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21/10/2017 Difference Between Pipe and Tube: NPS/Sch.
& OD/WT | Pipingonline
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Pipe vs.Tube (ID / OD / WT)
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TUBULAR  VALVES  FITTINGS  FLANGES  GASKETS  BOLTS  OTHERS 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PIPES AND TUBES

WHAT ARE STEEL PIPES?
The word "steel pipe" refers to round hollow sections used for transmission and distribution pipelines and piping systems that convey uids and gases - such oil & gas, propane,
steam, acids and water. These are products that nd wide application in the petrochemical, oil & gas, marine and process industries.
The most important dimension for a steel pipe is the inside diameter (called "pipe ID") which is expressed by a nominal size ("NPS" or "DN" in Europe, i.e.
nominal diameter). The NPS is a rough indication of the uid conveyance capacity of the hollow section (the diameter is also called bore size); the actual external diameter does
not always match the nominal size (a 2 inch pipe, for instance, has an internal ow capacity of approximately 2 inches, but has an actual external diameter of 2.375 inches). For
a speci c NPS, the outside diameter is constant wherease the wall thickness increases at incremental schedules (so, the thicker the pipe, the smaller its inside diameter at any
speci c NPS value). For pipes, the most important mechanical parameters are the pressure rating, the yield strenght and the ductabilty.
(https://www.pipingonline.com/pipes/oil_gas_pipe_types-seamless_welded_pipes-erw_pipe-lsaw_pipe-hsaw_pipe)
Seamless pipes (https://www.pipingonline.com/pipes/oil_gas_pipe_types-seamless_welded_pipes-erw_pipe-lsaw_pipe-hsaw_pipe) ERW pipes
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WHAT ARE STEEL TUBES?

The word "steel tube" is generally associated to round / square / rectangular hollow sections used for the construction of pressure equipment (such as boilers, heaters and 
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superheaters), the deployment of instrumentation systems and the realization of infrastructures (mechanical and structural tubes). For all these applications, the exact size of
the outer diameter of the hollow section is critical (whereas the inner bore is more important for steel pipes) and the mechanical properties (yield, tensile strenght and
elongation) are key. Steel tubes for pressure equipment are available in relatively short outside diameters ranges (up to 5 inches), whereas tubulars for mechanical applications
are available in a wider dimensional range.
The most important dimension for a steel tube is the outside diameter ("tube OD"), which is expressed in inches or millimeters and the wall thickness; the
wall thickness (WT) of the steel tube can be expressed either in BWG

(https://www.pipingonline.com/documents/144004/453298/BWG+SWG+tube+wall+thickness+conversion+mm+and+inch.pdf/00193a49-bfe0-4633-b754-
https://www.pipingonline.com/pipes/difference_pipe_tube-pipe_nps-pipe_sch-tube_outside_diameter-tube_wall_thickness 1/3
21/10/2017 Difference Between Pipe and Tube: NPS/Sch. & OD/WT | Pipingonline
bd7eba1f64e2), SWG (http://www.pipingonline.com/documents/144004/453298/BWG+SWG+tube+wall+thickness+conversion+mm+and+inch.pdf/00193a49-bfe0-4633-b754-
bd7eba1f64e2) or inches/millimeters (these are all alternative indications of the wall thickness of steel tubes). The difference between the outside diameter and the wall
thickness (multiplied by two) de nes the inside diameter of the tube.
Inp_p_auth=XpIYhhk0&p_p_id=49&p_p_lifecycle=1&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&_49_struts_action=%2Fmy_sites%2Fview&_49_groupId=144004&_49_privateLayout=false
terms of pricing, steel tubes are generally more expensive than steel pipe due to their stricter manufacturing tolerances and mills productiviity (tons produced by hour). The
most important physical properties of steel tubes are the hardness, the tensile strenght and highly precise dimensions.
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To summarize the difference between pipe and tube and the pipe meaning vs. tube meaning:
FEATURE PIPE TUBE
Diameter Is related to the internal size, which expresses the uid conveyance capacity. Diameter is Refers to the outside diameter, i.e. the OD (outside
expressed in NPS (nominal pipe size) or DN (nominal diameter). NPS doesn't match with the diameter). The measure represents the actual, or true,
true internal diameter in inches, the index is a loose and approximate indication of the actual outer size of the tube. The actual physical diameter match
measure. exactly the OD size.
WT Thickness of pipes is expressed in schedule (most common are Sch 40, Sch STD., Sch. Wall thickness (mm or inch or gauges). Gauge measures
XS/XH, Sch. XXS - but other schedules are possible, such as 5, 10, 20, 30, 60, 100, 120, 140, (BWG or SWG) are used for thinner wall thicknesses,
160). The actual thickness of a given schedule varies by NPS. whereas larger measures are expressed with fractional or
inch indexes.
Section Round only Round, rectangular, squared
Production Extensive (up to 80 inch and above) Rather narrow both in terms of OD and thickness
range
Tolerances Set but not too restrictive. Very strict. Production process is generally lenghty and
(stainghtness, involves many quality checks around key dimensional
dimensions, parameters such as straightness, roundness, wall
roundness, etc) thickness, surface, etc.
Mills High yield (tons / hour) and large lots. Pipes are produced on large scale according to highly Low yield and small lots (due to relatively small dimensions
productivity productive processes. and cumbersome inspection and quality control
procedures throughout the manufacturing process)
Delivery time Can be short Generally longer
Market price Relatively lower price than steel tubes Higher due to productivity, strict tolerances, inspection
requirements, ...
Materials Most common is carbon (API 5L, ASTM A106 / A53) and low alloy steels (ASTM A335) From alloy steel upwards (ASTM A209, A213)
Joint Laborious to ensure duration Quick (threaded ends, couplings, etc).

connections
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(/documents/144004/455837/ASME+B16.9+BW+ ttings+dimensions+and+weights.pdf/047eba2d-1ec7-4000-8794-c30ec1a7a10d) Pipes and tubes speci cation.pdf 

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(/documents/144004/455837/ASME+B16.9+BW+ ttings+dimensions+and+weights.pdf/047eba2d-1ec7-4000-8794-c30ec1a7a10d)
(/documents/144004/453298/Difference+between+pipe+and+tube.pdf/574da1b8-d114-4d34-b76c-5be7732c75ac)Difference between pipes and tubes.pdf
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Learn more about the difference between pipes and tubes:

Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_( uid_conveyance))
The engineering toolbox (http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/pipes-tubes-d_347.html)
21/10/2017 Difference Between Pipe and Tube: NPS/Sch. & OD/WT | Pipingonline

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Useful links: ANSI (https://www.ansi.org/) | ASME (https://www.asme.org/) | ASTM (https://www.astm.org/) | API (https://www.api.org) | MSS
(https://www.msshq.org/Store/AboutUs.cfm) | BS (https://www.bsigroup.com/en-AU/) | DIN (https://www.din.de/en) | ISO (https://www.iso.org/standards.html)
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21/10/2017 Difference Between Pipe and Tube: NPS/Sch.

& OD/WT | Pipingonline

Piping technical library

Try Free Apply Free

TUBULAR  VALVES  FITTINGS  FLANGES  GASKETS  BOLTS  OTHERS 

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PIPES AND TUBES

WHAT ARE STEEL TUBES?

wall thickness (WT) of the steel tube can be expressed either in BWG

Try Free (/buyer-sign-up) Login (/login)

FEATURE PIPE TUBE

Section Round only Round, rectangular, squared

Delivery time Can be short Generally longer

Joint Laborious to ensure duration Quick (threaded ends, couplings, etc).

(/documents/144004/455837/ASME+B16.9+BW+ ttings+dimensions+and+weights.pdf/047eba2d-1ec7-4000-8794-c30ec1a7a10d) Pipes and tubes speci cation.pdf 

Learn more about the difference between pipes and tubes:

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