6. Stainless Steel Pipe Wall Thickness Chart

Stainless steel pipe dimensions are generally specified according to ASME B36.19M. Common materials covered by related product specifications include ASTM A312 grades TP304/304L and TP316/316L.
Stainless steel pipe schedules normally use the suffix S:
- Schedule 5S
- Schedule 10S
- Schedule 40S
- Schedule 80S
The letter “S” distinguishes stainless steel schedule designations from the schedules primarily associated with carbon steel pipe under ASME B36.10M.
The following table shows nominal stainless steel pipe wall thicknesses. Values are given in both inches and millimeters.
| NPS |
OD (in) |
OD (mm) |
Sch 5S |
Sch 10S |
Sch 40S |
Sch 80S |
| 1/8 |
0.405 |
10.3 |
– |
0.049 in / 1.24 mm |
0.068 in / 1.73 mm |
0.095 in / 2.41 mm |
| 1/4 |
0.540 |
13.7 |
– |
0.065 in / 1.65 mm |
0.088 in / 2.24 mm |
0.119 in / 3.02 mm |
| 3/8 |
0.675 |
17.1 |
– |
0.065 in / 1.65 mm |
0.091 in / 2.31 mm |
0.126 in / 3.20 mm |
| 1/2 |
0.840 |
21.3 |
0.065 in / 1.65 mm |
0.083 in / 2.11 mm |
0.109 in / 2.77 mm |
0.147 in / 3.73 mm |
| 3/4 |
1.050 |
26.7 |
0.065 in / 1.65 mm |
0.083 in / 2.11 mm |
0.113 in / 2.87 mm |
0.154 in / 3.91 mm |
| 1 |
1.315 |
33.4 |
0.065 in / 1.65 mm |
0.109 in / 2.77 mm |
0.133 in / 3.38 mm |
0.179 in / 4.55 mm |
| 1 1/4 |
1.660 |
42.2 |
0.065 in / 1.65 mm |
0.109 in / 2.77 mm |
0.140 in / 3.56 mm |
0.191 in / 4.85 mm |
| 1 1/2 |
1.900 |
48.3 |
0.065 in / 1.65 mm |
0.109 in / 2.77 mm |
0.145 in / 3.68 mm |
0.200 in / 5.08 mm |
| 2 |
2.375 |
60.3 |
0.065 in / 1.65 mm |
0.109 in / 2.77 mm |
0.154 in / 3.91 mm |
0.218 in / 5.54 mm |
| 2 1/2 |
2.875 |
73.0 |
0.083 in / 2.11 mm |
0.120 in / 3.05 mm |
0.203 in / 5.16 mm |
0.276 in / 7.01 mm |
| 3 |
3.500 |
88.9 |
0.083 in / 2.11 mm |
0.120 in / 3.05 mm |
0.216 in / 5.49 mm |
0.300 in / 7.62 mm |
| 3 1/2 |
4.000 |
101.6 |
0.083 in / 2.11 mm |
0.120 in / 3.05 mm |
0.226 in / 5.74 mm |
0.318 in / 8.08 mm |
| 4 |
4.500 |
114.3 |
0.083 in / 2.11 mm |
0.120 in / 3.05 mm |
0.237 in / 6.02 mm |
0.337 in / 8.56 mm |
| 5 |
5.563 |
141.3 |
0.109 in / 2.77 mm |
0.134 in / 3.40 mm |
0.258 in / 6.55 mm |
0.375 in / 9.53 mm |
| 6 |
6.625 |
168.3 |
0.109 in / 2.77 mm |
0.134 in / 3.40 mm |
0.280 in / 7.11 mm |
0.432 in / 10.97 mm |
| 8 |
8.625 |
219.1 |
0.109 in / 2.77 mm |
0.148 in / 3.76 mm |
0.322 in / 8.18 mm |
0.500 in / 12.70 mm |
| 10 |
10.750 |
273.0 |
0.134 in / 3.40 mm |
0.165 in / 4.19 mm |
0.365 in / 9.27 mm |
0.500 in / 12.70 mm |
| 12 |
12.750 |
323.8 |
0.156 in / 3.96 mm |
0.180 in / 4.57 mm |
0.375 in / 9.53 mm |
0.500 in / 12.70 mm |
| 14 |
14.000 |
355.6 |
0.156 in / 3.96 mm |
0.188 in / 4.78 mm |
0.375 in / 9.53 mm |
0.500 in / 12.70 mm |
| 16 |
16.000 |
406.4 |
0.165 in / 4.19 mm |
0.188 in / 4.78 mm |
0.375 in / 9.53 mm |
0.500 in / 12.70 mm |
| 18 |
18.000 |
457.2 |
0.165 in / 4.19 mm |
0.188 in / 4.78 mm |
0.375 in / 9.53 mm |
0.500 in / 12.70 mm |
| 20 |
20.000 |
508.0 |
0.188 in / 4.78 mm |
0.218 in / 5.54 mm |
0.375 in / 9.53 mm |
0.500 in / 12.70 mm |
| 22 |
22.000 |
559.0 |
0.188 in / 4.78 mm |
0.218 in / 5.54 mm |
0.375 in / 9.53 mm |
0.500 in / 12.70 mm |
| 24 |
24.000 |
610.0 |
0.218 in / 5.54 mm |
0.250 in / 6.35 mm |
0.375 in / 9.53 mm |
0.500 in / 12.70 mm |
The table contains nominal dimensions. Actual pipe thickness must comply with the tolerance requirements of the applicable material specification.
Schedule 40 vs. Schedule 40S
Schedule 40 and Schedule 40S have identical wall thicknesses for many smaller pipe sizes, but they are not identical throughout the complete size range.
For example, at NPS 12:
- Schedule 40 under ASME B36.10M: 0.406 inches
- Schedule 40S under ASME B36.19M: 0.375 inches
Schedule 40S remains at a nominal wall thickness of 0.375 inches for several larger pipe sizes, while Schedule 40 under ASME B36.10M continues to increase.
Therefore, a specification should clearly state whether Schedule 40 or Schedule 40S is required.
Schedule 80 vs. Schedule 80S
Schedule 80 and Schedule 80S are also identical for many smaller sizes. At larger sizes, however, Schedule 80S is limited to a nominal wall thickness of 0.500 inches, while Schedule 80 continues to increase.
For example, at NPS 12:
- Schedule 80: 0.688 inches
- Schedule 80S: 0.500 inches
The schedule suffix should never be omitted when it affects the required pipe dimension.
Selecting a Stainless Steel Pipe Schedule
Schedule 10S is widely used for stainless steel process piping because stainless steel provides good corrosion resistance without requiring the heavier walls commonly used for carbon steel corrosion allowance.
However, Schedule 10S is not automatically suitable for every application. Selection should account for:
- Internal design pressure
- Design temperature
- External loads
- Corrosion allowance
- Manufacturing tolerance
- Welding and fabrication requirements
- Minimum wall thickness for branch connections
- Threading or mechanical joining
- Vacuum and external pressure
- Applicable piping code
Thin-wall stainless steel pipe may also require special attention during welding because excessive heat input can cause distortion, excessive penetration, oxidation, or loss of dimensional control.
7. How to Read and Use a Pipe Wall Thickness Chart
A pipe wall thickness chart should be read in a logical sequence. The nominal pipe size, outside diameter, schedule, and wall thickness must not be confused with one another.
Step 1: Identify the Nominal Pipe Size
Start by finding the required NPS or DN in the first column.
For example:
- NPS 1 corresponds to DN 25
- NPS 2 corresponds to DN 50
- NPS 4 corresponds to DN 100
- NPS 8 corresponds to DN 200
NPS and DN are nominal designations. They are not exact measured diameters.
Step 2: Confirm the Outside Diameter
Read the actual outside diameter from the chart. For a given NPS, this diameter normally remains constant regardless of the pipe schedule.
For example, all NPS 4 pipes have an outside diameter of:
This applies whether the pipe is Schedule 10, Schedule 40, or Schedule 80.
Step 3: Select the Required Schedule
Move horizontally across the selected NPS row until reaching the required schedule column.
For an NPS 4 pipe:
| Schedule |
Wall thickness |
| Schedule 10 |
0.120 in / 3.05 mm |
| Schedule 40 |
0.237 in / 6.02 mm |
| Schedule 80 |
0.337 in / 8.56 mm |
| Schedule 160 |
0.531 in / 13.49 mm |
A higher schedule generally means a thicker wall and a smaller inside diameter.
Step 4: Calculate the Inside Diameter
If the inside diameter is not shown, calculate it using:
ID = OD − (2 × t)
Where:
- ID = nominal inside diameter
- OD = outside diameter
- t = nominal wall thickness
For an NPS 4 Schedule 40 pipe:
ID = 4.500 − (2 × 0.237)
ID = 4.026 inches
For an NPS 4 Schedule 80 pipe:
ID = 4.500 − (2 × 0.337)
ID = 3.826 inches
The Schedule 80 pipe has the same outside diameter but a smaller internal flow passage.
Step 5: Check the Dimensional Standard
Confirm whether the chart is based on:
- ASME B36.10M for carbon and alloy steel pipe
- ASME B36.19M for stainless steel pipe
This is particularly important when comparing Schedule 40 with 40S or Schedule 80 with 80S.
Step 6: Check the Material Specification
The dimensional standard does not define the material grade. Confirm the product specification separately.
Examples include:
- ASTM A106 Grade B carbon steel
- ASTM A333 Grade 6 low-temperature carbon steel
- ASTM A312 TP304L stainless steel
- ASTM A312 TP316L stainless steel
- API 5L Grade B line pipe
The material specification determines allowable manufacturing methods, properties, testing requirements, and dimensional tolerances.
Step 7: Account for Manufacturing Tolerance
The nominal wall shown in a chart may be greater than the actual manufactured wall. Many pipe specifications allow a negative wall thickness tolerance, frequently 12.5%.
When a 12.5% negative tolerance applies:
Minimum possible wall = Nominal wall × 0.875
For a nominal wall thickness of 6.02 mm:
Minimum possible wall = 6.02 × 0.875
Minimum possible wall = 5.27 mm
The actual tolerance must be confirmed from the applicable material specification because it can vary by product and manufacturing process.
Step 8: Verify the Pressure Design
Do not select a schedule only because it is commonly used. Calculate the required wall thickness using the applicable piping code and compare the result with the available nominal wall thicknesses.
The selected pipe must satisfy:
Available minimum wall ≥ Required minimum wall
The available minimum wall is determined after applying the permitted negative manufacturing tolerance.
Step 9: Check Flow Performance
A thicker pipe wall reduces the inside diameter and internal flow area. This can increase fluid velocity and pressure drop.
The internal cross-sectional area is:
Flow area = π × ID² ÷ 4
Therefore, the final schedule selection should be included in hydraulic calculations rather than using the nominal pipe size as the actual flow diameter.
Example of Reading the Chart
Suppose a project requires an NPS 6 Schedule 80 stainless steel pipe.
From the chart:
- NPS: 6
- DN: 150
- Outside diameter: 6.625 inches or 168.3 mm
- Wall thickness: 0.432 inches or 10.97 mm
Calculate the inside diameter:
ID = 168.3 − (2 × 10.97)
ID = 146.36 mm
If a 12.5% negative tolerance applies:
Minimum possible wall = 10.97 × 0.875
Minimum possible wall = 9.60 mm
The designer must confirm that this minimum available thickness remains greater than or equal to the thickness required by the piping code.
8. How to Calculate the Required Pipe Wall Thickness

The required pipe wall thickness depends on internal pressure, outside diameter, material strength, temperature, corrosion allowance, manufacturing tolerance, and the applicable design code.
For process piping designed according to ASME B31.3, a commonly used internal-pressure equation for straight pipe is:
t = (P × D) ÷ [2 × (S × E × W + P × Y)]
Where:
- t = pressure design thickness
- P = internal design pressure
- D = pipe outside diameter
- S = allowable material stress at design temperature
- E = longitudinal weld joint quality factor
- W = weld joint strength reduction factor
- Y = coefficient determined by material and temperature
All quantities must use a consistent unit system. For example, if pressure and allowable stress are in MPa and diameter is in millimeters, the calculated thickness will be in millimeters.
This equation is subject to the applicability limits and requirements of the governing code edition. Other equations may apply to certain materials, dimensions, loading conditions, or code sections.
Step 1: Establish the Design Conditions
Identify:
- Design pressure
- Design temperature
- Pipe material and grade
- Nominal pipe size
- Pipe manufacturing method
- Fluid corrosiveness
- Required service life
- Applicable piping code
Design pressure and temperature should include the most severe coincident condition expected during operation, startup, shutdown, cleaning, or upset conditions.
Step 2: Determine the Allowable Stress
Obtain the allowable stress S from the applicable code table for the selected material and design temperature.
Allowable stress generally decreases as temperature increases. The room-temperature value should not be used when the pipe will operate at an elevated design temperature.
Step 3: Determine the Code Factors
Select the correct values for:
- E: Weld joint quality factor
- W: Weld joint strength reduction factor
- Y: Code coefficient
These values depend on material, construction type, examination, temperature, and the applicable code.
For seamless pipe, E may commonly be 1.0, but the correct value must still be verified. The value of W is often 1.0 below specified temperature limits but may be lower at elevated temperatures.
Step 4: Calculate the Pressure Design Thickness
Consider an illustrative example with the following assumed values:
- Design pressure, P = 5 MPa
- Outside diameter, D = 114.3 mm
- Allowable stress, S = 120 MPa
- Weld joint quality factor, E = 1.0
- Weld strength reduction factor, W = 1.0
- Coefficient, Y = 0.4
Apply the formula:
t = (5 × 114.3) ÷ [2 × (120 × 1.0 × 1.0 + 5 × 0.4)]
t = 571.5 ÷ [2 × (120 + 2)]
t = 571.5 ÷ 244
t = 2.34 mm
The pressure design thickness is 2.34 mm.
Step 5: Add Corrosion and Other Allowances
The pressure design thickness does not normally include corrosion, erosion, threading, grooving, or other mechanical allowances.
The required minimum thickness is:
tm = t + c
Where:
- tm = required minimum thickness
- t = pressure design thickness
- c = total mechanical, corrosion, and erosion allowance
Assume a corrosion allowance of 1.5 mm and no other allowance:
tm = 2.34 + 1.50
tm = 3.84 mm
The pipe must retain at least 3.84 mm of acceptable wall thickness after applicable allowances are considered.
Step 6: Account for Mill Undertolerance
If the pipe specification permits a 12.5% negative wall tolerance, the required nominal thickness is:
Required nominal thickness = tm ÷ (1 − 0.125)
Required nominal thickness = 3.84 ÷ 0.875
Required nominal thickness = 4.39 mm
A pipe with a nominal wall thickness below 4.39 mm would not satisfy this simplified example.
Step 7: Select the Next Available Schedule
For an NPS 4 carbon steel pipe:
- Schedule 10 wall thickness = 3.05 mm
- Schedule 40 wall thickness = 6.02 mm
- Schedule 80 wall thickness = 8.56 mm
Because the calculated required nominal thickness is 4.39 mm:
- Schedule 10 is insufficient.
- Schedule 40 satisfies the calculated thickness.
- Schedule 80 is thicker than required for internal pressure alone.
Based on this calculation, Schedule 40 would be the first listed schedule thick enough to meet the requirement.
Step 8: Verify the Selected Schedule
Check the minimum possible manufactured wall of Schedule 40:
Minimum possible wall = 6.02 × 0.875
Minimum possible wall = 5.27 mm
Compare this with the required minimum thickness:
- Available minimum wall: 5.27 mm
- Required minimum wall: 3.84 mm
Therefore, the selected Schedule 40 wall satisfies the simplified internal-pressure calculation.
Additional Design Checks
Internal pressure is only one part of pipe design. The selected thickness may also need to satisfy requirements for:
- External pressure and vacuum
- Pipe weight and fluid weight
- Wind, earthquake, and support loads
- Thermal expansion
- Water hammer and pressure surge
- Cyclic loading and fatigue
- Vibration
- Branch connections
- Local loads from valves and equipment
- Threaded or grooved joints
- Mechanical handling
- Minimum fabrication thickness
- Corrosion under insulation
- Erosion and localized corrosion
The final wall thickness should be verified by a qualified piping engineer using the current edition of the applicable design code and the project’s piping specifications.