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Mechanical Engineering · Fluid Piping Systems

Copper Pipe Size Chart

Select a nominal copper tube size and type to compare actual outside diameter, inside diameter, wall thickness, weight, and internal capacity in U.S. customary or SI units.

Types
K, L, M & DWV
Basis
ASTM B88 / B306
Units
Inch-pound & SI
Primary use
Dimension lookup

Interactive dimension reference

Interactive Copper Pipe Size and Type Comparison

Choose a standard nominal size and copper tube type. The cross-section and result values update together.

Copper tube cross-section for Type L one-half-inch nominal tubeA copper tube cross-section showing outside diameter, inside diameter, and wall thickness.OD
Diagram is proportional for comparison but is not a fabrication drawing. Actual manufactured dimensions are subject to the controlling standard’s tolerances.
Selected size
Type L · 1/2 in
Outside diameter
0.625 in
Inside diameter
0.545 in
Wall thickness
0.040 in
Bore area
0.233 in²
Tube weight
0.285 lb/ft
Internal volume
0.0121 gal/ft

Same nominal size across K, L, and M

Use limitation: Dimensions alone do not establish allowable pressure, flow capacity, code approval, or suitability for a specific service. Verify tube type, temper, joints, temperature, fluid, installation conditions, and local requirements.

Server-rendered reference

Copper Pipe Dimensions by Nominal Size and Type

Filter K, L, M, and DWV dimensions, sort any property, or select up to four rows for comparison.

Nominal copper size is a trade designation—not the measured outside diameter. Use the type filter to avoid mixing pressure water tube with DWV tube. Scroll horizontally to view every dimension and physical-property column.

Nominal dimensions and calculated physical characteristics for published Types K, L, M, and DWV copper tube sizes through 12 inches where listed. Handbook calculated values use nominal dimensions.
DimensionsGeometryWeightCapacity
1/4 in K K 0.375 in 0.035 in 0.305 in 0.073 in² 0.145 lb/ft 0.177 lb/ft 0.0038 gal/ft
3/8 in K K 0.500 in 0.049 in 0.402 in 0.127 in² 0.269 lb/ft 0.324 lb/ft 0.0066 gal/ft
1/2 in K K 0.625 in 0.049 in 0.527 in 0.218 in² 0.344 lb/ft 0.438 lb/ft 0.0113 gal/ft
5/8 in K K 0.750 in 0.049 in 0.652 in 0.334 in² 0.418 lb/ft 0.562 lb/ft 0.0174 gal/ft
3/4 in K K 0.875 in 0.065 in 0.745 in 0.436 in² 0.641 lb/ft 0.829 lb/ft 0.0227 gal/ft
1 in K K 1.125 in 0.065 in 0.995 in 0.778 in² 0.839 lb/ft 1.180 lb/ft 0.0404 gal/ft
1-1/4 in K K 1.375 in 0.065 in 1.245 in 1.220 in² 1.040 lb/ft 1.570 lb/ft 0.0634 gal/ft
1-1/2 in K K 1.625 in 0.072 in 1.481 in 1.720 in² 1.360 lb/ft 2.100 lb/ft 0.0894 gal/ft
2 in K K 2.125 in 0.083 in 1.959 in 3.010 in² 2.060 lb/ft 3.360 lb/ft 0.1560 gal/ft
2-1/2 in K K 2.625 in 0.095 in 2.435 in 4.660 in² 2.930 lb/ft 4.940 lb/ft 0.2420 gal/ft
3 in K K 3.125 in 0.109 in 2.907 in 6.640 in² 4.000 lb/ft 6.870 lb/ft 0.3450 gal/ft
3-1/2 in K K 3.625 in 0.120 in 3.385 in 9.000 in² 5.120 lb/ft 9.010 lb/ft 0.4680 gal/ft
4 in K K 4.125 in 0.134 in 3.857 in 11.700 in² 6.510 lb/ft 11.600 lb/ft 0.6080 gal/ft
5 in K K 5.125 in 0.160 in 4.805 in 18.100 in² 9.670 lb/ft 17.500 lb/ft 0.9400 gal/ft
6 in K K 6.125 in 0.192 in 5.741 in 25.900 in² 13.900 lb/ft 25.100 lb/ft 1.3500 gal/ft
8 in K K 8.125 in 0.271 in 7.583 in 45.200 in² 25.900 lb/ft 45.400 lb/ft 2.3500 gal/ft
10 in K K 10.125 in 0.338 in 9.449 in 70.100 in² 40.300 lb/ft 70.600 lb/ft 3.6400 gal/ft
12 in K K 12.125 in 0.405 in 11.315 in 101.000 in² 57.800 lb/ft 101.000 lb/ft 5.2500 gal/ft
1/4 in L L 0.375 in 0.030 in 0.315 in 0.078 in² 0.126 lb/ft 0.160 lb/ft 0.0040 gal/ft
3/8 in L L 0.500 in 0.035 in 0.430 in 0.145 in² 0.198 lb/ft 0.261 lb/ft 0.0075 gal/ft
1/2 in L L 0.625 in 0.040 in 0.545 in 0.233 in² 0.285 lb/ft 0.386 lb/ft 0.0121 gal/ft
5/8 in L L 0.750 in 0.042 in 0.666 in 0.348 in² 0.362 lb/ft 0.506 lb/ft 0.0174 gal/ft
3/4 in L L 0.875 in 0.045 in 0.785 in 0.484 in² 0.455 lb/ft 0.664 lb/ft 0.0251 gal/ft
1 in L L 1.125 in 0.050 in 1.025 in 0.825 in² 0.655 lb/ft 1.010 lb/ft 0.0429 gal/ft
1-1/4 in L L 1.375 in 0.055 in 1.265 in 1.260 in² 0.884 lb/ft 1.430 lb/ft 0.0655 gal/ft
1-1/2 in L L 1.625 in 0.060 in 1.505 in 1.780 in² 1.140 lb/ft 1.910 lb/ft 0.0925 gal/ft
2 in L L 2.125 in 0.070 in 1.985 in 3.090 in² 1.750 lb/ft 3.090 lb/ft 0.1610 gal/ft
2-1/2 in L L 2.625 in 0.080 in 2.465 in 4.770 in² 2.480 lb/ft 4.540 lb/ft 0.2480 gal/ft
3 in L L 3.125 in 0.090 in 2.945 in 6.810 in² 3.330 lb/ft 6.270 lb/ft 0.3540 gal/ft
3-1/2 in L L 3.625 in 0.100 in 3.425 in 9.210 in² 4.290 lb/ft 8.270 lb/ft 0.4780 gal/ft
4 in L L 4.125 in 0.110 in 3.905 in 12.000 in² 5.380 lb/ft 10.100 lb/ft 0.5710 gal/ft
5 in L L 5.125 in 0.125 in 4.875 in 18.700 in² 7.610 lb/ft 15.700 lb/ft 0.9710 gal/ft
6 in L L 6.125 in 0.140 in 5.845 in 26.800 in² 10.200 lb/ft 21.800 lb/ft 1.3900 gal/ft
8 in L L 8.125 in 0.200 in 7.725 in 46.900 in² 19.300 lb/ft 39.600 lb/ft 2.4400 gal/ft
10 in L L 10.125 in 0.250 in 9.625 in 72.800 in² 30.100 lb/ft 61.600 lb/ft 3.7800 gal/ft
12 in L L 12.125 in 0.280 in 11.565 in 105.000 in² 40.400 lb/ft 85.800 lb/ft 5.4500 gal/ft
3/8 in M M 0.500 in 0.025 in 0.450 in 0.159 in² 0.145 lb/ft 0.214 lb/ft 0.0083 gal/ft
1/2 in M M 0.625 in 0.028 in 0.569 in 0.254 in² 0.204 lb/ft 0.314 lb/ft 0.0132 gal/ft
3/4 in M M 0.875 in 0.032 in 0.811 in 0.517 in² 0.328 lb/ft 0.551 lb/ft 0.0269 gal/ft
1 in M M 1.125 in 0.035 in 1.055 in 0.874 in² 0.465 lb/ft 0.843 lb/ft 0.0454 gal/ft
1-1/4 in M M 1.375 in 0.042 in 1.291 in 1.310 in² 0.682 lb/ft 1.250 lb/ft 0.0681 gal/ft
1-1/2 in M M 1.625 in 0.049 in 1.527 in 1.830 in² 0.940 lb/ft 1.730 lb/ft 0.0951 gal/ft
2 in M M 2.125 in 0.058 in 2.009 in 3.170 in² 1.460 lb/ft 2.830 lb/ft 0.1650 gal/ft
2-1/2 in M M 2.625 in 0.065 in 2.495 in 4.890 in² 2.030 lb/ft 4.140 lb/ft 0.2540 gal/ft
3 in M M 3.125 in 0.072 in 2.981 in 6.980 in² 2.680 lb/ft 5.700 lb/ft 0.3630 gal/ft
3-1/2 in M M 3.625 in 0.083 in 3.459 in 9.400 in² 3.580 lb/ft 7.640 lb/ft 0.4880 gal/ft
4 in M M 4.125 in 0.095 in 3.935 in 12.200 in² 4.660 lb/ft 9.830 lb/ft 0.6340 gal/ft
5 in M M 5.125 in 0.109 in 4.907 in 18.900 in² 6.660 lb/ft 14.800 lb/ft 0.9820 gal/ft
6 in M M 6.125 in 0.122 in 5.881 in 27.200 in² 8.920 lb/ft 20.700 lb/ft 1.4100 gal/ft
8 in M M 8.125 in 0.170 in 7.785 in 47.600 in² 16.500 lb/ft 37.100 lb/ft 2.4700 gal/ft
10 in M M 10.125 in 0.212 in 9.701 in 73.900 in² 25.600 lb/ft 57.500 lb/ft 3.8400 gal/ft
12 in M M 12.125 in 0.254 in 11.617 in 106.000 in² 36.700 lb/ft 82.500 lb/ft 5.5100 gal/ft
1-1/4 in DWV DWV 1.375 in 0.040 in 1.295 in 1.320 in² 0.650 lb/ft 1.220 lb/ft 0.0686 gal/ft
1-1/2 in DWV DWV 1.625 in 0.042 in 1.541 in 1.870 in² 0.809 lb/ft 1.620 lb/ft 0.0971 gal/ft
2 in DWV DWV 2.125 in 0.042 in 2.041 in 3.270 in² 1.070 lb/ft 2.480 lb/ft 0.1700 gal/ft
3 in DWV DWV 3.125 in 0.045 in 3.030 in 7.210 in² 1.690 lb/ft 4.810 lb/ft 0.3750 gal/ft
4 in DWV DWV 4.125 in 0.058 in 4.009 in 11.600 in² 2.870 lb/ft 7.880 lb/ft 0.6030 gal/ft
5 in DWV DWV 5.125 in 0.072 in 4.981 in 19.500 in² 4.430 lb/ft 12.900 lb/ft 1.0100 gal/ft
6 in DWV DWV 6.125 in 0.083 in 5.959 in 27.900 in² 6.100 lb/ft 18.200 lb/ft 1.4500 gal/ft
8 in DWV DWV 8.125 in 0.109 in 7.907 in 49.100 in² 10.600 lb/ft 31.800 lb/ft 2.5500 gal/ft

Dimensions and physical characteristics follow the Copper Tube Handbook tables cited below. The handbook identifies ID, area, weights, and volume as calculated values based on nominal dimensions; displayed values preserve the source rounding. An em dash means the type-size combination is not included.

Reverse lookup and table actions

Selected-row comparison

Compare Copper Tube Dimensions

Select up to four rows in the table. Use the property control above the diagram to chart one compatible dimension at a time.

Select copper tube rows to build a comparison chart.

How to Read This Copper Pipe Size Chart

  • Nominal size is not actual OD. A 1/2-inch copper water tube has a 0.625-inch outside diameter.
  • K, L, and M share OD at the same nominal size. Their wall thickness—and therefore ID—changes.
  • Type K is thickest, Type L is intermediate, and Type M is thinnest where all three are listed.
  • DWV is a separate drainage tube category. Do not treat it as a pressure-water-tube wall class.

Important Scope and Design Limitations

This chart is a dimensional lookup, not a pressure-rating or pipe-sizing approval tool. Actual selection depends on the governing code, service pressure and temperature, fluid compatibility, tube temper, joining method, support, burial conditions, and manufacturer instructions.

Nominal Copper Pipe Size vs. Actual Diameter

Copper water tube is sold by a nominal trade size. For the common ASTM B88 water-tube sizes shown here, the actual outside diameter is generally 1/8 inch larger than the nominal label. The inside diameter is smaller than the OD by twice the wall thickness.

Dimension relationships

  1. Read the standard outside diameter for the nominal size.
  2. Select Type K, L, or M to obtain its nominal wall thickness.
  3. Calculate inside diameter from OD minus two wall thicknesses.
  4. Use the calculated ID to determine bore area and internal capacity.
Nominal dimensional methodID = OD − 2t

Bore area = π × ID² ÷ 4. Values are calculated from nominal dimensions and rounded only for display.

What each value means

OD
Actual outside diameter used for tube and fitting compatibility.
ID
Calculated internal diameter based on nominal OD and wall thickness.
Wall thickness
Nominal radial thickness of the copper tube wall.
Bore area
Calculated internal cross-sectional area available to the fluid.

Worked Copper Tube Dimension Examples

1/2-Inch Type L Copper Tube

Given: OD = 0.625 in and wall = 0.040 in.

Calculation: ID = 0.625 − 2(0.040) = 0.545 in.

Interpretation: The nominal 1/2-inch label is neither the actual OD nor the calculated ID.

Comparing 3/4-Inch K, L, and M

Each listed type has a 0.875-inch OD. Type K uses the thickest wall, so it has the smallest ID. Type M has the thinnest wall and the largest ID.

Sanity check: For one shared OD, increasing wall thickness must decrease ID.

Type K vs. Type L vs. Type M vs. DWV

Type K

  • Thickest common B88 wall
  • Green identification
  • Available in drawn and annealed forms over source-listed ranges

Type L

  • Intermediate B88 wall
  • Blue identification
  • Common across plumbing, mechanical, and HVAC applications where permitted

Type M

  • Thinnest listed B88 wall
  • Red identification
  • Application and local-code acceptance must be confirmed

DWV

  • Drain, waste, and vent category
  • Yellow identification
  • Kept separate from K/L/M pressure-water-tube comparisons

Engineering Basis and Data Transparency

Scope: published nominal dimensions for Types K, L, M copper water tube and separately identified copper DWV tube.

The table is an independently structured educational presentation. It does not reproduce ASTM formatting, tolerance tables, pressure ratings, or standard text. Handbook calculated values use nominal dimensions.

Dataset and Review Details

Publisher
Turn2Engineering Editorial Team
Primary basis
ASTM B88-22; ASTM B306/CDA for DWV
Canonical units
Inches and pounds per foot
Published calculated fields
ID, bore area, weight, filled weight, volume
Known exclusions
ACR, medical gas, NPS schedule pipe, pressure ratings
Rights status
Transformed educational reference; full CSV disabled

Related Engineering Tools

Copper Pipe Size Chart FAQs

Actual OD follows the standard tube size rather than the nominal label. For example, nominal 1/2-inch copper water tube has a 0.625-inch OD.

Use the Actual OD, Type, and Wall—Not the Nominal Label Alone

Start with the nominal copper size, confirm whether the tube is K, L, M, or DWV, and then use the actual OD and wall thickness to determine the corresponding ID. For design work, verify the governing standard, local code, pressure and temperature conditions, and joining system before specifying material.

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