Pipes - Relative Capacities

Relative capacities between larger and smaller pipes

Pipes relative capacities - larger pipes versus smaller pipes -are indicated in the diagram and table below:

Pipes - larger versus smaller - relative capacities

The diagram above and table below are based on steel pipes schedule 40.

Relative Capacity (Area Larger Pipe/Area Smaller Pipe)
Larger Pipe Smaller Pipe 
Nominal Size (inches)
Nominal Size (inches)
Inside Area
(sq. inches)
1/8 ¼ 3/8 ½ ¾ 1 1 ¼ 1 ½ 2 2 ½ 3 3 ½ 4 5 6 8
Inside Area (sq. Inches)
0.06 0.1 0.19 0.3 0.53 0.86 1.5 2.04 3.36 4.79 7.39 9.89 12.73 20 28.89 50.02
1/8 0.06 1














¼ 0.1 1.67 1













3/8 0.19 3.17 1.9 1












½ 0.3 5 3 1.58 1











¾ 0.53 8.83 5.3 2.79 1.77 1










1 0.86 14.33 8.6 4.53 2.87 1.62 1









1 ¼ 1.5 25 15 7.89 5 2.83 1.74 1








1 ½ 2.04 34 20.4 10.74 6.8 3.85 2.37 1.36 1







2 3.36 56 33.6 17.68 11.2 6.34 3.91 2.24 1.65 1






2 ½ 4.79 79.83 47.9 25.21 15.97 9.04 5.57 3.19 2.35 1.43 1





3 7.39 123.17 73.9 38.89 24.63 13.94 8.59 4.93 3.62 2.2 1.54 1




3 ½ 9.89 164.83 98.9 52.05 32.97 18.66 11.5 6.59 4.85 2.94 2.06 1.34 1



4 12.73 212.17 127.3 67 42.43 24.02 14.8 8.49 6.24 3.79 2.66 1.72 1.29 1


5 20 333.33 200 105.26 66.67 37.74 23.26 13.33 9.8 5.95 4.18 2.71 2.02 1.57 1

6 28.89 481.5 288.9 152.05 96.3 54.51 33.59 19.26 14.16 8.6 6.03 3.91 2.92 2.27 1.44 1
8 50.02 833.67 500.2 263.26 166.73 94.38 58.16 33.35 24.52 14.89 10.44 6.77 5.06 3.93 2.5 1.73 1

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