// Reference · Dowel Pins

Dowel Pin Size & Tolerance Chart

Every number a dowel pin job needs on one page: ISO 8734 / DIN 6325 m6 limits for hardened ground pins Ø1–20 mm, ISO 2338 h8 for unhardened parallel pins, the H7 press-fit hole to ream, internal-thread sizes for ISO 8735 / DIN 7979 extractable pins, hardness classes and DIN↔ISO equivalents. Real HTML tables and an instant calculator. Jump to your size:

Compiled and reviewed by the EKINSUN engineering team — we are a custom manufacturing & OEM partner for non-standard pins and fasteners, producing through ISO 9001 certified manufacturing partners. Diameter limits follow ISO 286-2 (m6 / h8 / H7); pin standards referenced: ISO 8734, DIN 6325, ISO 2338, ISO 8735, DIN 7979. Always defer to the assembly drawing where a fit is specified. Last reviewed 3 Aug 2026.

// Dowel Pin Limit Calculator — pick value & diameter

6.004 – 6.012 mmpin diameter limits

Limits per ISO 286-2. m6 pin in an H7 reamed hole gives the standard light-interference location fit; G7 or F7 gives a removable slip fit in the mating plate. Safety-critical or specified fits: verify against the drawing.

Dowel Pin Diameter Chart — m6, h8 and the Hole to Ream (mm)

One row per nominal size: the m6 limits a hardened ground dowel to ISO 8734 / DIN 6325 is actually made to, the h8 limits of an unhardened ISO 2338 parallel pin, the H7 press-fit hole, and the internal thread you get if you order the extractable version instead.

Dowel pin & hole diameter limits, mm — ISO 286-2 (m6 / h8 / H7); internal thread per ISO 8735 / DIN 7979 convention
Nominal ØISO 8734 / DIN 6325 pin (m6)ISO 2338 pin (h8)Press-fit hole (H7)ISO 8735 internal thread
Ø11.002 – 1.0080.986 – 1.0001.000 – 1.010
Ø1.51.502 – 1.5081.486 – 1.5001.500 – 1.510
Ø22.002 – 2.0081.986 – 2.0002.000 – 2.010
Ø2.52.502 – 2.5082.486 – 2.5002.500 – 2.510
Ø33.002 – 3.0082.986 – 3.0003.000 – 3.010
Ø44.004 – 4.0123.982 – 4.0004.000 – 4.012
Ø55.004 – 5.0124.982 – 5.0005.000 – 5.012
Ø66.004 – 6.0125.982 – 6.0006.000 – 6.012M4
Ø88.006 – 8.0157.978 – 8.0008.000 – 8.015M5
Ø1010.006 – 10.0159.978 – 10.00010.000 – 10.015M6
Ø1212.007 – 12.01811.973 – 12.00012.000 – 12.018M6
Ø1414.007 – 14.01813.973 – 14.00014.000 – 14.018M8
Ø1616.007 – 16.01815.973 – 16.00016.000 – 16.018M8
Ø2020.008 – 20.02119.967 – 20.00020.000 – 20.021M10

Lengths: the standard series steps 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 mm, with availability narrowing by diameter. As a manufacturer we machine any intermediate length, and diameters above Ø20 or between the listed sizes — the table is what catalogues stock, not what exists.

Press Fit or Slip Fit — Which Hole Do You Ream?

The pin is the constant; the fit lives in the hole. Typical toolroom practice for a two-plate fixture or die set:

  • Press (retaining) side — H7. An m6 pin in an H7 hole gives a light interference/transition fit: the pin stays put without a retainer. Ream, don't drill, to hit H7.
  • Slip (locating) side — G7 or F7. The mating plate gets a slightly larger reamed hole so it assembles and strips repeatedly without wear: G7 for the tightest sliding location (e.g. Ø6: 6.004–6.016), F7 where easier assembly wins.
  • Blind holes — use an extractable pin. If the pin sits in a pocket with no through-hole behind it, specify ISO 8735 / DIN 7979 with the internal thread from the table above and pull it with an extractor screw, not pliers.

Hole already worn or re-reamed oversize? We machine oversized dowel pins to restore the original fit — the overstep you specify, hardened and ground like the standard pin, from one piece. See our custom dowel pins page or send the hole's measured size for a 12-hour quote.

Hardness & Standard Equivalents — DIN ↔ ISO

Dowel pin standards, hardness and equivalence
StandardTypeHardnessDIN / ISO counterpart
ISO 8734 ASolid, through-hardened, ground550–650 HV30 (≈52–58 HRC)DIN 6325
ISO 8734 BSolid, case-hardened, ground≈600–700 HV surface, tougher core
ISO 8734 C1Solid, martensitic stainless460–560 HV30
DIN 6325Solid, through-hardened, ground≈60 HRC (58–62 typical catalogue spec)ISO 8734 A
ISO 2338Solid, unhardened (m6 or h8)≈125–245 HV30; A1/A4 stainlessDIN 7
ISO 8735 AInternal thread, hardened, ground550–650 HV30DIN 7979 D
ASME B18.8.2Inch series, incl. standard oversizesper grade— (inch)

The practical read: sizes interchange between DIN 6325 and ISO 8734 A, but the hardness clauses are written differently — if your drawing calls one standard by name and the certificate matters, order to that exact standard. We supply either, with EN 10204 3.1 certificates on request through our partners' ISO 9001:2015 system.

Quick Answers by Size

6 mm dowel pin

Pin m6: 6.004–6.012 mm (ISO 8734 / DIN 6325). Press-fit hole H7: 6.000–6.012 mm. Extractable version: M4 internal thread.

8 mm dowel pin

Pin m6: 8.006–8.015 mm. Press-fit hole H7: 8.000–8.015 mm. Extractable: M5 thread.

10 mm dowel pin

Pin m6: 10.006–10.015 mm. Press-fit hole H7: 10.000–10.015 mm. Extractable: M6 thread.

12 mm dowel pin

Pin m6: 12.007–12.018 mm. Press-fit hole H7: 12.000–12.018 mm. Extractable: M6 thread.

Sizing pins for a job you can't buy off the shelf? Odd diameters, oversize repair pins, stainless 303/304/316/416, brass, 6061/7075 aluminium, titanium or plastic dowels, mixed ISO 8734 + ISO 8735 sizes on one PO — we machine custom dowel pins and custom taper pins from 1 piece. Pair this chart with the clearance hole & tap drill chart and limits & fits chart for the full workflow.

Dowel Pin Size & Tolerance FAQ

Hardened ground dowels (ISO 8734 / DIN 6325) are m6 — Ø6 measures 6.004–6.012 mm. Unhardened ISO 2338 pins come in m6 or h8.

Same m6 sizes, interchangeable in practice. DIN 6325 is the older German standard (≈60 HRC typical); ISO 8734 splits into type A through-hardened 550–650 HV30, type B case-hardened, C1 martensitic stainless. If the drawing names one, certify to that one.

ISO 8734 is solid; ISO 8735 adds an internal thread so the pin pulls out of a blind hole (DIN predecessor: DIN 7979 D). Blind hole → 8735; through hole → 8734.

Press fit: H7 (6.000–6.012 mm). Removable slip fit in the mating plate: G7 or F7, or a slip bushing. State the fit on the drawing.

A = through-hardened 550–650 HV30, the default. B = case-hardened skin (~600–700 HV) over a tougher core for shock loading. C1 = martensitic stainless, 460–560 HV30.

No — roughly 125–245 HV30 steel (or A1/A4 stainless), for light location duty. For wear resistance use ISO 8734 / DIN 6325.

Inch dowels follow ASME B18.8.2, including its standard oversize series. We machine inch and metric alike, plus any in-between diameter.

Yes — odd and oversize diameters, any length, stepped or internally threaded, in hardened steel, stainless 303/304/316/416, brass, 6061/7075, titanium or plastics. From 1 piece, quote in 12 hours, no CAD needed.

Need the Pin, Not Just the Size?

Standard ISO 8734 / 8735 sizes, oversize repair pins and non-standard dowels machined to drawing — mixed sizes on one PO, MOQ 1, quote in 12 hours.

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