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Standards Institution 2012

ICS 21.040.10
BRITISH STANDARD

General plan
ISO general purpose
metric screw threads —
BS ISO
261:1998
 BS ISO 261:1998

National foreword
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This British Standard reproduces verbatim ISO 261:1998 and implements it as

the UK national standard.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted by Technical Committee
FME/9, Bolts, nuts and accessories, to Subcommittee FME/9/3, Reference
standards for fasteners, which has the responsibility to:
— aid enquirers to understand the text;
— present to the responsible international/European committee any
enquiries on the interpretation, or proposals for change, and keep the UK
interests informed;
— monitor related international and European developments and
promulgate them in the UK.
A list of organizations represented on this subcommittee can be obtained on
request to its secretary.
Cross-references
The British Standards which implement international or European
publications referred to in this document may be found in the BSI Standards
Catalogue under the section entitled “International Standards Correspondence
Index”, or by using the “Find” facility of the BSI Standards Electronic
Catalogue.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of
a contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct
application.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity

from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
the ISO title page, pages ii to iv, pages 1 to 4 and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Engineering
Amendments issued since publication
Sector Committee, was
published under the Amd. No. Date Comments
authority of the Standards
Committee and comes
into effect on
15 April 1999

© BSI 03-2000

ISBN 0 580 32349 8

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© BSI 03-2000
Foreword
Text of ISO 261
National foreword
Contents

iii
Inside front cover
Page

i
BS ISO 261:1998
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ii
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 BS ISO 261:1998

Contents
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Page
Foreword iii
1 Scope 1
2 Normative references 1
3 Definitions 1
4 Designation 1
5 Choice of diameter and pitch 1
Table 1 — Maximum nominal diameter 1
Table 2 — Nominal diameter/pitch 2

Descriptors: Screw threads, ISO metric threads, form specifications, dimensions, diameters,
thread pitch, designation.

ii © BSI 03-2000
 BS ISO 261:1998

Foreword
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ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide

federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of
preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical
committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that
committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental,
in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are
circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
International Standard ISO 261 was prepared by Technical Committee
ISO/TC 1, Screw threads, Subcommittee SC 1, Basic data.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 261:1973) which
has been technically revised.

© BSI 03-2000 iii

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iv
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 BS ISO 261:1998
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1 Scope 5 Choice of diameter and pitch

This International Standard specifies ISO general 5.1 Choose, for preference, diameters in column 1 of
purpose metric screw threads (M) having basic Table 2 and, if necessary, in column 2 and then in
profile according to ISO 68-1. Basic dimensions are column 3.
given in ISO 724. For tolerances see ISO 965-1. Diameter 35 mm, and pitch 1,25 mm of
diameter 14 mm shall be used only for the special
2 Normative references cases indicated in the footnotes.
The following standards contain provisions which, Pitches shown in parentheses are to be avoided as
through reference in this text, constitute provisions far as possible.
of this International Standard. At the time of 5.2 The words “coarse” and “fine” are given in order
publication, the editions indicated were valid. All to conform to usage. No concept of quality shall,
standards are subject to revision, and parties to however, be associated with these words.
agreements based on this International Standard
are encouraged to investigate the possibility of It shall be understood that the “coarse” pitches are
applying the most recent editions of the standards the largest metric pitches used in current practice.
indicated below. Members of IEC and ISO maintain 5.3 For the diameter (or the diameter range)
registers of currently valid International Standards. selected, choose one of the pitches shown on the
ISO 68-1:1998, ISO general purpose screw corresponding line (or lines).
threads — Basic profile — Part 1: Metric screw 5.4 If screw threads finer than those appearing in
threads. Table 2 are found necessary, only the following
ISO 262:1998, ISO general purpose metric screw pitches shall be used:
threads — Selected sizes for screws, bolts and nuts. 3 mm; 2 mm; 1,5 mm; 1 mm; 0,75 mm; 0,5 mm;
ISO 724:1993, ISO general purpose metric screw 0,35 mm; 0,25 mm; 0,2 mm
threads — Basic dimensions. When selecting such pitches, take into account the
ISO 965-1:1998, ISO general purpose metric screw fact that there is increasing difficulty in complying
threads — Tolerances — Part 1: Principles and with tolerances as the diameter is increased for a
basic data. given pitch. It is suggested, that diameters larger
than those shown in Table 1 should generally not be
ISO 5408:1983, Cylindrical screw threads — used with the pitches indicated.
Vocabulary.
Table 1 — Maximum nominal diameter
3 Definitions Dimensions in millimetres

For the purposes of this International Standard, the Pitch Maximum nominal diameter
definitions given in ISO 5408 apply. 0,5 22
0,75 33
4 Designation
1 80
A screw thread in conformity with this 1,5 150
International Standard shall be designated 2 200
according to ISO 965-1. 3 300

© BSI 03-2000 1
 BS ISO 261:1998
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Table 2 — Nominal diameter/pitch

Dimensions in millimetres

Nominal diameter D, d Pitch P

Col. 1 Col. 2 Col. 3 coarse fine

1st choice 2nd choice 3rd choice
3 2 1,5 1,25 1 0,75 0,5 0,35 0,25 0,2

1 0,25 0,2
1,1 0,25 0,2
1,2 0,25 0,2
1,4 0,3 0,2
1,6 0,35 0,2
1,8 0,35 0,2
2 0,4 0,25
2,2 0,45 0,25
2,5 0,45 0,35
3 0,5 0,35
3,5 0,6 0,35
4 0,7 0,5
4,5 0,75 0,5
5 0,8 0,5
5,5 0,5
6 1 0,75
7 1 0,75
8 1,25 1 0,75
9 1,25 1 0,75
10 1,5 1,25 1 0,75
11 1,5 1 0,75
12 1,75 1,5 1,25 1
14 2 1,5 1,25a 1
15 1,5 1
16 2 1,5 1
17 1,5 1
18 2,5 2 1,5 1
20 2,5 2 1,5 1
22 2,5 2 1,5 1
24 3 2 1,5 1
25 2 1,5 1
26 1,5
27 3 2 1,5 1
28 2 1,5 1
30 3,5 (3) 2 1,5 1
32 2 1,5
33 3,5 (3) 2 1,5
35b 1,5
36 4 3 2 1,5
38 1,5
39 4 3 2 1,5

2 © BSI 03-2000
 BS ISO 261:1998
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Table 2 — Nominal diameter/pitch

Dimensions in millimetres

Nominal diameter D, d Pitch P

Col. 1 Col. 2 Col. 3 coarse fine

1st choice 2nd choice 3rd choice 8 6 4 3 2 1,5

40 3 2 1,5
42 4,5 4 3 2 1,5
45 4,5 4 3 2 1,5
48 5 4 3 2 1,5
50 3 2 1,5
52 5 4 3 2 1,5
55 4 3 2 1,5
56 5,5 4 3 2 1,5
58 4 3 2 1,5
60 5,5 4 3 2 1,5
62 4 3 2 1,5
64 6 4 3 2 1,5
65 4 3 2 1,5
68 6 4 3 2 1,5
70 6 4 3 2 1,5
72 6 4 3 2 1,5
75 4 3 2 1,5
76 6 4 3 2 1,5
78 2
80 6 4 3 2 1,5
82 2
85 6 4 3 2
90 6 4 3 2
95 6 4 3 2
100 6 4 3 2
105 6 4 3 2
110 6 4 3 2
115 6 4 3 2
120 6 4 3 2
125 8 6 4 3 2
130 8 6 4 3 2
135 6 4 3 2
140 8 6 4 3 2
145 6 4 3 2
150 8 6 4 3 2
155 6 4 3
160 8 6 4 3
165 6 4 3
170 8 6 4 3
175 6 4 3
180 8 6 4 3
185 6 4 3
190 8 6 4 3
195 6 4 3
200 8 6 4 3

© BSI 03-2000 3
 BS ISO 261:1998
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Table 2 — Nominal diameter/pitch

Dimensions in millimetres

Nominal diameter D, d Pitch P

Col. 1 Col. 2 Col. 3 coarse fine

1st choice 2nd choice 3rd choice 8 6 4 3 2 1,5

205 6 4 3
210 8 6 4 3
215 6 4 3
220 8 6 4 3
225 6 4 3
230 8 6 4 3
235 6 4 3
240 8 6 4 3
245 6 4 3
250 8 6 4 3
255 6 4
260 8 6 4
265 6 4
270 8 6 4
275 6 4
280 8 6 4
285 6 4
290 8 6 4
295 6 4
300 8 6 4
a
Only for spark plugs for engines.
b
Only for locking nuts for bearings.

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 BS ISO
261:1998
BSI — British Standards Institution
BSI is the independent national body responsible for preparing
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