Grade 8 vs ASTM A325
Is a Grade 8 bolt the same as an ASTM A325?
ASTM A325 and SAE J429 grade 8 are not the same fastener. As a matter of fact,
they couldn’t be more different. SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) establishes
specifications covering fasteners intended for use in automotive, OEM, and equipment
applications, while ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) provides
specifications for construction fasteners. There are several differences between these
two bolts, including chemistry, strength, application, and dimensional tolerances.
Strength Differences
A325 bolts are typically manufactured from a medium carbon steel (although they can
be made from an alloy) while SAE grade 8 bolts are made from a medium carbon
alloy steel. Grade 8 bolts are significantly stronger than an A325. An ASTM
specification with similar strength properties to grade 8 is ASTM A490.
minal Size Proof Load Min (ksi) Yield Strength Min (ksi) Tensile Strength Min (ksi) Rockwell Hardness Min
2" - 1" 85 92 120 C24
8" - 1-1/2" 74 81 105 C19
" - 1-1/2" 120 130 150 C33
Compare more strengths with our strength by grade chart.
Configuration Differences
ASTM A325 bolts are heavy hex structural bolts and used in structural steel
connections, while SAE grade 8 bolts are finished hex bolts and typically used in
automotive and equipment applications. By nature, an SAE bolt is also a more
precision fastener with tighter tolerances than an ASTM bolt.
Mechanical properties for A325 bolts under the new F3125 specification are the
same for all diameters. Under the original A325 specification, mechanical
requirements change for diameters above 1″.
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Written January 23, 2008, modified February 24, 2016
Dane McKinnon
Phone: 503.219.6991
Email: [email protected]
44 comments
JBruck
April 3, 2019 at 6:24 pm
Engineering student here working on a senior design project, what is the elastic
modulus of a Grade 8 bolt? Thanks!
Reply
Dane McKinnon
April 4, 2019 at 9:24 am
@JBrucki- We are sorry, but that isn’t information we have. SAE grade 8 bolts are
tested for tensile, yield, ductility, etc but the modulus is not reported or saved by our
software.
Reply
Abdel
December 6, 2018 at 8:36 am
Hello,
I would like to know is that grade 8 pins are good for shear and shocks at the same
time
It is for the installation of piles
Thank you
Reply
Dane McKinnon
December 10, 2018 at 9:31 am
@Abdel- SAE grade 8 pins are quite high in strength, but we are unable to make any
specific applications recommendations.
Reply
Seiji Buenaflor
March 2, 2017 at 11:45 pm
Hello! Is ASTM4140 Bolt equivalent with A325 bolt?
Reply
Dane McKinnon
March 7, 2017 at 2:37 pm
@Seiji- 4140 is not an ASTM standard, it is a chemical only call-out governed by
AISI and is for raw steel only, not finished fasteners. A325 is a finished bolt standard
that can be made from many different types of steel. You will have to look at the
MTRs and make sure that your 4140 conforms to the A325 chemical requirements.
Heat treatment and testing will also be required in order to achieve the needed
mechanical requirements.
Reply
Rechelle
January 12, 2017 at 12:03 am
If we require a a307 bolt but what we have given to us is an AISI 1020 bolt, will it
suffice our requirement? Thanks
Reply
Dane McKinnon
January 13, 2017 at 8:50 am
@Rechelle- It might. A307 has some chemical and mechanical requirements that
might be met by AISI 1020, but you’d have to look at the testing paperwork to see if it
meets. Without that, you couldn’t definitively tell one way or the other.
Reply
Deniz
September 22, 2016 at 11:16 pm
Could you please advice if i can use Grade 8 washer for A 193 B7 grade bolts
Reply
Dane McKinnon
September 23, 2016 at 9:01 am
@Deniz- A193 does not specify a washer, but the industry typically supplies an
ASTM F436 washer. We are not familiar with any grade 8 washers.
Reply
Deniz
September 22, 2016 at 11:15 pm
Could you please advice what is the diffrence between Grade 8 and 8.8.
Reply
Dane McKinnon
September 23, 2016 at 8:59 am
@Deniz- The cost difference will depend entirely on the specifics of what you are
looking for. There are too many variables to get you a generic price difference.
Reply
Alepi
December 6, 2016 at 4:10 pm
IS it typical to zinc electroplate Grade 7 Bolts that are head stamped Special BB. I am
a plater and have been requested to strip and re-plate this material in a ROHS
approved zinc and passivate coating and am concerned on whether or not it requires a
bake for embrittlement relief. The new ASTM F1941-15 standard for fasteners does
not require a bake for anything under Rc39 however if > than Rc 39 then a 14 hour
bake is required between 375 and 400 deg. Fahr.
Reply
Dane McKinnon
December 9, 2016 at 1:21 pm
@Alepi- ASTM F1941 does not require baking of A193 B7 bolts. However, both
F1941 and B633 are referenced within A193, and B633 does require baking. I would
confirm the plating specification with your customer.
Reply
Danny Rominger
August 16, 2016 at 9:07 am
I’m just a farmer in NC who found some steel C channel (8″, 12″) on Craigslist and
building a tractor shed 50 x 100 and saw on Ebay all these bargain A325 bolts I can
get. Just giving some additional info here.
Reply
Danny Rominger
August 16, 2016 at 8:43 am
Are those bargan A325 type 1 galvanized bolts you see on Ebay any good? You see
some sellers selling generic A325 bolts made in Taiwan in quantities of 50 to 100 to
300 pcs at good cheap prices. Tool Outlet is one seller comes to mind on Ebay and
sells alot of these bolts in these quanities. More quantities, the better the price.
Reply
Dane McKinnon
August 16, 2016 at 9:17 am
@Danny- There are millions of imported A325s in the marketplace, not only on Ebay
and the like, but also at reputable fastener distributors. Just because they are imported
does not mean they are not of high quality. That said, I can’t say where the ones you
are finding were made, and there are likely some bad ones out there as well. If quality
is a concern, I’d make sure that the bolts come with test reports, that way you can be
reasonably sure that they are manufactured and tested per ASTM standards.
Reply
Kairat
July 26, 2016 at 9:44 pm
If in bolt description is indicated GRADE 8 only, does it mean that this bolt related to
SAE J429 and not to any other standards?
Reply
Dane McKinnon
August 4, 2016 at 7:34 am
@Kairat- Yes, if grade 8 is the only call out or marking, then I’d assume J429 is the
only standard being referenced.
Reply
arun cheran
June 17, 2016 at 8:29 pm
whats is the torque value for this bolt
Reply
Dane McKinnon
June 21, 2016 at 7:55 am
@Arun- We have estimated general purpose torque values on our website under
“technical information”.
Reply
michelle Ramnarine
May 19, 2016 at 7:41 am
Pls quote me on 2000 a325 hex bolts sizes as follows:
3/4x 2″
3/4×21/2″
3/4×3″
Reply to [email protected]
Must be mill tested and galvanised coarse thread.
Reply
Dane McKinnon
May 24, 2016 at 2:52 pm
@Michelle- One of our salespeople will be contacting you shortly.
Reply
Bhavin Shah
March 31, 2016 at 2:32 am
Is ASTM A 325 Bolt and 8.8 Bolt same.
Reply
Dane McKinnon
March 31, 2016 at 8:08 am
@Bhavin- There some chemical and mechanical similarities between the two, but
they are not identical bolts. Additionally, A325 bolts are for steel to steel structural
connections, whereas 8.8 bolts are more for general purpose applications.
Reply
darr scrapers
February 29, 2016 at 4:47 am
do you folks carry inch and a half by seven grade eight bolts and if so ,how much
apiece/ if you do please give me a call. thanks jeff darr @darr scrapers… 618 535
3718
Reply
Dane McKinnon
March 4, 2016 at 8:47 am
@Darr- Apologies for the delay, one of our sales people will be contacting you
shortly.
Reply
Ravi Mishra
October 11, 2015 at 8:31 pm
I am looking for A325 structural bolts. We have consistent requirement of this in
different sizes. We are managing a fleet or more than 30 rigs.
But every time I face challenge in sourcing this grade of steel. Is there any equivalent
grade which I can use? These bolts will be used on Derrick of rigs. So I need to be
100% sure if mechanical properties of equivalent grade is similar or higher.
Reply
Dane McKinnon
October 13, 2015 at 11:43 am
@Ravi- I would need to know a bit more about why you are running into trouble with
sourcing. A325 bolts are widely available in the marketplace, and should be off the
shelf at just about any fastener supplier. If there is something about your needs,
whether size, configuration, etc, that is causing you trouble, then I might be able to
offer some guidance.
Reply
hugh mccaffrey
July 22, 2013 at 5:05 pm
can i subsitite a grade 8.2 bolt for a grade 8 bolt?
Reply
Dane McKinnon
July 23, 2013 at 9:57 am
@Hugh – You would need to get approval from the project engineer to make this
substitution. Mechanically, both grades are the same, but they have very different
chemistries and are heat treated differently.
Reply
Kamalesh Vasudeva
July 20, 2012 at 2:57 am
Hi,
We couldn’t source A325 or A490 or A354 Gr. BD for our offshore structures.
Nearest match found was Class 10.9 and we have sourced it. Class 10.9’s nearest
match is A490. Now the question can we pretension it to the same level as A490?
Allowable shear stress for A490 from AISC is found to be 276 MPa (40 ksi).
Reply
Dane McKinnon
July 25, 2012 at 9:54 am
@Kamalesh – I am not familiar enough with grade 10.9 bolts to know if they can be
tensioned the same way as A490s. You want want to contact a structural engineer to
see if he can approve the substitution.
Reply
Naveed Ahmed
October 29, 2011 at 10:13 pm
I have a question,
What would the tolerance of torquing for tightening the A 325.
Reply
Dane McKinnon
February 14, 2012 at 2:56 pm
@Naveed Ahmed – torque is an imprecise way to measure tension, and with all the
variables that need to be accounted for, there are no real accurate tolerances
published. The best way to determine the proper torque is to do lab testing.
Reply
Kirk L.
August 19, 2011 at 11:35 am
We had a request from a customer for a bolt he called a “Super Bolt” or “Torque
Bolt”. When I asked for further info he said his drawing asked for “HS Grade 8”. Are
there bolts made that are called this. I think he needs just regular grade 8.
Reply
emee
July 2, 2010 at 3:48 am
My client is inquiring Anchor Bolts A325 and i believe that A-325 is not the correct
choice. Can i use AISI 4140 as alternative?
Regards,
Emee
Reply
Dane McKinnon
July 2, 2010 at 2:53 pm
@emee – You are correct that ASTM A325 is not an appropriate anchor bolt
specification, it is specifically for headed structural bolts. The most similar
specification to A325 that can be used for anchor bolts is ASTM A449. A449 can be
made from a number of different steels, AISI 4140 being among them, but the anchor
bolt must be heat treated, tested, and stamped per the requirements of A449. Simply
substituting AISI 4140 steel will not meet the requirements of the specification.
Reply
Terry D. Slaton PE
March 24, 2009 at 4:09 am
By specification, A325 bolts are designed with sufficient ductility to pretension into
the inelastic range. In contrast SAE bolts should only be pretensioned within the
elastic range, and the amount of pretension is left to the joint designer.
If you have a structural joint that requires pretension by design then you must use 325
or 490 bolts since they are the only ones for which a pretension specification exists.
In my opinion then you might get away with using an A325 bolt in a Grade 5
application (bearing in mind thread pitch and tolerance issues) but you should never
use a Grade 5 bolt in an A325 (structural) application unless you can also, in
consultation with the engineer of record, provide the installer with a pretension
specification.
Reply
Adam Oakley
March 24, 2009 at 7:43 am
@Terry Thanks for the details about structural bolts in application. An engineer’s
expertise and insight is always welcome.
Reply
Adam Oakley
September 29, 2008 at 12:45 pm
@Adriana Landberg: Although ASTM A325 and SAE J429 Grade 5 are covered by
two different specifying entities (ASTM vs. SAE), they are virtually identical in
chemistry and strength. The difference is in their configuration and application. The
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) covers fasteners for construction
applications, while the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) covers fasteners for
automotive, equipment, and OEM type applications. Due to their nature, SAE
fasteners are cap screw quality and are dimensionally more precise than ASTM
machine bolts. As I stated earlier, the chemical and mechanical requirements of A325
and grade 5 bolts are virtually identical. A325 bolts have a heavy hex head while
grade 5 cap screws have a finished (standard size) hex head. A325 bolts are designed
for structural steel connections and therefore, have a shorter thread length than grade 5
bolts. Other than that, the bolts are very similar.
Reply
Adriana Landberg
September 29, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Is a SAE J429 grade 5 bolt equivalent to a ASTM A325 bolt?
Reply
Adam Oakley
February 7, 2008 at 5:04 pm
eduardo rodriguez » We do not supply SAE bolts, but SAE J429 grade 7 has a
minimum tensile strength of 133ksi while an ASTM A394-T1 has a minimum tensile
strength requirement of 120ksi. Therefore, the A394 bolts may be slightly weaker than
the SAE grade 7 bolts. Even though the grade 7 bolts are stronger, we would not
recommend making this substitution without consulting a structural engineer.
Reply
eduardo rodriguez
February 6, 2008 at 8:03 pm
I have a similar questions:
pls let me know if it is possible to use bolts SAE GRADE 7, hot dip galvanized,
instead of the standard bolts ASTM A394-T1, to assemble power transmission towers
Reply
