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Difference Between Pipe and Tube: Shape

Pipes and tubes differ in shape, strength, material, size, and how they are measured. Unlike pipes, tubes can have square or rectangular cross-sections in addition to being round. Tubes are stronger than pipes and are available in steel alloys not used for pipes. Pipes are typically larger in size and are rated for pressure and fluid/gas transfer, while tubes are used in structural applications like automotive parts or railings. Pipes are measured by their inner diameter and wall thickness schedule, while tubes are measured by their outer diameter and wall thickness.

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198 views3 pages

Difference Between Pipe and Tube: Shape

Pipes and tubes differ in shape, strength, material, size, and how they are measured. Unlike pipes, tubes can have square or rectangular cross-sections in addition to being round. Tubes are stronger than pipes and are available in steel alloys not used for pipes. Pipes are typically larger in size and are rated for pressure and fluid/gas transfer, while tubes are used in structural applications like automotive parts or railings. Pipes are measured by their inner diameter and wall thickness schedule, while tubes are measured by their outer diameter and wall thickness.

Uploaded by

ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Difference between Pipe and Tube

Although pipes and tubes may look similar, they are in fact quite different in nomenclature and
sizing. Remember that pipes and tubes are rarely interchangeable. The difference between pipe and
tube include shape, strength, metal types, rigidity, size, applications, telescoping abilities and
measurements

Shape
Pipes are always round in shape. Tubes can be square, rectangular or round, as shown in the image
to the right.

Strength
Tube is stronger than pipe.

Metal Types
Tube is available in hot rolled steel and cold rolled steel. Pipe is typically black steel (hot rolled).
Both items can be galvanized.

Rigidity
Although copper and brass tubes can be shaped relatively easily, tubes are are typically rigid. Pipes,
on the other hand, are invariably rigid and cannot be shaped without special equipment.

Size
Pipe is typically available in larger sizes than tube.

Applications
Only pipes are pressure rated and intended to be used for the transference of fluids or gas. Tubes,
on the other hand, are used in structural applications.

Telescoping abilities
Tube can be telescoped. Remember to account for the flash weld inside the tube. Pipe, on the
other hand, does not have a flash weld. DOM (Drawn over Mandrel) Tube is the best material for
telescoping because the inside flash weld has been removed.

Measurement
Pipes are only provided with an inside (nominal) diameter and a “schedule” (which means wall
thickness). There’s an easy way to remember this: since pipe is used to transfer fluids or gas, the
size of the opening through which the fluids or gas can pass through is probably more important to
you than the outer dimensions of the pipe. Tube measurements, on the other hand, are provided as
an outside diameter and set ranges of wall thickness.

Unlike pipes, tubes are measured by their outside diameter and their wall thickness. Some examples
of tube applications would be automotive parts, railings and patio furniture. Pipes are round,
cylindrical shapes that are hollow. They are used primarily for the transference of either fluids or
gas. All pipes are measured by their Nominal inside Diameter and their Wall Thickness, which is
based on a Schedule number. The higher the schedule number, the thicker the wall. The most
common schedules are Schedule 40 and Schedule 80

What is the difference between Pipe and Tube?

In short a tube is measured by outside diameter and a pipe is measured by inside diameter. Keep in
mind that pipe size refers to a nominal - not actual - inside pipe diameter. Schedule refers to the
pipe's wall thickness. The actual physical OD is larger than its nominal OD. The dimensions
provided for tubing on the other hand refer to the actual outside diameter. In other words, the
actual physical OD of a tube is just the same as its nominal OD. The size of a tube will keep the
same OD no matter what the wall thickness is. For example: The actual outside diameter of 1¼″
pipe is 1.625″ - while 1¼″ tube has a true 1.25″ outside diameter. Consequently, both the size of
tube and pipe is measured by its OD and the thickness.

Why there is difference between Pipe and Tube?


Pipes are used to transport something, and tubes to construct something; hence, tubes are defined
by the outside diameter and wall thickness (for construction stability), and pipes are measured by
inside diameter to allow a calculation for transportation viz., speed, volumes etc. (OD = ID + 2 ×
WT)

Wrought pipe and tubing is steel formed into a tube and welded down the seam or drawn seamless
pipe or tubing. It is used for higher pressure application as well as decorative work. It is normally
welded to elbows, etc.
Cast pipe is iron or steel poured into a mold (which may be splitting for centrifugal casting) which
hardens in the shape of the mold. Cast is heavier, thicker walled, weaker and cheaper and is not
suitable for higher pressures. Cast fittings may be threaded or sealed in other ways.

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