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Heat shrink tubing sizes: supplied and recovered inside diameter, 2:1 and 3:1, 3/64 to 4 in (TE VERSAFIT)
What are the supplied and recovered inside diameters of heat shrink tubing (1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 in), 2:1 and 3:1? · Standard part · basis: TE Connectivity VERSAFIT 2:1 and 3X (3:1) size tables as printed; Zoro generic chart as a nominal comparison
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Exact dimensions. Every file is drawn at true size with no tolerance added. The holes and pins that meet another part are listed below under Mating features, with the fit each joint needs; open those by your process's clearance before making the part. Mating features
- sizes
- 22 in table
Notes
- Heat-shrink tubing is sold by its supplied (expanded) inside diameter. The tube shrinks until it meets the object, up to the fully recovered diameter; pick a size whose supplied ID is larger than the biggest part to cover (a connector or lug) and whose recovered ID is smaller than the smallest wire to grip. The wall thickness is the nominal wall after recovery.
- Tables: TE Connectivity's VERSAFIT 2:1 standard sizes (3/64 to 4 in) and VERSAFIT 3X 3:1 standard sizes (1/8 to 1 in), both from their data sheets as printed: supplied ID is a minimum, recovered ID a maximum, wall is nominal after recovery. The last column is computed (supplied ÷ recovered). A 3:1 tube is not exactly 3 on every row because the sheet's limits are not the same quantities.
- Generic sizes differ from the maker's: Zoro's size chart lists nominal expanded / recovered IDs (e.g. 1/4 in: 6.35 / 3.18 mm; 1/2 in: 12.7 / 6.35 mm) while TE's 2:1 sheet prints 6.81 / 3.17 and 13.32 / 6.35 for the same names. Size names are nominal; use the maker's minimum supplied ID if the part must slip inside.
- Left out: 4:1 and 6:1 adhesive-lined (dual-wall) tubing, shrink temperature and longitudinal change, flame-retardant and fluoropolymer grades. No files: tubing is a hollow cylinder before and after recovery, and the supplied wall is not given.
- McMaster-Carr heat-shrink categories are linked below.
Heat shrink tubing sizes: supplied and recovered inside diameter… size chart
| ratio | size | supplied ID (min), mm | recovered ID (max), mm | recovered wall (nom), mm | supplied / recovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2:1 | 3/64 in | 1.43 | 0.58 | 0.4 | 2.47 |
| 2:1 | 1/16 in | 1.65 | 0.79 | 0.43 | 2.09 |
| 2:1 | 3/32 in | 2.59 | 1.17 | 0.51 | 2.21 |
| 2:1 | 1/8 in | 3.23 | 1.57 | 0.51 | 2.06 |
| 2:1 | 3/16 in | 4.91 | 2.36 | 0.51 | 2.08 |
| 2:1 | 1/4 in | 6.81 | 3.17 | 0.64 | 2.15 |
| 2:1 | 3/8 in | 9.76 | 4.74 | 0.64 | 2.06 |
| 2:1 | 1/2 in | 13.32 | 6.35 | 0.64 | 2.10 |
| 2:1 | 5/8 in | 16.5 | 8 | 0.76 | 2.06 |
| 2:1 | 3/4 in | 20.05 | 9.52 | 0.76 | 2.11 |
| 2:1 | 1 in | 26.4 | 12.7 | 0.88 | 2.08 |
| 2:1 | 1-1/4 in | 32.7 | 15.88 | 1.01 | 2.06 |
| 2:1 | 1-1/2 in | 39.08 | 19.05 | 1.01 | 2.05 |
| 2:1 | 2 in | 51.83 | 25.4 | 1.14 | 2.04 |
| 2:1 | 3 in | 77.49 | 38.1 | 1.27 | 2.03 |
| 2:1 | 4 in | 102.84 | 50.08 | 1.39 | 2.05 |
| 3:1 | 1/8 in | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.58 | 2.91 |
| 3:1 | 1/4 in | 6.4 | 2.2 | 0.58 | 2.91 |
| 3:1 | 3/8 in | 9.5 | 3.2 | 0.61 | 2.97 |
| 3:1 | 1/2 in | 12.7 | 4.3 | 0.61 | 2.95 |
| 3:1 | 3/4 in | 19.1 | 6.4 | 0.61 | 2.98 |
| 3:1 | 1 in | 25.4 | 8.5 | 0.64 | 2.99 |
Mating features
Drawn at the exact size. Open press, slide, run and socket features by your process's clearance (tolerances by process); leave designed gaps and clamp fits as drawn.
| feature | exact | mates with | fit | files |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:1 heat shrink, 1/4 in | supplied ID min 6.4, recovered ID max 2.2 | wire or lug between 2.2 and 6.4 mm | clamp | all |
| 2:1 heat shrink, 1/4 in | supplied ID min 6.81, recovered ID max 3.17 | wire or lug between 3.17 and 6.81 mm | clamp | all |
Where the files are
Other publishers' files are linked, not hosted. "verify" = check the license at the link before commercial use.
| TE Connectivity (Mouser copy) | VERSAFIT 2:1 standard sizes: supplied ID min, recovered ID max, recovered wall | web | Publisher's page; dimensions are facts |
| TE Connectivity (Mouser copy) | VERSAFIT 3X (3:1) standard sizes: supplied ID min, recovered ID max, recovered wall | web | Publisher's page; dimensions are facts |
| Zoro | Heat-shrink tubing size charts: nominal expanded and recovered ID | web | Publisher's page; dimensions are facts |
| McMaster-Carr | Heat-shrink tubing (free STEP/IGES per part, for your own design use; no redistribution) | STEP, IGES, PDF | McMaster-Carr site terms: personal design use, no redistribution verify |
Xem scan
File coming
No downloadable true-size file yet: the published figures do not fix the whole shape, and Xem never guesses a number. A measured scan is planned; request it and it moves up.
https://xemstudio.com/mcp to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client (free, no account, one minute) and it can look up exact sizes, mating fits and free STEP/STL from every chat.Plain text: sheet.txt · JSON: /api/geometry?object=heat-shrink-tubing-sizes
Fits with
Questions
What is the recovered diameter of 1/4 in heat shrink?
TE 2:1: 3.17 mm (supplied 6.81 mm). TE 3:1: 2.2 mm (supplied 6.4 mm).
What does 3:1 mean?
The tube shrinks to about a third of its supplied diameter; the table shows supplied ÷ recovered.
What size heat shrink for a 3.2 mm wire?
Pick a size whose supplied ID is above the widest part and whose recovered ID is below 3.2 mm: for example 3/16 in 2:1 (supplied 4.91 mm min, recovered 2.36 mm max).