Nominal Pipe Size

Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) is a North

American set of standard sizes for pipes
used for high or low pressures and
temperatures.[1] "Nominal" refers to pipe in
non-specific terms and identifies the
diameter of the hole with a non-
dimensional number (for example – 2-inch
nominal steel pipe" consists of many
varieties of steel pipe with the only
criterion being a 2.375-inch (60.3 mm)
outside diameter). Specific pipe is
identified by pipe diameter and another
non-dimensional number for wall
thickness referred to as the Schedule
(Sched. or Sch., for example – "2-inch
diameter pipe, Schedule 40"). NPS is often
incorrectly called National Pipe Size, due
to confusion with the American standard
for pipe threads, "national pipe straight",
which also abbreviates as "NPS". The
European and international designation
equivalent to NPS is DN (diamètre
nominal/nominal diameter/Durchmesser
nach Norm), in which sizes are measured
in millimetres, see ISO 6708.[2] The term
NB (nominal bore) is also frequently used
interchangeably with DN.

In March 1927 the American Standards

Association authorized a committee to
standardize the dimensions of wrought
steel and wrought iron pipe and tubing. At
that time only a small selection of wall
thicknesses were in use: standard weight
(STD), extra-strong (XS), and double extra-
strong (XXS), based on the iron pipe size
(IPS) system of the day. However these
three sizes did not fit all applications. Also,
in 1939, it was hoped that the
designations of STD, XS, and XXS would
be phased out by schedule numbers,
however those original terms are still in
common use today (although sometimes
referred to as standard, extra-heavy (XH),
and double extra-heavy (XXH),
respectively). Since the original schedules
were created, there have been many
revisions and additions to the tables of
pipe sizes based on industry use and on
standards from API, ASTM, and others.[3]

Stainless steel pipes, which were coming

into more common use in the mid 20th
century, permitted the use of thinner pipe
walls with much less risk of failure due to
corrosion. By 1949 thinner schedules 5S
and 10S, which were based on the
pressure requirements modified to the
nearest BWG number, had been created,
and other "S" sizes followed later. Due to
their thin walls, the smaller "S" sizes can
not be threaded together according to
ASME code, but must be fusion welded.[4]

Application
Based on the NPS and schedule of a
pipe,[5] the pipe outside diameter (OD) and
wall thickness can be obtained from
reference tables such as those below,
which are based on ASME standards
B36.10M and B36.19M. For example, NPS
14 Sch 40 has an OD of 14 inches
(360 mm) and a wall thickness of 0.437
inches (11.1 mm). However the NPS and
OD values are not always equal, which can
create confusion.

For NPS ⅛ to 12, the NPS and OD values

are different. For example, the OD of an
NPS 12 pipe is actually 12.75 inches
(324 mm). To find the actual OD for
each NPS value, refer to the tables
below. (Note that for tubing, the size
indicates actual dimensions, not
nominal.)
For NPS 14 and up, the NPS and OD
values are equal. In other words, an NPS
 14 pipe is actually 14 inches (360 mm)
OD.

The reason for the discrepancy for NPS ⅛

to 12 inches is that these NPS values were
originally set to give the same inside
diameter (ID) based on wall thicknesses
standard at the time. However, as the set
of available wall thicknesses evolved, the
ID changed and NPS became only
indirectly related to ID and OD.

For a given NPS, the OD stays fixed and

the wall thickness increases with
schedule. For a given schedule, the OD
increases with NPS while the wall
thickness stays constant or increases.
Using equations and rules in ASME B31.3
Process Piping, it can be shown that
pressure rating decreases with increasing
NPS and constant schedule.[a]

Some specifications use pipe schedules

called standard wall (STD), extra strong
(XS), and double extra strong (XXS),
although these actually belong to an older
system called iron pipe size (IPS). The IPS
number is the same as the NPS number.
STD is identical to SCH 40S, and 40S is
identical to 40 for NPS 1/8 to NPS 10,
inclusive. XS is identical to SCH 80S, and
80S is identical to 80 for NPS 1/8 to NPS
8, inclusive. XXS wall is thicker than
schedule 160 from NPS 1/8 in to NPS 6 in
inclusive, and schedule 160 is thicker than
XXS wall for NPS 8 in and larger.

Blockage or ball test

When a pipe is welded or bent the most
common method to inspect blockages,
misalignment, ovality, and weld bead
dimensional conformity is to pass a round
ball through the pipe coil or circuit. If the
inner pipe dimension is to be measured
then the weld bead should be subtracted,
if welding is applicable. Typically, the
clearance tolerance for the ball must not
exceed 1 millimetre (0.039 in). Allowable
ovality of any pipe is measured on the
inside dimension of the pipe, normally 5%
to 10% ovality can be accepted. If no other
test is conducted to verify ovality, or
blockages, this test must be seen as a
standard requirement. A flow test can not
be used in lieu of a blockage or ball test.
See pipe dimensional table, Specification
ASME B36.10M or B36.19M for pipe
dimensions per schedule.

Stainless steel pipe is most often available

in standard weight sizes (noted by the S
designation; for example, NPS Sch 10S).
However stainless steel pipe can also be
available in other schedules.
Both polyvinyl chloride pipe (PVC) and
chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipe (CPVC)
are made in NPS sizes.

NPS tables for selected sizes

NPS ⅛ to NPS 3½

DN does not exactly correspond to a size

in millimeters, because ISO 6708 defines it
as being a dimensionless specification
only indirectly related to a diameter. The
ISO 6708 sizes provide a metric name for
existing inch sizes, resulting in a 1:1
correlation between NPS and DN sizes.
ISO 6708 does not include values for "DN
6" or "DN 8", however ASME B36.10M list
the "DN 6" and "DN 8" . Also, the European
Standard EN 12 516-1 (Industrial valves -
Shell design strength - Part 1: Tabulation
method for steel valve shells) specifies the
dimensions "DN 6" and "DN 8", respectively
their equivalents NPS 1/8 "and NPS 1/4".
 Wall thickness [in (mm)]
DN OD
Sch. Sch.
NPS[7] [in Sch. Sch. Sch. Sch. Sch.
(dimensionless) 40s/40 80s/80
(mm)] 5s 10s/20 30 120 160
/STD /XS

0.405 0.035 0.049 0.057 0.068 0.095

⅛ 6 — — —
(10.29)[8] (0.889) (1.245) (1.448) (1.727) (2.413)

0.540 0.049 0.065 0.073 0.088 0.119

¼ 8 — — —
(13.72) (1.245) (1.651) (1.854) (2.235) (3.023)

0.675 0.049 0.065 0.073 0.091 0.126

⅜ 10 — — —
(17.15) (1.245) (1.651) (1.854) (2.311) (3.200)

0.840 0.065 0.083 0.095 0.109 0.147 0.188 0

½ 15 —
(21.34) (1.651) (2.108) (2.413) (2.769) (3.734) (4.775) (7

1.050 0.065 0.083 0.095 0.113 0.154 0.219 0

¾ 20 —
(26.67) (1.651) (2.108) (2.413) (2.870) (3.912) (5.563) (7

1.315 0.065 0.109 0.114 0.133 0.179 0.250 0

1 25 —
(33.40) (1.651) (2.769) (2.896) (3.378) (4.547) (6.350) (9

1.660 0.065 0.109 0.117 0.140 0.191 0.250 0

1¼ 32 —
(42.16) (1.651) (2.769) (2.972) (3.556) (4.851) (6.350) (9

1.900 0.065 0.109 0.125 0.145 0.200 0.281 0

1½ 40 —
(48.26) (1.651) (2.769) (3.175) (3.683) (5.080) (7.137) (1

2.375 0.065 0.109 0.125 0.154 0.218 0.250 0.344 0

2 50
(60.33) (1.651) (2.769) (3.175) (3.912) (5.537) (6.350) (8.738) (1

2.875 0.083 0.120 0.188 0.203 0.276 0.300 0.375 0

2½ 65
(73.03) (2.108) (3.048) (4.775) (5.156) (7.010) (7.620) (9.525) (1

3.500 0.083 0.120 0.188 0.216 0.300 0.350 0.438 0

3 80
(88.90) (2.108) (3.048) (4.775) (5.486) (7.620) (8.890) (11.125) (1

4.000 0.083 0.120 0.188 0.226 0.318 0

3½ 90 — —
(101.60) (2.108) (3.048) (4.775) (5.740) (8.077) (1
Tolerance: The tolerance on pipe OD is
+1/64 (.0156) inch (0.40 mm), -1/32
(.0312)inch (0.79 mm).[9]

As per ASME B36.10M -2018 Pipe wall

thickness are rounded to nearest 0.01 mm
(0.00039 in), while converting Wall
Thickness from inch to mm.

NPS 4 to NPS 9
 Wall thickness [in (mm)]
OD
Sch. Sch.
NPS[7] DN[2] [in Sch. Sch. Sch. Sch. S
Sch. 5 40s/40 Sch. 60 80s/80
(mm)] 10s/10 20 30 100
/STD /XS

4.500 0.083 0.120 0.188 0.237 0.337 0.4

4 100 — — —
(114.30) (2.108) (3.048) (4.775) (6.020) (8.560) (11

5.000 0.247 0.355

4½ 115 — — — — — — —
(127.00) (6.274) (9.017)

5.563 0.109 0.134 0.258 0.375 0.5

5 125 — — — —
(141.30) (2.769) (3.404) (6.553) (9.525) (12

6.625 0.109 0.134 0.280 0.432 0.5

6 150 — — — —
(168.28) (2.769) (3.404) (7.112) (10.973) (14

7.625 0.301 0.500

7 — — — — — — — —
(193.68) (7.645) (12.700)

8.625 0.109 0.148 0.250 0.277 0.322 0.406 0.500 0.593 0.7
8 200
(219.08) (2.769) (3.759) (6.350) (7.036) (8.179) (10.312) (12.700) (15.062) (18

9.625 0.342 0.500

9 — — — — — — — —
(244.48) (8.687) (12.700)

NPS 10 to NPS 24
 Wall thickness [in (mm)]
OD
NPS[7] DN[2] Sch.
[in (mm)] Sch. 5s Sch. 10 Sch. 20 Sch. 30
Std./40S

10.75 0.134 0.165 0.250 0.365

10 250 0.307 (7.798)
(273.05) (3.404) (4.191) (6.350) (9.271)

12.75 0.156 0.180 0.250 0.375

12 300 0.330 (8.382)
(323.85) (3.962) (4.572) (6.350) (9.525)

14.00 0.156 0.250 0.312 0.375

14 350 0.375 (9.525)
(355.60) (3.962) (6.350) (7.925) (9.525)

16.00 0.165 0.250 0.312 0.375

16 400 0.375 (9.525)
(406.40) (4.191) (6.350) (7.925) (9.525)

18.00 0.165 0.250 0.312 0.437 0.375

18 450
(457.20) (4.191) (6.350) (7.925) (11.100) (9.525)

20.00 0.188 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.375

20 500
(508.00) (4.775) (6.350) (9.525) (12.700) (9.525)

22.00 0.188 0.250 0.375 0.500 0.375

22 550
(558.80) (4.775) (6.350) (9.525) (12.700) (9.525)

24.00 0.218 0.250 0.375 0.562 0.375

24 600
(609.60) (5.537) (6.350) (9.525) (14.275) (9.525)
 Wall thickness [in (mm)]
NPS[7] DN[2] Sch.
Sch. 40 Sch. 60 Sch. 80 Sch. 100 Sch. 120 Sch. 140 Sch. 160
80s/XS

0.365 0.500 0.500 0.594 0.718 0.843 1.000 1.125

10 250
(9.271) (12.700) (12.700) (15.088) (18.237) (21.412) (25.400) (28.575)

0.406 0.562 0.500 0.687 0.843 1.000 1.125 1.312

12 300
(10.312) (14.275) (12.700) (17.450) (21.412) (25.400) (28.575) (33.325)

0.437 0.593 0.500 0.750 0.937 1.093 1.250 1.406

14 350
(11.100) (15.062) (12.700) (19.050) (23.800) (27.762) (31.750) (35.712)

0.500 0.656 0.500 0.843 1.031 1.218 1.437 1.594

16 400
(12.700) (16.662) (12.700) (21.412) (26.187) (30.937) (36.500) (40.488)

0.562 0.750 0.500 0.937 1.156 1.375 1.562 1.781

18 450
(14.275) (19.050) (12.700) (23.800) (29.362) (34.925) (39.675) (45.237)

0.593 0.812 0.500 1.031 1.280 1.500 1.750 1.968

20 500
(15.062) (20.625) (12.700) (26.187) (32.512) (38.100) (44.450) (49.987)

0.875 0.500 1.125 1.375 1.625 1.875 2.125

22 550 —
(22.225) (12.700) (28.575) (34.925) (41.275) (47.625) (53.975)

0.687 0.968 0.500 1.218 1.531 1.812 2.062 2.343

24 600
(17.450) (24.587) (12.700) (30.937) (38.887) (46.025) (52.375) (59.512)

NPS 26 to NPS 36
 Wall thickness [in (mm)]
OD
NPS[7] DN[2] Sch. Sch. Sch.
[in (mm)] Sch. 5s Sch. 10 Sch. 30 Sch. 40
10s 20/XS 40s/Std.

26.000 0.312 0.500 0.375

26 650 — — — —
(660.400) (7.925) (12.700) (9.525)

28.000 0.312 0.500 0.625 0.375

28 700 — ? —
(711.200) (7.925) (12.700) (15.875) (9.525)

30.000 0.250 0.312 0.312 0.500 0.625 0.375

30 750 —
(762.000) (6.350) (7.925) (7.925) (12.700) (15.875) (9.525)

32.000 0.312 0.500 0.625 0.375 0.688

32 800 — —
(812.800) (7.925) (12.700) (15.875) (9.525) (17.475)

34.000 0.312 0.500 0.625 0.375 0.688

34 850 — —
(863.600) (7.925) (12.700) (15.875) (9.525) (17.475)

36.000 0.312 0.500 0.375

36 900 — — — —
(914.400) (7.925) (12.700) (9.525)

Additional sizes (NPS)

 Wall thickness
OD
NPS DN[2] [in (mm)]
[in (mm)]
Std. Wt. Sch. XS Sch. XXS

40 1000 40.000 (1,016.000) 0.375 (9.525) 0.500 (12.700) 1.000 (25.400)

42 1050 42.000 (1,066.800) 0.375 (9.525) 0.500 (12.700) 1.000 (25.400)

44 1100 44.000 (1,117.600) 0.375 (9.525) 0.500 (12.700) 1.000 (25.400)

46 1150 46.000 (1,168.400) 0.375 (9.525) 0.500 (12.700) 1.000 (25.400)

48 1200 48.000 (1,219.200) 0.375 (9.525) 0.500 (12.700) 1.000 (25.400)

52 1300 52.000 (1,320.800) 0.375 (9.525) 0.500 (12.700) 1.000 (25.400)

56 1400 56.000 (1,422.400) 0.375 (9.525) 0.500 (12.700) 1.000 (25.400)

60 1500 60.000 (1,524.000) 0.375 (9.525) 0.500 (12.700) 1.000 (25.400)

64 1600 64.000 (1,625.600) 0.375 (9.525) 0.500 (12.700) 1.000 (25.400)

68 1700 68.000 (1,727.200) 0.375 (9.525) 0.500 (12.700) 1.000 (25.400)

72 1800 72.000 (1,828.800) 0.375 (9.525) 0.500 (12.700) 1.000 (25.400)

76 1900 76.000 (1,930.400)

80 2000 80.000 (2,032.000)

88 2200 88.000 (2,235.200)

92 2300 92.000 (2,336.800)

92 2400 92.000 (2,336.800)

92 2500 92.000 (2,336.800)

92 2600 92.000 (2,336.800)

92 2700 92.000 (2,336.800)

See also
British standard pipe thread sizes
 Copper tubing sizes
Pipe thread sizes
National pipe thread sizes
Pipe (fluid conveyance)
Pipe sizes
Standard dimension ratio

Notes
a. This is contrary to the Piping
Handbook, which says that the
schedule number can be converted to
pressure by dividing the schedule by
1000 and multiplying by the allowable
stress of the material.[6]

References
1. ASME B36.10 2018, p. 1.
2. NPS - "Nominal Pipe Size" and DN -
"Diamètre Nominal" ,
EngineeringToolbox.com
3. ASME B36.10 2018, p. iv.
4. ASME B36.19 2018, p. iv.
5. "Pipe Schedule Chart" . HYSP Steel
Pipe.
6. Nayyar 2000.
7. Table of Pipe Schedules from
EngineersEdge.com.
8. "A Complete Guide to Pipe Sizes and
Pipe Schedule – Free Pocket Chart" .
HardHat Engineer. Retrieved
2017-11-07.
9. A999 2014.
ASTM A999 / A999M - 14 Standard
Specification for General Requirements for
Alloy and Stainless Steel Pipe, ASTM
International, 2014,
doi:10.1520/A0999_A0999M
Nayyar, Mohinder L. (2000). "A1". In Nayyar,
Mohinder L. (ed.). Piping Handbook (7th ed.).
New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-047106-1.
B36.10M Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel
Pipe . The American Society of Mechanical
Engineers. 2015. ISBN 9780791870273.
Retrieved 2015-10-02.
B36.19M Stainless Steel Pipe . The American
Society of Mechanical Engineers. 2004.
ISBN 0791829170. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
External links
Notes on Pipe —PVC Pipe weights and
max PSI
Quick calculator to determine standard
pipe dimensions For Carbon Steel and
Stainless Steel pipes as per ANSI.
(Requires Membership)

Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Nominal_Pipe_Size&oldid=920501151"

Last edited 6 hours ago by an anonymous user

Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless

otherwise noted.