How to Measure the Diameter of a Pipe

How to Measure the Diameter of a Pipe
How to Measure the Diameter of a Pipe

I always enjoy explaining  how to measure the diameter of a pipe. Doing the measuring actually takes less time than explaining it. It’s easy, too, because the pipe diameter tape does all the work for you. It takes about 10 seconds to do this little task. All you do is wrap the od tape (diameter tape) around the pipe or pipeline, and read off the diameter directly from the tape. The video found here in the header picture pretty much shows you how simple it is.

Lufkin Diameter Tape (pi Tape)
Lufkin Diameter Tape (pi Tape)

This is a valuable tool for people in the oil and gas drilling business, automotive repair, boat repair, tree people, arborists, tree nurserymen, landscapers, and anyone who needs to know the diameter of a round object. This allows you to find the diameter without cutting it and measuring the diameter directly.

How A Pipe Diameter Measuring Tape Can Make Your Life Easier

Pipe Diameter Measuring Tape
Pipe Diameter Measuring Tape

If you are in the oil business, or drilling, or plumbing business, you are always measuring pipes. You also need to know the outside diameter of pipelines and pipe fittings that are part of a piping system. How do you do that without cutting the pipeline and measuring the diameter directly?

  • Use a caliper, and transfer the measurement to a metal rule. This works, but is only as accurate as the metal rule, and your ability to transfer the distance to the rule. Also, who wants to carry around a caliper all day?
  • Use an OD micrometer. But what size micrometer do you need? A 0-1 mic will only measure a pipe that is less than 1 inch in diameter. A 1-2 mic will only measure a pipe that is between 1 and 2 inches in diameter. Who want to keep a whole set of mics with them in the field?
  • Use a flexible measuring tape, wrap it around the pipeline, make a reading and divide by pi. This works, but it’s not that accurate because the markings are on the side of the tape that is not physically next to the pipe. Your are really measuring the diameter of the pipe plus twice the thickness of the tape.
  • At last, the best and easiest way to get the diameter of a pipe: Use a Lufkin Pipe diameter measuring tape. The diameter tape does all the work for you! Just wrap it around the pipe and read the diameter.

    Lufkin Pipe Diameter Tape
    Lufkin Pipe Diameter Tape