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Thread Standards
To ensure compatibility and ease of maintenance, threads are standardized. For existing and new applications, it is necessary to identify
the thread type to guarantee a proper connection of the joint.

Thread Design Thread Compatibility Chart

Table of Contents
Common Thread Standards

BSP - British Standard Pipe

NP – National (American) Pipe Thread

M – Metric Thread (ISO)

How to identify an unknown thread type?

Thread Compatibility

Additional Information

Common Thread Standards

BSP – British Standard Pipe

The BSP, or Whitworth thread, is a family of thread standards that has been adopted internationally, except in the United States. This
thread form is based on a 55° V-thread with rounded roots and crests, as seen in Figure 1. For a thread that conforms to BSP, the major
diameter of the pipe thread is slightly smaller than the actual OD of the pipe, and the minor diameter will be very close to (smaller than)
the inside diameter of the female thread. There are two types of BSP threads:

1) BSPP: Both the male and female threads are parallel. BSPP connections are widely used in UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand
and South Africa. Sizes can be seen in Table 1.

2) BSPT: The male threads are tapered and the female threads are commonly parallel. BSPT connections are especially popular in China
and Japan. Sizes can be seen in Table 2.

Figure 1: A BSPP thread pro le (left) and a BSPT thread pro le (right)

BSP threads are identi ed with letters each of which represents the type of thread and their associated standards1:

G: external and internal parallel (ISO 228, DIN 259) - BSPP

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R: external taper (ISO 7, EN 10226, BS 21, JIS B 0203) - BSPT

Rp: Internal parallel (ISO 7-1, EN 10226) - BSPT

Rc: internal taper (ISO 7) - BSPT

Rs: external parallel (BS 21) - BSPT- Obsolete

1
ISO 7: Pipe threads where pressure-tight joints are made on the threads. ISO 228: Pipe threads where pressure-tight joints are not made on
the threads.

Labeling Example: EN 10226 Rp 2 ½

This refers to a British Standard Pipe thread tapered (EN 10226) with an internal parallel form (Rp) and a nominal size of 2 ½.

The actual sizes of the most commonly used BSP threads are listed in Table 1 and Table 2 for BSPP and BSPT threads respectively. Table 3
provides data on pipe sizes associated with these threads.

Note: Each thread size is identi ed with a number which has little to do with the actual size of the thread. This discrepancy originates from
amendments in industrial practices and standardisation throughout the history of standardisation of pipe threads.  Therefore, always
compare measurements with actual sizes listed in the tables.

Table 1: BSPP (G) – British Standard Pipe Parallel

Nominal Thread Size Major Diameter (mm) Minor Diameter (mm) TPI (in-1)

G 1/16 7.723 6.561 28

G 1/8 9.728 8.566 28

G 1/4 13.157 11.445 19

G 3/8 16.662 14.950 19

G 1/2 20.955 18.631 14

G 3/4 26.441 24.117 14

G1 33.249 30.291 11

G2 59.614 56.656 11

Table 2: BSPT (R/Rp) – British Standard Pipe Tapered

Nominal Male Tapered Thread Nominal Female Parallel Thread Major Diameter Minor Female Diameter TPI
Size (inch) Size (inch) (mm) (mm) (in-1)

R 1/16 RP 1/16 7.723 6.490 28

R 1/8 RP 1/8 9.728 8.495 28

R 1/4 Rp 1/4 13.157 11.341 19

R 3/8 Rp 3/8 16.662 14.846 19

R 1/2 Rp 1/2 20.955 18.489 14

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R 3/4 Rp 3/4 26.441 23.975 14

R1 Rp 1 33.249 30.111 11

R2 Rp 2 59.614 56.476 11

Table 3: British Standard Pipe Dimensions for Standard Thread Sizes

Nominal G / R size (in) Corresponding Pipe

DN (mm) Actual OD (mm) Wall (mm)

1/16 3

1/8 6 10.2 2

1/4 8 13.5 2.3

3/8 10 17.2 2.3

1/2 15 21.3 2.6

3/4 20 26.9 2.6

1 25 33.7 3.2

2 50 60.3 3.6

NP – National (American) Pipe Thread

The American national pipe thread was created based on a 60° V-
thread with attened peaks and valleys (Figure 2) and is widely
used in the US and Canada. There are two types of NP threads:

1) NPS: Straight threads, meaning the male and female threads

are parallel.
Figure 2: NPT thread pro le
2) NPT: Tapered threads, meaning the male and female threads
are tapered. NPT threads are more commonly used. NPT
Thread speci cations are based on ANSI B1.20.1 and the threads sizes can be seen in Table 4.

Table 4: NPT – National (American) Pipe Thread Tapered

Nominal Thread Size (inch) Major Diameter (mm) TPI (in-1)

1/16 7.950 27

1/8 10.287 27

1/4 13.716 18

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3/8 17.145 18

1/2 21.336 14

3/4 26.670 14

1 33.401 11.5

2 60.325 11.5

Labeling Example: 3/8 - 18 NPT

National pipe threads are designated with their nominal size (3/8) followed by number of threads per inch (18) and the symbol for the
thread series (NPT).

Note: NPS (National Pipe Straight) is not to be confused with NPS (Nominal Pipe Size) which is an American set of standards for pipes. For
a given outside diameter, NPS (Nominal Pipe Size) provides multiple pipe schedules (wall thicknesses) while the pipe thread pro le remains
the same among them.

M – Metric Thread (ISO)

The Metric Thread is one of the rst internationally agreed general-
purpose thread type. The V-shaped thread form has a 60° ank angle
and male and female threads are both parallel (Figure 3). Metric
Threads come in di erent pitch sizes for a given diameter: coarse
pitch and ne pitches. Coarse threads have the default pitch size
whereas ne threads have smaller pitch sizes and are used less often. Figure 3: Metric Thread pro le
As a result, coarse threads are identi ed by diameter only while ne
threads are recognized by diameter as well as pitch size.

Metric threads come in two di erent pitch sizes for a given diameter:

1) Coarse Pitch: These have the default pitch size according to Table 5 and are the most commonly used. They adhere to ISO 724 (DIN
13-1).

2) Fine Pitch: These have a smaller pitch size and in the labeling they require the diameter of the pitch size. They adhere to ISO 724 (DIN
13-2 to 11).

Labeling Example: M8
This refers to a metric coarse thread with a diameter of 8 mm (which with reference  Table 5, corresponds to a pitch size of 1 mm)

Labeling Example: M4 x 0.5

This indicates a ne thread with a diameter of 4 mm and a pitch size of 0.5 mm. 

M 10M 10

Table 5: Metric Threads (Coarse)

Thread Size (mm) Major Diameter (mm) Minor Diameter (mm) Pitch (mm)

M3 2.98 2.459 0.5

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M4 3.978 3.242 0.7

M5 4.976 4.134 0.8

M6 5.976 4.917 1

M8 7.974 6.917 1

M 10 9.968 8.376 1.5

M 12 11.97 10.106 1.75

M 16 15.96 13.835 2

M 20 19.96 17.294 2.5

M 24 23.95 20.752 3

How to identify an unknown thread type?

To identify an unknown thread, verify the following:

Gender: Male or female.

Taper: Parallel or tapered. This can be determined whether by

visual inspection or by measuring the diameter of the thread
at the beginning and the end via a caliper.

Thread Diameter: For male threads, measure the major

diameter and for female threads measure the minor diameter.
Note that this diameter will always be di erent from the Figure 4: Pitch gauge

nominal size of the thread.

Thread Pitch: For this purpose, a pitch gauge can be used (Figure 4). Make sure to measure multiple samples to con rm accurate
pitch. If a pitch gauge is not available, count the number of threads in a 1-inch span (TPI) and the reciprocal is your thread pitch in
inches. If you are skeptical that the thread is metric, count the number of threads in a 10-mm span. The reciprocal of this number is
your pitch size in mm.

Check Tables 1-5 to nd a matching actual diameter corresponding to a nominal thread size. Con rm thread pitch or TPI with the values
corresponding to that diameter.

Thread Compatibility
Although some BSP and NPT threads might be tightened and engaged together fairly well, pitch and thread angle di erences between
them will allow spiral leakage. Speci cally speaking, at 1/16”, 1/8”, 1/4”and 3/8” sizes, pitch di erence results in misalignment of the threads.
This misalignment might result in the threads to be fastened only partially. However, at 1/2” and 3/4” sizes, NPT and BSP have the same
pitch which will allow them to engage well. Nevertheless, since there are di erences in thread forms and thread angles, there will still be
issues with this connection. For low end applications, if an appropriate thread sealant is used, these threads might be used together
e ectively. Table 6 shows the compatibility of threads and the required seal type to be used as a reference for your application.

Table 6: Thread Compatibility Chart

My Designation Matching Designation Seal Type Notes

Fitting Fitting
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BSPP G BSPP G O- Rs or NPT male threads are incorrect installations here. Rs

Parallel Parallel ring/washer threads are slightly smaller than G threads, and NPT threads
Female male have a di erent form.

BSPT R Tape/pipe
taper dope
male

BSPT Rp BSPT R Tape/pipe G threads are incorrect installation here as they have
Parallel taper dope di erent tolerances.
Female male

BSPT Rc BSPT Rs Tape/pipe Inserting an NPT male here is an incorrect installation, as

Taper parallel dope NPT threads have a di erent form.
Female male

BSPT R Tape/pipe
taper dope
male

NP Taper NPT NP taper NPT Tape/pipe BSP threads are not to be used with NPT threads even if the
Female male dope threads seem to engage fairly well.

NP NPS NP NPS O- NPT thread is an incorrect installation here as sealing is not

Parallel parallel ring/washer possible.
Female male

Additional Information
Click one of the links below for more information:

Thread Design Technical Information Center Contact Technical Support

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