PVC Pipe Volume Calculator
PVC is the most common pipe in homes and irrigation, and its bore depends on the schedule. This PVC pipe volume calculator loads the correct Schedule 40 or 80 inside diameter for the size you pick, so the gallons and litres it returns are based on the real bore.
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| متى | ID | الطول | النتيجة |
|---|
PVC is preloaded as Schedule 40. Switch to Schedule 80 for the thicker wall and smaller bore.
Schedule 40 vs Schedule 80 PVC
PVC pipe shares the same outside diameters as steel, so a given nominal size drops straight into standard fittings. What changes with schedule is the wall: Schedule 80 has a thicker wall and therefore a smaller bore and a higher pressure rating than Schedule 40 of the same size. Because volume follows the bore squared, the difference is real — 4-inch Schedule 40 has a 4.026 in bore, while Schedule 80 is 3.826 in, holding a few percent less per foot. Select the right schedule above and the tool takes care of it.
The nominal-size trap with PVC
A "1-inch" PVC pipe is neither 1 inch on the outside nor 1 inch on the inside — the OD is 1.315 in and the Schedule 40 bore is 1.049 in. Typing "1" into a plain cylinder formula overstates the water it holds. The calculator sidesteps this by looking up the published bore whenever you choose a PVC schedule and size, and it shows you which inside diameter it used.
What PVC volume is used for
- Irrigation and sprinkler zones — line contents affect fill time and the drain-back you see after a zone shuts off.
- Pool and spa plumbing — pipe water adds to total system volume for chemical dosing.
- Pressure testing — the volume tells you how much water to add and how a leak will show up as pressure loss.
- DIY water features and aquaponics — knowing pipe contents helps balance pumps and reservoirs.
A quick PVC example
Say you have run 60 ft of 1-1/2-inch Schedule 40 PVC to a sprinkler manifold. With a bore of 1.610 in, each foot holds about 0.106 US gallons, so the run contains roughly 6.3 gallons — about 53 lb of water sitting in the line. The calculator returns that instantly, plus the litres and cubic-feet equivalents and the fill time at your zone flow rate.
Getting an accurate PVC figure
Match the schedule to the pipe you actually bought (most residential white PVC is Schedule 40; grey electrical and some pressure lines are Schedule 80). For part-full gravity drains, set a fill level below 100%. And if you are measuring an odd or salvaged pipe, switch to Custom and enter the bore you measure directly — a direct measurement always beats a lookup.
قراءة نتيجتك والثقة بها
The result above answers most questions; this note covers how to interpret it and its limits.
What the number actually means
The headline value is the internal capacity of a round, uniform pipe running full — the fluid the bore can hold along the length you entered. Every other unit on the panel is the same physical quantity re-expressed, so you can quote whichever your paperwork needs without recalculating.
افتراض الأنبوب الممتلئ
By default the figure assumes the pipe is completely full and perfectly cylindrical. For gravity drains and vented lines that run part full, set a fill level below 100% and the result scales with it. Bends, valves and fittings add a little capacity the straight-length model does not see — use the fittings allowance to approximate them.
جداول مرجعية للسعة ومثال محلول
Concrete numbers for this page, calculated the same way the tool above does — use them as a quick check or a lookup.
Schedule 40 2" pipe: volume by run length
How much a 2" Schedule 40 bore holds as the run gets longer, in US gal. The per-foot figure is constant, so any length is one multiplication away.
| الطول (ft) | Volume (US gal) | Per foot |
|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | 1.74 | 0.1743 |
| 25 ft | 4.36 | 0.1743 |
| 50 ft | 8.72 | 0.1743 |
| 100 ft | 17.43 | 0.1743 |
| 250 ft | 43.58 | 0.1743 |
| 500 ft | 87.16 | 0.1743 |
Schedule 40 pipe: volume across sizes
Volume held by a fixed 100 ft run across common Schedule 40 sizes, in US gal. Doubling the diameter roughly quadruples the capacity.
| الحجم الاسمي | التجويف (in) | Volume in 100 ft (US gal) |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2" | 0.622 | 1.58 |
| 3/4" | 0.824 | 2.77 |
| 1" | 1.049 | 4.49 |
| 1-1/2" | 1.610 | 10.58 |
| 2" | 2.067 | 17.43 |
| 3" | 3.068 | 38.40 |
| 4" | 4.026 | 66.13 |
| 6" | 6.065 | 150.1 |
مثال محلول، خطوة بخطوة
- Bore = 2.067 in, so radius = 1.0335 in.
- Area = π × radius² = 3.3556 in².
- Length = 75 ft = 900 in; volume = 3.3556 × 900 = 3,020.0 in³.
- Convert to the unit you need: 13.07 US gal for a 75 ft run of Schedule 40 2" pipe.
الأسئلة الشائعة
How do I calculate the volume of water in a PVC pipe?
Choose the PVC schedule and size above to load the bore, enter the length, and read the volume in gallons or litres. Behind the scenes it applies V = π × (ID/2)² × L with the true Schedule 40 or 80 inside diameter.
Is Schedule 40 and Schedule 80 PVC volume different?
Yes. Schedule 80 has a thicker wall and a smaller bore, so it holds slightly less per foot than Schedule 40 of the same nominal size. Pick the correct schedule for an accurate result.
What is the inside diameter of 2-inch PVC?
Schedule 40 2-inch PVC has a 2.067 in bore; Schedule 80 is 1.939 in. The outside diameter is 2.375 in for both.
Can I use this for CPVC or DWV pipe?
Pressure CPVC follows the same schedule bores, so Schedule 40/80 works. DWV and foam-core pipe can differ, so measure the bore and use Custom mode for those.
Related pipe volume tools
What people say
Used the litres-per-metre figures to size a glycol charge for a radiant job. Numbers matched the datasheet.
Switches between US and metric without losing the pipe. Small thing, big time-saver.
Would love more HDPE DIPS sizes, otherwise excellent.