UNC · cutting tap · nominal dimensions
#4-40 UNC
tap drill size.
For #4-40 UNC, the reference drill is #43: 0.0890 in (2.261 mm).
The reference value is kept separate from the 70% and 75% calculated targets. Actual fit still depends on thread class, tool, material, runout, and the hole you really make.
Detail A · basic 60° profile
What the percentage describes.
“Theoretical full thread %” is radial thread height from nominal geometry. It is not axial engagement length and not a fit-class acceptance measurement.
Real drill alternatives
Neighboring sizes.
These are diameter neighbors, not silent recommendations. A positive delta makes a larger hole and a lower nominal theoretical percentage; a negative delta does the opposite.
| Bit | System | Diameter | Delta | Calculated full thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 mm | metric | 0.0906 in / 2.3 mm | +0.0016 in | 66.0% |
| 2.2 mm | metric | 0.0866 in / 2.2 mm | -0.0024 in | 78.2% |
| #44 | number | 0.0860 in / 2.184 mm | -0.0030 in | 80.1% |
| #42 | number | 0.0935 in / 2.375 mm | +0.0045 in | 57.0% |
| 3/32 | fractional | 3/32 in / 2.381 mm | +0.0047 in | 56.2% |
| 2.4 mm | metric | 0.0945 in / 2.4 mm | +0.0055 in | 53.9% |
Why 3D is useful here
A thread is a helix, not a row of triangles.
Load a draggable cutaway to see the continuous internal thread. Exact diameter and profile comparisons remain in the 2D drawing above.
Evidence and limits
Why this row says provisional.
Tap-drill row: A familiar chart or D-minus-pitch value that was not closed against a single row in the selected OSG/Guhring public tables. Kept visible for audit, never labeled normative or manufacturer-published.
Open Drill Bit Size Chart source
60° geometry: Public primary reference for Unified and metric 60-degree thread geometry. The percentage-thread equation is a theoretical basic-profile calculation, not a fit or torque guarantee.
Open National Institute of Standards and Technology geometry source
The repository also records 11 source records and a dataset version on every page.