Bolt Head Dimensions and Markings

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Bolt Head Dimensions and Markings

The strength of a bolt is determined by its diameter and the strength of the material from which it is made. Minimum material strengths for various grades of bolts are given below. First, we deal with the diameter. It may seem that the determination of a bolt's diameter is a simple matter of measurement, and this is indeed the case when the shank is exposed. In many cases, however, the shank is hidden, and the engineer who is charged with determining the strength of the bolted joint must infer the bolt's diameter from the size of its head. Fortunately, there are standards that govern the relationship between bolt size and head size. The following tables are based on information in ANSI B18.2.1 (Square, Hex, and Heavy Hex) ASTM A325 and A490 (High Strength Structural) AISC Manual of Steel Construction (all)

Square Heads

D 1/4 3/8 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 1 1-1/8 1-1/4 1-3/8 1-1/2

F 3/8 9/16 3/4 15/16 1-1/8 1-5/16 1-1/2 1-11/16 1-7/8 2-1/16 2-1/4

C 1/2 13/16 1-1/16 1-5/16 1-9/16 1-7/8 2-1/8 2-3/8 2-5/8 2-15/16 3-3/16

H 3/16 1/4 5/16 7/16 1/2 5/8 11/16 3/4 7/8 15/16 1

All dimensions in inches

Hex Heads

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D 1/4 3/8 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 1 1-1/8 1-1/4 1-3/8 1-1/2 1-3/4 2 2-1/4 2-1/2 2-3/4 3 3-1/4 3-1/2 3-3/4 4

F 7/16 9/16 3/4 15/16 1-1/8 1-5/16 1-1/2 1-11/16 1-7/8 2-1/16 2-1/4 2-5/8 3 3-3/8 3-3/4 4-1/8 4-1/2 4-7/8 5-1/4 5-5/8 6

C 1/2 5/8 7/8 1-1/16 1-5/16 1-1/2 1-3/4 1-15/16 2-3/16 2-3/8 2-5/8 3 3-7/16 3-7/8 4-5/16 4-3/4 5-3/16 5-5/8 6-1/16 6-1/2 6-15/16

H 3/16 1/4 3/8 7/16 1/2 9/16 11/16 3/4 7/8 15/16 1 1-3/16 1-3/8 1-1/2 1-11/16 1-13/16 2 2-3/16 2-5/16 2-1/2 2-11/16

All dimensions in inches

Heavy Hex Heads

D 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 1 1-1/8 1-1/4 1-3/8 1-1/2 1-3/4

F 7/8 1-1/16 1-1/4 1-7/16 1-5/8 1-13/16 2 2-3/16 2-3/8 2-3/4

C 1 1-1/4 1-7/16 1-11/16 1-7/8 2-1/16 2-5/16 2-1/2 2-3/4 3-3/16

H 3/8 7/16 1/2 9/16 11/16 3/4 7/8 15/16 1 1-3/16

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2 2-1/4 2-1/2 2-3/4 3

3-1/8 3-1/2 3-7/8 4-1/4 4-5/8

3-5/8 4-1/16 4-1/2 4-15/16 5-5/16

1-3/8 1-1/2 1-11/16 1-13/16 2

All dimensions in inches

High Strength Structural Bolts

D 1/2 5/8 3/4 7/8 1 1-1/8 1-1/4 1-3/8 1-1/2

F 7/8 1-1/16 1-1/4 1-7/16 1-5/8 1-13/16 2 2-3/16 2-3/8

H 5/16 25/64 15/32 35/64 39/64 11/16 25/32 27/32 15/16

All dimensions in inches

Hex Head Bolt Markings

The strength and type of steel used in a bolt is supposed to be indicated by a raised mark on the head of the bolt. The type of mark depends on the standard to which the bolt was manufactured. Most often, bolts used in machinery are made to SAE standard J429, and bolts used in structures are made to various ASTM standards. The tables below give the head markings and some of the most commonly-needed information concerning the bolts. For further information, see the appropriate standard.

SAE Bolt Designations

SAE Grade No. Size range Tensile strength, ksi

Material

Head marking

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1 2

1/4 thru 1-1/2 1/4 thru 3/4 7/8 thru 1-1/2

60 74 60

Low or medium carbon steel

1/4 thru 1 1-1/8 thru 1-1/2

120 105

Medium carbon steel, quenched & tempered

5.2

1/4 thru 1

120

Low carbon martensite steel, quenched & tempered

1/4 thru 1-1/2

133

Medium carbon alloy steel, quenched & tempered

1/4 thru 1-1/2

150

Medium carbon alloy steel, quenched & tempered

8.2

1/4 thru 1

150

Low carbon martensite steel, quenched & tempered

ASTM Bolt Designations

ASTM standard A307 Size range 1/4 thru 4 Tensile strength, ksi 60

Material Low carbon steel

Head marking

A325 Type 1

1/2 thru 1 1-1/8 thru 1-1/2

120 105

Medium carbon steel, quenched & tempered

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A325 Type 2

1/2 thru 1 1-1/8 thru 1-1/2

120 105

Low carbon martensite steel, quenched & tempered

A325 Type 3

1/2 thru 1 1-1/8 thru 1-1/2

120 105

Weathering steel, quenched & tempered

A449

1/4 thru 1 1-1/8 thru 1-1/2 1-3/4 thru 3

120 105 90

Medium carbon steel, quenched & tempered

A490 Type 1

1/4 thru 1-1/2

150

Alloy steel, quenched & tempered

A490 Type 3

1/4 thru 1-1/2

150

Weathering steel, quenched & tempered

Head markings and strengths for metric hex-head cap screws

Head marking Grade, material & condition Nominal size range [mm] Proof strength [MPa] Yield strength (min) [MPa] Tensile strength (min) [MPa] Core hardness [Rockwell]

Class 3.6

1.636

180

190

330

B5295

Class 4.6 Low or medium carbon steel Class 4.8 Low or medium carbon steel; fully or partially annealed Class 5.8 Low or medium carbon steel; cold worked

5100

225

240

400

B6795

1.616

310

340

420

B7195

524

380

420

520

B8295

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Class 8.8 Medium carbon steel; quench and tempered Class 8.8 low carbon Low carbon boron steel; quench and tempered Class 8.8.3 Atmospheric corrosion resistant steel; quench and tempered

Under 16 (inc.)

580

640

800

1772

600 ASTM A325M Type 1 Medium carbon steel; quench and tempered ASTM A325M Type 3 Atmospheric corrosion resistant steel; quench and tempered Class 9.8 Medium carbon steel; quench and tempered Class 9.8 low carbon Low carbon boron steel; quench and tempered Class 10.9 Alloy steel; quench and tempered Class 10.9 low carbon Low carbon boron steel; quench and tempered Class 10.9.3 Atmospheric corrosion resistant steel; quench and tempered ASTM A490M Type 1 Alloy steel; quench and tempered ASTM A490M Type 3 Atmospheric corrosion resistant steel; quench and tempered 1236 1.616 650 1236

660

830

C2334

720

900

C2736

5100

830

940

1040

C3339

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Class 12.9 Alloy steel; quench and tempered A2 Stainless steel with 1719% chromium and 813% nickel ISO 3506-1 A2-50 304 stainless steelclass 50 (annealed) ISO 3506-1 A2-70 304 stainless steelclass 70 (cold worked) ISO 3506-1 A2-80 304 stainless steelclass 80

1.6100

970

1100

1220

C3844

Up to 20

210 minimum 450 typical

500 minimum 700 typical

210

500

450

700

600

800

Often one will find "extra" marks on a bolt head--marks in addition to those shown above. Usually these marks indicate the bolt's manufacturer. ASTM A325 Type 2 bolts have been discontinued, but are included above because they can be found in existing structures. Their properties can be important in failure investigations. While the bolts shown above are among the most common in the U.S., the list is far from exhaustive. In addition to the other bolts covered by the SAE and ASTM standards, there are a host of international standards, of which ISO is perhaps the most well known. Autonopedia > Crafts and Technology > Index-Engineering >

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