What is a #60 drill in decimal and mm?

0.0400 in, or 1.016 mm; nearest fractional drill: 3/64" (0.0469 in, +0.0069 in); nearest metric drill: 1.0 mm (0.0394 in, -0.0006 in).

What RPM for a #60 drill in steel?

In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS #60 drill (0.0400 in) runs about 8,590 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 28,650 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.

What feed for a #60 drill?

About 0.0009 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0009 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0006 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 8,590 RPM that is 7.73 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).

What RPM for a #60 drill in aluminum?

23,870 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 57,300 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0009 in/rev.

What size is a #60 drill?

0.0400 in / 1.016 mm. The nearest other drills are 1.0 mm (0.0394 in), #61 (0.0390 in), #59 (0.0410 in).

#60 drill size

A #60 number (wire-gauge) drill is 0.0400 in (1.016 mm).

Decimal inch: 0.0400
Millimeters: 1.016
Nearest 1/64: 3/64" (-0.0069)
Type: number (wire-gauge) drill

Nearest equivalents in other systems

Drills closest to #60
System	Drill	Inch	mm	Difference
Fractional	3/64"	0.0469	1.191	+0.0069 in
Metric	1.0 mm	0.0394	1.000	-0.0006 in

Speeds and feeds: in mild steel an HSS drill starts at about 8,590 RPM and 0.0009 in/rev (7.73 IPM); in 6061 aluminum about 23,870 RPM.

#60 drill speeds and feeds by material

Jobber-length twist drill, D = 0.0400 in. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D, rounded to 10. Feed per rev scales with diameter and material; IPM = RPM × IPR.

#60 drilling speeds
Material	HSS SFM	HSS RPM	Carbide SFM	Carbide RPM	Feed (in/rev)	HSS IPM	Carbide IPM
Aluminum (6061)	250	23,870	600	57,300	0.0009	21.5	51.6
Brass / free-machining	150	14,320	400	38,200	0.0008	11.5	30.6
Low-carbon steel (1018)	90	8,590	300	28,650	0.0009	7.73	25.8
Alloy steel (4140, annealed)	70	6,680	250	23,870	0.0009	6.01	21.5
Stainless 304	40	3,820	150	14,320	0.0006	2.29	8.59
Gray cast iron	80	7,640	250	23,870	0.0006	4.58	14.3
Titanium 6Al-4V	25	2,390	100	9,550	0.0005	1.20	4.78
Plastics (acetal)	300	28,650	500	47,750	0.0016	45.8	76.4

Small drills: the computed RPM is above most spindles. Run at your spindle's maximum and keep the feed per rev; feed drops in proportion.

Metric: Vc (m/min) = SFM × 0.3048; feed (mm/rev) = in/rev × 25.4. In steel, 8,590 RPM × 0.023 mm/rev = 196 mm/min.

Worked example: #60 drill in 1018 steel

HSS drill in low-carbon steel: 90 SFM.
RPM = 3.82 × 90 ÷ 0.0400 ≈ 8,590 RPM.
Feed for a 0.040 in drill in mild steel ≈ 0.0009 in/rev.
IPM = 8,590 × 0.0009 = 7.73 IPM.

Peck cycle by hole depth

#60 drill: depth and canned cycle
Depth	Cycle	Peck	Note
3×D = 0.120 in (3 mm)	G81 (no peck)	None	Up to 3×D a sharp drill clears chips on its own.
5×D = 0.200 in (5.1 mm)	G73 chip-break	1 × D	Chip-break pecks; full retract if chips pack (soft aluminum, stainless).
8×D = 0.320 in (8.1 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 #60 drill

No standard UNC, UNF or metric tap in our tables calls for a #60 drill. Use it for clearance, pilot or reamer prep holes.

Nearest drills

1.0 mm: 0.0394 in / 1.000 mm (-0.0006 in)
#61: 0.0390 in / 0.991 mm (-0.0010 in)
#59: 0.0410 in / 1.041 mm (+0.0010 in)
1.05 mm: 0.0413 in / 1.050 mm (+0.0013 in)

Drill speed calculator, prefilled for #60 Drill finder: sizes near #60 Number drill chart Decimal equivalent chart

Common questions

What is a #60 drill in decimal and mm?: 0.0400 in, or 1.016 mm; nearest fractional drill: 3/64" (0.0469 in, +0.0069 in); nearest metric drill: 1.0 mm (0.0394 in, -0.0006 in).
What RPM for a #60 drill in steel?: In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS #60 drill (0.0400 in) runs about 8,590 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 28,650 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.
What feed for a #60 drill?: About 0.0009 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0009 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0006 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 8,590 RPM that is 7.73 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).
What RPM for a #60 drill in aluminum?: 23,870 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 57,300 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0009 in/rev.
What size is a #60 drill?: 0.0400 in / 1.016 mm. The nearest other drills are 1.0 mm (0.0394 in), #61 (0.0390 in), #59 (0.0410 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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