SAE Bolt Torque Chart, J429 Grades 2, 5 and 8 (#10 to 1-1/2 in, UNC and UNF)

Published 23 September 2026. Last checked 28 September 2026. Part of the bolt torque chart set. For any other size, friction or preload, use the bolt torque calculator.

Every row here targets a preload of 75 % of the J429 proof load. Most SAE torque charts give one number per size for "dry" and one for "lubricated", with no word on the preload they aim at. The torques that follow are three estimates for the same preload, so you can see how much the answer depends on friction. Two use T = K F d, at K 0.20 (plain or zinc-plated, as received) and K 0.15 (oiled). The third is the VDI 2230 thread-geometry torque at a friction coefficient of 0.12.

The strengths come from SAE J429 Table 1 and change with size, which is why some rows step down. Grade 2 drops from 55 to 33 ksi proof above 3/4 in, and Grade 5 from 85 to 74 ksi above 1 in. Stress areas use the ASME B1.1 formula As = 0.7854 (d − 0.9743/n)², which gives the B1.1 tabulated values (0.1419 in² for 1/2-13). Torques under 1/4 in are in lbf·in, larger sizes in lbf·ft. The 1/2-13 Grade 5 row (12,061 lbf proof, 9,046 lbf preload, 75.4 lbf·ft at K 0.20) is one of the check cases for the bolt torque calculator.

What the columns assume

Column	Basis
Thread	ASME B1.1 UNC and UNF, threads per inch after the size.
As	0.7854 (d − 0.9743/n)², in².
Proof load	Proof stress × As (SAE J429 Table 1), lbf.
Preload 75 %	0.75 × proof load, lbf.
Torque K 0.20 and K 0.15	T = K F d with the 75 % preload.
Torque VDI 2230, μ 0.12	Thread and bearing friction 0.12, hex cap screw bearing face about 0.95 × across flats (ASME B18.2.1), clearance hole d + 1/32 in to 7/16 in and d + 1/16 in above.
Calculate	Opens the calculator in inch units with that row loaded.

Torque chart, SAE J429 Grades 2, 5 and 8

SAE J429 inch bolt torque by grade, UNC and UNF
Thread	Grade	Torque K 0.20	Torque K 0.15	Torque VDI 2230, μ 0.12	Preload 75 % (lbf)	As (in²)	Proof stress (ksi)	Proof load (lbf)	Calculator
#10-24 UNC	Grade 2 (J429 extrapolated)	27.5 lbf·in	20.6 lbf·in	25.6 lbf·in	723	0.0175	55	964	Calculate
#10-24 UNC	Grade 5 (J429 extrapolated)	42.5 lbf·in	31.9 lbf·in	39.5 lbf·in	1,118	0.0175	85	1,490	Calculate
#10-24 UNC	Grade 8 (J429 extrapolated)	60.0 lbf·in	45.0 lbf·in	55.8 lbf·in	1,578	0.0175	120	2,104	Calculate
#10-32 UNF	Grade 2 (J429 extrapolated)	31.3 lbf·in	23.5 lbf·in	28.2 lbf·in	825	0.0200	55	1,100	Calculate
#10-32 UNF	Grade 5 (J429 extrapolated)	48.4 lbf·in	36.3 lbf·in	43.5 lbf·in	1,275	0.0200	85	1,699	Calculate
#10-32 UNF	Grade 8 (J429 extrapolated)	68.4 lbf·in	51.3 lbf·in	61.4 lbf·in	1,799	0.0200	120	2,399	Calculate
1/4-20 UNC	Grade 2	5.5 lbf·ft	4.1 lbf·ft	4.8 lbf·ft	1,313	0.0318	55	1,750	Calculate
1/4-20 UNC	Grade 5	8.5 lbf·ft	6.3 lbf·ft	7.4 lbf·ft	2,029	0.0318	85	2,705	Calculate
1/4-20 UNC	Grade 8	11.9 lbf·ft	8.9 lbf·ft	10.5 lbf·ft	2,864	0.0318	120	3,819	Calculate
1/4-28 UNF	Grade 2	6.3 lbf·ft	4.7 lbf·ft	5.3 lbf·ft	1,500	0.0364	55	2,001	Calculate
1/4-28 UNF	Grade 5	9.7 lbf·ft	7.2 lbf·ft	8.2 lbf·ft	2,319	0.0364	85	3,092	Calculate
1/4-28 UNF	Grade 8	13.6 lbf·ft	10.2 lbf·ft	11.6 lbf·ft	3,274	0.0364	120	4,365	Calculate
5/16-18 UNC	Grade 2	11.3 lbf·ft	8.4 lbf·ft	9.5 lbf·ft	2,163	0.0524	55	2,884	Calculate
5/16-18 UNC	Grade 5	17.4 lbf·ft	13.1 lbf·ft	14.7 lbf·ft	3,342	0.0524	85	4,457	Calculate
5/16-18 UNC	Grade 8	24.6 lbf·ft	18.4 lbf·ft	20.7 lbf·ft	4,719	0.0524	120	6,292	Calculate
5/16-24 UNF	Grade 2	12.5 lbf·ft	9.4 lbf·ft	10.2 lbf·ft	2,395	0.0581	55	3,194	Calculate
5/16-24 UNF	Grade 5	19.3 lbf·ft	14.5 lbf·ft	15.8 lbf·ft	3,702	0.0581	85	4,936	Calculate
5/16-24 UNF	Grade 8	27.2 lbf·ft	20.4 lbf·ft	22.3 lbf·ft	5,226	0.0581	120	6,968	Calculate
3/8-16 UNC	Grade 2	20.0 lbf·ft	15.0 lbf·ft	16.4 lbf·ft	3,196	0.0775	55	4,262	Calculate
3/8-16 UNC	Grade 5	30.9 lbf·ft	23.2 lbf·ft	25.3 lbf·ft	4,940	0.0775	85	6,587	Calculate
3/8-16 UNC	Grade 8	43.6 lbf·ft	32.7 lbf·ft	35.7 lbf·ft	6,974	0.0775	120	9,299	Calculate
3/8-24 UNF	Grade 2	22.6 lbf·ft	17.0 lbf·ft	17.8 lbf·ft	3,623	0.0878	55	4,831	Calculate
3/8-24 UNF	Grade 5	35.0 lbf·ft	26.2 lbf·ft	27.6 lbf·ft	5,599	0.0878	85	7,465	Calculate
3/8-24 UNF	Grade 8	49.4 lbf·ft	37.1 lbf·ft	38.9 lbf·ft	7,905	0.0878	120	10,539	Calculate
7/16-14 UNC	Grade 2	32.0 lbf·ft	24.0 lbf·ft	25.8 lbf·ft	4,385	0.1063	55	5,847	Calculate
7/16-14 UNC	Grade 5	49.4 lbf·ft	37.1 lbf·ft	39.8 lbf·ft	6,777	0.1063	85	9,036	Calculate
7/16-14 UNC	Grade 8	69.8 lbf·ft	52.3 lbf·ft	56.2 lbf·ft	9,568	0.1063	120	12,757	Calculate
7/16-20 UNF	Grade 2	35.7 lbf·ft	26.8 lbf·ft	27.8 lbf·ft	4,897	0.1187	55	6,529	Calculate
7/16-20 UNF	Grade 5	55.2 lbf·ft	41.4 lbf·ft	42.9 lbf·ft	7,568	0.1187	85	10,091	Calculate
7/16-20 UNF	Grade 8	77.9 lbf·ft	58.4 lbf·ft	60.6 lbf·ft	10,684	0.1187	120	14,246	Calculate
1/2-13 UNC	Grade 2	48.8 lbf·ft	36.6 lbf·ft	39.9 lbf·ft	5,853	0.1419	55	7,804	Calculate
1/2-13 UNC	Grade 5	75.4 lbf·ft	56.5 lbf·ft	61.7 lbf·ft	9,046	0.1419	85	12,061	Calculate
1/2-13 UNC	Grade 8	106 lbf·ft	79.8 lbf·ft	87.1 lbf·ft	12,771	0.1419	120	17,028	Calculate
1/2-20 UNF	Grade 2	55.0 lbf·ft	41.2 lbf·ft	43.3 lbf·ft	6,598	0.1600	55	8,797	Calculate
1/2-20 UNF	Grade 5	85.0 lbf·ft	63.7 lbf·ft	67.0 lbf·ft	10,197	0.1600	85	13,596	Calculate
1/2-20 UNF	Grade 8	120 lbf·ft	90.0 lbf·ft	94.5 lbf·ft	14,396	0.1600	120	19,194	Calculate
9/16-12 UNC	Grade 2	70.4 lbf·ft	52.8 lbf·ft	56.7 lbf·ft	7,505	0.1819	55	10,007	Calculate
9/16-12 UNC	Grade 5	109 lbf·ft	81.6 lbf·ft	87.6 lbf·ft	11,599	0.1819	85	15,465	Calculate
9/16-12 UNC	Grade 8	154 lbf·ft	115 lbf·ft	124 lbf·ft	16,375	0.1819	120	21,833	Calculate
9/16-18 UNF	Grade 2	78.5 lbf·ft	58.9 lbf·ft	61.0 lbf·ft	8,373	0.2030	55	11,164	Calculate
9/16-18 UNF	Grade 5	121 lbf·ft	91.0 lbf·ft	94.3 lbf·ft	12,940	0.2030	85	17,253	Calculate
9/16-18 UNF	Grade 8	171 lbf·ft	128 lbf·ft	133 lbf·ft	18,268	0.2030	120	24,358	Calculate
5/8-11 UNC	Grade 2	97.1 lbf·ft	72.8 lbf·ft	78.7 lbf·ft	9,323	0.2260	55	12,430	Calculate
5/8-11 UNC	Grade 5	150 lbf·ft	113 lbf·ft	122 lbf·ft	14,408	0.2260	85	19,210	Calculate
5/8-11 UNC	Grade 8	212 lbf·ft	159 lbf·ft	172 lbf·ft	20,340	0.2260	120	27,120	Calculate
5/8-18 UNF	Grade 2	110 lbf·ft	82.5 lbf·ft	85.5 lbf·ft	10,558	0.2560	55	14,078	Calculate
5/8-18 UNF	Grade 5	170 lbf·ft	127 lbf·ft	132 lbf·ft	16,317	0.2560	85	21,756	Calculate
5/8-18 UNF	Grade 8	240 lbf·ft	180 lbf·ft	187 lbf·ft	23,036	0.2560	120	30,715	Calculate
3/4-10 UNC	Grade 2	172 lbf·ft	129 lbf·ft	138 lbf·ft	13,797	0.3345	55	18,395	Calculate
3/4-10 UNC	Grade 5	267 lbf·ft	200 lbf·ft	213 lbf·ft	21,322	0.3345	85	28,429	Calculate
3/4-10 UNC	Grade 8	376 lbf·ft	282 lbf·ft	301 lbf·ft	30,101	0.3345	120	40,135	Calculate
3/4-16 UNF	Grade 2	192 lbf·ft	144 lbf·ft	148 lbf·ft	15,385	0.3730	55	20,513	Calculate
3/4-16 UNF	Grade 5	297 lbf·ft	223 lbf·ft	229 lbf·ft	23,776	0.3730	85	31,702	Calculate
3/4-16 UNF	Grade 8	420 lbf·ft	315 lbf·ft	324 lbf·ft	33,566	0.3730	120	44,755	Calculate
7/8-9 UNC	Grade 2	167 lbf·ft	125 lbf·ft	133 lbf·ft	11,428	0.4617	33	15,237	Calculate
7/8-9 UNC	Grade 5	429 lbf·ft	322 lbf·ft	341 lbf·ft	29,436	0.4617	85	39,247	Calculate
7/8-9 UNC	Grade 8	606 lbf·ft	455 lbf·ft	482 lbf·ft	41,556	0.4617	120	55,408	Calculate
7/8-14 UNF	Grade 2	184 lbf·ft	138 lbf·ft	141 lbf·ft	12,609	0.5095	33	16,813	Calculate
7/8-14 UNF	Grade 5	474 lbf·ft	355 lbf·ft	364 lbf·ft	32,479	0.5095	85	43,305	Calculate
7/8-14 UNF	Grade 8	669 lbf·ft	502 lbf·ft	514 lbf·ft	45,853	0.5095	120	61,137	Calculate
1-8 UNC	Grade 2	250 lbf·ft	187 lbf·ft	198 lbf·ft	14,992	0.6057	33	19,990	Calculate
1-8 UNC	Grade 5	644 lbf·ft	483 lbf·ft	510 lbf·ft	38,616	0.6057	85	51,488	Calculate
1-8 UNC	Grade 8	909 lbf·ft	681 lbf·ft	720 lbf·ft	54,517	0.6057	120	72,689	Calculate
1-12 UNF	Grade 2	274 lbf·ft	205 lbf·ft	210 lbf·ft	16,410	0.6630	33	21,880	Calculate
1-12 UNF	Grade 5	704 lbf·ft	528 lbf·ft	542 lbf·ft	42,269	0.6630	85	56,359	Calculate
1-12 UNF	Grade 8	995 lbf·ft	746 lbf·ft	765 lbf·ft	59,674	0.6630	120	79,565	Calculate
1-1/8-7 UNC	Grade 2	354 lbf·ft	266 lbf·ft	281 lbf·ft	18,891	0.7633	33	25,188	Calculate
1-1/8-7 UNC	Grade 5	794 lbf·ft	596 lbf·ft	630 lbf·ft	42,362	0.7633	74	56,482	Calculate
1-1/8-7 UNC	Grade 8	1,288 lbf·ft	966 lbf·ft	1,021 lbf·ft	68,695	0.7633	120	91,593	Calculate
1-1/8-12 UNF	Grade 2	397 lbf·ft	298 lbf·ft	303 lbf·ft	21,179	0.8557	33	28,239	Calculate
1-1/8-12 UNF	Grade 5	890 lbf·ft	668 lbf·ft	679 lbf·ft	47,493	0.8557	74	63,323	Calculate
1-1/8-12 UNF	Grade 8	1,444 lbf·ft	1,083 lbf·ft	1,101 lbf·ft	77,015	0.8557	120	102,687	Calculate
1-1/4-7 UNC	Grade 2	500 lbf·ft	375 lbf·ft	392 lbf·ft	23,986	0.9691	33	31,981	Calculate
1-1/4-7 UNC	Grade 5	1,121 lbf·ft	840 lbf·ft	879 lbf·ft	53,786	0.9691	74	71,714	Calculate
1-1/4-7 UNC	Grade 8	1,817 lbf·ft	1,363 lbf·ft	1,426 lbf·ft	87,220	0.9691	120	116,293	Calculate
1-1/4-12 UNF	Grade 2	553 lbf·ft	415 lbf·ft	419 lbf·ft	26,555	1.0729	33	35,407	Calculate
1-1/4-12 UNF	Grade 5	1,241 lbf·ft	930 lbf·ft	940 lbf·ft	59,548	1.0729	74	79,398	Calculate
1-1/4-12 UNF	Grade 8	2,012 lbf·ft	1,509 lbf·ft	1,524 lbf·ft	96,565	1.0729	120	128,753	Calculate
1-3/8-6 UNC	Grade 2	655 lbf·ft	491 lbf·ft	516 lbf·ft	28,583	1.1549	33	38,111	Calculate
1-3/8-6 UNC	Grade 5	1,469 lbf·ft	1,102 lbf·ft	1,158 lbf·ft	64,096	1.1549	74	85,461	Calculate
1-3/8-6 UNC	Grade 8	2,382 lbf·ft	1,786 lbf·ft	1,877 lbf·ft	103,939	1.1549	120	138,586	Calculate
1-3/8-12 UNF	Grade 2	746 lbf·ft	559 lbf·ft	562 lbf·ft	32,539	1.3147	33	43,386	Calculate
1-3/8-12 UNF	Grade 5	1,672 lbf·ft	1,254 lbf·ft	1,260 lbf·ft	72,967	1.3147	74	97,289	Calculate
1-3/8-12 UNF	Grade 8	2,712 lbf·ft	2,034 lbf·ft	2,043 lbf·ft	118,324	1.3147	120	157,765	Calculate
1-1/2-6 UNC	Grade 2	869 lbf·ft	652 lbf·ft	680 lbf·ft	34,780	1.4053	33	46,373	Calculate
1-1/2-6 UNC	Grade 5	1,950 lbf·ft	1,462 lbf·ft	1,524 lbf·ft	77,991	1.4053	74	103,989	Calculate
1-1/2-6 UNC	Grade 8	3,162 lbf·ft	2,371 lbf·ft	2,472 lbf·ft	126,473	1.4053	120	168,630	Calculate
1-1/2-12 UNF	Grade 2	978 lbf·ft	734 lbf·ft	734 lbf·ft	39,130	1.5810	33	52,174	Calculate
1-1/2-12 UNF	Grade 5	2,194 lbf·ft	1,645 lbf·ft	1,645 lbf·ft	87,747	1.5810	74	116,996	Calculate
1-1/2-12 UNF	Grade 8	3,557 lbf·ft	2,668 lbf·ft	2,668 lbf·ft	142,292	1.5810	120	189,723	Calculate

Source: SAE J429 (J429_201405), Table 1 (proof, yield and tensile strength by size); ASME B1.1-2019 (thread series and stress area); VDI 2230 Part 1:2015 for the thread-geometry torque. J429 covers 1/4 to 1-1/2 in. The #10 rows, marked "J429 extrapolated", use the 1/4 in strengths and are not J429 values.

Notes

A fine thread has a larger stress area and so a higher proof load and torque than the coarse thread of the same size.
Plated and waxed fasteners can be well below K 0.15. Over-torquing with a lubricated fastener is the usual way to yield a Grade 8 bolt.
Torque values are estimates. Torque control alone gives about ±25 % preload scatter.
For metric bolts see the ISO 898-1 chart. For structural bolts see the ASTM F3125 chart.