What is the difference between Pipe and Tube?

For many people, pipe and tube mean the same, but for professionals such as engineers, pipe and tube are not the same. Pipelines are used for transporting gases or fluids. Pipe size refers to the nominal size. The diameter on the inside measures pipes. This allows it possible to make calculations for transportation. Tubes are mainly used for construction purposes.

A tube is defined by the outside diameter and the thickness of the wall. Tubes are also stronger than pipes. In summary, the pipe is identified by NB, and its thickness is determined by schedule while OD identifies a tube, and BWG defines the thickness.

The main difference between the two is how they are measured. Its inside diameter usually measures the pipe while its outside diameter measures the tube. There is a lot of confusion about this because people assume that the piping size and the tubing size are the same. Different factors can make tubes stronger than pipes.

Pipes are known to be more rounded. If in case you would need to make some applications that would require strong tubing, steel tubes can be your best option to ensure that the process will go on smoothly. The rounded tube is also more ideal as compared to the square tube if in case you need to choose.