M5 thread sizes
4.2 mm tapping drill · 5.5 mm clearance
0.8 mm coarse pitch · 4 mm hex key · 8 mm spanner
What M5 is used for
General light assembly; the smallest size most people keep in a bolt tin.
Every number for M5
| Major diameter | 5 mm |
| Coarse pitch | 0.8 mm |
| Tapping drill, coarse | 4.2 mm (5 − 0.8 = 4.2) |
| Clearance hole, normal | 5.5 mm |
| Hex key (socket head) | 4 mm |
| Spanner (hex head) | 8 mm |
| Tapped depth, steel | 7.5 mm (1.5 × diameter) |
| Tapped depth, aluminium | 10.0 mm (2 × diameter) |
Where the drill size comes from
A tapping drill leaves enough material for the tap to cut a thread, and the amount it has to leave is one pitch: drill = major diameter − pitch. For M5 coarse that is 5 − 0.8 = 4.2 mm. The rule holds for the fine series too — subtract whichever pitch you are cutting.
Going slightly larger gives a shallower thread that is easier to tap and weaker; going smaller risks breaking the tap. The standard drill aims at about 75% thread engagement, which is where the strength stops improving enough to be worth the extra effort.
Nearby sizes
| Thread | Pitch | Tapping drill | Clearance | Hex key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M2 | 0.4 mm | 1.6 mm | 2.4 mm | 1.5 mm |
| M2.5 | 0.45 mm | 2.05 mm | 2.9 mm | 2 mm |
| M3 | 0.5 mm | 2.5 mm | 3.4 mm | 2.5 mm |
| M4 | 0.7 mm | 3.3 mm | 4.5 mm | 3 mm |
| M6 | 1 mm | 5 mm | 6.6 mm | 5 mm |
| M8 | 1.25 mm | 6.8 mm | 9 mm | 6 mm |
Frequently asked questions
What drill size for M5?
4.2 mm for a coarse thread. The rule is major diameter minus pitch: 5 − 0.8 = 4.2.
What is the clearance hole for M5?
5.5 mm for a normal fit under ISO 273. A close fit is about 5.3 mm and a loose fit around 5.9 mm — the clearance hole is the one in the part the bolt passes through, not the one being tapped.
What size spanner for an M5 bolt?
8 mm across the flats for a standard hex head. A socket head cap screw of the same size takes a 4 mm hex key instead.
What is the pitch of M5?
0.8 mm coarse. Pitch is the distance between adjacent thread crests, so one full turn advances the bolt 0.8 mm.