Water
Pipe Size Calculator
Calculate the required internal pipe diameter from flow rate and target water velocity.
1.5 m/s is a practical starting point for many water piping systems.
Required Internal Diameter
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Minimum theoretical internal diameter at the entered flow rate and target velocity.
Required diameter
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Required diameter
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Required diameter
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Required pipe area
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Flow rate
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Target velocity
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Method:
For a full circular pipe:
Q = A × V
and
A = π × D² ÷ 4.
Therefore:
D = √(4Q ÷ πV).
Flow is converted internally to m³/s and velocity to m/s before calculating the required internal diameter.
A target velocity of around 1.5 m/s is a practical starting point for many water systems. Velocities above 2 m/s are not automatically unacceptable, but pressure loss, noise, erosion and water-hammer effects should be checked.
Actual pipe selection should use a commercially available pipe with an internal diameter at least equal to the calculated requirement.
