Stainless Steel Tube Bursting Pressure
Theoretical bursting pressure (psi) for stainless steel tube by outside diameter (OD), from 1/16" through 4", and wall thickness, from 0.016" through 0.750".
Tube bursting pressure chart
Scroll sideways to see every wall thickness. The OD column stays in view.
| OD (in.) \ Wall (in.) | 0.016 | 0.020 | 0.028 | 0.035 | 0.049 | 0.065 | 0.083 | 0.095 | 0.109 | 0.120 | 0.134 | 0.156 | 0.188 | 0.250 | 0.313 | 0.375 | 0.500 | 0.750 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/16" | 38,400 | 48,000 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1/8" | 19,200 | 24,000 | 33,600 | 42,000 | 58,800 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3/16" | 12,800 | 15,998 | 22,403 | 28,000 | 39,203 | 51,863 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1/4" | – | 12,000 | 16,800 | 21,000 | 29,400 | 39,000 | 49,800 | 57,000 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5/16" | – | 9,600 | 13,440 | 16,800 | 23,520 | 31,200 | 39,780 | 45,750 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3/8" | – | 8,003 | 11,200 | 14,003 | 19,598 | 26,003 | 33,203 | 38,003 | 43,598 | 48,000 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 7/16" | – | 6,857 | 9,600 | 12,000 | 16,800 | 22,285 | 28,457 | 32,571 | 37,371 | 41,143 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1/2" | – | 6,000 | 8,400 | 10,500 | 14,700 | 19,500 | 24,900 | 28,500 | 32,700 | 36,000 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 9/16" | – | 5,333 | 7,467 | 9,333 | 13,067 | 17,333 | 22,133 | 25,333 | 29,066 | 32,000 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5/8" | – | 4,800 | 6,720 | 8,400 | 11,760 | 15,600 | 19,920 | 22,800 | 26,160 | 28,800 | 32,160 | 37,440 | 44,880 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 3/4" | – | 3,998 | 5,603 | 6,998 | 9,803 | 12,997 | 16,598 | 18,998 | 21,803 | 24,000 | 26,800 | 31,200 | 37,403 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 7/8" | – | 3,428 | 4,800 | 6,000 | 8,400 | 11,145 | 14,228 | 16,283 | 18,683 | 20,573 | 22,971 | 26,745 | 32,055 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1" | – | 3,000 | 4,200 | 5,250 | 7,350 | 9,750 | 12,450 | 14,250 | 16,350 | 18,000 | 20,100 | 23,400 | 28,050 | 37,500 | – | – | – | – |
| 1-1/8" | – | 2,663 | 3,735 | 4,665 | 6,533 | 8,670 | 11,070 | 12,668 | 14,535 | 15,998 | 17,866 | 20,798 | 24,930 | 33,330 | – | – | – | – |
| 1-1/4" | – | 2,400 | 3,360 | 4,200 | 5,880 | 7,800 | 9,960 | 11,400 | 13,080 | 14,400 | 16,080 | 18,720 | 22,440 | 30,000 | – | – | – | – |
| 1-3/8" | – | – | 3,053 | 3,818 | 5,348 | 7,087 | 9,053 | 10,365 | 11,888 | 13,088 | 14,618 | 17,018 | 20,400 | 27,270 | – | – | – | – |
| 1-1/2" | – | – | 2,800 | 3,503 | 4,898 | 6,503 | 8,303 | 9,503 | 10,890 | 12,000 | 13,400 | 15,600 | 18,698 | 24,998 | – | – | – | – |
| 1-5/8" | – | – | – | 3,230 | 4,523 | 6,000 | 7,662 | 8,769 | 10,062 | 11,077 | 12,369 | 14,400 | 17,354 | 23,077 | – | – | – | – |
| 1-3/4" | – | – | – | 3,000 | 4,200 | 5,573 | 7,118 | 8,145 | 9,345 | 10,283 | 11,486 | 13,373 | 16,028 | 21,428 | – | – | – | – |
| 2" | – | – | – | 2,625 | 3,675 | 4,875 | 6,225 | 7,125 | 8,175 | 9,000 | 10,050 | 11,700 | 14,025 | 18,750 | 23,475 | 28,125 | 37,500 | – |
| 2-1/4" | – | – | – | 2,333 | 3,270 | 4,335 | 5,535 | 6,330 | 7,268 | 8,003 | 8,933 | 10,403 | 12,465 | 16,665 | 20,865 | 24,998 | 33,330 | – |
| 2-1/2" | – | – | – | 2,100 | 2,940 | 3,900 | 4,980 | 5,700 | 6,540 | 7,200 | 8,040 | 9,360 | 11,220 | 15,000 | 18,780 | 22,500 | 30,000 | – |
| 2-3/4" | – | – | – | 1,913 | 2,670 | 3,548 | 4,530 | 5,183 | 5,948 | 6,548 | 7,309 | 8,513 | 10,200 | 13,636 | 17,070 | 20,453 | 27,270 | 40,913 |
| 3" | – | – | – | 1,748 | 2,453 | 3,248 | 4,148 | 4,748 | 5,453 | 6,000 | 6,700 | 7,800 | 9,353 | 12,503 | 15,653 | 18,750 | 24,998 | 37,500 |
| 3-1/4" | – | – | – | – | – | 3,000 | 3,833 | 4,388 | 5,033 | 5,535 | 6,185 | 7,200 | 8,633 | 11,535 | 14,445 | 17,310 | 23,078 | 34,613 |
| 3-1/2" | – | – | – | – | – | 2,783 | 3,555 | 4,073 | 4,673 | 5,145 | 5,743 | 6,683 | 8,018 | 10,718 | 13,418 | 16,073 | 21,428 | 32,146 |
| 3-3/4" | – | – | – | – | – | 2,603 | 3,323 | 3,803 | 4,358 | 4,800 | 5,360 | 6,240 | 7,478 | 9,998 | 12,518 | 15,000 | 20,003 | 30,000 |
| 4" | – | – | – | – | – | 2,438 | 3,113 | 3,563 | 4,088 | 4,500 | 5,025 | 5,850 | 7,013 | 9,375 | 11,738 | 14,063 | 18,750 | 28,125 |
Working pressure and temperature
Working pressures for 304/L and 316/L A269 tubing between -20°F and 100°F: the ASME code suggests a safety factor of four [1/4" OD × 0.035" wall = 5,250 psi].
For higher temperatures, multiply working pressure by the following:
| Alloy | 300°F | 500°F | 1000°F |
|---|---|---|---|
| 304/L | 0.828 | 0.744 | 0.665 |
| 316/L | 0.900 | 0.853 | 0.746 |
All pressure ratings are approximate and for illustration purposes only. Values are not guaranteed or warranted.
Questions about pressure ratings for your application? Call 1-800-282-9694 or send us a message.