#12-28 UNF Thread

Recommended tap drill #14
Tap drill Ø 0.1820″ / 4.623 mm
Major Ø 0.2160″ / 5.486 mm
Threads per inch 28

The chart recommendation gives approximately 73.3% thread engagement — the conventional target for average materials. It is not the only valid choice; see the options below.

Specification

Designation#12-28 UNF
Thread familyUnified National Fine (UNF)
Nominal size#12
Basic major diameter 0.2160″ / 5.486 mm
Threads per inch / pitch28 TPI (0.907 mm pitch)
Recommended tap drill #14 (0.1820″ / 4.623 mm)
P = 0.0357″ (28 TPI) 60° major Ø 0.2160″ 60° thread form (UN / ISO) — schematic

Tap drill options by thread engagement

Any of these standard drills produces a usable engagement for #12-28 UNF; smaller drills give stronger threads but higher tapping torque. Percentages use the conventional approximation (60° thread form).

#16 84.1% #14 ★ 73.3% 3/16″ 61.4% shaded = share of the full thread height the tap forms · accent line = drilled hole wall
★ = chart recommendation. A smaller drill leaves more of the thread height for the tap to form.
Drill Decimal in mm Approx. engagement
#16 0.1770 4.496 84.1%
4.5 mm 0.1772 4.5 83.7%
#15 0.1800 4.572 77.6%
4.6 mm 0.1811 4.6 75.2%
#14 — chart recommendation 0.1820 4.623 73.3%
#13 0.1850 4.699 66.8%
4.7 mm 0.1850 4.7 66.7%
3/16″ 0.1875 4.762 61.4%

Nearest drills to the tap drill in other systems

Drill Size vs #14 Resulting engagement
4.6 mm 0.1811″ / 4.6 mm −0.023 mm 75.2%
3/16″ 0.1875″ / 4.762 mm +0.14 mm 61.4%

Related threads

Data provenance. ASME B1.1, Unified Inch Screw Threads (ASME). Machinery’s Handbook — tap drill charts (Industrial Press). ASME B18.2.8, Clearance Holes for Bolts, Screws, and Studs (ASME). Engagement percentages use the conventional approximation (engagement = (major − drill) ÷ (1.29904 × pitch)) and are guidance, not a tolerance specification. See all data sources.