How to Calculate the Wall Thickness of a Pipe

Pipe walls vary quite a bit in terms of thickness.

Pipes are divided into different categories based on both length and the thickness of their walls. A pipe's wall thickness is especially important to know during construction projects, as a pipe with too thin a wall may burst under pressure. The formula used for calculating the thickness of a pipe's wall is fairly simple, as is the method for figuring out the pipe's wall measurements.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler or measuring tape

Instructions

1. Place your ruler or measuring tape over the mouth of the pipe.

2. Measure the diameter of the pipe from the top of the outer wall to the bottom of the outer wall. Note this down on a piece of paper.

3. Measure the diameter from the top inner wall to the bottom inner wall. Note this number down on a piece of paper as well.

4. Plug the two numbers into the following formula:

   (Diameter of Outer Wall - Diameter of Inner Wall)/2. The resulting number is the thickness of the pipe wall.

References

• Stainless Steel Tubing: Calculate of Wall Thickness of Pipe