# Copper pipe (ASTM B88 Type L and M), 1/4 to 2 inch

> What is the outside diameter of 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch copper pipe?

- Category: Hardware › Stirling & thermoacoustic
- Kind: Hardware
- Basis: ASTM B88: OD = nominal + 1/8 in for all types; Type L and Type M wall thicknesses
- Page: https://xemstudio.com/objects/copper-pipe-type-l-m/ · JSON: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=copper-pipe-type-l-m · Plain text: https://xemstudio.com/objects/copper-pipe-type-l-m/sheet.txt
- License: dimension sheet CC BY 4.0 (Xem Studio); linked files under their publishers' licenses

## Notes

- OD is nominal + 1/8 in: 1/2 in pipe is 15.88 mm (0.625 in), 3/4 in is 22.22 mm, 1 in is 28.58 mm. Fittings grip the OD; a printed adapter that slips over the pipe uses OD + 0.3 mm.
- Type L (blue) wall: 1/2 1.02, 3/4 1.14, 1 1.27 mm. Type M (red) is thinner: 0.71, 0.81, 0.89 mm. Type K (green) is thicker still and rarer.
- Why it's here: copper's conductivity makes 3/4 and 1 in Type L tube the hot and cold heat-exchanger walls on the LES Stirling heads; 1/4 and 3/8 are regenerator and transfer tubes.

## Sizes

| nominal_in | od_mm | type_l_wall_mm | type_l_id_mm | type_m_wall_mm | type_m_id_mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 9.53 | 0.76 | 8.01 | 0.64 | 8.25 |
| 3/8 | 12.7 | 0.89 | 10.92 | 0.64 | 11.42 |
| 1/2 | 15.88 | 1.02 | 13.84 | 0.71 | 14.46 |
| 3/4 | 22.22 | 1.14 | 19.94 | 0.81 | 20.6 |
| 1 | 28.58 | 1.27 | 26.04 | 0.89 | 26.8 |
| 1-1/4 | 34.93 | 1.65 | 31.63 | 1.07 | 32.79 |
| 1-1/2 | 41.28 | 1.52 | 38.24 | 1.24 | 38.8 |
| 2 | 53.98 | 1.78 | 50.42 | 1.47 | 51.04 |

## Where the files are

- Wikipedia: [Copper tubing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_tubing) — web — CC BY-SA 4.0 (text)
- Copper Development Association: [Copper Tube Handbook (dimensions table)](https://www.copper.org/publications/pub_list/pdf/copper_tube_handbook.pdf) — PDF — CDA publication (verify at link)
- Long Earth Society: [Engine builds that use these parts (videos and write-ups)](https://longearthsociety.com/engineering/) — web, video — LES site

## Free STEP/STL (8 parts, CC BY 4.0, Xem Studio)

Index: https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/index.json

- copper-1-4in-typeL-50mm: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-1-4in-typeL-50mm.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-1-4in-typeL-50mm.stl) — 1/4 in nominal, OD 9.53 mm, Type L wall 0.76 mm, 50 mm stub
- copper-3-8in-typeL-50mm: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-3-8in-typeL-50mm.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-3-8in-typeL-50mm.stl) — 3/8 in nominal, OD 12.7 mm, Type L wall 0.89 mm, 50 mm stub
- copper-1-2in-typeL-50mm: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-1-2in-typeL-50mm.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-1-2in-typeL-50mm.stl) — 1/2 in nominal, OD 15.88 mm, Type L wall 1.02 mm, 50 mm stub
- copper-3-4in-typeL-50mm: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-3-4in-typeL-50mm.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-3-4in-typeL-50mm.stl) — 3/4 in nominal, OD 22.22 mm, Type L wall 1.14 mm, 50 mm stub
- copper-1in-typeL-50mm: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-1in-typeL-50mm.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-1in-typeL-50mm.stl) — 1 in nominal, OD 28.58 mm, Type L wall 1.27 mm, 50 mm stub
- copper-1-1-4in-typeL-50mm: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-1-1-4in-typeL-50mm.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-1-1-4in-typeL-50mm.stl) — 1-1/4 in nominal, OD 34.93 mm, Type L wall 1.65 mm, 50 mm stub
- copper-1-1-2in-typeL-50mm: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-1-1-2in-typeL-50mm.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-1-1-2in-typeL-50mm.stl) — 1-1/2 in nominal, OD 41.28 mm, Type L wall 1.52 mm, 50 mm stub
- copper-2in-typeL-50mm: [STEP](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-2in-typeL-50mm.step) · [STL](https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/copper-pipe-type-l-m/copper-2in-typeL-50mm.stl) — 2 in nominal, OD 53.98 mm, Type L wall 1.78 mm, 50 mm stub

## Questions

**What is the OD of 3/4 inch copper pipe?**

22.22 mm (0.875 in). 1/2 in is 15.88 mm, 1 in is 28.58 mm: always nominal + 1/8 in.

**What is the difference between Type L and Type M copper?**

Wall thickness only: 1/2 in Type L is 1.02 mm, Type M 0.71 mm; same OD, same fittings.

**What size hole for 1/2 inch copper pipe to pass through?**

16.2 mm (OD 15.88 + 0.3) for a slip fit; 16.5 mm if the pipe is painted or the print is rough.

## Fits with

- [Schedule 40 pipe and PVC fittings, 1/2 to 2 inch](https://xemstudio.com/objects/schedule-40-pipe/)
- [Tri-clamp (Tri-Clover) sanitary ferrule, 1/2 to 4 inch](https://xemstudio.com/objects/tri-clamp-ferrule/)
- [Hobby brass tube (K&S), 1/16–21/32 in and 1–12 mm, telescoping](https://xemstudio.com/objects/brass-tube-ks/)
- [O-rings, common metric sizes (ISO 3601)](https://xemstudio.com/objects/o-rings-metric/)
- [Pipe thread envelopes: NPT (ANSI B1.20.1) and BSP (ISO 228 / 7), 1/8 to 1 inch](https://xemstudio.com/objects/npt-bsp-thread-envelopes/)