What Size Drill Bit

#10-24 tap drill size

#25

Inches
0.1495
Millimetres
3.80
Thread
75%

Drill a #25 hole before cutting a #10-24 thread. That is the standard tap drill for about 75% thread.

0.1495" 0.190" thread

No #25 bit? A 5/32" bit (0.1562 in) gives about 62% thread, which holds fine in most materials.

#10-24 thread and hole sizes

Thread#10 diameter, 24 threads per inch, coarse (UNC)
Major diameter0.1900 in 4.83 mm
Pitch0.0417 in 1.058 mm
Tap drill, about 75% thread#25 0.1495 in
Tap drill, about 50% thread#20 0.1610 in, for stainless and other hard materials
Clearance hole, close fit#9 0.1960 in
Clearance hole, free fit#7 0.2010 in
Nearest metric bit3.8 mm

Why #25

A tap cuts threads into the wall of a hole, so the hole has to be smaller than the screw. For a #10-24 thread the hole that leaves exactly 75% thread is 0.1494 in. The closest standard bit is #25 at 0.1495 in, which leaves 75%.

More thread than that adds almost no strength and makes the tap much easier to break. In hard or tough material, go one step larger.

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