Stainless steel pipe is a corrosion-resistant, high-strength tubular product used across chemical, food, medical, petroleum, and construction industries. This guide covers its sizes, grades, weight standards, and industry specifications to help you select the right pipe for your project.
Stainless steel pipe dimensions and weights adhere to international standards such as ASTM A312 and JIS G3459. Core parameters include outer diameter, wall thickness, and theoretical weight. Specifications vary for different cross-sectional shapes (round, square, and rectangular). The following table lists commonly used specifications for industrial and residential applications. Weights are calculated based on 304 stainless steel (density 7.93 g/cm³).
|
Nominal diameter (inches) |
Outside diameter (OD) |
Wall thickness (WT) |
Inner diameter (ID) |
Theoretical weight (kg/m) |
|
1/4" |
13.72mm |
2.24mm |
9.24mm |
0.64 |
|
1/2" |
21.34mm |
2.77mm |
15.80mm |
1.28 |
|
3/4" |
26.67mm |
2.87mm |
20.93mm |
1.70 |
|
1" |
33.40mm |
3.38mm |
26.64mm |
2.53 |
|
1 1/2" |
48.26mm |
3.68mm |
40.90mm |
4.09 |
|
2" |
60.33mm |
3.91mm |
52.51mm |
5.50 |
|
3" |
88.90mm |
5.49mm |
77.92mm |
11.41 |
|
4" |
114.30mm |
6.02mm |
102.26mm |
16.24 |
|
5" |
141.30mm |
6.55mm |
128.20mm |
21.99 |
|
6" |
168.28mm |
7.11mm |
154.06mm |
28.55 |
|
8" |
219.08mm |
8.18mm |
202.72mm |
42.99 |
|
10" |
273.05mm |
9.27mm |
254.51mm |
60.92 |
|
12" |
323.85mm |
9.53mm |
304.79mm |
74.63 |
|
Cross-sectional dimensions (mm x mm) |
Wall thickness (mm) |
Theoretical weight (kg/m) |
Implementation standards |
Applicable Scenarios |
|
15×15 |
1.0 |
0.45 |
ASTM A554 |
Decorative bracket |
|
25×25 |
1.5 |
1.13 |
ASTM A554 |
Furniture structure |
|
30×30 |
2.0 |
1.81 |
ASTM A554 |
Guardrail frame |
|
40×40 |
1.5 |
1.83 |
ASTM A554 |
Handrail systems |
|
50×50 |
2.0 |
3.08 |
JIS G3446 |
Building keel |
|
60×60 |
2.5 |
4.56 |
JIS G3446 |
Machine frame |
|
80×80 |
3.0 |
7.30 |
JIS G3446 |
Mechanical support |
|
100×100 |
4.0 |
12.00 |
JIS G3446 |
Large steel structures |
|
120×120 |
4.5 |
16.49 |
JIS G3446 |
Heavy-duty structural support |
|
150×150 |
5.0 |
23.00 |
JIS G3446 |
Industrial platform framing |
Round tube: W = π × (OD - WT) × WT × 7.93 × 10⁻³ (W is weight, OD is outer diameter, WT is wall thickness);
Square/rectangular tube: W = (perimeter - 4 × WT) × WT × 7.93 × 10⁻³ (perimeter is the outer circumference of the cross section).
Example calculation: For a 4" NPS Sch 40S stainless steel pipe (OD = 114.30mm, WT = 6.02mm):
W = π × (114.30 − 6.02) × 6.02 × 7.93 × 10⁻³ W = π × 108.28 × 6.02 × 7.93 × 10⁻³ W ≈ 16.24 kg/m
This matches the value shown in the Quick Reference table above — for a 6-meter length of pipe, the total weight would be approximately 97.4 kg.
Meaning of pipe number: Sch 40S represents thin-wall/regular-wall thickness grades. The larger the number, the thicker the wall thickness, which is suitable for high-pressure scenarios.
Length customized specifications: Regular length of welded pipe is 6m, seamless pipe is 5-7m, and can be customized on request.
Note: The data in the table are theoretical values calculated using the formula above. The actual weight may have a deviation of ±3% due to production tolerance. The selection should be based on the pressure level and medium characteristics.）
For customers working in imperial units, here's the same Quick Reference data converted to lb/ft (1 kg/m = 0.672 lb/ft):
|
NPS |
Weight (kg/m) |
Weight (lb/ft) |
|
1/4" |
0.64 | 0.43 |
|
1/2" |
1.28 |
0.86 |
|
3/4" |
1.70 | 1.14 |
|
1" |
2.53 |
1.70 |
|
2" |
5.50 |
3.70 |
|
3" |
11.41 | 7.67 |
|
4" |
16.24 |
10.91 |
|
5" |
21.99 | 14.78 |
|
6" |
28.55 |
19.19 |
|
8" |
42.99 |
28.89 |
|
10" |
60.92 |
40.94 |
|
12" |
74.63 |
50.15 |
Stainless steel pipe is a hollow cylindrical steel product used across industrial piping and mechanical components, valued for its combination of low weight and high bending/torsional strength.
Classification:
By process: Seamless (hot-rolled, cold-rolled, cold-drawn) or welded (straight-seam, spiral)
By shape: Round or special-shaped (rectangular, elliptical, hexagonal) — special shapes offer greater bending/torsional strength for structural use
By application: Oil well pipes (casing, tubing, drill pipe), line pipes, boiler pipes, mechanical structure pipes, and chemical/process pipes
Our supply range for the stainless steel pipe and tube:
Standards: ASTM A321, ASTM A213, ASTM A269, ASME SB677
Duplex stainless steel pipe standards: ASTM A789/ ASME SA 789. ASTM A790/ ASME SA 790
Material: AISI 304, 304L, 316, 316L
Outer Diameter: 5.8 – 508mm,
Wall Thickness: 0.3 – 50mm
|
Standard
|
Out Diameter（mm）
|
Wall Thickness（%）
|
Cutting Length（mm）
|
||||
|
Sizes
|
Tolerance
|
Sizes(mm)
|
Tolerance
|
Sizes
|
Tolerance
|
||
|
GB/T14975-02
|
10~30
|
+0.30/-0.30
|
S≤3
|
+14/-14
|
1.0~3.0
|
+15/0
|
|
|
30~50
|
+0.40/-0.40
|
S＞3
|
+12/-10
|
|
|
||
|
D＞50
|
+0.9%/-0.9%
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
GB/T14976-02
|
6~10
|
+0.20/-0.20
|
0.5~1.0
|
+0.15/-0.15mm
|
|
+15/0
|
|
|
10~30
|
+0.30/-0.30
|
1.0~3.0
|
+14/-14
|
||||
|
30~50
|
+0.40/-0.40
|
＞3
|
+12/-10
|
||||
|
D＞50
|
+0.9%/-0.9%
|
|
+12.5/-12.5
|
||||
|
GB13296-91
|
≤140
|
+1.25%/-1.25%
|
≤10
|
+15/-15
|
|
|
|
|
＞140
|
+1%/-1%
|
＞10
|
|
||||
|
ASTM213
|
D＜25.4
|
+0.10/-0.10
|
D＜38.1
|
+20/0
|
D＜50.8
|
+3.0/0
|
|
|
25.4~38.1
|
+0.15/-0.15
|
||||||
|
38.1~50.8
|
+0.20/-0.20
|
||||||
|
50.8~63.5
|
+0.25/-0.25
|
D≥38.1
|
+22/0
|
D≥50.8
|
+5.0/0
|
||
|
63.5~76.2
|
+0.30/-0.30
|
||||||
|
76.2~101.6
|
+0.38/-0.38
|
||||||
|
101.6~190.5
|
+0.38/-0.64
|
||||||
|
190.5~228.6
|
+0.38/-1.14
|
||||||
|
ASTM A269
|
D＜12.7
|
+0.13/-0.13
|
|
+15/-15
|
|
+3.2/0
|
|
|
12.7~38.1
|
+10/-10
|
||||||
|
38.1~88.9
|
+0.25/-0.25
|
+4.8/0
|
|||||
|
88.9~139.7
|
+0.38/-0.38
|
||||||
|
139.7~203.2
|
+0.76/-0.76
|
||||||
|
ASTM A312
|
10.29~48.26
|
+0.40/-0.80
|
|
+12.5/-12.5
|
|
+6.0/0
|
|
|
48.26~114.30
|
+0.80/-0.80
|
||||||
|
114.30~219.08
|
+1.60 /-0.80
|
||||||
|
219.08~457.20
|
+2.40/-0.80
|
||||||
|
ASTM A789
|
D≤12.7
|
+0.13/-0.13
|
|
+15/-15
|
|
+3.0/0
|
|
|
12.7~38.1
|
+10/-10
|
||||||
|
38.1~88.9
|
+0.25/-0.25
|
+5.0/0
|
|||||
|
88.9~139.7
|
+0.38/-0.38
|
||||||
|
139.7~203.2
|
+0.76/-0.76
|
||||||
|
ASTM A790
|
10.29~48.26
|
+0.40/-0.80
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48.26~114.3
|
+0.80/-0.80
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
114.3~219.08
|
+1.60/-0.80
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
219.08~457.20
|
+2.40/-0.80
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
EN17455-02
|
10~30
|
+0.30/-0.30
|
S≤3
|
+14/-14
|
1.0~3.0
|
+15.0/0
|
|
|
30~50
|
+4.00/-4.00
|
S＞3
|
+12/-10
|
||||
|
D＞50
|
+9%/-9%
|
|
|
||||
|
EN17456-02
|
6~10
|
+0.20/-0.20
|
0.5~1.0
|
+0.15/-0.15
|
|
+15.0/0
|
|
|
10~30
|
+0.30/-0.30
|
1.0~3
|
+14/-14
|
|
|||
|
30~50
|
+4.00/-4.00
|
S＞3
|
+12/-10
|
|
|||
|
D＞50
|
+0.9%/-0.9%
|
|
|
|
|||
Stainless steel pipe dimensions and weight calculations follow unified international industrial standards to ensure global compatibility and interchangeability. The most widely recognized specifications include:
ASME B36.19: Standard specification for stainless steel pipe dimensions, covering nominal sizes, outer diameter tolerances and schedule wall thicknesses
ASTM A312 / A240: Core material standards for stainless steel seamless and welded pipes
ANSI/ASME B36.10M: General dimensional standard for seamless and welded steel pipes
These standards unify key parameters including nominal pipe size (NPS), outer diameter (OD), wall thickness (WT), schedule grade and theoretical weight, supporting standardized installation and engineering design worldwide.
The table below lists wall thickness and theoretical weight for the four most commonly specified stainless steel schedules (Sch 5S, 10S, 40S, 80S) across standard NPS sizes 1/2"–12". Wall thicknesses follow ASME B36.19M nominal values; weights are calculated with the formula in Section 2 (density 7.93 g/cm³).
14.93
NPS
OD (mm)
5S WT (mm)
5S kg/m
10S WT (mm)
10S kg/m
40S WT (mm)
40S kg/m
80S WT (mm)
80S kg/m
1/2"
21.34
1.65
0.81
2.11
1.01
2.77
1.28
3.73
1.64
3/4"
26.67
1.65
1.03
2.11
1.29
2.87
1.70
3.91
2.22
1"
33.40
1.65
1.31
2.77
2.11
3.38
2.53
4.55
3.27
1 1/2"
48.26
1.65
1.92
2.77
3.14
3.68
4.09
5.08
5.47
2"
60.33
1.65
2.41
2.77
3.97
3.91
5.50
5.54
7.56
3"
88.90
2.11
4.56
3.05
6.52
5.49
11.41
7.62
15.43
4"
114.30
2.11
5.90
3.05
8.45
6.02
16.24
8.56
22.55
5"
141.30
2.77
9.56
3.40
11.68
6.55
21.99
9.53
31.29
6"
168.28
2.77
11.42
3.40
13.97
7.11
28.55
10.97
43.00
8"
219.08
2.77
3.76
20.17
8.18
42.99
12.70
65.31
10"
273.05
3.40
22.84
4.19
28.07
9.27
60.92
15.09
97.00
12"
323.85
3.96
31.57
4.57
36.35
9.53
74.63
12.70
98.46
Data reference: nominal wall thicknesses per ASME B36.19M; weights calculated using the formula in Section 2.
Actual production tolerances of ±12.5% on wall thickness (per ASME B36.19M) apply — confirm the exact schedule with your supplier before ordering.
Thin-wall pipes (SCH 5S / SCH 10S): Suitable for low-pressure fluid transmission, food processing pipelines, medical equipment piping and municipal water supply systems.
Medium-wall pipes (SCH 40S): Widely used in general chemical pipelines, heat exchange systems and conventional industrial process piping.
Thick-wall pipes (SCH 80S / SCH 160S): Applied in high-pressure, high-temperature and corrosive working conditions such as petrochemical refining, energy engineering and pressure vessel supporting pipelines.
Q1: What are the main types of stainless steel pipe?
A1: Mainly seamless pipes and welded pipes; also available as round tube and square tube for different uses.
Q2: What are common stainless steel grades for pipes?
A2: 304, 304L, 316 and 316L are the most widely used for corrosion resistance and general industrial service.
Q3: What is the difference between pipe and tube?
A3: Pipe follows NPS and schedule standards for pressure piping; tube uses exact OD/WT sizes for precision and structural applications.
Q4: What does ASME B36.19 specify?
A4: It defines standard dimensions, schedules and weight charts for stainless steel pipes, ensuring global compatibility.
Permanent Steel Manufacturing Co.,Ltd (PMC) is a professional and experienced supplier of seamless steel pipes with rich industry experience, strict quality control and complete international certifications. We provide high-quality products and professional services for global customers. For any inquiries or cooperation, please feel free to contact us.
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