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A 1-inch PVC Schedule 40 pipe holds about 0.045 gallons of water per foot.

A reference chart of sourced pipe inside diameters converted to gallons, liters, and pounds of water per foot across seven materials and 53 size combinations.

By Miles Carver ·

A pipe’s actual bore, not its nominal size, sets how much water sits inside it per foot. A 1-inch PVC Schedule 40 pipe holds about 0.045 gallons per foot, while a 4-inch cast iron soil pipe holds over 0.6 gallons per foot. The chart below lines up sourced inside-diameter figures across copper, PVC, CPVC, PEX, steel, cast iron, and HDPE, then derives gallons, liters, and pounds of water per linear foot for 53 size-and-material combinations.

Sort and filter. Click any column header to sort the table, or use the material dropdown to narrow it to one pipe type.

Full Volume Chart

53 rows
Gallons Per Foot Vs. Nominal Pipe Size, By Material And Schedule (Log Scale)0.010.111/2"1"2"4"6"8"Nominal Pipe Size (Inches)Gallons Per Foot (Log Scale)Copper K, 1/2": 0.0113 gal/ftCopper K, 3/4": 0.0226 gal/ftCopper K, 1": 0.0404 gal/ftCopper K, 1-1/2": 0.0895 gal/ftCopper K, 2": 0.1565 gal/ftCopper L, 1/2": 0.0121 gal/ftCopper L, 3/4": 0.0251 gal/ftCopper L, 1": 0.0429 gal/ftCopper L, 1-1/2": 0.0924 gal/ftCopper L, 2": 0.1607 gal/ftCopper M, 1/2": 0.0132 gal/ftCopper M, 3/4": 0.0268 gal/ftCopper M, 1": 0.0454 gal/ftCopper M, 1-1/2": 0.0951 gal/ftCopper M, 2": 0.1646 gal/ftPVC Sch 40, 1/2": 0.0158 gal/ftPVC Sch 40, 3/4": 0.0277 gal/ftPVC Sch 40, 1": 0.0449 gal/ftPVC Sch 40, 1-1/2": 0.1057 gal/ftPVC Sch 40, 2": 0.1743 gal/ftPVC Sch 40, 4": 0.6611 gal/ftPVC Sch 80, 1/2": 0.0122 gal/ftPVC Sch 80, 3/4": 0.0225 gal/ftPVC Sch 80, 1": 0.0374 gal/ftPVC Sch 80, 2": 0.1534 gal/ftPVC Sch 80, 4": 0.597 gal/ftCPVC Sch 80, 1/2": 0.0122 gal/ftCPVC Sch 80, 3/4": 0.0225 gal/ftCPVC Sch 80, 1": 0.0374 gal/ftPEX SDR9, 3/8": 0.0053 gal/ftPEX SDR9, 1/2": 0.0096 gal/ftPEX SDR9, 3/4": 0.0205 gal/ftPEX SDR9, 1": 0.0375 gal/ftPEX SDR9, 2": 0.1493 gal/ftGalv Steel 40, 1/2": 0.0158 gal/ftGalv Steel 40, 3/4": 0.0277 gal/ftGalv Steel 40, 1": 0.0449 gal/ftGalv Steel 40, 1-1/2": 0.1057 gal/ftGalv Steel 40, 2": 0.1743 gal/ftGalv Steel 40, 4": 0.6611 gal/ftCast Iron, 2": 0.1567 gal/ftCast Iron, 3": 0.3574 gal/ftCast Iron, 4": 0.6331 gal/ftCast Iron, 6": 1.4393 gal/ftCast Iron, 8": 2.5717 gal/ftHDPE SDR11, 1/2": 0.0193 gal/ftHDPE SDR11, 1": 0.0472 gal/ftHDPE SDR11, 2": 0.154 gal/ftHDPE SDR11, 4": 0.553 gal/ftHDPE SDR17, 1/2": 0.0224 gal/ftHDPE SDR17, 1": 0.0549 gal/ftHDPE SDR17, 2": 0.179 gal/ftHDPE SDR17, 4": 0.6432 gal/ftCPVC Sch 80Copper MCopper LCopper KPEX SDR9PVC Sch 40Galv Steel 40HDPE SDR17PVC Sch 80HDPE SDR11Cast Iron
Nominal Size (in) Material / Schedule / Standard Inside Diameter (in) Volume (gal/ft) Volume (L/ft) Water Weight (lb/ft)
1/2Copper Type K (ASTM B88)0.5270.01130.04290.0945
3/4Copper Type K (ASTM B88)0.7450.02260.08570.189
1Copper Type K (ASTM B88)0.9950.04040.15290.337
1-1/2Copper Type K (ASTM B88)1.4810.08950.33870.7466
2Copper Type K (ASTM B88)1.9590.15650.59261.3063
1/2Copper Type L (ASTM B88)0.5450.01210.04590.1011
3/4Copper Type L (ASTM B88)0.7850.02510.09510.2098
1Copper Type L (ASTM B88)1.0250.04290.16220.3576
1-1/2Copper Type L (ASTM B88)1.5050.09240.34970.7711
2Copper Type L (ASTM B88)1.9850.16070.60831.3411
1/2Copper Type M (ASTM B88)0.5690.01320.050.1102
3/4Copper Type M (ASTM B88)0.8110.02680.10160.2239
1Copper Type M (ASTM B88)1.0550.04540.17180.3789
1-1/2Copper Type M (ASTM B88)1.5270.09510.360.7939
2Copper Type M (ASTM B88)2.0090.16460.62321.3739
1/2PVC Schedule 40 (ASTM D1785)0.6220.01580.05970.1317
3/4PVC Schedule 40 (ASTM D1785)0.8240.02770.10480.2311
1PVC Schedule 40 (ASTM D1785)1.0490.04490.16990.3745
1-1/2PVC Schedule 40 (ASTM D1785)1.610.10570.40020.8823
2PVC Schedule 40 (ASTM D1785)2.0670.17430.65971.4544
4PVC Schedule 40 (ASTM D1785)4.0260.66112.50245.517
1/2PVC Schedule 80 (ASTM D1785)0.5460.01220.0460.1015
3/4PVC Schedule 80 (ASTM D1785)0.7420.02250.0850.1874
1PVC Schedule 80 (ASTM D1785)0.9570.03740.14140.3118
2PVC Schedule 80 (ASTM D1785)1.9390.15340.58061.2799
4PVC Schedule 80 (ASTM D1785)3.8260.5972.25964.9815
1/2CPVC Schedule 80, IPS (ASTM F441)0.5460.01220.0460.1015
3/4CPVC Schedule 80, IPS (ASTM F441)0.7420.02250.0850.1874
1CPVC Schedule 80, IPS (ASTM F441)0.9570.03740.14140.3118
3/8PEX CTS SDR9 (ASTM F876/F877)0.360.00530.020.0441
1/2PEX CTS SDR9 (ASTM F876/F877)0.4850.00960.03630.0801
3/4PEX CTS SDR9 (ASTM F876/F877)0.7090.02050.07760.1711
1PEX CTS SDR9 (ASTM F876/F877)0.9590.03750.1420.3131
2PEX CTS SDR9 (ASTM F876/F877)1.9130.14930.56491.2458
1/2Galvanized/black steel Schedule 40 (ASME B36.10)0.6220.01580.05970.1317
3/4Galvanized/black steel Schedule 40 (ASME B36.10)0.8240.02770.10480.2311
1Galvanized/black steel Schedule 40 (ASME B36.10)1.0490.04490.16990.3745
1-1/2Galvanized/black steel Schedule 40 (ASME B36.10)1.610.10570.40020.8823
2Galvanized/black steel Schedule 40 (ASME B36.10)2.0670.17430.65971.4544
4Galvanized/black steel Schedule 40 (ASME B36.10)4.0260.66112.50245.517
2Cast iron, hubless soil pipe (CISPI 301 / ASTM A888)1.960.15670.59311.3076
3Cast iron, hubless soil pipe (CISPI 301 / ASTM A888)2.960.35741.35292.9827
4Cast iron, hubless soil pipe (CISPI 301 / ASTM A888)3.940.63312.39615.2843
6Cast iron, hubless soil pipe (CISPI 301 / ASTM A888)5.941.43935.448912.0119
8Cast iron, hubless soil pipe (CISPI 301 / ASTM A888)7.942.57179.733821.461
1/2HDPE SDR11, IPS (ASTM D3035)0.6880.01930.07310.1611
1HDPE SDR11, IPS (ASTM D3035)1.0760.04720.17870.3942
2HDPE SDR11, IPS (ASTM D3035)1.9430.1540.5831.2851
4HDPE SDR11, IPS (ASTM D3035)3.6820.5532.09314.6145
1/2HDPE SDR17, IPS (ASTM D3035)0.7410.02240.08480.1869
1HDPE SDR17, IPS (ASTM D3035)1.160.05490.20780.4581
2HDPE SDR17, IPS (ASTM D3035)2.0950.1790.67761.494
4HDPE SDR17, IPS (ASTM D3035)3.9710.64322.4355.3694

Sources

  • PVC Schedule 40 DWV and Pressure Pipe - Product Data Sheet (PDS-PVC-40-PE-PIPE-1019)primaryCharlotte Pipe and Foundry Company — Manufacturer spec sheet, ASTM D1785 / ASTM D1784. Fetched (downloaded PDF, read directly). Gives average OD and minimum wall thickness for Schedule 40 PVC, 1/2in-16in. Used to cross-check the OD/wall figures behind the PVC Sch 40 rows against Engineering Toolbox's OD/wall/ID table -- both matched exactly (e.g. 1/2in: .840 OD / .109 wall in both).
  • Copper Pipe Dimensions (Type K, L, M, DWV) - SupplyHouse.com ResourcessecondarySupplyHouse.com — Fetched (downloaded PDF, read directly). Distributor-published dimension chart citing ASTM B88; gives explicit outside AND inside diameter columns for Type K, L, M, and DWV copper tube, nominal 1/4in-12in. Source of every copper-tube inside-diameter value used in this dataset.
  • Streamline Copper Tube for Plumbing and Mechanical Applications - Submittal SheetprimaryMueller Streamline Co. (Mueller Industries) — Fetched (downloaded PDF, read directly). Manufacturer submittal sheet confirming Type K/L/M copper tube is manufactured to ASTM B88; gives weight-per-foot and pressure ratings but NOT a dimension table, so it corroborates material/standard only -- inside-diameter numbers came from the SupplyHouse chart instead.
  • Standard Pipe Schedules and Pipe Sizes Chart Table Data (ANSI/ASME B36.10M, API 5L)secondaryEngineers Edge — Direct fetch returned HTTP 403; retrieved via the r.jina.ai reader proxy instead. Gives OD, wall thickness, and inside diameter for steel pipe Schedule 40 and Schedule 80, 1/8in-12in, per ASME B36.10. Used for the galvanized/black steel rows (galvanized steel shares black-steel schedule dimensions; the coating negligibly reduces bore and is not separately tabulated by any source we could find).
  • PVC and CPVC Pipes - DimensionssecondaryEngineering Toolbox — Direct fetch returned HTTP 403; retrieved via the r.jina.ai reader proxy instead. Gives OD, wall thickness, and inside diameter for PVC (and, per the page's own text, CPVC) Schedule 40 and 80, matching ASTM D1785 dimensions. Cross-checked against the Charlotte Pipe PDS for Schedule 40 OD/wall (exact match). Source of ID for all PVC Sch40/Sch80 and CPVC Sch80 rows.
  • FlowGuard Gold Pipe - CPVC Copper Tube Size (CTS) Pipe - Product Data Sheet (PDS-CTS-PIPE-124)primaryCharlotte Pipe and Foundry Company — Fetched (downloaded PDF, read directly). Manufacturer spec sheet, ASTM D2846, SDR11 CTS CPVC. Gives average OD and minimum wall thickness (1/2in-2in) but no inside-diameter column, and no other source we could reach (Engineering Toolbox's CTS-CPVC page, Spears' CTS PDF, Corzan's dimensions page) published one either -- so CTS CPVC is documented but excluded as a row (see gaps).
  • PEX Pipe Sizes Chart (ASTM F876/F877, CTS/SDR9)secondaryPipeSizing.net — Fetched directly (200 OK). Self-consistent OD/wall/ID table (OD - 2 x wall = ID exactly, in every row) for CTS PEX per ASTM F876/F877, 3/8in-2in. Used in preference to an Engineering Toolbox ASTM-F876-PEX page whose AI-extracted ID values were internally inconsistent with its own OD/wall figures, so that page was dropped rather than used.
  • HDPE Pipe Sizes Chart (ASTM D3035, IPS, SDR 11/17/21)secondaryPipeSizing.net — Fetched directly (200 OK). OD/wall/ID table for IPS-sized HDPE pipe, SDR11 and SDR17, 1/2in-6in, per ASTM D3035. We could not reach a second, independent HDPE dimension source to cross-check it: JM Eagle's PE Water & Sewer PDF and Charlotte Pipe's cast-iron manual both returned HTML/Incapsula bot-block pages instead of real PDFs when downloaded.
  • CISPI 301-18: Standard Specification for Hubless Cast Iron Soil Pipe and FittingsprimaryCast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI) — Fetched (downloaded PDF, read directly). The industry standard itself (explicitly stated in the document to include the requirements of ASTM A888). Table 1, 'Dimensions and Tolerances of Spigots and Barrels for Hubless Pipe and Fittings,' gives the actual inside diameter of the pipe barrel for every size, 1-1/2in through 15in -- this is a directly measured/toleranced bore dimension, not a wall-thickness subtraction. Source of every cast-iron row.

Method

Volume = π × (ID ÷ 2)² × 12 in ÷ 231 in³/gal. Liters = gal × 3.785412. Weight = gal × 8.345 lb/gal (water near room temperature). Every inside diameter is a sourced figure from a manufacturer spec sheet or standards document — never back-computed from nominal size.

Gaps

CPVC Copper Tube Size (CTS) SDR11, the form most common in residential CPVC plumbing (ASTM D2846): Charlotte Pipe's own FlowGuard Gold CTS product data sheet gives average OD and minimum wall thickness but no inside-diameter column, and Engineering Toolbox's dedicated CTS-CPVC page also stops at wall thickness. Spears' CTS technical PDF was password-protected and Corzan's dimensions page 404'd. We couldn't find a published ID for this size series, so it is not in the table -- CPVC is represented only by Schedule 80 IPS (which shares PVC Schedule 80's dimensions). PEX and HDPE inside-diameter figures each rely on a single secondary aggregator (pipesizing.net); we tried but failed to reach a second, independent source (Uponor's PEX manual and JM Eagle's HDPE PDF were both unreadable/blocked), so those two material groups carry more single-source risk than the copper, PVC, steel, and cast-iron rows, which are each corroborated by 2 sources or a primary standard. Copper Type K/L/M sizes above 2in nominal (up to 12in, per the SupplyHouse chart) and cast-iron sizes above 8in (per CISPI 301 Table 1, up to 15in) exist in the sourced material but were left out of the table to keep it to common plumbing/DWV sizes.

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