// Metric ↔ Imperial Thread Adapters

Metric to Imperial Thread Adapters

One machined part that crosses the two systems — Metric ↔ UNC, UNF, BSP and NPT. Male or female each end, parallel or tapered, sealed for pressure. Because metric and imperial threads never fit each other, an adapter is the only correct fix.

Metric ↔ UNC / UNF / BSP / NPT / Whitworth
Male, female or mixed; parallel or tapered
Brass / 303 / 316L / steel / titanium
MOQ 1, quote 24h

Why Metric and Imperial Never Fit

Metric and imperial threads differ in diameter, pitch and thread angle — a metric 60° profile against a Whitworth 55°, a 1.5 mm pitch against 20 threads per inch. Even where two sizes look almost equal, screwing them together cross-threads and strips both parts. The only correct fix is a machined adapter that carries the metric form on one end and the imperial form on the other, each cut to its own standard.

This is the same job as our BSP-to-NPT and custom metric adapters, widened to every metric↔imperial crossing. Need the same system both ends? See male-to-male and female-to-male adapters.

Standards We Cross — Metric ↔ Imperial

SystemThreadsStandardSeals by
MetricM coarse & fine, M6–M48ISO 261 / ISO 68-1 / DIN 13Washer / O-ring / face
Unified inchUNC, UNF, UNEFASME B1.1Washer / face
BSP parallel (G)BSPP, G1/8–G2ISO 228-1 / BS EN ISO 228Bonded washer / O-ring
BSP taper (Rc/R)BSPTISO 7-1 / EN 10226 / BS 21Thread (self-seal)
NPT / NPTF1/8"–2" American pipeASME B1.20.1 / B1.20.3Thread (self-seal)
WhitworthBSW / BSF (legacy)BS 84Washer / face

Any one on the left joined to any other, in the gender and sealing form your joint needs — that is the whole point of a made-to-order adapter.

Which Material? Cost, Corrosion & Sealing

MaterialDensityWhy choose it
Brass (CZ121 / C360)8.5 g/cm³Default — free-machining, seals well, low cost
Stainless 303 / 316L7.9–8.0 g/cm³Corrosion; 316L for marine, chemical, washdown
Steel (zinc-plated)7.85 g/cm³High-pressure hydraulic strength, low cost
Aluminum 60612.70 g/cm³Light, low-pressure, weight-sensitive
Titanium Gr54.43 g/cm³Light + corrosion-proof, aerospace and premium

The Jobs That Land on Our Bench

// US ↔ EU equipment

"A US pump with 1/2 NPT ports has to feed a European manifold on G1/2 BSP."

An NPT-to-BSP adapter, tapered NPT one end (ASME B1.20.1), parallel G1/2 with a bonded seal the other (ISO 228) — the classic transatlantic mismatch, machined in brass or 316L.

// Instrumentation

"An imperial 7/16 UNF transducer needs to sit in a metric M14×1.5 port."

A UNF-to-metric adapter, male M14×1.5 into the port, female 7/16" UNF for the transducer, sealed on an O-ring — machined to ASME B1.1 and ISO 261.

// Restoration

"A 1950s British machine uses BSW; the replacement part is all metric."

Whitworth-to-metric adapters bridge the eras: we cut the 55° BSW form to BS 84 one end and the metric to ISO 261 the other, from your sample if the size isn't marked.

Not sure of the two threads? Send the two parts, or a photo with a rule across the thread, and we identify both — metric, UNF, BSP or NPT — then machine the adapter that joins them. It's the same measuring we do for parts from a sample.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — a single machined part with a metric thread one end and an imperial (UNC, UNF, BSP or NPT) thread the other. Male, female or mixed gender, sealed for pressure.

UNC/UNF/UNEF (ASME B1.1), BSP parallel G (ISO 228) and taper Rc/R (ISO 7-1), NPT/NPTF (ASME B1.20.1), and Whitworth BSW/BSF (BS 84). Metric side to ISO 261 / DIN 13.

Different thread angle, pitch and diameter — forcing them cross-threads and strips both. A machined adapter is the only correct fix.

Yes — parallel threads seal on a washer, O-ring or face; tapered (NPT/BSPT) seal on the thread. We machine the right form each end.

The thread and pitch each end, male or female, parallel or tapered, the material — or the two parts you're joining. Quote in 24 hours.

Crossing Metric and Imperial?

One machined adapter joins Metric to UNC, UNF, BSP or NPT — sealed for pressure, in brass, 316L or titanium. Quote in 24 hours.

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