90° 3R Elbow Dimensions
A 3R elbow turns on a centerline radius of three times the nominal pipe diameter, twice the sweep of a standard long radius elbow. Dat extra radius buys you mighty lower turbulence and wear, which is why 3R shows up in abrasive and high-velocity work where a normal elbow would just erode right through, yessir.
Built for flow, not for space.
Doublin' the bend radius smooths out dat velocity profile through the turn and spreads the wear over a much bigger area of the outside wall. In pneumatic conveyin', catalyst transfer, sand-laden production, and slurry lines, dat translates straight into longer runs before y'all gotta change 'em out.
Plan out dat space early on.
A 3R elbow needs a center-to-end of 3 × NPS, so a 6" fitting turns in 18" rather than 9". Dat's gotta be designed right in, and it ain't hardly somethin' you can just swap into an existin' spool, I reckon.
How To Read Dese Dimensions
Now a 3R elbow falls right outside both dem dimensional standards. ASME B16.9 covers dat 1.5D long radius pattern and ASME B16.28 covers the 1.0D short radius pattern; neither one covers three diameters, I tell you what. Dem 3R elbows are made to the manufacturer standard, with weldin' ends to ASME B16.25 and material to the same ASTM grades, so y'all best take the center-to-end from the table down below rather than from some code book.
- O.D.
- Outside diameterOutside diameter at the weldin' end, matchin' up perfect with the pipe it welds to.
- I.D.
- Inside diameterBore right through the fitting, set by dat wall thickness.
- T
- Wall thicknessNominal wall at the weldin' end, matched to the pipe schedule.
- C
- Center to endFrom the intersection of the centerlines to the welding face. On a 3R elbow it equals 3 times the nominal size, which makes dat fitting mighty long for the turn it produces.
76 sizes across 4 schedules · dimensions in inches, weights in pounds · Manufacturer standard
Schedule STD
| Nom. Pipe Size | Outside Diameter O.D. | Inside Diameter I.D. | Wall Thickness T | Center to End C | Pipe Schedule Number | Approx. Weight in Pounds Lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾ | 1.05 | 0.824 | 0.113 | 2.25 | 40 | 0.30 |
| 1 | 1.32 | 1.054 | 0.133 | 3.00 | 40 | 0.80 |
| 1¼ | 1.66 | 1.380 | 0.140 | 3.75 | 40 | 1.10 |
| 1½ | 1.90 | 1.610 | 0.145 | 4.50 | 40 | 1.60 |
| 2 | 2.38 | 2.072 | 0.154 | 6.00 | 40 | 3.20 |
| 2½ | 2.88 | 2.474 | 0.203 | 7.50 | 40 | 6.40 |
| 3 | 3.50 | 3.068 | 0.216 | 9.00 | 40 | 9.60 |
| 3½ | 4.00 | 3.548 | 0.226 | 10.50 | 40 | 15.00 |
| 4 | 4.50 | 4.026 | 0.237 | 12.00 | 40 | 17.80 |
| 5 | 5.56 | 5.044 | 0.258 | 15.00 | 40 | 30.00 |
| 6 | 6.62 | 6.060 | 0.280 | 18.00 | 40 | 48.00 |
| 8 | 8.62 | 7.976 | 0.322 | 24.00 | 40 | 95.00 |
| 10 | 10.75 | 10.020 | 0.365 | 30.00 | 40 | 167.00 |
| 12 | 12.75 | 12.000 | 0.375 | 36.00 | * | 250.00 |
| 14 | 14.00 | 13.250 | 0.375 | 42.00 | 30 | 310.00 |
| 16 | 16.00 | 15.250 | 0.375 | 48.00 | 30 | 415.00 |
| 18 | 18.00 | 17.250 | 0.375 | 54.00 | * | 530.00 |
| 20 | 20.00 | 19.250 | 0.375 | 60.00 | 20 | 650.00 |
| 24 | 24.00 | 23.250 | 0.375 | 72.00 | 20 | 935.00 |
Schedule XS
| Nom. Pipe Size | Outside Diameter O.D. | Inside Diameter I.D. | Wall Thickness T | Center to End C | Pipe Schedule Number | Approx. Weight in Pounds Lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾ | 1.05 | 0.742 | 0.154 | 2.25 | 80 | 0.30 |
| 1 | 1.32 | 0.962 | 0.179 | 3.00 | 80 | 1.58 |
| 1¼ | 1.66 | 1.278 | 0.191 | 3.75 | 80 | 2.40 |
| 1½ | 1.90 | 1.500 | 0.200 | 4.50 | 80 | 4.20 |
| 2 | 2.38 | 1.944 | 0.218 | 6.00 | 80 | 7.60 |
| 2½ | 2.88 | 2.328 | 0.276 | 7.50 | 80 | 12.60 |
| 3 | 3.50 | 2.900 | 0.300 | 9.00 | 80 | 17.20 |
| 3½ | 4.00 | 3.364 | 0.318 | 10.50 | 80 | 22.00 |
| 4 | 4.50 | 3.826 | 0.337 | 12.00 | 80 | 25.00 |
| 5 | 5.56 | 4.810 | 0.375 | 15.00 | 80 | 45.00 |
| 6 | 6.62 | 5.756 | 0.432 | 18.00 | 80 | 70.00 |
| 8 | 8.62 | 7.620 | 0.500 | 24.00 | 80 | 145.00 |
| 10 | 10.75 | 9.750 | 0.500 | 30.00 | 60 | 225.00 |
| 12 | 12.75 | 11.750 | 0.500 | 36.00 | * | 320.00 |
| 14 | 14.00 | 13.000 | 0.500 | 42.00 | * | 405.00 |
| 16 | 16.00 | 15.000 | 0.500 | 48.00 | 40 | 540.00 |
| 18 | 18.00 | 17.000 | 0.500 | 54.00 | * | 700.00 |
| 20 | 20.00 | 19.000 | 0.500 | 60.00 | 30 | 845.00 |
| 24 | 24.00 | 23.000 | 0.500 | 72.00 | * | 1210.00 |
Schedule 40
| Nom. Pipe Size | Outside Diameter O.D. | Inside Diameter I.D. | Wall Thickness T | Center to End C | Pipe Schedule Number | Approx. Weight in Pounds Lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾ | 1.05 | 0.824 | 0.113 | 2.25 | 40 | 0.30 |
| 1 | 1.32 | 1.054 | 0.133 | 3.00 | 40 | 0.80 |
| 1¼ | 1.66 | 1.380 | 0.140 | 3.75 | 40 | 1.10 |
| 1½ | 1.90 | 1.610 | 0.145 | 4.50 | 40 | 1.60 |
| 2 | 2.38 | 2.072 | 0.154 | 6.00 | 40 | 3.20 |
| 2½ | 2.88 | 2.474 | 0.203 | 7.50 | 40 | 6.40 |
| 3 | 3.50 | 3.068 | 0.216 | 9.00 | 40 | 9.60 |
| 3½ | 4.00 | 3.548 | 0.226 | 10.50 | 40 | 15.00 |
| 4 | 4.50 | 4.026 | 0.237 | 12.00 | 40 | 17.80 |
| 5 | 5.56 | 5.044 | 0.258 | 15.00 | 40 | 30.00 |
| 6 | 6.62 | 6.060 | 0.280 | 18.00 | 40 | 48.00 |
| 8 | 8.62 | 7.976 | 0.322 | 24.00 | 40 | 95.00 |
| 10 | 10.75 | 10.020 | 0.365 | 30.00 | 40 | 167.00 |
| 12 | 12.75 | 11.938 | 0.406 | 36.00 | 40 | 205.00 |
| 14 | 14.00 | 13.124 | 0.438 | 42.00 | 40 | 305.00 |
| 16 | 16.00 | 15.000 | 0.500 | 48.00 | 40 | 540.00 |
| 18 | 18.00 | 16.876 | 0.562 | 54.00 | 40 | 740.00 |
| 20 | 20.00 | 18.812 | 0.594 | 60.00 | 40 | 950.00 |
| 24 | 24.00 | 22.624 | 0.688 | 72.00 | 40 | 1400.00 |
Schedule 80
| Nom. Pipe Size | Outside Diameter O.D. | Inside Diameter I.D. | Wall Thickness T | Center to End C | Pipe Schedule Number | Approx. Weight in Pounds Lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¾ | 1.05 | 0.742 | 0.154 | 2.25 | 80 | 0.30 |
| 1 | 1.32 | 0.962 | 0.179 | 3.00 | 80 | 1.58 |
| 1¼ | 1.66 | 1.278 | 0.191 | 3.75 | 80 | 2.40 |
| 1½ | 1.90 | 1.500 | 0.200 | 4.50 | 80 | 4.20 |
| 2 | 2.38 | 1.944 | 0.218 | 6.00 | 80 | 7.60 |
| 2½ | 2.88 | 2.328 | 0.276 | 7.50 | 80 | 12.60 |
| 3 | 3.50 | 2.900 | 0.300 | 9.00 | 80 | 17.20 |
| 3½ | 4.00 | 3.364 | 0.318 | 10.50 | 80 | 22.00 |
| 4 | 4.50 | 3.826 | 0.337 | 12.00 | 80 | 25.00 |
| 5 | 5.56 | 4.810 | 0.375 | 15.00 | 80 | 45.00 |
| 6 | 6.62 | 5.756 | 0.432 | 18.00 | 80 | 70.00 |
| 8 | 8.62 | 7.620 | 0.500 | 24.00 | 80 | 145.00 |
| 10 | 10.75 | 9.562 | 0.594 | 30.00 | 80 | 200.00 |
| 12 | 12.75 | 11.374 | 0.688 | 36.00 | 80 | 320.00 |
| 14 | 14.00 | 12.500 | 0.750 | 42.00 | 80 | 600.00 |
| 16 | 16.00 | 14.312 | 0.844 | 48.00 | 80 | 810.00 |
| 18 | 18.00 | 16.124 | 0.938 | 54.00 | 80 | 1020.00 |
| 20 | 20.00 | 17.938 | 1.031 | 60.00 | 80 | 1400.00 |
| 24 | 24.00 | 21.562 | 1.219 | 72.00 | 80 | 1800.00 |
Materials We Supply
90° 3R Elbow to Manufacturer standard in the grades below. Tell us the service and we'll confirm the right one for y'all.
| Material | Specification | Typical Service |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon Steel | ASTM A234 WPB / WPC | General process, steam, oil and gas gathering and utility lines |
| Low-Temp Carbon Steel | ASTM A420 WPL6 | Cold service to −50°F; LNG and northern pipeline work |
| Chrome-Moly Alloy | ASTM A234 WP11 / WP22 / WP91 | Elevated temperature; refinery heaters, power plant steam |
| Stainless Steel | ASTM A403 WP304/304L, WP316/316L | Corrosive service, chemical, food and beverage, water treatment |
| Duplex & Super Duplex | ASTM A815 UNS S31803 / S32750 | Chloride and seawater service, offshore, desalination |
Questions Folks Ask Us
What does 3R mean on an elbow?
The centerline bend radius equals three times the nominal pipe diameter. A standard long radius elbow is 1.5D and a short radius elbow is 1.0D, so 3R is the widest of the three common sweeps.
Why pay for a 3R elbow?
Erosion and pressure drop. Dat wider sweep spreads the wear across more of the outside wall and cuts down on turbulence, so in abrasive or high-velocity service a 3R elbow can outlast a long radius elbow by a mighty wide margin. Now in clean, moderate service, the extra cost and space usually ain't worth it.
Are 3R elbows covered by ASME B16.9?
No sir, and it's mighty worth knowin' before y'all write the spec. ASME B16.9 covers the 1.5D long radius pattern and ASME B16.28 covers the 1.0D short radius pattern; neither one covers a three-diameter radius. A 3R elbow is a manufacturer-standard fittin' with ASME B16.25 weldin' ends and the same ASTM material grades, so be sure to confirm dat center-to-end against the table above before you start fabricatin'.
