Flexible & Rigid PVC Pipe Size Dimensions & Pressure Ratings for identification and use classification.
PVC Pipe is identified by the ID (Inside Diameter) and is refered to as a "nominal" size which means "in name only." However this confuses people and most novices try to use the OD (Outer Diameter) to order parts. If you do this, measure the OD of your pipe and find it the 2nd column of the chart below. Now look to the left (1st column) and that's the size of pipe and fittings you buy.
If this is a pressure rated system, move to the right to find the maximum working pressure your system will see and go up to the top of the column to see the schedule or class pipe you should have. If you are using FlexPVC pipe, look for the blue box inset in the yellow box for pressure ratings. (The size is the same, only the pressure rating changes for FlexPVC.) If you are looking for flow rates, see PVC Pipe Flow Chart.)
To purchase short pieces of rigid PVC pipe click here.
| Rigid & Flexible PVC Pipe Size Chart with ID/OD Dimensions & Pressure Ratings, including Clear PVC Pipe |
| Buy this size, ie, "nominal" | 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.** | CLEAR 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.** |
| 1/8" | .405 (~13/32", 10.31mm) | .249 | .068 | 810 | -- | --/-- | .195 | .095 | 1230 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1/4" | .540 (~1/2", 13.75mm) | .344 | .088 | 780 | 390 | --/-- | .282 | .119 | 1130 | -- | -- | -- |
| 3/8" | .675 (~5/8", 17.14mm) | .473 | .091 | 620 | 310 | --/-- | .403 | .126 | 920 | -- | -- | -- |
| 1/2" | .840 (~7/8", 21.336mm) | .622 | .109 | 600 | 300 | 100/400 [BUY] | .546 | .147 | 850 | 0.716 | 0.062 | 200 |
| 3/4" | 1.050 (~1", 26.670mm) | .824 | .113 | 480 | 240 | 100/400 [BUY] | .742 | .154 | 690 | 0.930 | 0.060 | 200 |
| 1" | 1.315 (~1-5/16", 33.401mm) | 1.049 | .133 | 450 | 220 | 100/355 [BUY] | .957 | .179 | 630 | 1.189 | 0.063 | 200 |
| 1-1/4" | 1.660 (~1-5/8", 42.164mm) | 1.380 | .140 | 370 | 180 | 80/250 [BUY] | 1.278 | .191 | 520 | 1.502 | 0.079 | 200 |
| 1-1/2" | 1.900 (~1-7/8", 48.260mm) | 1.610 | .145 | 330 | 170 | 65/200 [BUY] | 1.500 | .200 | 470 | 1.720 | 0.090 | 200 |
| 2" | 2.375 (~2-3/8", 60.325mm) | 2.067 | .154 | 280 | 140 | 60/175 [BUY] | 1.939 | .218 | 400 | 2.149 | 0.113 | 200 |
| 2-1/2" | 2.875 (~2-7/8", 73.025mm) | 2.469 | .203 | 300 | 150 | 50/125 [BUY] | 2.323 | .276 | 420 | 2.601 | 0.137 | 200 |
| 3" | 3.500 (3-1/2", 88.900mm) | 3.068 | .216 | 260 | 130 | 50/125 [BUY] | 2.900 | .300 | 370 | 3.166 | 0.167 | 200 |
| 4" | 4.500 (4-1/2", 114.300mm) | 4.026 | .237 | 220 | 110 | 45/100 [BUY] | 3.826 | .337 | 320 | 4.072 | 0.214 | 200 |
| 5" | 5.563 (~5-1/2", 141.300mm) | 5.047 | .258 | 190 | -- | --/-- | 4.768 | .375 | 290 | -- | -- | -- |
| 6" | 6.625 (~6-5/8", 168.275mm) | 6.065 | .280 | 180 | 90 | 45/100 [BUY] | 5.761 | .432 | 280 | 5.993 | 0.316 | 200 |
| 8" | 8.625 (~8-5/8", 219.075mm) | 7.961 | .332 | 160 | 80 | -- | 7.565 | .500 | 250 | 7.740 | 0.410 | 200 |
| 10" | 10.750 (10-3/4", 273.050mm) | 9.976 | .365 | 140 | 70 | -- | 9.492 | .593 | 230 | 9.650 | 0.511 | 200 |
| 12" | 12.750 (12-3/4", 323.850mm) | 11.890 | .406 | 130 | 70 | -- | 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.
Large PVC Pipe Outside Diameters (PDF, opens in a new window)
**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% |
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Note: The temperature ratings above are for the temp of the pipe, not the fluid 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.
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(Chart and HTML copyright Flexpvc 2004-2012)
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Further Reading:
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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 40 pipe." (Assuming of course you are using sch 40 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. Also see Sch 40 (white) and Sch 80 (dark gray) PVC Pipe Specs.
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