minor Ø min | 0.3671 | 9.324 | 0.3694 | 9.383 |
| Allowance | 0.0013 | 0.033 | 0.0000 | 0.000 |

### Internal thread (nut / tapped hole) limits

| Limit | Class 2B (in) | Class 2B (mm) | Class 3B (in) | Class 3B (mm) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Major Ø max | 0.4501 | 11.432 | 0.4488 | 11.399 |
| Major Ø min | 0.4375 | 11.113 | 0.4375 | 11.113 |
| Pitch Ø max | 0.4104 | 10.424 | 0.4091 | 10.391 |
| Pitch Ø min | 0.4050 | 10.287 | 0.4050 | 10.287 |
| Pitch Ø tolerance | 0.0054 | 0.137 | 0.0041 | 0.104 |
| Minor Ø max | 0.3949 | 10.030 | 0.3916 | 9.947 |
| Minor Ø min | 0.3834 | 9.738 | 0.3834 | 9.738 |
| Allowance | 0.0000 | 0.000 | 0.0000 | 0.000 |

## Tensile Stress Area of 7/16"-20 UNF

| Property | in² | mm² |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tensile stress area | 0.11872 | 76.59 |

The effective cross-section used to size a 7/16"-20 UNF fastener against a load. Multiply it by the material's allowable stress — the area itself carries no strength assumption.

## Other Thread Pitches in the Same Size as 7/16"-20 UNF

A 7/16 fastener is not always 7/16"-20 UNF. These are the other standard pitches cut on the same nominal size.

| Thread | Series | Pitch | Tap drill |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [7/16"-28 UNEF](https://shopmath.org/threads/unef/7-16-28.md) | Unified Extra Fine (UNEF) | 28 TPI | Y |
| [7/16"-14 UNC](https://shopmath.org/threads/unc/7-16-14.md) | Unified Coarse (UNC) | 14 TPI | U |

## Sources and Method for 7/16"-20 UNF

### Basic dimensions

- **Source**: NBS Handbook H28 (1969) Part I §§6-7 (public domain, 17 U.S.C. 105); normative modern reference ASME B1.1; series membership: Series membership: threadlib UIS_thread.csv (BSD-3-Clause); cross-checked against NBS H28 (1969) Part I Table 2.21; clearance holes: ISO 273 (metric) and ASME B18.2.8 (inch) via FreeCAD FeatureHole.cpp (LGPL-2.1+), cross-checked against bd_warehouse clearance_hole_sizes.csv (Apache-2.0)
- **Method**: computed
- **Verified against**: NBS H28 (1969) Part I, Table 2.21 (public domain); cross-checked against FreeCAD CAM thread tables (LGPL-2.1+) — 1064 checks passed at 0.0001 in

### Tap drill sizes

- **Source**: Machinery's Handbook %-thread formula (geometry-derived); nearest-standard-drill-to-75% rule verified at 36/39 published chart rows in docs/research/data-sourcing.md §3.4
- **Method**: computed
- **Verified against**: Wikipedia Unified Thread Standard, preferred cutting tap drill size columns (CC BY-SA 4.0) — 36/39 published UNC+UNF rows reproduced

### Class limits

- **Source**: NBS Handbook H28 (1969) Part I §§6-7 (public domain, 17 U.S.C. 105); normative modern reference ASME B1.1
- **Method**: computed
- **Verified against**: NBS H28 (1969) Part I, Table 2.21 (public domain); cross-checked against FreeCAD CAM thread tables (LGPL-2.1+) — 1064 checks passed at 0.0001 in

### Formulas

**Tap drill hole diameter, inch threads**

```text
hole Ø  =  D − (%thread ÷ 100) × (1.29904 ÷ n)

  D = basic major diameter (in)
  n = threads per inch
```

_1.29904 = 2 × 0.64952, twice the engaged thread height per side on the 60° Unified profile._

**Actual thread engagement of the chosen drill**

```text
%thread  =  (D − drill Ø) × n ÷ 1.29904 × 100
```

_The drill column rounds to a real drill; this is the engagement that drill actually leaves._

**Tensile stress area, Unified inch threads**

```text
At  =  0.7854 × (D − 0.9743 ÷ n)²
```

_ASME B1.1 / NBS H28 form. Reproduces the stored value exactly for this thread._

### Assumptions

- The headline tap drill assumes 75% thread engagement, the general shop default. Every engagement from 50% to 85% is in the tap drill table — change the assumption and the number moves.
- Tap drill figures are for cut taps. Drill diameters are nominal; a worn or run-out drill cuts oversize and reduces engagement further.
- Tapped-hole figures assume a class 2B internal thread, the general-purpose fit.
- Dataset scope: Le = 1D for UNC/UNF, 9P for UNEF — determined empirically against H28 Table 2.21, resolving data-sourcing.md open item 5. EXCLUDED: form (roll) tap drills, class 1A/1B limits, class 1AR allowances, constant-pitch UN series.

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

## Common Questions About 7/16"-20 UNF

### What is the tap drill size for 7/16"-20 UNF?

The tap drill for 7/16"-20 UNF is 25/64 — 0.3906 in (9.922 mm). That leaves 72.2% thread engagement with a cut tap.

### What is the pitch diameter of 7/16"-20 UNF?

The basic pitch diameter of 7/16"-20 UNF is 0.4050 in (10.287 mm). For a class 2B thread it runs 0.4050 in (10.287 mm) to 0.4104 in (10.424 mm).

### What is the minor diameter of 7/16"-20 UNF?

The basic minor diameter of 7/16"-20 UNF is 0.3834 in (9.738 mm). That is the theoretical root of the internal thread, not the drilled hole size — see the tap drill table for the hole to drill.

### What is the thread pitch of 7/16"-20 UNF?

7/16"-20 UNF has 20 threads per inch, a pitch of 0.0500 in (1.270 mm).

### What size clearance hole does a 7/16"-20 UNF fastener need?

close fit 7/16 (0.4528 in (11.501 mm)), normal fit 29/64 (0.4685 in (11.900 mm)), loose fit 15/32 (0.4843 in (12.301 mm)). The normal fit is the general-assembly default.

### What is the tensile stress area of 7/16"-20 UNF?

The tensile stress area of 7/16"-20 UNF is 0.11872 in² (76.59 mm²). Multiply it by the fastener material's allowable stress to get a load.

## Related pages

- Smaller in Unified Fine (UNF): [3/8"-24 UNF](https://shopmath.org/threads/unf/3-8-24.md) — tap drill Q
- Larger in Unified Fine (UNF): [1/2"-20 UNF](https://shopmath.org/threads/unf/1-2-20.md) — tap drill 29/64
- All Unified Fine (UNF) sizes: [Unified Fine (UNF) thread chart](https://shopmath.org/threads/unf.md)
- Every thread series: [Screw thread reference](https://shopmath.org/threads.md)
- Cross-series chart: [Tap drill chart](https://shopmath.org/charts/tap-drill.md)

---

*Source: [ShopMath](https://shopmath.org/threads/unf/7-16-20) — data verified August 1, 2026. Reference data; verify against the governing standard before manufacture.*