Tubes and Pipe

Tubing
Tubing is generally used for structural purposes and the OD is an important and
exact number. Tubing size is specified by OD and the wall thickness (WT); and the measured
OD and stated OD are generally within very close tolerances of each other. Tubing is usually
more expensive than pipe due to tighter manufacturing tolerances.

Interestingly, while the stated and measured OD’s of tubing are almost exact most of the
time, copper tubing generally has a measured OD that is 1/8” larger than stated OD. As such,
maybe it should be called copper pipe. However, stainless steel, aluminum, and steel tubing
all have measured and stated OD’s that are exact or very close.

Pipe
Pipes are categorized as tubular vessels used in pipeline and piping systems, and commonly
transport gases or fluids. They are specified by “Nominal Pipe Size” (NPS) and Schedule
(wall thickness). NPS is a size standard established by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI), and should NOT be confused with the various thread standards such as
NPT and NPSC.
The manufacturing of Nominal Pipe Sizes from 1/8” to 12” is based on
a standardizednominal outside diameter (OD) that is different from the measured OD. NPS
pipe 14” and up have measured OD’s that correspond to the nominal size.
The reason many people, including plumbers, engineers, and others, mistakenly believe NPS
refers to the ID on smaller pipes is because of how the standard was originally defined.
The standardized OD was originally defined so that a pipe with a standardized OD and wall
thickness typical of the period, would have a pipe ID that was approximately equal to the
nominal size of the pipe. For example, 3” Schedule 40 NPS has an outside diameter and wall
thickness that very, very roughly gives it an inside diameter of 3”. Regardless of the wall
thickness the nominal OD of a pipe will not change.
There you have the differences explained as simply as possible. Of course if something isn't
clear certainly let us know.
Pipes
The purpose with a pipe is the transport of a fluid like water, oil or similar, and the most
import property is the capacity or the inside diameter.

For a ASME/ANSI B 36.10 Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe the inside diameter -
ID - of a NPS 2 inchespipe with

 schedule 40 is 2.067"
 schedule 80 is 1.939"
The inside diameters are close to 2" and the nominal diameter is related to the inside
diameter. Outside diameter are 2.375" for both schedules.

Since the outside diameter of a single nominal pipe size is kept constant the inside diameter
of a pipe depends on the "schedule" - or the thickness - of the pipe. The schedule and actual
thickness of a pipe varies with size of the pipe.

Example - the thickness of a 2" schedule 40 pipe is 0.154" and the thickness of a 6" schedule
40 pipe is 0.280".

It is common to identify pipes in inches by using NPS or "Nominal Pipe Size". The metric
equivalent is called DN or "diametre nominel". The metric designations conform to
International Standards Organization (ISO) usage and apply to all plumbing, natural gas,
heating oil, and in addition to miscellaneous piping used in buildings. Note - the use of NPS
does not conform to American Standard pipe designations where the term NPS means
"National Pipe Thread Straight".

Nominal Bore (NB) may be specified under British standards classifications along with
schedule or wall thickness.

The tolerances are looser to pipes compared with tubes and pipes are often less expensive to
produce than tubes.

Tubes
The nominal dimensions of tubes are based on the outside diameter. If we look at Copper
Tubes - ASTM B88 the outside diameter of a 2" pipe is 2.125", relatively close to 2".
The inside diameter of a tube depends on the thickness of the tube. The thickness is often
specified as gauge. If we look at Copper Tubes - ASTM B88 the wall thickness of 0.083"of a
2" pipe is gauge 14.

Tolerances are commonly higher with tubes compared to pipes and tubes are often more
expensive to produce than pipes.