Bolt Grades – Head Marking and Rod End Reference Guide

US Grade Bolt Markings – Strength Requirements 

Head Grade Marking

Specification 

Material 

Nominal  Size   (Inches) 

Proof Load psi

Tensile Strength Min psi

Yield Strength Min  psi

Rockwell Hardness (Min/Max)

Grade 1 – SAE J429

Bolts, Screws and Studs

Low or medium carbon steel 

1/4″ – 1-

1/2″

33,000 

60,000 

36,000 

B70 / B100

Grade 2 – SAE J429

Bolts, Screws and Studs

Low or medium carbon steel 

1/4″ – 3/4″

>3/4″ – 1-  

1/2″

55,000

33,000

74,000

60,000

57,000

36,000

B80 / B100 B70 / 

B100

Grade 5 – SAE J429

Bolts, Screws and Studs

Medium carbon steel or carbon steel with additives, quenched and 

tempered

1/4″ – 1″

>1″ – 1- 1/2″

85,000

74,000

120,000

105,000

92,000

81,000

C25 / C34 / C19 / 

C30

Grade 5.1 – SAE J429

Sems

Low or medium carbon steel, quenched and tempered 

No. 4 – 

5/8″

85,000 

120,000 

92,000 

C25 / C40

Grade 5.2 – SAE J429

Bolts, Screws and Studs

Low carbon Boron steel, quenched and tempered 

1/4″ – 1″ 

85,000 

120,000 

92,000 

C26 / C36

Grade 8 – SAE J429

Bolts and Screws

Medium carbon / alloy steel with additives, quenched and tempered

1/4″ – 1-

1/2″

120,000 

150,000 

130,000 

C33 / C39

Grade 8.2 – SAE J429

Bolts and Screws

Low carbon Boron steel, quenched and tempered 

1/4″ – 1″ 

120,000 

150,000 

130,000 

C33 / C39

L9 – Grade 9

Bolts, Nuts and Washers

Hight strength alloy steel 

1/4″ – 1-

1/2″

145,000 

180,000 

155,000 

C38 / C42

ASTM A307 Grade A

Bolts, Screws and Studs (General  Engineering)

Low or medium carbon steel 

1/4″ – 4″ 

33,000 

60,000 

36,000 

B69 / B100

ASTM A307 Grade B

Bolts, Screws and Studs (Flanged  Joints)

Low or medium carbon steel 

1/4″ – 4″ 

33,000 

60,000 

36,000 

B69 / B95

 

One End Green 

ASTM A307 Grade C 

Low or medium carbon steel 

1/2″ – 4″ 

– 

58 min

80 max 

36,000 

 

 

Head Grade Marking

Specification

Material

Nominal

Size

(Inches)

Proof Load psi

Tensile Strength Min psi

Yield

Strength Min psi

Rockwell Hardness (Min/Max)

 

One End Blue

ASTM F1554 Grade 36

Low or medium carbon steel

1/2″ – 4″

58 min

80 max

36,000

 

One End Yellow

ASTM F1554 Grade 55

Low or medium carbon steel

1/2″ – 2″

2-1/4″ – 2-1/2″

3-3/4″ – 3″

3-1/4″ – 4″

75 min

95 max

55,000

ASTM A325 Type 1

High strength structural bolts

Medium carbon steel, quenched and tempered

1/2″ – 1″

1-1/8″ – 1-

1/2″

85,000

74,000

120,000

105,000

92,000

81,000

C24 / C35 / C19 / C31

ASTM A325 Type 2

High strength structural bolts

Low carbon Martensitic steel, quenched and tempered

1/2″ – 1″

1-1/8″ – 1-

1/2″

85,000

74,000

120,000

105,000

92,000

81,000

C24 / C35 / C19 / C31

ASTM A325 Type 3

High strength structural bolts

Atmospheric corrosion-resistant steel, quenched and tempered

1/2″ – 1″

1-1/8″ – 1-

1/2″

85,000

74,000

120,000

105,000

92,000

81,000

C24 / C35 / C19 / C31

ASTM A354 Grade BB

Bolts and studs

Alloy steel, quenched and tempered

1/4″ – 2-

1/2″

> 2-1/2″ – 4″

80,000

75,000

105,000

100,000

83,000

78,000

C26 / C36 / C22 / C33

ASTM A354 Grade BC

Bolts and studs

Alloy steel, quenched and tempered

1/4″ – 2-

1/2″

> 2-1/2″ – 4″

105,000

95,000

125,000

115,000

109,000

99,000

C26 / C36 / C22 / C33

 

 One End Red

ASTM F1554 Grade 105

Medium carbon steel, Alloy Steel Q & T

1/2″ – 3″

128 min

150 max

105,000

ASTM A354 Grade BD

Bolts, screws and studs

Alloy steel, quenched and tempered

1/4″ – 2-

1/2″

> 2-1/2″ – 4″

120,000

105,000

150,000

140,000

130,000

120,000

C33 / C39 / C31 / C39

ASTM A449 Type 1

Bolts, screws and studs

Medium carbon steel, quenched and tempered

1/4″ – 1″

>1 – 1-1/2″

85,000

74,000

120,000

105,000

92,000

C25 / C34

81,000

C25 / C34

ASTM A449 Type 2

Bolts, screws and studs

Low carbon Martensitic steel, quenched and tempered

1/4″ – 1″

85,000

120,000

58,000

C25 / C34

 

Head Grade Marking

Specification 

Material 

Nominal 

Size  

(Inches) 

Proof Load psi

Tensile Strength Min psi

Yield

Strength Min  psi

Rockwell Hardness (Min/Max)

ASTM A490 Type 1

High strength structural bolts

Medium carbon alloy steel, quenched and tempered

1/2″ – 1- 

1/2″

120,000 

150,000 min

170,000 max

130,000 

C33 / C38

ASTM A490 Type 2

High strength structural bolts

Low carbon Martensitic steel, quenched and tempered 

1/2″ – 1″ 

120,000 

150,000 min

170,000 max

130,000 

C33 / C38

ASTM A490 Type 3

High strength structural bolts

Atmospheric corrosion-resistant steel, quenched and tempered

1/2″ – 1- 

1/2″

120,000 

150,000 min

170,000 max

130,000 

C33 / C38

 

Metric Bolts

Head Grade  Marking

Specification 

Material 

Proof Load 

(Min)

Tensile Strength min (MPa)

Yield Strength Min (MPa)

Hardness 

Min/Max

Class 4.6 

Low or medium carbon steel 

220 

400 (58,000 psi) 

240

HRB-67 / HRB-95

Class 5.8 

Low or medium carbon steel, quenched and tempered

380 

520 (75,000 psi) 

420

HRB-82 / HRB-95

Class 8.8 

Medium carbon steel, quenched and tempered 

600 

830 (120,000 psi) 

640

HRC-22 / HRC-34

Class 10.9 

Alloy steel, quenched and tempered 

830 

1040 (150,000 psi) 

940

HRC-32 / HRC-39

Class 12.9 

Alloy steel, quenched and tempered 

970 

1220 (176,000 psi) 

1220

HRC-39 / HRC-44

Usually stamped A-2 or A-4

A2 & A4 Stainless 

Steel alloy with chromium and nickel 

N/A 

500 Min

700 Typical

210 Min

450 Typical

N/A

 

Note: Manufacturer’s identification mark are also stamped when applicable

Tensile Strength: The maximum load in tension (pull apart) which a material can withstand before breaking or fracturing.
Yield Strength: The stress at which a specific amount of permanent deformation is produced
Proof Load: An axial tensile load which the product must withstand without evidence of any permanent set.

 

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Bolt Grades – Head Marking and Rod End Reference Guide Bolt Grades – Head Marking and Rod End Reference Guide

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Bolt Grades – Head Marking and Rod End Reference Guide