FitUpChart · Fittings
Pipe take-out chart for butt-weld elbows, 1/2 to 12 inch
A 90 long radius elbow takes out 1.5 × the nominal pipe size, a 90 short radius takes out 1 × the size, and a 45 long radius takes out roughly 5/8 of the size. On 2 inch pipe that is 3 inches, 2 inches, and 1 3/8 inches. The full chart is below. These are commonly published values; check your fittings.
| Pipe size | 90 LR | decimal | 90 SR | decimal | 45 LR | decimal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 in | 1 1/2" | 1.500 | not made | 5/8" | 0.625 | |
| 3/4 in | 1 1/8" | 1.125 | not made | 7/16" | 0.438 | |
| 1 in | 1 1/2" | 1.500 | 1" | 1.000 | 7/8" | 0.875 |
| 1 1/4 in | 1 7/8" | 1.875 | 1 1/4" | 1.250 | 1" | 1.000 |
| 1 1/2 in | 2 1/4" | 2.250 | 1 1/2" | 1.500 | 1 1/8" | 1.125 |
| 2 in | 3" | 3.000 | 2" | 2.000 | 1 3/8" | 1.375 |
| 2 1/2 in | 3 3/4" | 3.750 | 2 1/2" | 2.500 | 1 3/4" | 1.750 |
| 3 in | 4 1/2" | 4.500 | 3" | 3.000 | 2" | 2.000 |
| 3 1/2 in | 5 1/4" | 5.250 | 3 1/2" | 3.500 | 2 1/4" | 2.250 |
| 4 in | 6" | 6.000 | 4" | 4.000 | 2 1/2" | 2.500 |
| 5 in | 7 1/2" | 7.500 | 5" | 5.000 | 3 1/8" | 3.125 |
| 6 in | 9" | 9.000 | 6" | 6.000 | 3 3/4" | 3.750 |
| 8 in | 12" | 12.000 | 8" | 8.000 | 5" | 5.000 |
| 10 in | 15" | 15.000 | 10" | 10.000 | 6 1/4" | 6.250 |
| 12 in | 18" | 18.000 | 12" | 12.000 | 7 1/2" | 7.500 |
Take-out, take-off, and center-to-end all mean the same thing here: the distance from the point where the two centerlines of the elbow cross to the face of its welding end. These are the dimensions most butt-weld fitting makers publish, following the ASME B16.9 tables. A particular maker's fitting can differ, so measure one from the cart when a dimension is tight.
Reading the chart
- 90 LR is 1.5 times the nominal size from 3/4 inch up. The 1/2 inch elbow is the exception: it is published at 1 1/2 inches, the same as 1 inch.
- 90 SR is 1 times the nominal size. Short radius elbows are not made below 1 inch, so those rows are blank.
- 45 LR does not follow a single multiplier on the small sizes. The 3/4 inch value, 7/16, really is smaller than the 1/2 inch value, 5/8. Those are the published figures, not typos.
A factory 45 is not always a 90 cut in half
Cutting a 90 LR down to 45 degrees gives a take-out of its center-to-end times tan 22.5°, or 0.4142 × the 90's value. From 4 inch up that lands within 1/16 of the factory 45, and on 1/2 and 3/4 inch it is within 1/32. From 1 to 3 1/2 inch the factory 45 is longer, by up to a quarter inch on 1 inch pipe:
| Pipe size | Factory 45 LR | Cut 90, decimal | Cut 90, mark | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 in | 5/8" | 0.621 | 5/8" | +0.004 |
| 3/4 in | 7/16" | 0.466 | 7/16" | -0.028 |
| 1 in | 7/8" | 0.621 | 5/8" | +0.254 |
| 1 1/4 in | 1" | 0.777 | 3/4" | +0.223 |
| 1 1/2 in | 1 1/8" | 0.932 | 15/16" | +0.193 |
| 2 in | 1 3/8" | 1.243 | 1 1/4" | +0.132 |
| 2 1/2 in | 1 3/4" | 1.553 | 1 9/16" | +0.197 |
| 3 in | 2" | 1.864 | 1 7/8" | +0.136 |
| 3 1/2 in | 2 1/4" | 2.175 | 2 3/16" | +0.075 |
| 4 in | 2 1/2" | 2.485 | 2 1/2" | +0.015 |
| 5 in | 3 1/8" | 3.107 | 3 1/8" | +0.018 |
| 6 in | 3 3/4" | 3.728 | 3 3/4" | +0.022 |
| 8 in | 5" | 4.971 | 5" | +0.029 |
| 10 in | 6 1/4" | 6.213 | 6 3/16" | +0.037 |
| 12 in | 7 1/2" | 7.456 | 7 7/16" | +0.044 |
If you cut down a 90 to make a 45, use the cut-down value for that fitting, not the factory 45 line. The cut-down elbow guide covers every angle.
How to measure a 90's take-out yourself
Set one end face flat on a bench
The other opening now faces sideways.
Measure from the bench to the center of that opening
A rule standing on the bench, read at the middle of the opening. That height is the center-to-end.
Check both ends
On a 90 they should match. If they do not, the fitting is out of square and each end gets its own take-out.
Common mistakes
- Using the long radius value on a short radius elbow. On 6 inch pipe that is 9 inches against 6, a 3 inch error per fitting.
- Treating 1.5 × size as universal. It holds for 90 LRs from 3/4 inch up, not for 45s and not for the 1/2 inch 90.
- Forgetting the gap. The take-out ends at the fitting face. A butt weld also needs its root gap.
- Using these for threaded or socket-weld fittings. Those dimensions come from different tables and change with make-up.
Related questions
- How do I use take-outs to get a cut length?
- What is the take-out of a 90 cut down to 22.5 or 30 degrees?
- How do I calculate a 45 degree offset with these take-outs?
The chart in your pocket
FitUp ships this chart and reads it in every offset, so picking 2 inch and 45 LR fills in 1 3/8 for you. The 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch rows are free; Pro opens every size, lets you correct any value to your fittings, and adds threaded and socket-weld take-outs you type in.
Default values. Check your fittings. Verify measurements before cutting.