Technical Data

Suggested Tightening Torque1 Values To Produce Corresponding Bolt Clamping Loads

SAE Grade 2 Bolts
Size

Proof
Load

D (in.)

A (sq. in.) (min psi)

(psi)

74,000

55,000

Clamp2 Tightening Torque Tensile

Load
Dry
Lub. Strength
P (lb.)

K=0.20 K=0.15

240
280
380
420
580

lb. in. lb. in.

5
4
6
5
10
8
12
9
19
14

4-40
4-48
6-32
6-40
8-32

0.1120
0.1120
0.1380
0.1380
0.1640

0.00604
0.00661
0.00909
0.01015
0.01400

8-36
10-24
10-32
1/4-20
1/4-28

0.1640
0.1900
0.1900
0.2500
0.2500

0.01474
0.01750
0.02000
0.0318
0.0364

600
720
820
1320
1500

5/16-18
5/16-24
3/8-16
3/8-24
7/16-14

0.3125
0.3125
0.3750
0.3750
0.4375

0.0524
0.0580
0.0775
0.0878
0.1063

7/16-20
1/2-13
1/2-20
9/16-12
9/16-18

0.4375
0.5000
0.5000
0.5625
0.5625

5/8-11
5/8-18
3/4-10
3/4-16
7/8-9

Proof
Load

(min psi)

120,000

(psi)

85,000

Clamp2 Tightening Torque

Load
Dry
Lub.
P (lb.)

K=0.20 K=0.15

380
420
580
640
900

lb. in. lb. in.

8
6
9
7
16
12
18
13
30
22

15
21
23
49
56
lb. ft.
8
9
15
17
24

940
1120
1285
2020
2320

2160
2400
3200
3620
4380

20
27
31
66
76
lb. ft.
11
12
20
23
30

0.1187
0.1419
0.1599
0.1820
0.2030

4900
5840
6600
7500
8400

35
50
55
70
80

0.6250
0.6250
0.7500
0.7500
0.8750

0.2260
0.2560
0.3340
0.3730
0.4620

9300
10600
13800
15400
11400

7/8-14
1-8
1-12
1-1/8-7
1-1/8-12

0.8750
1.0000
1.0000
1.1250
1.1250

0.5090
0.6060
0.6630
0.7630
0.8560

1-1/4-7
1-1/4-12
1-3/8-6
1-3/8-12
1-1/2-6

1.2500
1.2500
1.3750
1.3750
1.5000

1-1/2-12

1.5000

P (lb.)

K=0.20 K=0.15

P (lb.)

K=0.20 K=0.15

480
520
720
800
1100

lb. in. lb. in.

11
8
12
9
20
15
22
17
36
27

540
600
820
920
1260

lb. in. lb. in.

12
9
13
10
23
17
25
19
41
31

1160
1380
1580
2500
2860

3340
3700
4940
5600
6800

23
32
36
75
86
lb. ft.
13
14
23
25
35

25
35
40
55
60

7550
9050
10700
11600
12950

55
75
90
110
120

100
110
175
195
165

75
85
130
145
125

14400
16300
21300
23800
29400

12600
15000
16400
18900
21200

185
250
270
350
400

140
190
200
270
300

0.9690
1.0730
1.1550
1.3150
1.4050

24000
26600
28600
32500
34800

500
550
660
740
870

1.5800

39100

980

33,000

29
39
45
96
108
lb. ft.
16
18
30
45
45

1320
1580
1800
2860
3280

4120
4560
6100
6900
8400

38
52
60
120
144
lb. ft.
21
24
40
45
60

40
55
65
80
90

9350
11200
12600
14350
16000

70
95
100
135
150

150
170
260
300
430

110
130
200
220
320

17800
20150
26300
29400
36400

32400
38600
42200
42300
47500

470
640
700
800
880

350
480
530
600
660

380
420
490
560
650

53800
59600
64100
73000
78000

1120
1240
1460
1680
1940

730

87700

2200

1. Tightening torque values are calculated from the formula

T = KDP, where T = tightening torque, lb-in.; K = torque-friction
coefficient; D = nominal bolt diameter, in.; and P = bolt clamping
load developed by tightening. lb.
2. Clamp load is also known as preload or initial load in tension on
bolt. Clamp load (lb.) is calculated by arbitrarily assuming usable
bolt strength is 75% of bolt proof load (psi) times tensile stress area
(sq. in.) of threaded section of each bolt size. Higher or lower values
of clamp load can be used depending on the application requirements and the judgement of the designer.
3. Tensile strength (min psi) of all Grade 7 bolts is 133,000. Proof
load is 105,000 psi.
4. Tensile strength (min psi) of all Grade 8 bolts is 150,000 psi.
Proof load is 120,000 psi.
Ref.: Fastening Reference. Machine Design. Nov. 1977.

Bolt Clamping Force

vs.
Tightening Torque
for
Unlubricated Steel Bolts.

105,000

74,000

4720
5220
7000
7900
9550

43
60
68
144
168
lb. ft.
25
25
45
50
70

32
45
51
108
120
lb. ft.
18
20
35
35
55

50
70
80
100
110

10700
12750
14400
16400
18250

80
110
120
150
170

60
80
90
110
130

190
210
320
360
520

140
160
240
280
400

20350
23000
30100
33600
41600

220
240
380
420
600

170
180
280
320
460

40100
47700
52200
60100
67400

580
800
860
1120
1260

440
600
660
840
940

45800
54500
59700
68700
77000

660
900
1000
1280
1440

500
680
740
960
1080

840
920
1100
1260
1460

76300
84500
91000
104000
111000

1580
1760
2080
2380
2780

1100
1320
1560
1780
2080

87200
96600
104000
118400
126500

1820
2000
2380
2720
3160

1360
1500
1780
2040
2360

1640

124005 3100

2320

142200

3560

2660

10,000
9,000
5/8"-11

8,000
1/2"- 13

7,000

3/4"-10

6,000
3/8"-16

5,000

4,000

5/16" -18

CATALOG 13

60,000

SAE Grade 84

Clamp2 Tightening Torque Clamp2 Tightening Torque

Load
Dry
Lub.
Load
Dry
Lub.

31
43
49
96
120
lb. ft.
17
19
30
35
50

Notes:

3,000

2,000

1,000
0
0

D48

SAE Grade 73

SAE Grade 5 Bolts

Bolt Clamping Force (lbs.)

Bolt
Dia.

Tensile
Stress Tensile
Area Strength

100

200

300

400
500
600
700
Tightening Torque (inch-lbs.)

800

900

1000