Zero out the calipers, either by sliding an old-style caliper into the zero position or by pressing the reset button on new electronic versions. Place the calipers over the round non-threaded portion of the screw. Take the measurement, in metric, and write it down. This is the bolt's major diameter.
Determine the metal used to make the bolt; examples include brass, steel or aluminum. Write down the material.
Hold the metric ruler up to the threaded section of the bolt and measure from the bottom of the bolt to the top of the threads. Write this measurement down in millimeters. This is the thread length measurement.
Write down any miscellaneous information you may have about the bolt, such as tensile strength.
Enter these measurements into a bolt torque calculator. Calculators are available online for free, or you can opt to download software for a torque calculator. Many of these programs are free. Wait for your metric bolt torque rating to appear on the calculator.