M12 bolt torque

An M12 x 1.75 bolt takes 88.0 N·m in class 8.8, 126 in 10.9 and 147 in 12.9, dry, at 75% of proof load (65, 93 and 109 ft-lb). Fine pitches take a little more. Oiled threads take a quarter less.

Sources checked

Torque at 75% of proof load.

Units
ThreadClassDryK 0.20Zinc platedK 0.20OiledK 0.15WaxedK 0.10Clamp load
M12 x 1.75coarseClass 4.625.234.125.234.118.925.612.617.13,198 lbf14.2 kN
Class 8.864.988.064.988.048.766.032.544.08,244 lbf36.7 kN
Class 10.992.912692.912669.794.546.463.011,797 lbf52.5 kN
Class 12.910914710914781.411054.373.613,787 lbf61.3 kN
M12 x 1.5fineClass 4.626.335.726.335.719.726.813.217.83,342 lbf14.9 kN
Class 8.867.892.067.892.050.969.033.946.08,615 lbf38.3 kN
Class 10.997.113297.113272.898.748.565.812,329 lbf54.8 kN
Class 12.911315411315485.111556.776.914,409 lbf64.1 kN
M12 x 1.25fineClass 4.627.537.327.537.320.628.013.818.73,494 lbf15.5 kN
Class 8.870.996.270.996.253.272.135.548.19,007 lbf40.1 kN
Class 10.910113810113876.110350.768.812,889 lbf57.3 kN
Class 12.911916111916189.012159.380.415,063 lbf67.0 kN

Work out M12 torque

Change grade, threads or preload

Bolt standard

As received, nothing added. K 0.20 (Portland Bolt, Fastenal).

% of proof load

The published charts use 75%.

M12 x 1.75 Class 8.8, dry, plain steel

64.9ft-lb88.0N·m

02040608004080120ft-lbN·m
Clamp load
8,244 lbf (36.7 kN)
Proof load
48.9 kN

The working

  1. Tensile stress area. A = π/4 × (d − 0.9382 × P)² = π/4 × (12 − 0.9382 × 1.75)² = 84.3 mm²
  2. Proof load. Class 8.8 proof stress is 580 MPa, so A × stress = 48,894 N.
  3. Clamp load. 75% of proof load = 36,671 N.
  4. Torque. T = K × D × F = 0.2 × 12 mm × 36.67 kN = 88.0 N·m (64.9 ft-lb).

Where the M12 x 1.75 numbers come from

The M12 x 1.75 coarse thread has a tensile stress area of 84.3 mm². A Class 10.9 bolt’s proof stress is 830 MPa, so its proof load is 69,969 N, and 75% of that is a clamp load of 52,477 N.

Torque = K × D × F = 0.20 × 12 mm × 52.48 kN = 126 N·m (92.9 ft-lb) dry. With oil (K 0.15) it’s 94.5 N·m (69.7 ft-lb).

Other sizes

All sizes on one page: the metric bolt torque chart.

Questions

What torque for an M12 x 1.75 Class 10.9 bolt?

126 N·m (92.9 ft-lb) dry and 94.5 N·m (69.7 ft-lb) oiled, at 75% of proof load. That clamps the joint with 11,797 lbf (52.5 kN).

What torque for an M12 x 1.75 Class 8.8 bolt?

88.0 N·m (64.9 ft-lb) dry, at 75% of proof load; a quarter less with oiled threads.

Coarse or fine thread?

Use whichever the bolt has. The fine M12 x 1.5 thread has a bigger stress area than the coarse one, so it takes slightly more torque for the same clamp. A thread gauge settles it.

Does this apply to wheel nuts or engine bolts?

No. Use the vehicle maker’s value for those: see lug nut torque by vehicle. These numbers are for general-purpose steel bolts where no spec exists.

Sources

  1. Fastenal: Mechanical properties per ISO 898-1 (externally threaded fasteners): proof stress by property class (checked October 14, 2026)
  2. Engineering Toolbox: Metric bolts: minimum ultimate tensile and proof loads, with ISO 898-1 stress areas (checked October 14, 2026)
  3. Engineering Toolbox: ISO 724 metric threads: coarse and fine pitches with tensile stress areas (checked October 14, 2026)
  4. Engineering Toolbox: Threaded bolts: tensile stress area formulas for unified and ISO metric threads (checked October 14, 2026)
  5. Fastenal: Torque–tension relationship for metric fasteners, property classes 4.6, 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9 (checked October 14, 2026)
  6. Portland Bolt: Bolt torque chart: T = KDP at 75% of proof load, with K for plain, waxed and galvanized bolts (checked October 14, 2026)

Spotted a number that doesn’t match your manual or a source? Tell us; corrections are logged on the sources page.