ASTM D1785 / NSF 61 / ASTM D2665 Schedule 40 True ID: 1.61" (40.89 mm) 330 PSI @ 73°F

1-1/2" Schedule 40 PVC Pipe Volume & Capacity Calculator

Standard 1-1/2" nominal Schedule 40 PVC pipe has an exact inside diameter of 1.61 inches, holding 0.1058 US gallons (1.314 liters per meter) per linear foot. Part of our PVC Pipe Volume Hub and universal Pipe Volume Calculator suite.

Presets:

Calculated Result

Total Liquid Capacity

Internal Holding Volume

2.115 US gallons

≈ 8.007 litres

Unit Conversions

US Gallons 2.115 gal

Litres 8.007 L

Cubic Feet (ft³) 0.2828 ft³

Cubic Inches (in³) 488.60 in³

Imperial Gallons 1.761 UK gal

Cubic Meters (m³) 0.0080 m³

Filled Water Weight 17.6 lbs (8.0 kg)

Linear Capacity Rate 0.1058 gal/ft

Calculations are based on cylindrical formula $V = \pi r^2 L$. Verify dimensions against manufacturer specs for code submittals.

Pre-Calculated Capacity Table

1-1/2" Schedule 40 PVC Quick Reference Sizing Chart

Instant capacity and weight lookup table for common pipe lengths filled with water at 60°F (15.5°C).

Pipe Length (Ft)	US Gallons	Liters	Cubic Feet (ft³)	Water Weight (lbs)	Dry Pipe (lbs)	Total Wet Weight
1 ft	0.106 gal	0.40 L	0.014 ft³	0.9 lbs	0.5 lbs	1.4 lbs
2 ft	0.212 gal	0.80 L	0.028 ft³	1.8 lbs	1.0 lbs	2.8 lbs
5 ft	0.529 gal	2.00 L	0.071 ft³	4.4 lbs	2.6 lbs	7.0 lbs
10 ft	1.058 gal	4.01 L	0.141 ft³	8.8 lbs	5.1 lbs	13.9 lbs
20 ft	2.116 gal	8.01 L	0.283 ft³	17.6 lbs	10.2 lbs	27.9 lbs
50 ft	5.29 gal	20.0 L	0.71 ft³	44.1 lbs	25.6 lbs	69.7 lbs
100 ft	10.58 gal	40.1 L	1.41 ft³	88.2 lbs	51.2 lbs	139.4 lbs
250 ft	26.45 gal	100.1 L	3.54 ft³	220.5 lbs	128.0 lbs	348.5 lbs
500 ft	52.90 gal	200.3 L	7.07 ft³	441.0 lbs	256.0 lbs	697.0 lbs

Engineering Formula

How to Calculate 1-1/2" PVC Pipe Volume Manually

Step-by-step mathematical demonstration using cylinder geometric principles and ASTM D1785 specifications.

Step 1

Determine the Internal Radius (r)

Nominal size is 1-1/2", but true inner diameter is 1.61 inches.

r = ID / 2 = 1.61 / 2 = 0.8050"

Step 2

Calculate Cross-Sectional Area (A)

Compute circular cross-section area using $A = \pi \times r^2$:

A = \pi \times (0.8050)^2 = 2.0358 sq in

Step 3

Calculate Linear Foot Volume

Multiply cross-sectional area by 12 inches (1 linear foot):

V_linear = 2.0358 \times 12 = 24.430 cu in/ft

Step 4

Convert to US Gallons & Liters

Divide cubic inches by 231 (cubic inches in 1 US Gallon):

Gallons/Ft = 24.430 / 231 = 0.1058 Gal/Ft

Technical Specifications

1-1/2" Schedule 40 PVC Engineering Profile

Physical dimensions, pressure thresholds, and hydraulic velocity limits.

Outside Diameter (OD)

1.9 inches

48.3 mm

Inside Diameter (ID)
1.61 inches
40.89 mm

Wall Thickness

0.145 inches

ASTM D1785 Tolerance

Max Recommended Flow

31.7 GPM

At 5 ft/s velocity

Working Pressure

330 PSI

At 73°F (23°C)

Max Temperature Limit

140°F

60°C continuous

Common Plumbing & Piping Applications for 1-1/2" Schedule 40:

Residential kitchen & bathtub drain waste vent (DWV)
Pool suction and return plumbing
Spa air intake manifold lines

Primary Use Case: Standard size for residential sanitary trap arms, kitchen sink drains, and residential swimming pool plumbing circuits.

Size Navigation

Compare Other PVC Pipe Sizes

Explore adjacent diameter calculations or compare with different pressure schedules.

← Previous Size 1-1/4" Schedule 40 PVC Overview Directory All PVC Pipe Sizes (Sch 40 & 80) Next Size → 2" Schedule 40 PVC Compare Alternative Schedule ↔ 1-1/2" Schedule 80 PVC

Cross-Material Comparison

Compare 1-1/2" Pipe in Other Materials

Compare fluid holding capacity, wall thickness, and weight against other standard piping materials for 1-1/2" nominal diameter:

Copper Tubing (ASTM B88) 1-1/2" Copper (Type K/L/M) Cast Iron DWV (ASTM A888) Cast Iron Soil Pipe Schedule 40 Steel (ASTM A53) Steel Schedule 40 Pipe Fluid Velocity & GPM 1-1/2" Flow Rate Calculator

Expert FAQ Guide

1-1/2" Schedule 40 PVC FAQs

Frequently asked engineering and volumetric capacity questions for 1-1/2" PVC.

2 Questions Answered

Q1 How many gallons does a 1-1/2 inch PVC pipe hold per foot?

A 1-1/2" Schedule 40 PVC pipe holds 0.1058 US Gallons (0.4005 Litres) of water per linear foot.

Q2 How many feet of 1.5" PVC pipe does it take to hold 5 gallons?

It takes approximately 47.26 feet of 1-1/2 inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe to contain 5 US gallons of fluid.

Total Liquid Capacity

Unit Conversions

1-1/2" Schedule 40 PVC Quick Reference Sizing Chart

How to Calculate 1-1/2" PVC Pipe Volume Manually

Determine the Internal Radius (r)

Calculate Cross-Sectional Area (A)

Calculate Linear Foot Volume

Convert to US Gallons & Liters

1-1/2" Schedule 40 PVC Engineering Profile

Common Plumbing & Piping Applications for 1-1/2" Schedule 40:

Compare Other PVC Pipe Sizes

Compare 1-1/2" Pipe in Other Materials

1-1/2" Schedule 40 PVC FAQs

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