# Dowel pins, 2–6 mm (ISO 2338 / DIN 6325)

> What hole size does a 3 mm dowel pin need for a press fit versus a slip fit?

- Category: Hardware › Fasteners
- Kind: Hardware
- Basis: ISO 2338 (h8) and DIN 6325 (m6) pin tolerances; fits per ISO 286
- Page: https://xemstudio.com/objects/dowel-pins-metric/ · JSON: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=dowel-pins-metric · Plain text: https://xemstudio.com/objects/dowel-pins-metric/sheet.txt
- License: dimension sheet CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio); linked files under their publishers' licenses

## Notes

- Press fit in a print: pin diameter − 0.05 mm (and print slightly undersize holes, then ream). Slip fit for a hinge: pin + 0.15–0.2 mm.
- Common lengths 6–40 mm; 1.5 × diameter chamfer on each end.

## Sizes

| dia_mm | press_fit_hole_mm | slip_fit_hole_mm | common_lengths_mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1.95 | 2.2 | 8, 10, 12, 16, 20 |
| 3 | 2.95 | 3.2 | 10, 12, 16, 20, 30 |
| 4 | 3.95 | 4.2 | 12, 16, 20, 30, 40 |
| 5 | 4.95 | 5.2 | 16, 20, 30, 40 |
| 6 | 5.95 | 6.2 | 20, 30, 40, 50 |

## Where the files are

- McMaster-Carr: [Dowel pins (free STEP/IGES/STL per part, for your own design use; no redistribution)](https://www.mcmaster.com/products/dowel-pins/) — STEP, IGES, STL, PDF — McMaster-Carr site terms: personal design use, no redistribution (verify at link)
- Wikipedia: [Dowel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowel) — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)

## Free STEP/STL (23 parts, CC BY 4.0, Xem Studio)

Index: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/index.json

- dowel-2x8: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-2x8.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-2x8.stl) — Ø2 × 8, chamfered
- dowel-2x10: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-2x10.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-2x10.stl) — Ø2 × 10, chamfered
- dowel-2x12: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-2x12.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-2x12.stl) — Ø2 × 12, chamfered
- dowel-2x16: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-2x16.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-2x16.stl) — Ø2 × 16, chamfered
- dowel-2x20: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-2x20.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-2x20.stl) — Ø2 × 20, chamfered
- dowel-3x10: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-3x10.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-3x10.stl) — Ø3 × 10, chamfered
- dowel-3x12: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-3x12.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-3x12.stl) — Ø3 × 12, chamfered
- dowel-3x16: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-3x16.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-3x16.stl) — Ø3 × 16, chamfered
- dowel-3x20: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-3x20.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-3x20.stl) — Ø3 × 20, chamfered
- dowel-3x30: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-3x30.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-3x30.stl) — Ø3 × 30, chamfered
- dowel-4x12: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-4x12.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-4x12.stl) — Ø4 × 12, chamfered
- dowel-4x16: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-4x16.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-4x16.stl) — Ø4 × 16, chamfered
- dowel-4x20: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-4x20.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-4x20.stl) — Ø4 × 20, chamfered
- dowel-4x30: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-4x30.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-4x30.stl) — Ø4 × 30, chamfered
- dowel-4x40: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-4x40.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-4x40.stl) — Ø4 × 40, chamfered
- dowel-5x16: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-5x16.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-5x16.stl) — Ø5 × 16, chamfered
- dowel-5x20: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-5x20.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-5x20.stl) — Ø5 × 20, chamfered
- dowel-5x30: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-5x30.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-5x30.stl) — Ø5 × 30, chamfered
- dowel-5x40: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-5x40.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-5x40.stl) — Ø5 × 40, chamfered
- dowel-6x20: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-6x20.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-6x20.stl) — Ø6 × 20, chamfered
- dowel-6x30: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-6x30.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-6x30.stl) — Ø6 × 30, chamfered
- dowel-6x40: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-6x40.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-6x40.stl) — Ø6 × 40, chamfered
- dowel-6x50: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-6x50.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/dowel-pins-metric/dowel-6x50.stl) — Ø6 × 50, chamfered

## Questions

**What hole size for a 3 mm dowel pin press fit?**

2.95 mm for a press fit, 3.2 mm for a slip fit (ISO 2338). In a print, model 2.9 mm and ream to 2.95.

**Can I use a 3 mm dowel pin as a hinge pin in a 3D print?**

Yes: 3.2 mm hole in the moving part, 2.95 mm press fit in the fixed part. Lengths 10–30 mm are common; pins are hardened steel, chamfered 1.5 × d.

## Fits with

- [608 ball bearing](https://xemstudio.com/objects/608-bearing/)
- [Neodymium disc magnets, common sizes](https://xemstudio.com/objects/neodymium-disc-magnets/)