Stainless steel is used in many different industries because of its strength and durability. However, choosing the right size is key to getting the best results. If you pick a size that’s too thin, it might not be strong enough. Too thick, and you could face higher costs unnecessarily.
Stainless Steel Size Chart
| Nominal Bore | Outside Diameter | Sch-5S | Sch-10S | Sch-40S | Sch-80S | Sch-160S | Sch-XXS | |||||||
| mm | INCH | mm | Wt | Weight | Wt | Weight | Wt | Weight | Wt | Weight | Wt | Weight | Wt | Weight |
| mm | (Kg/mt) | mm | (Kg/mt) | mm | (Kg/mt) | mm | (Kg/mt) | mm | (Kg/mt) | mm | (Kg/mt) | |||
| 3 | 1/8 | 10.3 | 1.24 | 0.276 | 1.24 | 0.28 | 1.73 | 0.37 | 2.41 | 0.47 | – | – | – | – |
| 6 | 1/4 | 13.7 | 1.24 | 0.390 | 1.65 | 0.49 | 2.24 | 0.631 | 3.02 | 0.80 | – | – | – | – |
| 10 | 3/8 | 17.1 | 1.24 | 0.490 | 1.65 | 0.63 | 2.31 | 0.845 | 3.20 | 1.10 | – | – | – | – |
| 15 | 1/2 | 21.3 | 1.65 | 0.800 | 2.11 | 1.00 | 2.77 | 1.27 | 3.75 | 1.62 | 4.75 | 1.94 | 7.47 | 2.55 |
| 20 | 3/4 | 26.7 | 1.65 | 1.03 | 2.11 | 1.28 | 2.87 | 1.68 | 3.91 | 2.20 | 5.54 | 2.89 | 7.82 | 3.63 |
| 25 | 1 | 33.4 | 1.65 | 1.30 | 2.77 | 2.09 | 3.38 | 2.50 | 4.55 | 3.24 | 6.35 | 4.24 | 9.09 | 5.45 |
| 32 | 1 1/4 | 42.2 | 1.65 | 1.65 | 2.77 | 2.70 | 3.56 | 3.38 | 4.85 | 4.47 | 6.35 | 5.61 | 9.70 | 7.77 |
| 40 | 1 1/2 | 48.3 | 1.65 | 1.91 | 2.77 | 3.11 | 3.68 | 4.05 | 5.08 | 5.41 | 7.14 | 7.25 | 10.16 | 9.54 |
| 50 | 2 | 60.3 | 1.65 | 2.40 | 2.77 | 3.93 | 3.91 | 5.44 | 5.54 | 7.48 | 8.74 | 11.1 | 11.07 | 13.44 |
| 65 | 2 1/2 | 73.0 | 2.11 | 3.69 | 3.05 | 5.26 | 5.16 | 8.63 | 7.01 | 11.4 | 9.53 | 14.9 | 14.2 | 20.39 |
| 80 | 3 | 88.9 | 2.11 | 4.51 | 3.05 | 6.45 | 5.49 | 11.30 | 7.62 | 15.2 | 11.1 | 21.3 | 15.24 | 27.65 |
| 100 | 4 | 114.3 | 2.11 | 5.84 | 3.05 | 8.36 | 6.02 | 16.07 | 8.56 | 22.3 | 13.49 | 33.54 | 17.12 | 41.03 |
| 125 | 5 | 141.3 | 2.77 | 9.47 | 3.40 | 11.57 | 6.55 | 21.8 | 9.53 | 31.97 | 15.88 | 49.11 | 19.05 | 57.43 |
| 150 | 6 | 168.3 | 2.77 | 11.32 | 3.40 | 13.84 | 7.11 | 28.3 | 10.97 | 42.7 | 18.2 | 67.56 | 21.95 | 79.22 |
| 200 | 8 | 219.1 | 2.77 | 14.79 | 3.76 | 19.96 | 8.18 | 42.6 | 12.7 | 64.6 | 23.0 | 111.2 | 22.23 | 107.8 |
| 250 | 10 | 273.1 | 3.40 | 22.63 | 4.19 | 27.78 | 9.27 | 60.5 | 12.7 | 96.0 | 28.6 | 172.4 | 25.40 | 155.15 |
| 300 | 12 | 323.9 | 3.96 | 31.25 | 4.57 | 36.00 | 9.52 | 73.88 | 12.7 | 132.0 | 33.32 | 238.76 | 25.40 | 186.97 |
| 350 | 14 | 355.6 | 3.96 | 34.36 | 4.78 | 41.3 | 11.13 | 94.59 | 19.05 | 158.08 | 35.71 | 281.70 | – | – |
| 400 | 16 | 406.4 | 4.19 | 41.56 | 4.78 | 47.29 | 12.7 | 123.30 | 21.41 | 203.33 | 40.46 | 365.11 | – | – |
| 450 | 18 | 457.2 | 4.19 | 46.80 | 4.78 | 53.42 | 14.27 | 155.80 | 23.8 | 254.36 | 45.71 | 466.40 | – | – |
| 500 | 20 | 508.0 | 4.78 | 59.25 | 5.54 | 68.71 | 15.09 | 183.42 | 26.19 | 311.2 | 49.99 | 564.68 | – | – |
| 600 | 24 | 609.6 | 5.54 | 82.47 | 6.35 | 94.45 | 17.48 | 255.41 | 30.96 | 442.08 | 59.54 | 808.22 | – | – |
ASTM SPECIFICATION & TOLERANCE FOR TUBING & PIPING
| Specification | Allowable Outside Diameter | Allowable Wall | Exact Length | Testing | ||||
| Variation in mm | Thickness Variation | Tolerance in mm | ||||||
| Nominal Diameter | Over | Under | %Over | %Under | Over | Under | Flattening Test | |
| ASTM-A213 | Under 25.4 | 0.1016 | 0.1016 | +20 | 0 | 3.175 | 0 | Tension Test |
| Seamless Boiler | 25.4-38.1 incl | 0.1524 | 0.1524 | +22 | 0 | 3.175 | 0 | Flare Test |
| Superheater and | 38.1-50.8 excl | 0.2032 | 0.2032 | +22 | 0 | 3.176 | 0 | Hardness Test |
| Heat Exchanger | 50.8-63.5 excl | 0.254 | 0.254 | +22 | 0 | 4.46 | 0 | |
| Tubes | 63.5-76.2 excl | 0.3048 | 0.3048 | +22 | 0 | 4.76 | 0 | 100% Hydrostatic test |
| 76.2-101.6 incl | 0.381 | 0.381 | +22 | 0 | 4.76 | 0 | Refer to ASTM A-450 | |
| Under 25.4 | 0.1016 | 0.1016 | +10 | -10 | 3.175 | 0 | ||
| ASTM-A249 | 25.4-38.1 incl | 0.1524 | 0.1524 | +10 | -10 | 3.175 | 0 | Tension Test |
| Welded Boiler | 38.1-50.8 Excl | 0.2032 | 0.2032 | +10 | -10 | 3.175 | 0 | Flattening Test |
| Superheater, Heat | 50.0-63.5 excl | 0.254 | 0.254 | +10 | -10 | 4.762 | 0 | Flange Test |
| Exchanger And | 63.5-76.2 excl | 0.3848 | 0.3048 | +10 | -10 | 4.762 | 0 | Reverse Bend Test |
| Condenser Tubes | 76.2-101.6 incl | 0.381 | 0.381 | +10 | -10 | 4.762 | 0 | Hardness Test |
| Minimum Wall tubes, + 18% 0 available, On request | 100% Hydrostastic Test | |||||||
| Refer to ASTM A-450 | ||||||||
| Untp 12.7 | 0.13 | 0.13 | +15 | -15 | 3.2 | 0 | Flare Test (Seamless Only) | |
| ASTM-A269 | 12.7-38.1 excl | 0.13 | 0.13 | +10 | -10 | 3.2 | 0 | Flange Test (Welded Only) |
| Seamless & Welded | 38.1-88.9 excl | 0.25 | 0.25 | +10 | -10 | 4.8 | 0 | Hardness Test |
| Tubing for General | 88.9-139.7 excl | 0.38 | 0.38 | +10 | -10 | 4.8 | 0 | Reverse Flattening Test |
| Service | 139.7-203.2 excl | 0.76 | 0.76 | +10 | -10 | 4.8 | 0 | (Welded only) |
| 100% Hydrostatic Test | ||||||||
| Refer to ASTM-A269 | ||||||||
| 25.4 | 0.05 | 0.20 | +10.0 | -10.0 | 3.2 | 0 | ||
| 38.1 | 0.05 | 0.20 | +10.0 | -10.0 | 3.2 | 0 | Reverse flattening Test | |
| ASTM-A270 | 50.8 | 0.05 | 0.28 | +10.0 | -10.0 | 3.2 | 0 | 100% Hydrostastic Test |
| Seamless & Welded | 60.5 | 0.05 | 0.28 | +10.0 | -10.0 | 3.2 | 0 | External’ polish on all tubes |
| Sanitary Tubing | 76.2 | 0.08 | 0.30 | +10.0 | -10.0 | 3.2 | 0 | Refer to ASTM A-270 |
| 101.6 | 0.08 | 0.38 | +10.0 | -10.0 | 4.8 | 0 | ||
| 3.175-38.1 incl | 0.4 | 0.79 | Minimum Wall | 6.4 | 0 | |||
| 38.1-1016 incl | 0.79 | 0.79 | 12.5% under | 6.4 | 0 | Tension Test | ||
| ASTM-A312 | 101.6-203.2 incl | 1.59 | 0.79 | nominal wall | 6.4 | 0 | Flattening Test | |
| 100% Hydrostatic Test | Specified | 100% Hydrostatic Test | ||||||
| pipe | (Normally Random | Refer to ASTM A-530 | ||||||
| Lengths ordered) | ||||||||
| ASTM A-358 | 219.08-750mm | +0.5% | -0.3 | 6.0 | Refer to ASTM A-530 | |||
| Welded pipe | ||||||||
WEIGHT & THICKNESS OF S.S GUAGE PIPES
| 10 SWG | 12 SWG | 14 SWG | 16 SWG | 18 SWG | 19 SWG | ||
| DIMENSION | (3.2 MM) | (2.6 MM) | (2.1 MM) | (1.65 MM) | (1.2 MM) | (1.0 MM) | |
| Size | OD | Weight/MTR | Weight/MTR | Weight/MTR | Weight/MTR | Weight/MTR | Weight/MTR |
| 1/2″ | 12.7 | 0.754 | 0.651 | 0.552 | 0.452 | 0.342 | 0.290 |
| 5/8″ | 15.875 | 1.006 | 0.856 | 0.718 | 0.582 | 0.437 | 0.369 |
| 3/4″ | 19.05 | 1.258 | 1.061 | 0.883 | 0.712 | 0.531 | 0.448 |
| 1″ | 25.4 | 1.762 | 1.470 | 1.214 | 0.972 | 0.720 | 0.605 |
| 1 1/4″ | 31.75 | 2.266 | 1.880 | 1.544 | 1.232 | 0.909 | 0.763 |
| 1 1/2″ | 38.1 | 2.770 | 2.289 | 1.875 | 1.492 | 1.098 | 0.920 |
| 2″ | 50.8 | 3.778 | 3.108 | 2.537 | 2.012 | 1.476 | 1.235 |
| 2 1/2″ | 63.5 | 4.786 | 3.928 | 3.198 | 2.531 | 1.854 | 1.550 |
| 3″ | 76.2 | 5.794 | 4.747 | 3.860 | 3.051 | 2.232 | 1.865 |
| 3 1/2″ | 88.9 | 6.802 | 5.566 | 4.521 | 3.571 | 2.610 | 2.180 |
| 4″ | 101.6 | 7.810 | 6.385 | 5.183 | 4.091 | 2.988 | 2.495 |
Why Stainless Steel Size Matters
Choosing the right stainless steel size is important because it directly impacts both how well the material performs and how much it costs. If you select a size that’s too small, it may not be durable enough for the job. On the other hand, going too large can increase expenses unnecessarily.
You need to balance strength, weight, and cost to make the best decision. This can be challenging, especially when budget constraints or material availability come into play. Understanding these tradeoffs will help you make smarter choices, ensuring that your project is both efficient and cost-effective.
Choosing the Right Size for Your Project
Selecting the right stainless steel size for your project is crucial because it affects both efficiency and cost. If the size is too large, you may spend more on materials than necessary. On the other hand, choosing a smaller size might compromise durability or safety. You’ll need to weigh factors like strength, weight, and price to find the best fit for your project’s needs.
This decision can be tricky, especially if you’re balancing budget limitations with performance expectations. By carefully considering these tradeoffs, you can ensure that your project stays on track without unnecessary delays or expenses.
How to Measure Stainless Steel Sizes
Accurately measuring stainless steel is essential for ensuring that your project fits together seamlessly. Whether you’re dealing with sheets, bars, or tubes, using the right tools for precise measurements is key. If your measurements are off, even by a small amount, it can lead to wasted materials or costly adjustments.
One challenge is balancing the need for precision with the tools available, especially if you’re working in tight spaces or with varying dimensions. You also need to consider factors like expansion and thickness when measuring. By focusing on accuracy from the start, you can avoid potential setbacks and ensure your project runs smoothly.
FAQs
What is the difference between gauge and thickness in stainless steel?
The gauge refers to the thickness of stainless steel. As the gauge number increases, the thickness decreases. For example, a 16-gauge stainless steel sheet is thinner than a 12-gauge sheet. Understanding this difference helps ensure you select the right material strength for your project.
How do I know what size of stainless steel to choose for my project?
To choose the right size, consider the project’s specific requirements, including load-bearing capacity, durability, and budget. A larger or thicker size might offer more strength, but it will also cost more. Balancing these factors is key to making the right choice.
Can I get custom sizes of stainless steel if standard sizes don’t fit my needs?
Yes, many suppliers offer custom-cut stainless steel to meet unique project needs. However, custom sizing can come with higher costs and longer lead times, so it’s important to weigh the benefits of custom dimensions against the budget and timeline constraints of your project.