Technical Article

Tolerance Stack-Up Basics for Designers

Tolerance stack-up is why assemblies sometimes don’t fit. A few basics keep your designs buildable.

Worst-case vs statistical

Worst-case adds every tolerance — safe but expensive. Statistical (RSS) assumes not everything is at the limit at once — realistic for volume.

Datum control

A clear 3-2-1 datum scheme lets every supplier and inspector interpret tolerances the same way, which is half the battle.

Tighten only what matters

Apply tight tolerances to features that affect function or fit; loosen the rest to cut cost and lead time.

Frequently asked questions

When is worst-case necessary?

For safety-critical or low-volume parts where a single bad assembly is unacceptable.

Does GD&T help stack-up?

Yes — it separates form, position and datum control so tolerances are unambiguous.