51/64" drill bit size
0.7969 in
20.24 mm · fractional drill
| Inches | 0.7969 in |
| Millimetres | 20.24 mm |
| Nearest metric drill | 20.2 mm |
| System | Fractional (64ths) |
What 51/64" means
51/64" is a fractional drill, stepping in 64ths of an inch. Fractional sizes are the coarsest of the three systems, which is why a fractional set alone cannot hit most tapping sizes and why number and letter drills exist at all.
The same hole in the other systems
Three drill systems overlap across this range and a workshop rarely has all three. The nearest bit of each other kind to 51/64":
| System | Nearest size | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| number | #1 — 0.228 in | 0.5689 in smaller |
| letter | Z — 0.413 in | 0.3839 in smaller |
| metric | 20.2 mm | 0.041 mm smaller |
The closest substitute is 0.3839 inches away. For a clearance hole that is nothing; for a tapping hole it moves the thread engagement by several per cent, which is the difference between an easy tap and a broken one.
What gets drilled at 0.7969 inches
Half an inch and up is where twist drills stop being the obvious tool. A bit this size in mild steel needs a pilot, a slow speed and something to hold the work; past three-quarters of an inch most people reach for a hole saw or a step drill instead.
Either side of it
| Drill | Inches | Millimetres |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4" | 0.75 in | 19.05 mm |
| 49/64" | 0.7656 in | 19.45 mm |
| 25/32" | 0.7813 in | 19.84 mm |
| 51/64" | 0.7969 in | 20.24 mm |
| 13/16" | 0.8125 in | 20.64 mm |
| 53/64" | 0.8281 in | 21.03 mm |
| 27/32" | 0.8438 in | 21.43 mm |
Frequently asked questions
What size is a 51/64" drill bit?
0.7969 inches, which is 20.24 mm. Fractional drills step in 64ths of an inch, which is the coarsest of the three systems and the one most home sets contain.
What is a 51/64" drill bit in mm?
20.24 mm. A metric index will offer 20.2 mm as the nearest stocked size, which is 0.041 mm smaller — enough to matter when tapping and not enough to matter for a clearance hole.
Is 51/64" a tapping drill size?
Not for any of the unified threads on this site. The next size up, 13/16", is the tapping drill for 7/8-14.
What is the next size up from 51/64"?
13/16" at 0.8125 inches — 0.0156 inches larger. Below it is 25/32" at 0.7813.
Other sizes
- 13/16" drill bit — 0.8125 in, 20.64 mm
- 53/64" drill bit — 0.8281 in, 21.03 mm
- 27/32" drill bit — 0.8438 in, 21.43 mm
- 55/64" drill bit — 0.8594 in, 21.83 mm
- 7/8" drill bit — 0.875 in, 22.23 mm
- 57/64" drill bit — 0.8906 in, 22.62 mm
- 29/32" drill bit — 0.9063 in, 23.02 mm
- 59/64" drill bit — 0.9219 in, 23.42 mm