04.10.

23 12:21 IT Grade - Wikipedia

IT Grade
IT grade(s) refer to an internationally accepted code system for tolerances on linear dimensions. Such code systems may be used to
produce interchangeable parts. In engineering, the word tolerance refers to a range of allowable dimensions or values. Standard
tolerance grades are a group of tolerances for linear sizes characterized by a common identifier. For SI measurements, a system of
tolerance grades defined in ISO 286 is frequently used and identified by the letters IT followed by a number specifying how precise the
requirements are, relative to the nominal size of a part.

For example, IT14 refers to a group of tolerances used in manufacturing. For a part dimensioned at 10 mm, IT14 allows for up to 0.36
mm of variation in size. As the IT grade number increases, the tolerances increase; similarly, for larger nominal sizes, the standard
tolerances increase. For a part dimensioned at 100 mm, IT14 allows for up to 0.87 mm of variation in size.

Definition
The ISO 286 defines the international tolerances grades for nominal sizes up to 3.15 meters as follows:[1]

ISO 286 - Table 1

Nominal size International tolerance grade

> ≤ IT01 IT0 IT1 IT2 IT3 IT4 IT5 IT6 IT7 IT8 IT9 IT10 IT11 IT12 IT13 IT14 IT15 IT16 IT17 IT18

mm tolerance in μm tolerance in mm

0 3 0.3 0.5 0.8 1.2 2.0 3 4 6 10 14 25 40 60 0.10 0.14 0.25 0.40 0.60 1.00 1.40
3 6 0.4 0.6 1.0 1.5 2.5 4 5 8 12 18 30 48 75 0.12 0.18 0.30 0.48 0.75 1.20 1.80

6 10 0.4 0.6 1.0 1.5 2.5 4 6 9 15 22 36 58 90 0.15 0.22 0.36 0.58 0.90 1.50 2.20

10 18 0.5 0.8 1.2 2.0 3 5 8 11 18 27 43 70 110 0.18 0.27 0.43 0.70 1.10 1.80 2.70
18 30 0.6 1.0 1.5 2.5 4 6 9 13 21 33 52 84 130 0.21 0.33 0.52 0.84 1.30 2.10 3.30

30 50 0.6 1.0 1.5 2.5 4 7 11 16 25 39 62 100 160 0.25 0.39 0.62 1.00 1.60 2.50 3.90
50 80 0.8 1.2 2.0 3 5 8 13 19 30 46 74 120 190 0.30 0.46 0.74 1.20 1.90 3.00 4.60

80 120 1.0 1.5 2.5 4 6 10 15 22 35 54 87 140 220 0.35 0.54 0.87 1.40 2.20 3.50 5.40

120 180 1.2 2 3.5 5 8 12 18 25 40 63 100 160 250 0.40 0.63 1.00 1.60 2.50 4.00 6.30
180 250 2.0 3 4.5 7 10 14 20 29 46 72 115 185 290 0.46 0.72 1.15 1.85 2.90 4.60 7.20

250 315 2.5 4 6 8 12 16 23 32 52 81 130 210 320 0.52 0.81 1.30 2.10 3.20 5.20 8.10

315 400 3 5 7 9 13 18 25 36 57 89 140 230 360 0.57 0.89 1.40 2.30 3.60 5.70 8.90
400 500 4 6 8 10 15 20 27 40 63 97 155 250 400 0.63 0.97 1.55 2.50 4.00 6.30 9.70

500 630 9 11 16 22 32 44 70 110 175 280 440 0.70 1.10 1.75 2.80 4.40 7.00 11.00

630 800 10 13 18 25 36 50 80 125 200 320 500 0.80 1.25 2.00 3.20 5.00 8.00 12.50
800 1,000 11 15 21 28 40 56 90 140 230 360 560 0.90 1.40 2.30 3.60 5.60 9.00 14.00

1,000 1,250 13 18 24 33 47 66 105 165 260 420 660 1.05 1.65 2.60 4.20 6.60 10.50 16.50

1,250 1,600 15 21 29 39 55 78 125 195 310 500 780 1.25 1.95 3.10 5.00 7.80 12.50 19.50
1,600 2,000 18 25 35 46 65 92 150 230 370 600 920 1.50 2.30 3.70 6.00 9.20 15.00 23.00

2,000 2,500 22 30 41 55 78 110 175 280 440 700 1,100 1.75 2.80 4.40 7.00 11.00 17.50 28.00

2,500 3,150 26 36 50 68 96 135 210 330 540 860 1,350 2.10 3.30 5.40 8.60 13.50 21.00 33.00

From IT6 to IT18, the standard tolerances are multiplied by the factor 10 at each fifth step. This rule applies to all standard tolerances
and may be used to extrapolate values for IT grades not given in Table 1. For example, the nominal size range 120 mm up to and
including 180 mm, the value of IT20 is:

IT20 = IT15 × 10 = 1.6 mm × 10 = 16 mm [2]

IT grades may be used with alternate prefixes which identify how the tolerance limits are distributed around a nominal value. When
used with the IT prefix, IT grades do not specify how the tolerance limits are placed around the nominal value, alternate prefixes are
used for this purpose. For example, if the tolerance limits are distributed symmetrically above and below the nominal value, the prefix
"js" may be used. For example a part dimensioned (in millimeters) as 4 js7 is equivalent to 4 ± 0.006 (where 4 IT7 is 0.012.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IT_Grade 1/2
04.10.23 12:21 IT Grade - Wikipedia
Other standardized prefixes include the letters A, B, C, CD, D, E, EF, F, G, H, J, K, M, N, P, R, S, T, U, V, X, Y, Z, ZA, ZB, ZC (for holes),
and the lower-case equivalents (for shafts.) Prefix letters I, L, O, Q and W are not used to avoid confusion. Of these, the letter prefixes
H and h are easiest to explain as the tolerance lies entirely on one side of the nominal size. A hole dimensioned at 4 H7 may range from
4.00 - 4.012 mm, and a shaft at 4 h7 may range from 3.988 - 4.00 mm.

Preferred tolerance classes and fits

ISO 286 identifies a set of preferred tolerance classes for holes which include G7, H7, JS7, K7, N7, P7, R7, S7, F8, H8, E9, H9, D10,
A11, B11, C11, and H11. The set of preferred tolerance classes for shafts includes g6, h6, js6, k6, n6, p6, r6, s6, f7, h7, e8, d9, h9, a11, b11,
c11 and h11.

To completely specify the fit between a hole and corresponding shaft, it is common to specify a pair of the above tolerance classes, for
example H7/g6. As with all IT grades, the smaller numbers correspond to tighter tolerances. Under normal circumstances, only a
small number of the possible fits are practically required, and ISO 286 identifies preferred fit combinations including these as most
preferred:[3]

Hole-basis system of fits Shaft-basis system of fits

Basic Tolerance classes for shafts Basic Tolerance classes for holes
hole Clearance fits Transition fits Interference fits shaft Clearance fits Transition fits Interference fits
H7/ g6 h6 js6 k6 m6 n6 p6 r6 s6 h6 G7 H7 JS7 K7 N7 P7 R7 S7

f7 h7 h7 F8 H8
H8/
e8
F8 H8
H9/ e8 E9 H9
h9
D10
H11/ b11 c11 B11

Other uses
An industrial process may have an IT grade associated with it, indicating how precise it is. When designing a part, an engineer will
typically determine a critical dimension (D) and some tolerance (T) on that dimension. Using this formula, the engineer can determine
what IT Grade is necessary to produce the part with those specifications. Thus, if injection molding is capable of IT13 and a part
requires IT5, one cannot use injection molding to produce that part to those specifications. It is useful in determining the processes
capable of producing parts to a specification.

See also
Manufacturing
Interference fit
Process capability

References
1. International Organization for Standardization. ISO 286-1:2010 Geometrical product specifications (GPS) - ISO code system for
tolerances on linear sizes, Part 1 (https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso:286:-1:ed-2:v1:en). p. 20.
2. Ibid. p. 12
3. Ibid. p. 28

External links
ISO Hole and Shaft tolerances/limits (https://web.archive.org/web/20121222192104/http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/ISO_
Tolerances/ISO_LIMITS.htm), Roymech, UK.
ISO Hole and Shaft Tolerances iPhone App (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/trelleborg-iso-fits/id396863755?mt=8), Trelleborg
Sealing Solutions Germany.

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