Why 10 inch pipe is not 10 inches
Nominal Pipe Size is a label, not a measurement. NPS 10 pipe has an outside diameter of 10.750 inches, and it keeps that outside diameter in every schedule made. What the schedule number changes is the wall: at schedule 5s the wall is 0.134 inches, so the bore comes out at 10.482 inches.
That is the practical consequence. Fittings, flanges, supports and threading dies are sized to the outside diameter, so they fit any schedule of the same trade size. Flow, pressure drop and anything that has to pass through the pipe depend on the inside diameter, which changes with every schedule. Order by trade size and schedule; work your hydraulics from the bore.
Frequently asked questions
What is the wall thickness of 10 inch schedule 5s pipe?
0.134 inches (3.40 mm). The outside diameter is 10.750 inches (273.05 mm) whatever the schedule, so this wall leaves an inside diameter of 10.482 inches.
What is the inside diameter of 10 inch schedule 5s pipe?
10.482 inches (266.25 mm). Inside diameter is outside diameter minus twice the wall: 10.750 - 2 x 0.134 = 10.482 inches.
Is 10 inch pipe actually 10 inches?
No. NPS 10 is a trade size, not a measurement. The pipe measures 10.750 inches across the outside and 10.482 inches across the bore in this schedule. Only the outside diameter is fixed across schedules.