Pipe Sizes (NPS) & NPT Threads

Nominal pipe size is not the pipe's measured diameter — a “1 inch” pipe is 1.315″ OD. Every NPS has one fixed OD; the schedule sets the wall thickness (and therefore the bore). Enter a measured OD below to identify a pipe, or browse the chart.

Identify a pipe from a measured OD

Decimal inches by default ( ); add “mm” for millimeters (). Wrap a tape around the pipe? Divide the circumference by π first.

NPS dimensions (ASME B36.10M)

NPS OD Sch 40 wall Sch 40 ID Sch 80 wall Sch 80 ID
1/8 0.405″ / 10.287 mm 0.068″ 0.269″ 0.095″ 0.215″
1/4 0.540″ / 13.716 mm 0.088″ 0.364″ 0.119″ 0.302″
3/8 0.675″ / 17.145 mm 0.091″ 0.493″ 0.126″ 0.423″
1/2 0.840″ / 21.336 mm 0.109″ 0.622″ 0.147″ 0.546″
3/4 1.050″ / 26.67 mm 0.113″ 0.824″ 0.154″ 0.742″
1 1.315″ / 33.401 mm 0.133″ 1.049″ 0.179″ 0.957″
1-1/4 1.660″ / 42.164 mm 0.140″ 1.380″ 0.191″ 1.278″
1-1/2 1.900″ / 48.26 mm 0.145″ 1.610″ 0.200″ 1.500″
2 2.375″ / 60.325 mm 0.154″ 2.067″ 0.218″ 1.939″
2-1/2 2.875″ / 73.025 mm 0.203″ 2.469″ 0.276″ 2.323″
3 3.500″ / 88.9 mm 0.216″ 3.068″ 0.300″ 2.900″
3-1/2 4.000″ / 101.6 mm 0.226″ 3.548″ 0.318″ 3.364″
4 4.500″ / 114.3 mm 0.237″ 4.026″ 0.337″ 3.826″
5 5.563″ / 141.3 mm 0.258″ 5.047″ 0.375″ 4.813″
6 6.625″ / 168.275 mm 0.280″ 6.065″ 0.432″ 5.761″
8 8.625″ / 219.075 mm 0.322″ 7.981″ 0.500″ 7.625″
10 10.750″ / 273.05 mm 0.365″ 10.020″ 0.594″ 9.562″
12 12.750″ / 323.85 mm 0.406″ 11.938″ 0.688″ 11.374″

Sch 40 = STD and Sch 80 = XS through NPS 8; they diverge above that (see each size's page — NPS 12 STD is 0.375″ while Sch 40 is 0.406″, a classic specification trap).

NPT taper threads & tap drills

Thread TPI Tap drill Tap drill Ø
1/8″ NPT 27 R 0.3390″
1/4″ NPT 18 7/16″ 0.4375″
3/8″ NPT 18 37/64″ 0.5781″
1/2″ NPT 14 23/32″ 0.7188″
3/4″ NPT 14 59/64″ 0.9219″
1″ NPT 11.5 1-5/32″ 1.1563″
1-1/4″ NPT 11.5 1-1/2″ 1.5000″
1-1/2″ NPT 11.5 1-47/64″ 1.7344″
2″ NPT 11.5 2-7/32″ 2.2188″
2-1/2″ NPT 8 2-5/8″ 2.6250″
3″ NPT 8 3-1/4″ 3.2500″

The standard published chart, assuming usual taper-tap practice. Charts that assume an unreamed hole may list one drill size smaller. NPT threads are tapered — they seal on the threads (with sealant), unlike straight NPS threads.

Data provenance. ASME B36.10M, Welded and Seamless Wrought Steel Pipe (Table 2.1) (ASME). ASME B1.20.1, Pipe Threads, General Purpose (Inch) (ASME). Standard NPT tap drill chart (Industry reference). See all data sources.