3/8-18 NPSF NPSF (Dryseal fuel, internal straight) Internal Thread Specifications

3/8-18 NPSF

ASMESTD: ASME B1.20.3SOURCE: Table 6 · p. 10TYPE: Internal (nut/tapped hole)CLASS: —SERIES: NPSF (Dryseal fuel, internal straight)TAPER 1:16
Major diameter
0.6652 – 0.6564
max – min, at the gage plane
Pitch diameter
0.62570 – 0.62050
max – min, at the gage plane
Minor diameter
0.5862 – 0.5776
max – min, at the gage plane
Pitch
0.05556
18 threads per inch

Thread profile

any plane (straight)thread axisD = 0.6652–0.6564major dia (root)E = 0.62570–0.62050pitch dia, basic 0.62701K = 0.5862–0.5776minor dia (crest)P = 0.0555660°⟂ axis30°crest flat = 0.0030–0.0050crest truncation 0.0026–0.0043root flat = 0.0050–0.0070root truncation 0.0043–0.0061H0.048113h0.041213 max0.037713 minstraight thread: pitch line parallel to the axis, bisector ⟂ axisinternal thread (female)

Internal profile over three pitches at the gage plane, drawn at maximum material (sharpest crest, flattest root); hatched bands are the truncation zones. Diameters shortened.

Thread length, taper and gage planes

faceE 0.6205–0.6257FEMALE · 3/8-18 NPSFtrue scale (lengths and diameters); axis below, not drawnfull thread 0.5000 (9.00 thd), desired min

Lengths, taper and gage planes to scale; diameters shortened. D and K at the planes are calculated with the mean truncations.

Limits of size, class —

DimensionBasicMaxMinTolerance
Major diameter DRoot of the internal thread0.66520.65640.0088
Pitch diameter EAny plane (straight thread); basic = E1 of Table 3 as read by the L1 taper plug gage0.627010.625700.620500.00520
Minor diameter KCrest of the internal thread0.58620.57760.0086
Crest truncation fcFig. 2, both threads0.00430.0026
Root truncation frFig. 2; at least the mating crest’s maximum0.00610.0043
Crest flat FcEquivalent width of flat (Fig. 2)0.0050.003
Root flat FrEquivalent width of flat (Fig. 2)0.0070.005

Dimensions in inches. Values are those of the standard (ASME B1.20.3); calculated cells follow the standard’s formulas. Where the standard prints a value that differs from its formula, the printed value is shown with a note.

Diameters along the taper D major, E pitch, K minor (Table A1 notation), inches

PlaneE basicE maxE minD basicD maxD minK basicK maxK min
Plane 1—0.625700.62050—0.66520.6564—0.58620.5776

The standard defines no basic major or minor diameter: D basic and K basic are calculated with the mean Fig. 2 truncations. On the taper every diameter changes by 0.0625 in. per inch of length.

Taper, lengths and gaging

Taper, gage and sealing para. 1.6, Fig. 1, Fig. 2

Taper on the radius
0.00000 in/in
Gage tolerance, plus / minus ±
0 / 1.5 turns
Gage reference plane
Any plane (straight thread); basic = E1 of Table 3 as read by the L1 taper plug gage
PD tolerance basis
Plus 0, minus 1-1/2 turns of the L1 gage (para. 1.6); PD limits printed in Table 6
Lead angle at the basic PD λ
1° 37′
Crest/root interference at flank contact, min – max δ
0.0000 – 0.0035 in
Recommended mating thread
NPTF external (para. 1.4.1.3, Table 1)

Basic pitch diameters and lengths

Pitch dia at the hand-tight plane E1
0.62701 in
Full internal thread Lt
0.5 in
Engagement with a PTF-SAE SHORT external thread Le
0.29 in

Notes

  • Straight internal only. Root and crest interference will not occur for all threads; for soft or ductile materials or thick sections (para. 1.4.1.3). PD limits are printed (Table 6); the taper plug gage reads about 3/8 turn larger (note a). Major and minor diameters vary with the pitch diameter (note b). There is no external straight Dryseal thread (Table 1 note 5). Limits at the gage plane are calculated: pitch diameter from the basic PD and the gage tolerance in turns x 0.0625p; major and minor diameters from the pitch-diameter limits, H = 0.866025p and the Fig. 2 truncation limits.
  • Rounding only (last digit): Table 2 PTF_ext_into_NPSF (L1+1p): printed 0.29, formula gives 0.30 (-0.01; L1 + 1p)

Mates

3/8-18 NPSF takes a thread of the same standard at the same size and pitch. The standard mating external thread is class —. Check the fit with the standard pair →

Working out the mating options…

Different pitch or a different thread family never mate; the fit check runs over both tolerance zones.

Related thread sizes

Same diameter other pitch, and neighbouring sizes

All values for 3/8-18 NPSFevery column of the workbook row
All values of the workbook row 3/8-18 NPSF
Designation3/8-18 NPSF
Alternate designation0.6750 OD-18 NPSF
Threads per inch18
Thread formDryseal 60°, straight
Series (Table 1)NPSF
Series nameDryseal USA (American) Standard Fuel Internal Straight Pipe Thread
External / internalInternal
Class—
Nominal size3/8
Pitch P (in.)0.05555556
Pipe OD D, basic size (in.)0.675
Size categoryStandard series (para. 1.2)
Source tableTable 6
Printed page10
Thread type (para. 1.2)Type 3
Gage (reference) plane for the limitsAny plane (straight thread); basic = E1 of Table 3 as read by the L1 taper plug gage
Basic pitch dia at gage plane (in.)0.62701
Gage tolerance plus (turns)0
Gage tolerance minus (turns)1.5
PD tolerance basisPlus 0, minus 1-1/2 turns of the L1 gage (para. 1.6); PD limits printed in Table 6
Major dia max, D at gage plane (in.)0.6652
Major dia min, D at gage plane (in.)0.6564
Major dia tolerance, D (in.)0.0088
Pitch dia max, E at gage plane (in.)0.62570
Pitch dia min, E at gage plane (in.)0.62050
PD tolerance, E (in.)0.00520
Minor dia max, K at gage plane (in.)0.5862
Minor dia min, K at gage plane (in.)0.5776
Minor dia tolerance, K (in.)0.0086
Allowancenone (para. 1.3.2)
Root radiusnot specified; crests and roots may be rounded within the Fig. 2 truncation limits (para. 1.6)
Lead variation ±not given in B1.20.3 (gaging, B1.20.5)
Half-angle variation ±not given in B1.20.3 (gaging, B1.20.5)
Lead angle at basic PD (deg)1.6155
Lead angle (deg min)1° 37′
Stress areanot given in the standard
Thread angle (deg)60
Flank angle (deg)30
Sharp V height H (in.)0.048113
H as printed, Fig. 2 (in.)0.04811
Thread height h max (in.)0.041213
Thread height h min (in.)0.037713
Crest truncation min (in.)0.0026
Crest truncation max (in.)0.0043
Root truncation min (in.)0.0043
Root truncation max (in.)0.0061
Crest flat min (in.)0.003
Crest flat max (in.)0.005
Root flat min (in.)0.005
Root flat max (in.)0.007
Sweep cut: start diameter at gage plane (in.)0.5776
Sweep cut: tip diameter at gage plane (in.)0.6564
Sweep cut: depth (in.)0.03940
Sweep cut: tip flat (in.)0.0070
Sweep cut: profile width at start diameter (in.)0.05250
Crest flat as modelled (in.)0.00306
Sweep cut: taper on diameter (in./in.)0.0000
Check against formulasRounding only (last digit): Table 2 PTF_ext_into_NPSF (L1+1p): printed 0.29, formula gives 0.30 (-0.01; L1 + 1p)
NotesStraight internal only. Root and crest interference will not occur for all threads; for soft or ductile materials or thick sections (para. 1.4.1.3). PD limits are printed (Table 6); the taper plug gage reads about 3/8 turn larger (note a). Major and minor diameters vary with the pitch diameter (note b). There is no external straight Dryseal thread (Table 1 note 5). Limits at the gage plane are calculated: pitch diameter from the basic PD and the gage tolerance in turns x 0.0625p; major and minor diameters from the pitch-diameter limits, H = 0.866025p and the Fig. 2 truncation limits.
Taper on diameter (in./in.)0.0000
Half apex angle of pitch cone β (deg)0.0000
Taper on radius (in./in.), 1 in 320.00000
E1: PD at hand-tight plane (in.)0.62701
Plane 1: distance from small end (ext) or face (int) (in.)0.0000
E1 max (in.)0.62570
E1 min (in.)0.62050
D1 max: major dia at plane 1 (in.)0.6652
D1 min (in.)0.6564
K1 max: minor dia at plane 1 (in.)0.5862
K1 min (in.)0.5776
Distance x measured fromany plane (straight)
PD change along x (+1 grows, −1 shrinks, 0 straight)0
Length of full internal thread (in.)0.5
Full internal thread (threads)9
Crest/root interference at flank contact, min (radial, in.)0.0000
Crest/root interference at flank contact, max (radial, in.)0.0035
Table 2: engagement with NPTF external (in.)0.35
Table 2: engagement with PTF-SAE SHORT external (in.)0.29
Table B1: probable drill oversize cut (in.)0.0049
Table B1: minor dia at L1 from large end / straight minor (in.)0.5776
Table B1: theoretical drill, no reamer / straight (in.)0.5727
Table B1: suggested drill, no reamer / straight37/64 (0.578)
Recommended mating thread (Table 1, C.3)NPTF external (para. 1.4.1.3, Table 1)
Lookup key3/8-18 NPSF | Internal

ASME B1.20.3: Dryseal Pipe Threads, Inch. Source: workbook data (2026-10-10). Confirm against your licensed copy of the standard before use.