PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow

Water flow in SDR pressure rated PE-pipes - pressure loss and velocities - Imperial and SI units.

The pressure loss calculations below are done with the D'Arcy-Weisbach Equation.

Fluid : Water
Pipe : Polyethylene (PE) SDR Pressure Rated Tube
Temperature : 20.0 ^oC (68.0 ^oF)
Density : 998.3 kg/m³ (62.0 lb/ft³)
Kinematic Viscosity : 1.004×10^-6 m²/s (0.01 stokes) (1.08E-5 ft²/s)
Pipe Roughness Coefficient : 3.0×10^-6 (m)

PE, PEH or PVC Pipes - Pressure Loss Diagram

Nominal Pipe Size: 1/2"

Inside Diameter: 0.0158 m (0.62 inches)

For full table with Pressure Drops - rotate the screen!

PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow - 1/2"
Flow			Velocity		Pressure Drop
(m³/s)	(liter/s)	(US gpm)	(m/s)	(ft/s)	(Pa/100m)	(mmH₂O/100m)	(psi/100ft)	(ftH₂O/100ft)
3.0E-5	0.03	0.48	0.153	0.5	3550	362	0.157	0.36
4.0E-5	0.04	0.63	0.2	0.67	5785	590	0.26	0.59
5.0E-5	0.05	0.79	0.26	0.84	8629	880	0.38	0.88
6.0E-5	0.06	0.95	0.31	1.0	11834	1207	0.52	1.21
7.0E-5	0.07	1.11	0.36	1.17	15302	1560	0.68	1.56
8.0E-5	0.08	1.27	0.41	1.34	19460	1984	0.86	1.99
9.0E-5	0.09	1.43	0.46	1.51	23298	2376	1.03	2.4
1.0E-4	0.1	1.59	0.51	1.67	28763	2933	1.27	2.9
1.1E-4	0.11	1.74	0.56	1.84	33809	3447	1.49	3.5
1.2E-4	0.12	1.9	0.61	2.0	39052	3982	1.73	4.0
1.3E-4	0.13	2.1	0.66	2.2	44443	4532	1.96	4.5
1.4E-4	0.14	2.2	0.71	2.3	51543	5256	2.3	5.3
1.5E-4	0.15	2.4	0.77	2.5	57321	5845	2.5	5.9
1.6E-4	0.16	2.5	0.82	2.7	65218	6650	2.9	6.7
1.7E-4	0.17	2.7	0.87	2.8	71250	7265	3.1	7.3
1.8E-4	0.18	2.9	0.92	3.0	79879	8145	3.5	8.2
1.9E-4	0.19	3.0	0.97	3.2	89001	9075	3.9	9.1
2.0E-4	0.2	3.2	1.02	3.3	95329	9721	4.2	9.7
3.0E-4	0.3	4.8	1.53	5.0	199697	20363	8.8	20

Nominal Pipe Size: 3/4"

Inside Diameter: 0.021 m (0.82 inches)

PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow - 3/4"
Flow			Velocity		Pressure Drop
(m³/s)	(liter/s)	(US gpm)	(m/s)	(ft/s)	(Pa/100m)	(mmH₂O/100m)	(psi/100ft)	(ftH₂O/100ft)
4.0E-5	0.04	0.63	0.115	0.38	1522	155	0.067	0.155
5.0E-5	0.05	0.79	0.144	0.47	2229	227	0.099	0.23
6.0E-5	0.06	0.95	0.173	0.57	3067	313	0.136	0.31
7.0E-5	0.07	1.11	0.2	0.66	3980	406	0.176	0.41
8.0E-5	0.08	1.27	0.23	0.76	4945	504	0.22	0.5
9.0E-5	0.09	1.43	0.26	0.85	6099	622	0.27	0.62
1.0E-4	0.1	1.59	0.29	0.95	7331	748	0.32	0.75
1.1E-4	0.11	1.74	0.32	1.04	8631	880	0.38	0.88
1.2E-4	0.12	1.9	0.35	1.14	9986	1018	0.44	1.02
1.3E-4	0.13	2.1	0.38	1.23	11720	1195	0.52	1.2
1.4E-4	0.14	2.2	0.4	1.33	13204	1346	0.58	1.35
1.5E-4	0.15	2.4	0.43	1.42	14711	1500	0.65	1.5
1.6E-4	0.16	2.5	0.46	1.52	16738	1707	0.74	1.71
1.7E-4	0.17	2.7	0.49	1.61	18323	1868	0.81	1.87
1.8E-4	0.18	2.9	0.52	1.7	20542	2095	0.91	2.1
1.9E-4	0.19	3.0	0.55	1.8	22888	2334	1.01	2.3
2.0E-4	0.2	3.2	0.58	1.89	24568	2505	1.09	2.5
3.0E-4	0.3	4.8	0.87	2.8	49929	5091	2.2	5.1
4.0E-4	0.4	6.3	1.15	3.8	85593	8728	3.8	8.7
5.0E-4	0.5	7.9	1.44	4.7	123833	12627	5.5	12.6
6.0E-4	0.6	9.5	1.73	5.7	171186	17456	7.6	17.5

Nominal Pipe Size: 1"

Inside Diameter: 0.027 m (1.05 inches)

PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow - 1"
Flow			Velocity		Pressure Drop
(m³/s)	(liter/s)	(US gpm)	(m/s)	(ft/s)	(Pa/100m)	(mmH₂O/100m)	(psi/100ft)	(ftH₂O/100ft)
7.0E-5	0.07	1.11	0.122	0.4	1216	124	0.054	0.124
8.0E-5	0.08	1.27	0.14	0.46	1516	155	0.067	0.155
9.0E-5	0.09	1.43	0.157	0.52	1873	191	0.083	0.191
1.0E-4	0.1	1.59	0.175	0.57	2256	230	0.1	0.23
1.1E-4	0.11	1.74	0.192	0.63	2661	271	0.118	0.27
1.2E-4	0.12	1.9	0.21	0.69	3086	315	0.136	0.31
1.3E-4	0.13	2.1	0.23	0.74	3526	360	0.156	0.36
1.4E-4	0.14	2.2	0.24	0.8	3979	406	0.176	0.41
1.5E-4	0.15	2.4	0.26	0.86	4568	466	0.2	0.47
1.6E-4	0.16	2.5	0.28	0.92	5053	515	0.22	0.52
1.7E-4	0.17	2.7	0.3	0.97	5541	565	0.24	0.57
1.8E-4	0.18	2.9	0.31	1.03	6212	633	0.27	0.63
1.9E-4	0.19	3.0	0.33	1.09	6718	685	0.3	0.69
2.0E-4	0.2	3.2	0.35	1.15	7444	759	0.33	0.76
3.0E-4	0.3	4.8	0.52	1.72	15226	1553	0.67	1.55
4.0E-4	0.4	6.3	0.7	2.3	25264	2576	1.12	2.6
5.0E-4	0.5	7.9	0.87	2.9	38066	3882	1.68	3.9
6.0E-4	0.6	9.5	1.05	3.4	52785	5382	2.3	5.4
7.0E-4	0.7	11.1	1.22	4.0	69083	7044	3.1	7.1
8.0E-4	0.8	12.7	1.4	4.6	86621	8833	3.8	8.8
9.0E-4	0.9	14.3	1.57	5.2	109630	11179	4.8	11.2
0.0010	1.0	15.9	1.75	5.7	129706	13226	5.7	13.2
0.0011	1.1	17.4	1.92	6.3	156944	16004	6.9	16.0
0.0012	1.2	19.0	2.1	6.9	178656	18218	7.9	18.2

Nominal Pipe Size: 1 1/4"

Inside Diameter: 0.035 m (1.38 inches)

PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow - 1 1/4"
Flow			Velocity		Pressure Drop
(m³/s)	(liter/s)	(US gpm)	(m/s)	(ft/s)	(Pa/100m)	(mmH₂O/100m)	(psi/100ft)	(ftH₂O/100ft)
1.3E-4	0.13	2.1	0.135	0.44	1041	106	0.046	0.106
1.4E-4	0.14	2.2	0.146	0.48	1178	120	0.052	0.12
1.5E-4	0.15	2.4	0.156	0.51	1317	134	0.058	0.134
1.6E-4	0.16	2.5	0.166	0.55	1459	149	0.064	0.149
1.7E-4	0.17	2.7	0.177	0.58	1647	168	0.073	0.168
1.8E-4	0.18	2.9	0.187	0.61	1797	183	0.079	0.183
1.9E-4	0.19	3.0	0.197	0.65	2002	204	0.088	0.2
2.0E-4	0.2	3.2	0.21	0.68	2157	220	0.095	0.22
3.0E-4	0.3	4.8	0.31	1.02	4437	452	0.196	0.45
4.0E-4	0.4	6.3	0.42	1.36	7395	754	0.33	0.75
5.0E-4	0.5	7.9	0.52	1.7	10785	1100	0.48	1.1
6.0E-4	0.6	9.5	0.62	2.0	14975	1527	0.66	1.53
7.0E-4	0.7	11.1	0.73	2.4	19628	2001	0.87	2.0
8.0E-4	0.8	12.7	0.83	2.7	24651	2514	1.09	2.5
9.0E-4	0.9	14.3	0.94	3.1	31199	3181	1.38	3.2
0.0010	1.0	15.9	1.04	3.4	36976	3770	1.63	3.8
0.0011	1.1	17.4	1.14	3.8	44741	4562	1.98	4.6
0.0012	1.2	19.0	1.25	4.1	51027	5203	2.3	5.2
0.0013	1.3	21	1.35	4.4	59886	6107	2.6	6.1
0.0014	1.4	22	1.46	4.8	69454	7082	3.1	7.1
0.0015	1.5	24	1.56	5.1	76263	7777	3.4	7.8
0.0016	1.6	25	1.66	5.5	86771	8848	3.8	8.9
0.0017	1.7	27	1.77	5.8	97956	9989	4.3	10.0
0.0018	1.8	29	1.87	6.1	109819	11198	4.9	11.2
0.0019	1.9	30	1.97	6.5	116799	11910	5.2	11.9
0.0020	2.0	32	2.1	6.8	129417	13197	5.7	13.2

Nominal Pipe Size: 1 1/2"

Inside Diameter: 0.041 m (1.61 inches)

For full table with Pressure Drops - rotate the screen!

PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow - 1 1/2"n
Flow			Velocity		Pressure Drop
(m³/s)	(liter/s)	(US gpm)	(m/s)	(ft/s)	(Pa/100m)	(mmH₂O/100m)	(psi/100ft)	(ftH₂O/100ft)
2.0E-4	0.2	3.2	0.151	0.5	1034	105	0.046	0.106
3.0E-4	0.3	4.8	0.23	0.75	2074	212	0.092	0.21
4.0E-4	0.4	6.3	0.3	0.99	3464	353	0.153	0.35
5.0E-4	0.5	7.9	0.38	1.24	5064	516	0.22	0.52
6.0E-4	0.6	9.5	0.45	1.49	7040	718	0.31	0.72
7.0E-4	0.7	11.1	0.53	1.74	9240	942	0.41	0.94
8.0E-4	0.8	12.7	0.61	1.99	11622	1185	0.51	1.19
9.0E-4	0.9	14.3	0.68	2.2	14709	1500	0.65	1.5
0.0010	1.0	15.9	0.76	2.5	17461	1781	0.77	1.78
0.0011	1.1	17.4	0.83	2.7	21128	2154	0.93	2.2
0.0012	1.2	19.0	0.91	3.0	24138	2461	1.07	2.5
0.0013	1.3	21	0.98	3.2	28329	2889	1.25	2.9
0.0014	1.4	22	1.06	3.5	31486	3211	1.39	3.2
0.0015	1.5	24	1.14	3.7	36145	3686	1.6	3.7
0.0016	1.6	25	1.21	4.0	41124	4193	1.82	4.2
0.0017	1.7	27	1.29	4.2	44407	4528	1.96	4.5
0.0018	1.8	29	1.36	4.5	49785	5077	2.2	5.1
0.0019	1.9	30	1.44	4.7	55470	5656	2.5	5.7
0.0020	2.0	32	1.51	5.0	61463	6267	2.7	6.3
0.0030	3.0	48	2.3	7.5	125720	12820	5.6	12.8

Nominal Pipe Size: 2"

Inside Diameter: 0.053 m (2.1 inches)

PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow - 2"
Flow			Velocity		Pressure Drop
(m³/s)	(liter/s)	(US gpm)	(m/s)	(ft/s)	(Pa/100m)	(mmH₂O/100m)	(psi/100ft)	(ftH₂O/100ft)
4.0E-4	0.4	6.3	0.181	0.59	1022	104	0.045	0.104
5.0E-4	0.5	7.9	0.23	0.74	1500	153	0.066	0.153
6.0E-4	0.6	9.5	0.27	0.89	2090	213	0.092	0.21
7.0E-4	0.7	11.1	0.32	1.04	2750	280	0.122	0.28
8.0E-4	0.8	12.7	0.36	1.19	3467	354	0.153	0.35
9.0E-4	0.9	14.3	0.41	1.34	4232	432	0.187	0.43
0.0010	1.0	15.9	0.45	1.49	5031	513	0.22	0.51
0.0011	1.1	17.4	0.5	1.64	6087	621	0.27	0.62
0.0012	1.2	19.0	0.54	1.78	6966	710	0.31	0.71
0.0013	1.3	21	0.59	1.93	8175	834	0.36	0.83
0.0014	1.4	22	0.63	2.1	9481	967	0.42	0.97
0.0015	1.5	24	0.68	2.2	10449	1065	0.46	1.07
0.0016	1.6	25	0.73	2.4	11888	1212	0.53	1.21
0.0017	1.7	27	0.77	2.5	13421	1369	0.59	1.37
0.0018	1.8	29	0.82	2.7	14419	1470	0.64	1.47
0.0019	1.9	30	0.86	2.8	16066	1638	0.71	1.64
0.0020	2.0	32	0.91	3.0	17802	1815	0.79	1.82
0.0030	3.0	48	1.36	4.5	36571	3729	1.62	3.7
0.0040	4.0	63	1.81	5.9	61919	6314	2.7	6.3
0.0050	5.0	79	2.3	7.4	91911	9372	4.1	9.4
0.0060	6.0	95	2.7	8.9	132351	13496	5.8	13.5
0.0070	7.0	111	3.2	10.4	170663	17403	7.5	17.4

Nominal Pipe Size: 2 1/2"

Inside Diameter: 0.063 m (2.5 inches)

PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow - 2 1/2"
Flow			Velocity		Pressure Drop
(m³/s)	(liter/s)	(US gpm)	(m/s)	(ft/s)	(Pa/100m)	(mmH₂O/100m)	(psi/100ft)	(ftH₂O/100ft)
7.0E-4	0.7	11.1	0.22	0.74	1199	122	0.053	0.122
8.0E-4	0.8	12.7	0.26	0.84	1513	154	0.067	0.154
9.0E-4	0.9	14.3	0.29	0.95	1849	189	0.082	0.189
0.0010	1.0	15.9	0.32	1.05	2201	224	0.097	0.22
0.0011	1.1	17.4	0.35	1.16	2664	272	0.118	0.27
0.0012	1.2	19.0	0.38	1.26	3053	311	0.135	0.31
0.0013	1.3	21	0.42	1.37	3583	365	0.158	0.37
0.0014	1.4	22	0.45	1.47	3995	407	0.177	0.41
0.0015	1.5	24	0.48	1.58	4586	468	0.2	0.47
0.0016	1.6	25	0.51	1.68	5218	532	0.23	0.53
0.0017	1.7	27	0.55	1.79	5655	577	0.25	0.58
0.0018	1.8	29	0.58	1.89	6340	647	0.28	0.65
0.0019	1.9	30	0.61	2.0	7064	720	0.31	0.72
0.0020	2.0	32	0.64	2.1	7827	798	0.35	0.8
0.0030	3.0	48	0.96	3.2	16144	1646	0.71	1.65
0.0040	4.0	63	1.28	4.2	27396	2794	1.21	2.8
0.0050	5.0	79	1.6	5.3	40768	4157	1.8	4.2
0.0060	6.0	95	1.92	6.3	55771	5687	2.5	5.7
0.0070	7.0	111	2.2	7.4	75910	7741	3.4	7.7
0.0080	8.0	127	2.6	8.4	93929	9578	4.2	9.6
0.0090	9.0	143	2.9	9.5	118879	12122	5.3	12.1
0.01	10.0	159	3.2	10.5	138611	14134	6.1	14.1
0.011	11.0	174	3.5	11.6	167719	17102	7.4	17.1
0.012	12.0	190	3.8	12.6	199600	20353	8.8	20

Nominal Pipe Size: 3"

Inside Diameter: 0.078 m (3.1 inches)

For full table with Pressure Drops - rotate the screen!

PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow - 3"
Flow			Velocity		Pressure Drop
(m³/s)	(liter/s)	(US gpm)	(m/s)	(ft/s)	(Pa/100m)	(mmH₂O/100m)	(psi/100ft)	(ftH₂O/100ft)
0.0012	1.2	19.0	0.25	0.82	1130	115	0.05	0.115
0.0013	1.3	21	0.27	0.89	1279	130	0.057	0.131
0.0014	1.4	22	0.29	0.96	1483	151	0.066	0.151
0.0015	1.5	24	0.31	1.03	1640	167	0.072	0.167
0.0016	1.6	25	0.33	1.1	1865	190	0.082	0.19
0.0017	1.7	27	0.36	1.17	2106	215	0.093	0.21
0.0018	1.8	29	0.38	1.24	2270	231	0.1	0.23
0.0019	1.9	30	0.4	1.3	2529	258	0.112	0.26
0.0020	2.0	32	0.42	1.37	2803	286	0.124	0.29
0.0030	3.0	48	0.63	2.1	5802	592	0.26	0.59
0.0040	4.0	63	0.84	2.7	9417	960	0.42	0.96
0.0050	5.0	79	1.05	3.4	14014	1429	0.62	1.43
0.0060	6.0	95	1.26	4.1	20180	2058	0.89	2.1
0.0070	7.0	111	1.46	4.8	26093	2661	1.15	2.7
0.0080	8.0	127	1.67	5.5	34081	3475	1.51	3.5
0.0090	9.0	143	1.88	6.2	40864	4167	1.81	4.2
0.01	10.0	159	2.1	6.9	50449	5144	2.2	5.1
0.011	11.0	174	2.3	7.6	61043	6225	2.7	6.2
0.012	12.0	190	2.5	8.2	72646	7408	3.2	7.4
0.013	13.0	206	2.7	8.9	80522	8211	3.6	8.2
0.014	14.0	222	2.9	9.6	93386	9523	4.1	9.5
0.015	15.0	238	3.1	10.3	107204	10932	4.7	10.9
0.016	16.0	254	3.3	11.0	121974	12438	5.4	12.5
0.017	17.0	269	3.6	11.7	137697	14041	6.1	14.1
0.018	18.0	285	3.8	12.4	145293	14815	6.4	14.8
0.019	19.0	301	4.0	13.0	161885	16507	7.2	16.5
0.02	20	317	4.2	13.7	179373	18291	7.9	18.3

Nominal Pipe Size: 4"

Inside Diameter: 0.102 m (4.0 inches)

PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow - 4"
Flow			Velocity		Pressure Drop
(m³/s)	(liter/s)	(US gpm)	(m/s)	(ft/s)	(Pa/100m)	(mmH₂O/100m)	(psi/100ft)	(ftH₂O/100ft)
0.0030	3.0	48	0.37	1.2	1583	161	0.07	0.162
0.0040	4.0	63	0.49	1.61	2697	275	0.119	0.28
0.0050	5.0	79	0.61	2.0	4031	411	0.178	0.41
0.0060	6.0	95	0.73	2.4	5541	565	0.24	0.57
0.0070	7.0	111	0.86	2.8	7183	732	0.32	0.73
0.0080	8.0	127	0.98	3.2	9381	957	0.41	0.96
0.0090	9.0	143	1.1	3.6	11279	1150	0.5	1.15
0.01	10.0	159	1.22	4.0	13925	1420	0.62	1.42
0.011	11.0	174	1.35	4.4	16850	1718	0.74	1.72
0.012	12.0	190	1.47	4.8	18997	1937	0.84	1.94
0.013	13.0	206	1.59	5.2	22295	2273	0.99	2.3
0.014	14.0	222	1.71	5.6	25857	2637	1.14	2.6
0.015	15.0	238	1.84	6.0	29683	3027	1.31	3.0
0.016	16.0	254	1.96	6.4	31896	3252	1.41	3.3
0.017	17.0	269	2.1	6.8	36008	3672	1.59	3.7
0.018	18.0	285	2.2	7.2	40369	4116	1.78	4.1
0.019	19.0	301	2.3	7.6	44979	4586	1.99	4.6
0.02	20	317	2.4	8.0	49838	5082	2.2	5.1
0.03	30	476	3.7	12.0	105539	10762	4.7	10.8
0.04	40	634	4.9	16.1	175898	17936	7.8	18.0

Nominal Pipe Size: 6"

Inside Diameter: 0.154 m (6.1 inches)

For full table with Pressure Drops - rotate the screen!

PE (PolyEthylene) Pipes - Pressure Loss vs. Water Flow - 6"
Flow			Velocity		Pressure Drop
(m³/s)	(liter/s)	(US gpm)	(m/s)	(ft/s)	(Pa/100m)	(mmH₂O/100m)	(psi/100ft)	(ftH₂O/100ft)
0.0070	7.0	111	0.38	1.23	1007	103	0.045	0.103
0.0080	8.0	127	0.43	1.41	1256	128	0.055	0.128
0.0090	9.0	143	0.48	1.59	1589	162	0.07	0.162
0.01	10.0	159	0.54	1.76	1868	191	0.083	0.191
0.011	11.0	174	0.59	1.94	2261	231	0.1	0.23
0.012	12.0	190	0.64	2.1	2691	274	0.119	0.27
0.013	13.0	206	0.7	2.3	3000	306	0.133	0.31
0.014	14.0	222	0.75	2.5	3479	355	0.154	0.36
0.015	15.0	238	0.81	2.6	3994	407	0.177	0.41
0.016	16.0	254	0.86	2.8	4544	463	0.2	0.46
0.017	17.0	269	0.91	3.0	4860	496	0.21	0.5
0.018	18.0	285	0.97	3.2	5448	556	0.24	0.56
0.019	19.0	301	1.02	3.3	6071	619	0.27	0.62
0.02	20	317	1.07	3.5	6726	686	0.3	0.69
0.03	30	476	1.61	5.3	14294	1458	0.63	1.46
0.04	40	634	2.1	7.0	23916	2439	1.06	2.4
0.05	50	793	2.7	8.8	35033	3572	1.55	3.6
0.06	60	951	3.2	10.6	50448	5144	2.2	5.1
0.07	70	1110	3.8	12.3	68665	7002	3.0	7.0
0.08	80	1268	4.3	14.1	83706	8535	3.7	8.5
0.09	90	1427	4.8	15.9	105940	10803	4.7	10.8
0.1	100	1585	5.4	17.6	130790	13337	5.8	13.4
0.11	110	1744	5.9	19.4	158256	16137	7.0	16.2
0.12	120	1902	6.4	21	188338	19205	8.3	19.2

1 psi (lb/in²) = 6,894.8 Pa (N/m²) = 6.895×10^-3 N/mm² = 6.895×10^-2 bar = 27.71 in H₂O at 61 ^oF (16.7 ^oC) = 703.1 mm H₂O at 61 ^oF (16.7 ^oC) = 2.0416 in mercury at 61 ^oF (16.7 ^oC) = 51.8 mm mercury at 61 ^oF (16.7 ^oC) = 703.6 kg/m² = 0.06895 atm = 2.307 Ft. H₂O = 16 ounces
1 ft/s = 0.3048 m/s
1 gal (US)/min =6.30888×10^-5 m³/s = 0.0227 m³/h = 0.06309 dm³(litre)/s = 2.228×10^-3 ft³/s = 0.1337 ft³/min = 0.8327 Imperial gal (UK)/min