Grades of International Tolerance

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.

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

Nominal Size		International Tolerance Grade
mm		IT01	IT0	IT1	IT2	IT3	IT4	IT5	IT6	IT7	IT8	IT9	IT10	IT11	IT12	IT13	IT14	IT15	IT16	IT17	IT18
>	<=	tolerance in μm													tolerance in mm
0	3	0.3	0.5	0.8	1.2	2	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	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	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	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	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	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	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	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	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	4.5	6	9	11	16	22	30	44	70	110	175	280	440	0.70	1.10	1.75	2.80	4.40	7.00	11.00
630	800	5	7	10	13	18	25	35	50	80	125	200	320	500	0.80	1.25	2.00	3.20	5.00	8.00	12.50
800	1000	5.5	8	11	15	21	29	40	56	90	140	230	360	560	0.90	1.40	2.30	3.60	5.60	9.00	14.00
1000	1250	6.5	9	13	18	24	34	46	66	105	165	260	420	660	1.05	1.65	2.60	4.20	6.60	10.50	16.50
1250	1600	8	11	15	21	29	40	54	78	125	195	310	500	780	1.25	1.95	3.10	5.00	7.80	12.50	19.50
1600	2000	9	13	18	25	35	48	65	92	150	230	370	600	920	1.50	2.30	3.70	6.00	9.20	15.00	23.00
2000	2500	11	15	22	30	41	57	77	110	175	280	440	700	1100	1.75	2.80	4.40	7.00	11.00	17.50	28.00
2500	3150	13	18	26	36	50	69	93	135	210	330	540	860	1350	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 above table. For example, the nominal size range 120 mm up to and including 180 mm, the value of IT20 is:
IT20 = IT15 x 10 = 1.6mm x 10 = 16mm

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.)

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.