Steel tubes and pipes, both have core uses in infrastructural projects. But, the items are completely different and in most of the cases, cannot be used interchangeably.
| Characteristic | Steel Pipe | Steel Tube |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Their shape is always round. | Their shape can be square, round or rectangular. |
| Diameter | In measuring a pipe, the most important property is the capacity or the Inside Dimension (ID). | In tubes, the wall thickness is an important factor as the tube's strength is directly related to it, so in measuring tubes, the exact outside diameter (OD), along with a set range of wall thickness is utilised. |
| Wall Thickness | Pipe thickness has been specified as a set range referred to as "Schedule". | The wall thickness of a tube is always represented in millimeters or inches. |
| Telescoping | The function of pipes is different - they are used for carrying gases or fluids, so they do not have telescoping abilities. | Tubes have telescoping abilities which means that they are perfect for applications where there is a requirement for different pieces to sleeve or change diameter inside one another. |
| Production Process | Steel pipes are only hot rolled and can be galvanized | Tubes can be hot rolled or cold rolled and can be galvanized. |
| Production Range | Pipes can be as large as 80 inches in diameter. | Tubes are smaller than pipes, and their diameter is generally up to 5 inches, though there can be larger tubes depending upon the application. |
| Strength | Pipes are weaker in strength in comparison to pipes | Tubes are stronger than pipes in general. |
| Tolerances | In pipes, though tolerances are set, they are not as stringent as the tolerances in tubes. | Steel tubes have to conform strictly to tolerances for they are used extensively in precision equipment like medical tools and machinery. |
| End connections | Pipes generally have beveled, plain or screwed ends | They generally have threaded or grooved ends for quicker connections. |
| Surface Finishing | Pipes that are being used for outdoor or underground transporting need to be painted or coated with other materials for preventing oxidation. | Depending on the use case, tubes undergo sour cleaning or special polish treatment. |
Galvanized Mild Steel Tube
