How to identify your Sch 40 Pvc Pipe Size

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Flexible & Rigid PVC Pipe Size Identification & Pressure Ratings
Measure the outer diameter (OD) of your pipe and match it sizes shown in the 2nd column of the chart below. Now look to the left and that's your fitting and flexpvc pipe size. If this is a pressure rated system, move to the right to find the maximum working pressure your system will endure and look up, and that's the schedule or class pipe you should have. If you are looking for flow rates, see PVC Pipe Flow Chart.)

Rigid & Flexible PVC Pipe Size Chart

Buy this size

Pipe
Outside Diameter, OD
Tolerance +/- .01"/.25mm
(Inches, millimeters)

Schedule 40
ASTM D1785

Schedule 80
ASTM D1785

Class 200
ASTM D2241

ID*
Inches

Wall
Thickness*
Inches

Rigid Pipe
P.S.I.^**

FlexPVC Pipe
Working/Burst
P.S.I.^**@68F
(MORE DATA)

ID*
Inches

Wall
Thickness*
Inches

P.S.I.^**

ID*
Inches

Wall
Thickness*
Inches

P.S.I.^**

1/2"

.840 (~7/8", 21.336mm)

.622

.109

600

100/400

.546

.147

850

0.716

0.062

200

3/4"

1.050 (~1", 26.670mm)

.824

.113

480

100/400

.742

.154

690

0.930

0.060

200

1.315 (~1-5/16", 33.401mm)

1.049

.133

450

100/355

.957

.179

630

1.189

0.063

200

1-1/4"

1.660 (~1-5/8", 42.164mm)

1.380

.140

370

80/250

1.278

.191

520

1.502

0.079

200

1-1/2"

1.900 (~1-7/8", 48.260mm)

1.610

.145

330

65/200

1.500

.200

470

1.720

0.090

200

2.375 (~2-3/8", 60.325mm)

2.067

.154

280

60/175

1.939

.218

400

2.149

0.113

200

2-1/2"

2.875 (~2-7/8", 73.025mm)

2.469

.203

300

50/125

2.323

.276

420

2.601

0.137

200

3.500 (3-1/2", 88.900mm)

3.068

.216

260

50/125

2.900

.300

370

3.166

0.167

200

4.500 (4-1/2", 114.300mm)

4.026

.237

220

45/100

3.826

.337

320

4.072

0.214

200

5.563 (~5-1/2", 141.300mm)

5.047

.258

190

--/--

4.768

.375

290

6.625 (~6-5/8", 168.275mm)

6.065

.280

180

45/100

5.761

.432

280

5.993

0.316

200

8.625 (~8-5/8", 219.075mm)

7.961

.332

160

7.565

.500

250

7.740

0.410

200

10"

10.750 (10-3/4", 273.050mm)

9.976

.365

140

9.492

.593

230

9.650

0.511

200

12"

12.750 (12-3/4", 323.850mm)

11.890

.406

130

11.294

.687

230

11.450

0.606

200

^*ID and wall thickness can vary from 2% to 10%. Only the pipe OD is held to tolerance. Pipe ID will vary, even along a single piece of pipe.

^**Disclaimer: Pressure ratings above are for a temperature of 68F. See chart below for higher temperatures.

Operating Temperature F°(C°)	73(23)	80(27)	90(32)	100(38)	110(43)	120(49)	130(54)	140(60)
PVC Pipe	100%	90%	75%	62%	50%	40%	30%	22%
Note: The temperature ratings above are for the temp of the pipe, not the fuild traveling through it. Typically the temperature of the pipe is much less than the fluid going through it due to radiation (heat loss) and the heat barrier effect, ie the insulating properties of the pipe.

Further Reading:

Specifications:
Pipe Size Chart
Flow Chart
Pipe Specs

All PIPE is sold based on the Inside Diameter (ID). However it's the wall thickness that changes, not the OD (Outside diameter). In the chart above you will see all three schedules use the same OD for the pipe. If you measure the OD, you'll find it in the second column which will tell you what the ID is, depending on what class of pipe you have. If you have 1" pipe, you buy 1" fittings and specify the schedule for the fittings. I.E, "I need a 1" 90 degree elbow for sch 80 pipe." (Assuming of course you are using sch 80 pipe.) Now the tricky part is knowing what schedule or class of pipe you have. If this is a new project, use the pressure rating to guide you to what class of pipe you need. If you are working with a system already plumbed, you will have to cut the pipe to know for sure. Sometimes you can find it written on the pipe, depending on how much of the writing remains. If you are building a project and using fittings to construct something that will never see flow through the pipe, you pick the size of pipe based on the physical strength you need. Sch 80 is the thickest wall, and therefore strongest pipe. However, the fittings used for construction projects do not come in Sch 80, only sch 40. So you will use the pipe that best suits the stresses you will put on it. If you are trying to make something light and it won't be used for anything heavy, class 200 pipe will save weight and money. If you are using it to hold up heavy opjects or span long distances, use sch 80 pipe. Sch 40 pipe is the typically used pipe for these projects because it has decent strength and widely available, but if you have special needs, consider using the other pipe as well, they will all fit the fittings. For instance, for displays, we use Class 200 pipe on the verticals and sch 40 or 80 on the horizontals. We do this to reduce weight and to save money. (Thinner pipe cost less, thicker pipe cost more.)

You can also use this chart as a general guideline to find telescoping pipe possibilities. Find a pipe with an OD just slightly smaller than the ID of another pipe. That will be your best bet to find pipe that will telescope inside of each other. Remember, pipe ID can vary, so sometimes trial and error is the only way to produce a satisfactory result.

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