Tap drill = 4.00 − 0.70 = 3.30 mm. Close clearance 4.3 mm, normal 4.5 mm, loose 5.0 mm. In 3D-printed plastic, heat-set M4 inserts need the insert maker’s bore, not 3.3 mm. Fine M4 × 0.5 is uncommon outside instruments.
Common metric tap drills: M3 tap drill size · M6 tap drill 5.0 mm · M8 tap drill size · M10 tap drill 8.5 mm · M12 tap drill 10.2 mm · M24 tap drill 21.0 mm.
Formula
Major Ø 4 mm
Pitch 0.7 mm
Tap drill 3.3 mm
Minor Ø 3.242 mm
M4 × 0.7 at a glance
Tap drill vs clearance hole
Tap this hole (then cut the thread): 3.3 mm. Bolt must pass (clearance): 4.6 mm normal. That is why “M4 × 0.7 drill size” can mean two different holes — this page lists both.
How we use this in the toolroom
Cover screws, DIN-rail gear and small brackets are M4. In sheet metal we use a PEM nut; tapping 3.3 mm through 1 mm steel does not last.
Accurate Industries in Pune still looks these sizes up the same way: tap drill ≈ major − pitch, then a clearance hole for the bolt. AlwaysReach is that chart in the browser — our story.
Full metric and imperial lookup lives on the thread & tap drill calculator. After tapping, check a locational bore on the ISO tolerance calculator. Other pages: M8 × 1.25, M10 × 1.5, M12 × 1.75, M6 × 1, M16 × 2, M5 × 0.8, 1/4-20 UNC, M3 × 0.5, M20 × 2.5, M24 × 3, 5/16-18 UNC, 3/8-16 UNC, 1/2-13 UNC, UNC chart, UNF chart, BSW chart, UNEF chart, BSF chart.