2 weeks ago, I was trying to replace a leaking tap in my kitchen. But I got confused about how to measure plumbing fitting size. Initially, I thought I could just eyeball it, but plumbing sizes aren't as simple as they appear. So, I later hired a plumber to do the job. He informed me that to measure a plumbing fitting, it’s important to determine if it is male or female, and then follow the rest of the process, which I shared below.
How are Plumbing Fittings Measured?
The grooves on the pipe's end are called threads. There are male threads on the outside and female threads on the interior. Verify whether the pipe has female, male, or no threads.
Determine the outside diameter across the pipe from one outside edge to the other, regardless of whether it has a male thread or not.
If it is a female thread, determine the interior diameter. This does not account for the thickness of the pipe walls. It is the distance across the center of the pipe. Using a ruler, you can measure from one inside edge to the other.
Finally, compare your measured diameter to the Nominal Pipe Size (NPS) chart.
You must measure the pipe's internal diameter to determine the plumbing fitting's actual size. Instead of using the outer mark, the inner mark of the pipe's thickness is used for this. I would suggest leaving this task to a plumber as they know the process better.
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If you've ever attempted to replace a shower fitting or repair a leaking tap on your own, you must be aware of the first significant obstacle: how to measure plumbing fitting size! I still remember holding a pipe in one hand while standing at a hardware store, completely clueless of its dimensions. Hence, I can share the steps that I followed to help you with the same.
How to Measure Plumbing Fittings?
This process I learned from the owner of the hardware store. He guided me with the following steps:
First, determine whether you are working with female (inside threads) or male (outside threads) fittings.
The thread's diameter can be measured with a caliper or measuring tape.
The interior diameter (ID) should be measured for female fittings, and the outside diameter (OD) for male fittings.
Next, compare your measurement to the nominal pipe size chart. This is because fitting sizes don't necessarily correspond to the measured size; for example, a ½ inch fitting might have an OD of about ¾ inch.
The key to getting the proper plumbing size is precisely matching thread types and diameters.
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How to Measure Plumbing Fitting Size?
Tina66
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8 months
2025-04-28T16:30:45+00:00 2025-04-28T16:30:57+00:00Comment
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