Rivet Nut Hole Size Chart — Avdel 9658 Metric

Use the chart to find the manufacturer-specified hole range and grip range for the selected 9658 insert. The six rows cover M3 × 0.5, M4 × 0.7, M5 × 0.8, M6 × 1.0, M8 × 1.25, and M10 × 1.5. The source table lists a nominal hole with a +0.1/−0 mm tolerance, so the lookup shows an acceptable range rather than a single universal drill size.

How to use this rivet nut hole chart

1. Identify the complete insert specification, including the manufacturer, 9658 series, thread, head style, body type, end type, and material.
2. Check the grip range against the actual sheet or stack thickness. Grip range is separate from hole size; a correct hole does not make an insert suitable for every material thickness.
3. Drill or otherwise prepare the hole within the listed manufacturer range. Remove burrs and coating buildup that could reduce the effective opening or prevent the low-profile head from seating.
4. Use the nearest metric drill value only as a convenience. If the available drill does not fall inside the stated hole range, do not use it as an acceptable substitute. Use a specified tool, reamer, or finishing process instead.
5. Confirm the current part reference, finish, installation tool, mandrel, and setting procedure before releasing a production drawing or work instruction.

Why M6 does not have one universal rivet-nut hole

An M6 thread identifies the internal thread, not the outside body diameter or the installation hole. Two M6 rivet nuts can use different body shapes, head styles, materials, or series. A round-body insert may require a different hole from a hex-body insert. A countersunk head may also require a countersink, while a low-profile head is designed for a different seating condition. The chart therefore keeps the manufacturer and series in every row.

This page does not merge the Avdel 9658 values with Bossard TUBTARA®, Stanley Hexsert®, Avdel Eurosert®, splined inserts, closed-end inserts, large-flange inserts, or other Nutsert/TSN families. Those products can use different dimensions and installation limits even when the thread designation matches. Use the exact manufacturer’s table for the insert in hand.

Round body versus hex body

The 9658 body is round and plain. It is not a hex-hole rivet nut. Hex-body inserts use across-flats geometry and need a different hole specification; the hex opening is not interchangeable with the round hole shown here. Splined bodies also remain separate because their external features change insertion and torque-to-turn behavior. Do not turn a round-body chart row into a generic rivet-nut recommendation.

Hole tolerance matters

The Avdel table specifies the 9658 hole as nominal size with a +0.1/−0 mm tolerance. For example, the M6 row is 9.55–9.65 mm in this dataset. The nearest 9.6 mm metric drill falls inside that range. A 9.7 mm hole would be outside it even though it may look close on a general drill chart. Oversize holes can reduce the material available for the insert to form its backside bulb and can change the installed result.

Hole preparation also depends on the process. Drilling, punching, and laser cutting can leave different burrs, tapers, heat effects, or coatings. The manufacturer table supplies the dimensional boundary; it does not certify every fabrication process or establish the joint’s pull-out, shear, torque-to-turn, or fatigue performance. Test the actual material and process when the joint is production-critical.

Grip range is not hole depth

Grip range describes the parent material thickness that the selected insert is designed to clamp. It is not the insert length, thread engagement, hole depth, or a load rating. For example, the M3 9658 row covers 0.51–1.50 mm, while the M10 row covers 1.00–3.60 mm. If the panel is thinner, thicker, coated, curved, or part of a stack, check the current installation data and select a matching part reference.

Related Mechanitec references

• Drill Bit Size Chart — compare metric drill designations without treating a nearest size as interchangeable.
• Tap Drill Size Chart — a different lookup for holes made before tapping internal threads.
• Clearance Hole Size Chart — planned companion reference for bolt and screw clearance holes.
• PEM Hardware Hole Size Chart — planned companion reference for a manufacturer-specific self-clinching family.
• How to Use Hole Wizard in SOLIDWORKS — CAD workflow context for modeling prepared holes.
• How to Make a Threaded Hole With Hole Wizard — a tapped-hole workflow, not a rivet-nut installation rule.

Source note

The dimensions in this chart come from STANLEY Engineered Fastening / Avdel’s official Blind Threaded Inserts catalog, 2010 edition, Nutsert®/TSN® 9658 data sheet, PDF page 29. The current Stanley 09000-series product page is used as a family cross-check. Verify the current part-level data before production use.

Frequently asked questions

What hole size does an M6 rivet nut need?

There is no universal M6 answer. For the Avdel Nutsert/TSN 9658 M6 × 1.0 low-profile round-body steel insert, this dataset lists 9.55–9.65 mm. Another manufacturer’s M6 insert may require a different hole.

Can I use the nearest drill size?

Only when it falls inside the selected manufacturer’s hole range. The nearest metric value is a convenience lookup, not permission to exceed the maximum hole or undersize the opening.

Does the chart cover hex rivet nuts?

No. This v1 chart covers the round-body 9658 family. Hex-body, splined, countersunk, closed-end, and large-flange families need their own source-specific rows.

Does grip range prove joint strength?

No. Grip range is an installation-thickness boundary. Joint performance depends on the insert, parent material, hole process, setting method, screw, preload, and applied loads.