PIPE Vs TUBE

What is a Pipe?
Pipes are used for transporting fluids and gases in Chemical, Petrochemical, Power
Plants, Refineries, Storage units, Compressed air systems, Plumbing systems, etc.
They are circular in cross-section and specified by Nominal Pipe Size.
What is a Tube?
Tubes are used for mechanical applications (Heat Exchanger, Fired heater, Boiler,
etc.), for instrumentation systems (used for measuring instruments); for structural
applications, etc and could be rigid or flexible. They are specified by their outer
diameter and tube wall thickness, in inches or in millimetres.
Differences between Pipe and Tube
From a layman’s viewpoint, Both Pipe and Tube seem to be the same as they have
many similarities like both are hollow, usually made from metals, can transfer fluids,
etc. Many a time, these terms are used interchangeably. But in actual practice Tubes
and Pipes are not the same as both possess different features.

Sr.
Parameter Pipe Characteristics Tube Characteristics
No

Tubes are usually

cylindrical in shape.
However, tubes of
Pipes are always cylindrical or round in
1 Shape different other shapes
shape
like square,
rectangular, etc. are
available.

The size of the Tubes is

A pipe is Specified by Nominal Pipe specified in millimetres
2 Size
Size (NPS) or Nominal Bore (NB). or in inches by outside
diameter.

The outside diameter of

The outside diameter of pipe up to size
tubes is numerically
3 Diameter 12” is numerically larger than the
equal to the
corresponding pipe size
corresponding size.

Tube Wall thickness is

Pipe Wall thickness is expressed in expressed in
4 Thickness schedule numbers that can be converted millimetres, inches, or
into mm or inches. BWG (Birmingham
wire gauge.)

The thickness of tubes

Thickness Pipe thickness depends on the schedule, increases in standard
5
Increment so there is no fixed increment increments such as 1
mm or 2 mm

6 Application Pipes are extensively used in all Tubes are used in

Process, Power & Utility lines to carry tracing lines, tubes for
fluids. heat exchangers &
 fired heaters &
instrument connections.
They are more
prevalent in the
medical area,
construction, structural,
or load bearing.

Normally small-bore
tube is used in process
Pipes are available as the small bore
7 Availability piping. For structural
and the big bore
use, tubes are available
in custom sizes.

Tubes are available as

rigid as well as flexible
depending on the
application. Rigid tubes
Structural Pipes are always rigid and resistant to
8 are normally used in
Rigidity bending
structural applications
whereas copper and
brass tubes can be
flexible.

Tubes can be joined

quickly and easily with
Joining pipes is more labor intensive as
Joining and flaring, brazing, or
9 it requires flanges, welding, threading,
Stability couplings, but for this
etc.
reason, they don’t offer
the same stability

Tolerances are very

strict with tubes
compared to pipes and
10 Tolerance Pipe tolerances are not too restrictive.
tubes are often more
expensive to produce
than pipes

Tubes need more

Pipe manufacturing is easier as cumbersome tests,
11 Manufacturing
compared to tubes inspection, and quality
control than pipes.

12 Cost Cheaper Costlier

Tubes are usually

wrapped with a
Packing & Delivered in the bundle as a bulk item. wooden box or thin
13
Delivery Delivery time is short. film and delivered with
much care. Delivery
time is longer.
 Tubes are produced in
Production Pipes are produced in mass quantity small quantities
14
Quantity and for long-distance applications. depending on
requirements.

Tubes are available

The end connection of pipes is
with coupling ends,
15 End Connection normally plain or bevelled for welding
irregular ends, special
purposes
screw thread, etc.

Tubes are
The inner and Outer surface of the pipe manufactured on both
16 Surface Finish
is rough in comparison to the tube the inner and outer
surfaces as smooth

The common tube

17 Common material Common pipe material is Carbon Steel
material is Alloy Steel

The Thickness of the pipe is decided as The thickness of tubes

Design Codes &
18 per governing codes like ASME B31.3/ is dependent on the use
Standards
B31.1/ B31.4/ B31.8 or IBR Codes thickness is decided.