NPS - 'Nominal Pipe Size' and DN - 'Diameter

Nominal'
The size of pipes, fittings, flanges and valves are often given in inches as NPS
- Nominal Pipe Size, or in metric units as DN - 'Diameter Nominal'
Pipes are made of a wide variety of materials - like galvanized steel, black
steel, copper, cast iron, concrete, and various plastics such as ABS, PVC,
CPVC, polyethylene, polybutylene and more.
Pipes are identified by "nominal" or "trade" names that are loosely related to
the actual dimensions. For instance, a 2-inch galvanized steel pipe has an
inside diameter of about 2 1/8 inches and an outside diameter of about 2 5/8
inches.
In plumbing pipe size is referred to as nominal pipe size - NPS, or "Nominal
Pipe Size". The metric equivalent is called DN or "diameter nominal". The
metric designations conform to International Standards Organization (ISO)
usage and apply to all plumbing, natural gas, heating oil, and miscellaneous
piping used in buildings. The use of NPS does not conform to American
Standard pipe designations where the term NPS means "National Pipe Thread
Straight".
Diameter Nominal
DN
(mm)

Nominal Pipe Size

NPS
(inches)

1/8

1/4

10

3/8

15

1/2

20

3/4

25

32

1 1/4

Diameter Nominal
DN
(mm)

Nominal Pipe Size

NPS
(inches)

40

1 1/2