Guide · Faucet head assembly
FHT, MHT, FPT and MPT: hose thread vs pipe thread on drip parts
What FHT, MHT, FPT and MPT mean, why hose thread and pipe thread do not mate, the adapters DIG sells, and where you meet each thread on drip parts.
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Short answer
Hose thread (FHT and MHT) and pipe thread (FPT and MPT) are different thread standards. A 3/4 in hose end does not mate with a 3/4 in pipe end without an adapter. Match hose to hose and pipe to pipe, and female to male. Raindrip says mismatched or cross-threaded joints are the main cause of leaks.
What the letters mean
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Where you meet it on drip parts | Joins directly to |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHT | Female hose thread | Inlet of faucet-head parts | MHT (a faucet spout, the next head part) |
| MHT | Male hose thread | Outlet of faucet-head parts | FHT |
| FPT | Female pipe thread (also FNPT, FIPT) | Some regulators, filters, emitter inlets | MPT |
| MPT | Male pipe thread (also MNPT, MIPT) | Filters, regulators, risers | FPT |
"Female" means the threads are inside; "male" means they are outside. A joint is always one of each.
Two standards
Hose threads and pipe threads are defined by separate standards. ASME B1.20.7 covers screw threads for hose couplings, valves, nozzles and other hose fittings, in nominal sizes from 1/2 to 4 inches.[1] ASME B1.20.1 covers general-purpose inch pipe threads, including NPT, the tapered pipe thread.[2] The two are separate standards.[1]
"Garden hose thread" is the everyday name for the hose thread on an outdoor faucet. That name is common usage; the ASME page does not use it.
Will a garden hose thread screw onto pipe thread?
Not properly. The two standards are not the same, so a hose end and a pipe end of the same nominal size do not make a sound joint. Raindrip advises matching hose thread to hose thread and pipe thread to pipe thread, and says mismatched or cross-threaded connections are the main cause of leaks.[3] Use an adapter made for the change.
Adapters makers sell
- DIG's D49 is a 3/4 in nipple with male hose thread on one end and male pipe thread on the other.[4]
- DIG's 50007 swivel adapter converts a 3/4 in female hose thread to a 3/4 in male pipe thread.[5]
- DIG sells hose-thread and pipe-thread swivel adapters for its compression tubing as separate parts, for example 15-005 (.700 OD by 3/4 in FHT) and 24-029 (.700 OD by 3/4 in FNPT).[6]
Those last two look alike and differ only in thread. Read the part number before you order.
Where you meet each thread
- Hose thread. DIG's D45 backflow preventer has a 3/4 in FHT inlet and a 3/4 in MHT outlet.[7] See hose thread connections.
- Pipe thread. Rain Bird's PRF07530SX pressure-regulating filter has 3/4 in male pipe thread.[8] See pipe thread connections.
- Either, by model. Senninger lists its PRLG regulator with 3/4 in female hose or NPT inlets.[9] The same part name can come in both, so the variant matters.
- On emitters. Rain Bird's Xeri-Bug comes with a barb, a 10-32 thread or a 1/2 in FPT inlet.[10]
The connection type finder shows what meets directly and what needs an adapter.
Do I need thread tape on hose threads?
No source we read covers it. Follow the maker's instructions for your part. For Raindrip's faucet parts, Raindrip puts the filter washer inside the faucet connection and the flow control inside the swivel adapter with its black rubber washer facing up.[3]
Parts with stated threads
Picks that fit3 products
Choose by both ends: Rain Bird HT07525PS is 3/4 in FHT in and 3/4 in MHT out; Orbit 67738 is 3/4 in FHT in to a 1/2 in Drip-Lock tubing outlet; Rain Bird PRF07530S is 3/4 in MPT on both ends and needs a hose-to-pipe adapter on a faucet (Rain Bird's store lists it as PRF07530SX).
Hose-thread pressure regulator
Rain Bird HT07525PS 3/4 in FHT x MHT 25 psi pressure regulator
3-in-1 faucet adapter for Drip-Lock
Orbit 67738 3‑in‑1 faucet adapter (3/4 in FHT, 150 mesh filter, 20 psi regulator, 1/2 in Drip-Lock)
Pipe-thread filter-regulator
Rain Bird PRF07530S 3/4 in MPT pressure-regulating filter (30 psi, 200 mesh)
On Amazon, check that "Ships from" and "Sold by" show Amazon.com or the brand before you order.[11]
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Questions
What is the difference between FHT and FPT?
FHT is female hose thread and FPT is female pipe thread. They follow different standards, ASME B1.20.7 for hose threads and B1.20.1 for pipe threads.[1][2]
Will a garden hose thread screw onto pipe thread?
Not as a sound joint. Raindrip advises matching hose thread to hose thread and pipe thread to pipe thread; use an adapter such as DIG's 50007 (3/4 in FHT to 3/4 in MNPT).[3][5]
What does MHT mean?
Male hose thread: threads on the outside of a hose-thread part. DIG's D45, for example, has a 3/4 in MHT outlet.[7]
Do I need thread tape on hose threads?
No source we read covers it. Follow the maker's instructions; Raindrip, for its own parts, puts the filter washer inside the faucet connection.[3]