#5 drill size
A #5 number (wire-gauge) drill is 0.2055 in (5.220 mm).
- Decimal inch
- 0.2055
- Millimeters
- 5.220
- Nearest 1/64
- 13/64" (+0.0024)
- Type
- number (wire-gauge) drill
Nearest equivalents in other systems
| System | Drill | Inch | mm | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional | 13/64" | 0.2031 | 5.159 | -0.0024 in |
| Metric | 5.2 mm | 0.2047 | 5.200 | -0.0008 in |
Speeds and feeds: in mild steel an HSS drill starts at about 1,670 RPM and 0.0052 in/rev (8.68 IPM); in 6061 aluminum about 4,650 RPM.
#5 drill speeds and feeds by material
Jobber-length twist drill, D = 0.2055 in. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D, rounded to 10. Feed per rev scales with diameter and material; IPM = RPM × IPR.
| Material | HSS SFM | HSS RPM | Carbide SFM | Carbide RPM | Feed (in/rev) | HSS IPM | Carbide IPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum (6061) | 250 | 4,650 | 600 | 11,150 | 0.0049 | 22.8 | 54.6 |
| Brass / free-machining | 150 | 2,790 | 400 | 7,430 | 0.0042 | 11.7 | 31.2 |
| Low-carbon steel (1018) | 90 | 1,670 | 300 | 5,580 | 0.0052 | 8.68 | 29.0 |
| Alloy steel (4140, annealed) | 70 | 1,300 | 250 | 4,650 | 0.0052 | 6.76 | 24.2 |
| Stainless 304 | 40 | 740 | 150 | 2,790 | 0.0034 | 2.52 | 9.49 |
| Gray cast iron | 80 | 1,490 | 250 | 4,650 | 0.0035 | 5.22 | 16.3 |
| Titanium 6Al-4V | 25 | 460 | 100 | 1,860 | 0.0025 | 1.15 | 4.65 |
| Plastics (acetal) | 300 | 5,580 | 500 | 9,290 | 0.0044 | 24.6 | 40.9 |
Metric: Vc (m/min) = SFM × 0.3048; feed (mm/rev) = in/rev × 25.4. In steel, 1,670 RPM × 0.132 mm/rev = 221 mm/min.
Worked example: #5 drill in 1018 steel
- HSS drill in low-carbon steel: 90 SFM.
- RPM = 3.82 × 90 ÷ 0.2055 ≈ 1,670 RPM.
- Feed for a 0.205 in drill in mild steel ≈ 0.0052 in/rev.
- IPM = 1,670 × 0.0052 = 8.68 IPM.
Peck cycle by hole depth
| Depth | Cycle | Peck | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3×D = 0.616 in (15.7 mm) | G81 (no peck) | None | Up to 3×D a sharp drill clears chips on its own. |
| 5×D = 1.027 in (26.1 mm) | G73 chip-break | 1 × D | Chip-break pecks; full retract if chips pack (soft aluminum, stainless). |
| 8×D = 1.644 in (41.8 mm) | G83 full retract | 0.5-1 × D, shrinking with depth | Retract to clear chips; reduce feed ~10-20% past 5×D. |
Taps that use a #5 drill
No standard UNC, UNF or metric tap in our tables calls for a #5 drill. Use it for clearance, pilot or reamer prep holes.
Nearest drills
- 5.2 mm: 0.2047 in / 5.200 mm (-0.0008 in)
- #6: 0.2040 in / 5.182 mm (-0.0015 in)
- 13/64": 0.2031 in / 5.159 mm (-0.0024 in)
- 5.3 mm: 0.2087 in / 5.300 mm (+0.0032 in)
Common questions
- What is a #5 drill in decimal and mm?
- 0.2055 in, or 5.220 mm; nearest fractional drill: 13/64" (0.2031 in, -0.0024 in); nearest metric drill: 5.2 mm (0.2047 in, -0.0008 in).
- What RPM for a #5 drill in steel?
- In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS #5 drill (0.2055 in) runs about 1,670 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 5,580 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.
- What feed for a #5 drill?
- About 0.0052 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0049 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0034 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 1,670 RPM that is 8.68 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).
- What RPM for a #5 drill in aluminum?
- 4,650 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 11,150 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0049 in/rev.
- What size is a #5 drill?
- 0.2055 in / 5.220 mm. The nearest other drills are 5.2 mm (0.2047 in), #6 (0.2040 in), 13/64" (0.2031 in).
Nearby drill sizes
Sources
- Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed., Speeds and Feeds for Drilling, Reaming and Threading (Tables 17-23) — HSS and carbide drilling SFM (rounded).
- RedLine Tools (Productivity Inc.) catalog p. 340, Cobalt & HSS Drills Speeds & Feeds — feed per rev by drill diameter and material (middle of the catalog range).
- ASME B94.11M twist drills: number (#1-#80) and letter (A-Z) drill sizes; drill size reference.
Material feed multipliers (aluminum 1.3×, brass 1.1×, 4140 0.85×, stainless and titanium 0.7× the mild-steel feed) are JobLine estimates. Peck guidance is JobLine shop practice. Use your drill maker's data first.
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