Buying task · Mainline tubing
1/2 in and 3/4 in drip tubing, by outside diameter
1/2 inch drip tubing comes at about .620, .700 and .710 in OD. Find yours, then the fittings whose maker lists it, the pressure rating and where it can go.
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Picks that fit
- Drip Depot 1/2 in polyethylene tubing (0.600 x 0.700 in, 100 ft)Check price on Amazon
- DripWorks 1/2 in polyethylene mainline tubing (0.600 x 0.700 in, 50 ft)Check price on Amazon
- Drip Depot 3/4 in black polyethylene tubing (0.820 x 0.940 in, 100 ft)Check price on Amazon
Short answer
Find the outside diameter (OD) of the tubing already in the ground before you buy anything, because "1/2 in" drip tubing is sold at about .620, .700 and .710 in OD. Then buy only fittings whose maker lists that OD. For a bigger yard, 3/4 in tubing is a separate size: DIG lists it at .820 x .940 in.
Picks that fitAll picks and how to choose
- Drip Depot 1/2 in polyethylene tubing (0.600 x 0.700 in, 100 ft)Check price on Amazon
- DripWorks 1/2 in polyethylene mainline tubing (0.600 x 0.700 in, 50 ft)Check price on Amazon
- Drip Depot 3/4 in black polyethylene tubing (0.820 x 0.940 in, 100 ft)Check price on Amazon
What mainline tubing is and why the OD matters
Mainline tubing is the blank 1/2 in poly tubing that carries water from the faucet to your emitters, drip line and 1/4 in branches. It has no emitters of its own. The name "1/2 in" is a nominal size, not a measurement, and makers sell several sizes under it.
DIG lists its 1/2 in tubing at .600 in ID x .700 in OD.[1] Raindrip's 062010P supply tubing is .620 in ID x .710 in OD.[2] Raindrip also lists a .520 x .620 in size among the tubing its Smart Loc coupling takes.[3] Rain Bird sells three ODs: T63 at 0.63 in, T70 at 0.70 in and T71 at 0.71 in, and gives no ID.[4] Mister Landscaper's MLT-71 and MLT-72 are .600 x .700 in.[5]
Compression and barbed fittings grip a narrow size band, so the OD (and, for barbs, the ID) decides whether a joint holds. A brand name does not.
The decisions, in order
- Find the OD of the tubing you already have. Read the print on the tubing or the old packaging, or measure a clean cut end. The measuring guide shows how, and the 1/2 in size guide explains the three ODs.
- 1/2 in or 3/4 in. Most home beds run on 1/2 in. DIG's 3/4 in tubing (14-000 and 14-002) is .820 in ID x .940 in OD with a .060 in wall, rated up to 60 psi.[6] DIG's page also mentions a .920 in OD, but its ordering table lists only the .940 in OD tubing, so treat .940 as the size on offer.[6]
- Fittings whose maker lists that OD. See the mainline fittings hub and the tubing size finder.
- Pressure rating. DIG rates its .700 tubing up to 60 psi.[1] Rain Bird's store lists T63 at 0.63 in OD with a 70 psi rating.[7] Raindrip's 062010P page states no pressure rating.[2]
- Where it can go. Raindrip says its supply tubing and feeder lines can be buried, but its drip tubing should not be, because buried emitters risk clogging.[8] Mister Landscaper says its MLT tubing can be covered with mulch or buried.[5]
- Winter care. Rain Bird warns that a single night below 32°F can split thin-walled drip tubing.[9] The winterizing guide has its steps.
DIG says it adds at least 2% carbon black to its polyethylene tubing for UV protection.[10] That is a formulation statement, not a service life.
How to choose
Match the OD, not the logo. If your tubing reads .700 in OD, Rain Bird's T70 is listed at the same 0.70 in OD,[4] and Drip Depot[11] and DripWorks[12] list 1/2 in tubing at .600 x .700 in. If it is .710 in, Raindrip's 062010P is .620 x .710 in.[2] If it is about .620-.630 in, Rain Bird's T63 is 0.63 in OD.[7] A matching OD is a size match only: no maker here states cross-brand fit, so pair the tubing with fittings whose maker lists that OD.
Picks that fit5 products
Pick the OD you measured: Rain Bird T63-100 for 0.63 in OD; Rain Bird T70-100S, Drip Depot's 100 ft coil or DripWorks' 50 ft coil (both .600 x .700 in) for 0.70 in OD; Raindrip 062010P for 0.710 in OD (.620 ID).
More on choosing
DripWorks rates its tubing to 50 psi and says not to leave it under constant pressure. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
For tubing at about .620-.630 in OD
Rain Bird T63‑100 1/2 in blank distribution tubing (0.63 in OD, 100 ft)
For tubing at .700 in OD
Rain Bird T70‑100S 1/2 in heavy-duty blank distribution tubing (0.70 in OD, 100 ft)
For .700 in OD tubing, ID stated
Drip Depot 1/2 in polyethylene tubing (0.600 x 0.700 in, 100 ft)
For .700 in OD tubing, pressure and fittings stated
DripWorks 1/2 in polyethylene mainline tubing (0.600 x 0.700 in, 50 ft)
For tubing at .710 in OD
Raindrip 062010P 0.710 in supply tubing (0.620 x 0.710 in, 100 ft)
For 3/4 in mainline, buy tubing whose listing states both the ID and OD, and compare them with DIG's .820 x .940 in.[6] Drip Depot's listing states its own ID and OD; compare them with your measured tubing before ordering fittings.
Picks that fit1 product
Choose the 100 ft coil only if your 3/4 in tubing and fittings match the ID and OD the listing states.
More on choosing
On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or the brand.
Drip Depot 3/4 in black polyethylene tubing (0.820 x 0.940 in, 100 ft)
Every page on mainline tubing
Guides
- What size is your 1/2 in drip tubing? .620, .700 and .710 OD
- Rain Bird T63, T70 and T71 tubing, and which Easy-Fit parts take them
- How to measure drip tubing before you buy fittings
- Join .700 drip tubing to .620 or .710 tubing
- Repair split or punctured drip tubing
- Winterize drip irrigation: drain, remove, store, and no compressor
Tool
Tubing sizes
- 1/2 in tubing at .620-.630 in OD
- 1/2 in tubing at .700 in OD
- 1/2 in tubing at .710 in OD
- 3/4 in tubing at .940 in OD
Key terms
Outside diameter, inside diameter, nominal size, 3/4 in poly tubing, blank tubing, polyethylene and winterization.
Everything in this topic
Guides
- What size is your 1/2 in drip tubing? .620, .700 and .710 ODHelps you identify which 1/2 in tubing you have, by outside diameter, before you buy fittings for it.
- Rain Bird T63, T70 and T71 tubing, and which Easy-Fit parts take themHelps Rain Bird tubing owners pick fittings by the OD in the series name, and avoid forcing Easy-Fit parts onto T71.
- How to winterize drip irrigationWalks you through draining and storing a drip system for winter without compressed air.
Shortlists
- 1/2 in drip tubing with the OD stated by the makerHelps you buy 1/2 in tubing at the OD you measured, from a maker that states it.
Tools
- Drip tubing size finderTakes you from the tubing size you measured to the fittings whose makers list that size.
Common questions
What size is 1/2 inch drip tubing?
There is no single size. Makers list 1/2 in tubing at about .620-.630, .700 and .710 in outside diameter; Rain Bird alone sells T63, T70 and T71 at 0.63, 0.70 and 0.71 in OD. More in What size is your 1/2 in drip tubing? .620, .700 and .710 OD
Is 1/2 inch drip tubing measured on the inside or the outside?
Neither exactly. "1/2 in" is a name, not a dimension. DIG's 1/2 in tubing is .600 in ID by .700 in OD, and Raindrip's 062010P is .620 in ID by .710 in OD. More in What size is your 1/2 in drip tubing? .620, .700 and .710 OD
Are .700 and .710 drip tubing interchangeable?
Not for every fitting. DIG sells separate compression fittings for .700 and .710 in OD, and a reducing coupling to join them. Use a fitting whose maker lists your OD; see joining .700 tubing to .620 or .710. More in What size is your 1/2 in drip tubing? .620, .700 and .710 OD
What tubing came in my drip kit?
Check the kit's own documentation. For example, DIG's ML50 kit instructions list 50 ft of 1/2 in tubing at .600 in ID by .700 in OD. More in What size is your 1/2 in drip tubing? .620, .700 and .710 OD
Can I use Raindrip's FAQ figure to choose a fitting?
No. Raindrip's FAQ gives .620-.630 in as an I.D. for its 1/2 in fittings, while its own product pages use .620 as an OD, so the figure conflicts with Raindrip's product data. More in What size is your 1/2 in drip tubing? .620, .700 and .710 OD
What is the difference between Rain Bird T63 and T70 tubing?
The outside diameter. Rain Bird lists T63 at 0.63 in OD and T70 at 0.70 in OD; T71 is 0.71 in OD. More in Rain Bird T63, T70 and T71 tubing, and which Easy-Fit parts take them
Will Rain Bird Easy-Fit work with .710 tubing?
Rain Bird lists Easy-Fit compression fittings for 0.63-0.70 in OD tubing, so .710 in tubing such as T71 is outside the stated range. Use a fitting whose maker lists .710 in. More in Rain Bird T63, T70 and T71 tubing, and which Easy-Fit parts take them
Can I push tubing onto an Easy-Fit adapter?
No. Rain Bird says Easy-Fit adapters are not barbed fittings and are to be used only with Easy-Fit compression fittings. More in Rain Bird T63, T70 and T71 tubing, and which Easy-Fit parts take them
Questions
What size is 1/2 inch drip tubing?
It depends on the maker. DIG lists .600 x .700 in (ID x OD), Raindrip's 062010P is .620 x .710 in, and Rain Bird sells T63, T70 and T71 at 0.63, 0.70 and 0.71 in OD. Measure or read the OD of yours before buying fittings.[1][2][4]
Is Rain Bird tubing the same size as DIG tubing?
Compare the OD, not the brand. Rain Bird's T70 is listed at 0.70 in OD and DIG's 1/2 in tubing at .700 in OD, so those two match by size. Rain Bird's T63 and T71 are different ODs, and Rain Bird gives no ID.[4][1]
Can I bury drip tubing?
Raindrip says its supply tubing and feeder lines can be buried, but its drip tubing should not be, because buried emitters risk clogging. Follow the maker of the tubing you have.[8]
Does drip tubing need UV protection?
Makers build it in. DIG says it adds at least 2% carbon black to its polyethylene tubing for UV protection; that is a formulation statement, not a promised service life.[10]
What size is 3/4 inch drip tubing?
DIG lists its 3/4 in tubing (14-000 and 14-002) at .820 in ID x .940 in OD, rated up to 60 psi. Its page also mentions a .920 OD, but only the .940 OD tubing is in the ordering table.[6]