Tap drill = 5.00 − 0.80 = 4.20 mm. Close clearance 5.3 mm, normal 5.5 mm, loose 6.0 mm. In thin sheet, a PEM nut or rivet nut is more reliable than tapping 4.2 mm through 1 mm steel.
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 5 mm
Pitch 0.8 mm
Tap drill 4.2 mm
Minor Ø 4.134 mm
M5 × 0.8 at a glance
Tap drill vs clearance hole
Tap this hole (then cut the thread): 4.2 mm. Bolt must pass (clearance): 5.7 mm normal. That is why “M5 × 0.8 drill size” can mean two different holes — this page lists both.
How we use this in the toolroom
M5 sits between electronics screws and machinery screws — sensor mounts, furniture fittings, bike parts. Same rule as M4 in thin sheet: insert, don’t tap.
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, M4 × 0.7, 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.