UNF · cutting tap · nominal dimensions

#8-36 UNF
tap drill size.

For #8-36 UNF, the reference drill is #29: 0.1360 in (3.454 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.

Reference drill Published
Calibrated relative diameter · 1 in reference
Manufacturer-published 75% row
#29
0.1360 in · 3.454 mm
Calculates to77.6%theoretical full thread
70% target0.1387 in3.524 mm
75% target0.1369 in3.478 mm
Where this drill sits from 0 to 1 inch
#29 · 3.454 mm on a zero to 25.4 millimetre scale. Neighbor marks: 3.5 mm, 3.4 mm.
0 25.4 mm

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.

Axial section of #8-36 UNF Schematic 60-degree internal and external thread profiles with the common chart drill line and basic internal minor-diameter reference. Differences are exaggerated for explanation. BASIC INTERNAL MINOR-DIAMETER REFERENCE · 83.3% CHART DRILL Ø 0.1360 IN / 3.454 MM PITCH P = 0.706 MM 60° INTERNAL THREAD / WORKPIECE MATING EXTERNAL THREAD — BASIC PROFILE SCHEMATIC · PROFILE DIFFERENCE EXAGGERATED 77.6% THEORETICAL FULL THREAD
The 83.3% line is a basic-profile reference—not a universal interference switch. Actual fit depends on the internal and external thread profiles, class, tolerances, tap, and real hole.

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.

Nearest nominal bits to #29
BitSystemDiameterDeltaCalculated full thread
3.5 mm metric 0.1378 in / 3.5 mm +0.0018 in 72.6%
3.4 mm metric 0.1339 in / 3.4 mm -0.0021 in 83.5%
#28 number 0.1405 in / 3.569 mm +0.0045 in 65.1%
9/64 fractional 9/64 in / 3.572 mm +0.0046 in 64.8%
3.6 mm metric 0.1417 in / 3.6 mm +0.0057 in 61.7%
3.3 mm metric 0.1299 in / 3.3 mm -0.0061 in 94.4%
Optional spatial explanation SCHEMATIC · NOT TO SCALE

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 cross-checked.

Tap-drill row: Rows tagged with this source were matched to a named 65% or 75% cutting-tap column. The discrete drill can calculate to a slightly different percentage from nominal dimensions.

Open Guhring 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.