13 Difference Between Pipe And Tube

1. Pipes are the one the you lay in your house. in order to connect them you weld (or screw) a flange to the end. Tubes are those that used to lay a gas line or hydraulic line for example. 2. Tubing is usually more expensive than pipe due to tighter manufacturing tolerances. 3. The nominal dimensions of tubes are based on the outside diameter. The purpose with a pipe is the transport of a fluid like water, oil or similar, and the most import property is the capacity or the inside diameter. 4. Pipe Wall thickness is expressed in schedule number. Tube Wall thickness is expressed in millimeter, or inches, or BWG (Birmingham wire gauge.) 5. Use: Pipe: Used in all process & utility lines. Tube: Generally used in tracing lines, tubes for heat exchanger & fired heater & in instrument connection. 6. Diameter: The outside diameter of pipe up to size 12” are numerically larger than corresponding pipe size Outside diameter of tubes is numerically equal to the corresponding size. 7. Availability: Pipe: Available in the small bore as well as the big bore. Tube: Normally small-bore tube is used in process piping.  For structural use, tubs are available in custom sizes.