---
title: "PE Tubing: Sizes, Working Pressure and Selection"
canonical: "https://yuannaitube.com/pe-tubing-guide/"
language: "en-US"
---
RESOURCES
# PE Tubing: Sizes, Working Pressure and Selection
By [YUANNAI TUBE]() Published 2026-10-22Updated 2026-11-05
![White, black and blue polyethylene tubing coils with a small valve connector]()
## What PE tubing is, and where it fits
**PE tubing (polyethylene tubing)**, including linear low-density polyethylene (**LLDPE tubing**), is supplied in metric and fractional inch sizes for air, water and low-to-medium pressure lines. This guide lists every standard size we produce with its **working pressure**, burst pressure and **bend radius**, then walks through the four checks that decide whether PE is the right material for your line.
**Quick answer.** **PE tubing** (**polyethylene tubing**) is the industry standard for reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water filtration, beverage dispensing, and low-to-medium pressure pneumatic circuits where cost efficiency and chemical inertness matter, bends are gentle and the **working pressure** stays at or below the values in the table below. Confirm four things before ordering: the outside and inside diameter the fitting requires, the **working pressure** at the actual **operating temperature**, the medium, and the minimum **bend radius** your route needs. Every figure below comes from our own model table — nothing is extrapolated from generic material charts.
*Part of the [industrial tubing materials guide]() .*
Polyethylene is the economical choice among the materials we produce. It is less flexible than [polyurethane tubing]() and handles lower pressures than [PA12 nylon tubing]() , but it keeps its dimensions well in wet environments and costs less per meter. For lines that carry solvents, acids or high-purity media, PE is not the answer — start from the medium instead, using the [PTFE, FEP and PFA comparison]() .
The [pneumatic tubing guide]() gives an overview of all four material families; this page goes deep on PE only.
## PE tubing size and pressure table
The table is the full standard range: ten metric sizes from 4 mm to 16 mm outside diameter and four fractional sizes from 1/8″ to 1/2″. All dimensions and tolerances follow the same convention: outside and inside diameter in millimeters, tolerance ±0.10 mm on both.
| Model | ID (mm) | OD (mm) | Working pressure | Burst pressure | Min. bend radius |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| YN-PE 0425 | 2.5 | 4.0 | 6 bar (87 psi) | 18 bar (261 psi) | 20 mm |
| YN-PE 0640 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 6 bar (87 psi) | 18 bar (261 psi) | 30 mm |
| YN-PE 0850 | 5.0 | 8.0 | 7 bar (113 psi) | 15 bar (227 psi) | 40 mm |
| YN-PE 0855 | 5.5 | 8.0 | 5 bar (73 psi) | 15 bar (218 psi) | 45 mm |
| YN-PE 0860 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 6 bar (99 psi) | 17 bar (256 psi) | 50 mm |
| YN-PE 1065 | 6.5 | 10.0 | 6 bar (87 psi) | 18 bar (261 psi) | 50 mm |
| YN-PE 1080 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 4 bar (71 psi) | 14 bar (213 psi) | 75 mm |
| YN-PE 1280 | 8.0 | 12.0 | 5 bar (85 psi) | 13 bar (199 psi) | 60 mm |
| YN-PE 1410 | 10.0 | 14.0 | 5 bar (73 psi) | 15 bar (218 psi) | 80 mm |
| YN-PE 1612 | 12.0 | 16.0 | 3 bar (56 psi) | 11 bar (170 psi) | 110 mm |
| 1/8″ | 1.58 | 3.175 | 8 bar (116 psi) | 24 bar (348 psi) | 16 mm |
| 1/4″ | 4.35 | 6.35 | 5 bar (73 psi) | 15 bar (218 psi) | 35 mm |
| 3/8″ | 6.35 | 9.525 | 6 bar (87 psi) | 18 bar (261 psi) | 50 mm |
| 1/2″ | 9.60 | 12.70 | 4 bar (58 psi) | 12 bar (174 psi) | 80 mm |
*Metric models carry the YN-PE prefix; fractional models are listed by nominal inch size. Tolerance is ±0.10 mm on inside and outside diameter across the range. Coil lengths and current stock are confirmed with the quotation.*
For water treatment and beverage systems, fractional **1/4″ and 3/8″ polyethylene tubing** (models 1/4″ and 3/8″ in the table above) are universally specified with quick-connect push-in fittings. Two patterns are worth noticing before you pick a row. First, **working pressure** falls as the tube gets larger: the 16 mm tube is rated at 3 bar while the 4 mm tube carries 6 bar, because pressure stress scales with diameter relative to **wall thickness**. Second, the smallest fractional sizes have the highest ratings in the range — the 1/8″ tube reaches 8 bar working and 24 bar burst.
## Reading the size correctly
Tubing is specified by outside diameter and inside diameter, and the fitting accepts one specific combination. A 8 × 6 mm tube does not seal reliably in a fitting cut for 8 × 5.5 mm, even though both slide on. If a route already exists, measure the fitting seat or the old tube rather than assuming from the machine documentation; the [size and wall thickness guide]() explains how the dimensions relate and includes a worked example.
Flow capacity follows the inside diameter, not the outside. Where a line feels undersized, compare bores before raising the supply pressure.
## Working pressure at temperature
The working pressures above are the ratings we publish for the model table. They are not derated figures for elevated temperature: if the line runs hot, the usable pressure is lower than the table value, and the allowance depends on the material and the duration. The [working pressure and temperature review]() explains how derating is read and why a rating without a temperature is not a specification.
Pressure pulses shorten tube life further. For routes with frequent cycling — pick-and-place units, clamping circuits — treat the table value as an upper bound and leave margin below it.
## Bend radius and routing
Each size has a minimum **bend radius** in the table, from 16 mm on the 1/8″ tube to 110 mm on the 16 mm tube. Bending tighter than the listed radius kinks the bore or overstresses the outer wall, and a kinked PE tube does not recover its shape the way polyurethane does. Route with gradual sweeps, support long horizontal runs, and keep the tube away from hot surfaces; the [bend radius guide]() covers measurement and layout practice in detail.
## How PE compares with the other materials
| Material | Where it wins | Where it does not | Product page |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| PE (polyethylene) | Cost, dimensional stability in wet lines | Tight bends, high pressure | [PE tubing]() |
| PU (polyurethane) | Flexibility, moving parts | Some oils, hydrolysis in warm humid air | [PU tubing]() |
| PA6 / PA12 (nylon) | Higher pressure, abrasion | Moisture uptake changes dimensions slightly | [PA6 tubing]() , [PA12 tubing]() |
| FEP / PFA | Chemical resistance, temperature, purity | Cost | [FEP tubing]() , [PFA tubing]() |
For a hot-water line that needed more than standard PE, see the [PE-RT dishwasher tubing case]() .
The [PU vs PE comparison]() sets polyurethane and polyethylene side by side in the ten sizes we make in both. The [PU vs nylon selection checklist]() covers the most common trade-off in detail. If the medium is aggressive, the PE row above is the wrong row — read the [fluoropolymer comparison]() instead.
## Fittings and installation
**PE tubing** works with push-to-connect, compression and barbed fittings, but the fitting manufacturer specifies which tube hardness range and tolerance it accepts. Confirm the insertion depth and the accepted hardness before standardizing on one tube across a machine. On [pneumatic automation equipment]() , the fitting specification usually decides the tube model rather than the reverse.
Because PE holds a set shape, fix the routing before final tightening: a tube forced into a route under tension will work at the fitting and eventually weep or crack there.
## Where PE tubing is used
Within the pressure ratings above, **PE tubing** appears in low-to-medium pressure air and water runs: coolant and wash lines described on the [cleaning and industrial water page]() , spray and transfer lines on the [agricultural equipment page]() , and general air supply inside panels and enclosures. For lines that see high pressure pulses or elevated temperature, the [high pressure equipment page]() starts from nylon and fluoropolymer options instead.
## What to send when ordering
A usable **inquiry** contains five items: inside and outside diameter (or the fitting model), total length per size, quantity, the medium and its temperature range, and the **working pressure** at that temperature. Send those and we can confirm the applicable YN-PE model, the fitting compatibility and the lead time in one reply. The [quotation checklist]() lists every field in order, and the [receiving inspection checklist]() covers what to check when the coil arrives.
![Translucent PE resin pellets in a metal scoop]()
Fig. 1: Food-grade virgin polyethylene resin pellets prior to single-screw melt extrusion.
## PE tubing FAQ
Is PE tubing safe for drinking water and reverse osmosis (RO) systems?
Yes. Extruded from virgin food-grade polyethylene resin (such as linear low-density LLDPE), **PE tubing** provides excellent resistance to environmental stress cracking and chlorine, imparts zero taste or odor to water, and complies with FDA and NSF requirements for potable drinking water, refrigerator water dispensers, and RO purification systems.
What is the difference between LLDPE and standard HDPE tubing?
LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene) provides higher flexibility, superior environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR), and easier routing in tight under-sink spaces. HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is significantly stiffer and handles higher burst pressures but is harder to bend and can kink if forced around tight radiuses.
Can PE tubing be used for compressed air?
Yes, within the working pressures in the table — 3 to 8 bar depending on size. Confirm that the fittings you use accept PE hardness and tolerance, and leave margin below the table value if the line cycles frequently or runs warm.
What sizes does your PE tubing come in?
Ten metric sizes from 4 mm to 16 mm outside diameter (models YN-PE 0425 to YN-PE 1612) and four fractional sizes from 1/8″ to 1/2″. Inside diameter, tolerance ±0.10 mm, pressures and bend radii are all listed in the table above.
Is PE tubing flexible like polyurethane tubing?
No. PE holds the shape it is formed to, while polyurethane is elastic and made for moving parts. If the tube runs along a moving arm, start with the [PU range]() ; if it runs inside a fixed panel, PE is normally the more economical choice.
Can I bend PE tubing tightly around corners?
Respect the minimum **bend radius** in the table — from 16 mm on the 1/8″ size to 110 mm on the 16 mm size. Tighter bends kink the bore, and a kinked PE tube does not spring back. Use gradual sweeps or add a fitting at the corner.
Do you supply custom PE tube sizes?
Custom inside and outside diameters and coil lengths are confirmed case by case. Send the dimensions, quantity, medium, temperature and **working pressure** through the [quotation checklist]() and we will confirm the feasible model and lead time.
**Next step.** Check the full specification on the [PE tubing product page]() or compare all material families on the [product overview]() . For a confirmed offer, send the five items from the checklist above with your drawing or fitting list.
## Sources and scope
- [PE Tubing — English data sheet (v1-20261021)]()
Use these documents for the identified product models and stated test conditions. General material comparisons and selection checklists do not establish a different grade’s rating, fitting compatibility or project approval. Confirm the exact model, medium, temperature, pressure and required evidence before ordering.
Background on the resin: [SMC]() describes **polyethylene tubing** as “generally viewed as an economy choice in thermoplastic **pneumatic tubing**” that “lacks the strength and temperature stability of nylon and the flexibility of polyurethane”, and [Freelin-Wade]() states that the greatest advantage of linear low-density polyethylene over low-density polyethylene is its superior environmental stress crack resistance. These are other manufacturers’ statements about polyethylene in general, not ratings for our tubing.
Content review: [zhangkexin]() · Marketing
Review scope: market information and document references.
## Tell us what your application needs.
Send your dimensions, operating conditions and quantity. Let’s identify the right tubing for your project.
[Request a Quote →]()
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