Hose Thread vs Pipe Thread

Is hose thread and pipe thread interchangeable? If you do not have much experience working with the pipes and hoses, you might get confused between these two threads. A comparison between hose thread vs pipe thread can help understand these threads better.

The key difference between a hose and a pipe thread is their application areas. Hose threads are mainly used with garden hoses in the water system, and pipe threads connect pipes that transfer water or gas. A part may have both of these threads on different ends. That is for connecting pipes with hoses.

The answer to the question if the hoses are interchangeable is no. They have different characteristics which separate their usage. If you are curious what differences restrict them to be interchangeable, read this article till the end. 

Hose Thread vs Pipe Thread: Quick Comparison Chart

Basis of comparison	Hose thread	Pipe thread
Application	Hose connections	Pipe connections
Sizes (Mostly available)	½”, ¾”	¼”, ½ “, ¾”, 1″
Materials	Plastic, brass, stainless steel, copper	Stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, brass
Necessary tools	Wrench, reducer, hose clamp	Plumbing wrenches or pliers, clamping tools
Threads per inch (standard)	11.5	14
Common fittings	Spigot, hose bib, bibcock, Silcock	Elbows, caps, couplings, tees, valves
Price	$2 to $500 per piece	$1 to $600 per piece
Best fit for	For transporting water in garden hoses	For transporting water and gas

Hose Thread vs Pipe Thread: Major Differences

Threads help to join two connections in plumbing. Garden Hose Thread (GHT) is the common name for hose threads, and pipe thread is popular as National Pipe Thread (NPT) in the US.

Above, we have pointed out the differences between these two thread types. Following is a detailed explanation of some of the major differences between hose thread and pipe thread:

Application

As we have told you at the beginning, the application area for these two threads is not the same. When you want to connect a garden hose or any other hose, you will need hose thread. But when you want to connect pipes together or seal one end, a pipe thread is what you need. You can not use them in each other’s place.

Size

The size of the hose thread and pipe thread is different too. Most hose threads have the same size of ¾”, a few variations are also available but rarely used. Pipe thread comes in different sizes. ½”, ¾”, 1″, 1.5″ are some of the common sizes. What size of pipe thread you need depends on the size of the pipe you are working with. 

Materials

Hose threads are usually brass-made fittings. You will also find plastic hose threads, which are cheap but also less durable. Pipe threads, on the other hand, are made of stainless steel. High-end pipe threads usually have zinc plating for protection from corrosion and rust.

Cost

Depending on the materials and sizes, the price varies. Low-budget plastic hose threads can cost as low as a couple of dollars. At the same time, the high-quality ones may cost you more than five hundred. High-end pipe threads can even be more expensive than, as high as six hundred dollars. One dollar can be enough for lower-quality models.

Necessary tools

You may need wrenches, hose clamps, and reducers to connect garden hose threads. On the other hand, connecting pipe threads may require plumbing wrenches or pliers and clamping tools.

Fitting Types

Both of the threads have different types of fittings available. The most common types of hose threads fittings are spigot, hose bib, bibcock, Silcock, tee, and a few more. Types of pipe thread fittings include caps, couplings, elbows, tees, valves, etc.

Best Hose Thread

1. Sioux Chief Mfg 660-H 3/4-Inch Female Swivel Hose Thread

Sioux Chief Female Swivel Hose is a tee connection hose thread. The arrester body is made of 304 stainless steel which is highly durable. The tee body is machine brass. 

Installing the hose thread is quite easy.  It is an excellent choice for washing machine hose connections.

2. LASCO 15-1713 3/4-Inch Male Garden Hose Thread

If you need to connect a garden hose to a pipe thread, then LASCO ¾ inch male garden hose thread can be a good solution. It is an adapter that connects the two types of threads.

The hose thread uses brass material which is quite good. And the price is also affordable. Overall, it is a good adapter hose thread on a budget.

Best Pipe Thread

1. Colder – 3130336 CPC Quick-Disconnect Fittings, Valved Male Pipe Thread Inserts

The Colder Valved Male Pipe Thread can be great for quick disconnecting. It follows the standard quality of National Pipe Thread (NPT). The size of the thread is ½”.

It uses polypropylene for construction. The thread can withstand temperatures from 32° to 160° Farhenheit.

2. LASCO 1/2-Inch Male Pipe Thread

LASCO 15-1635 PVC Hose Adapter is another excellent adapter. You can connect ¾ inch female hose thread with a ½ inch male pipe thread. Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC plastic is the main material for constructing this thread. 

What Are the Different Types of Pipe Threads

You must have heard of male and female pipe threads. In the male thread pipe, the threads are outside the pipe. In contrast, thread in female ones is inside. Threads of the same type can not be connected together. You need a male thread to connect with a female thread. Male Pipe Threads are called MPT in short, and Female Pipe Threads are FPT.

Some of the most common types of pipe threads are:

• National Pipe Thread or American National Standard Pipe Thread (NPT)
• British Standard Pipe (BSP)
• Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) Tapered Pipe Thread (PT)
• SAE (SAE International) Straight Thread
• Metric Tapered/Parallel Thread (M)

Following are answers to a few more questions you may have regarding pipe thread types:

What Is NPT Pipe Thread?

NPT is the short form of National Pipe Thread Taper. It is the US standard for pipe threads. Usually, NPT pipe threads have a tighter connection making them excellent to prevent leakages in connections.

What Is MIP Pipe Thread?

MIP stands for Male Iron Pipe. Similarly, the short form of Female Iron Pipe is FIP. A MIP or FIP pipe thread refers to thread fittings for iron pipes.

What is BSP Pipe Thread?

BSP pipe thread refers to the British Standard Pipe thread. It is the standard for threads accepted worldwide except in the US. As said above, the US follows NPT for thread standards.

What is a NPS thread?

NPS stands for National Pipe Straight. Both the NPS and NPT have similar thread shapes. However, the difference is that the threads are tapered in NPT and straight in NPS.

What Is Garden Hose Thread?

The garden hose thread is the standard for hose threads. Following the standard, fittings will have thread lines either inside or outside. The male and female hose threads can be called MHT and FHT. 

Are All Garden Hose Fittings the Same Size?

No, all garden hose fittings are not the same size. Depending on their application area, the sizes will vary. ¼”, ½”, ¾” are some of the common garden hose sizes available. Nonetheless, most hose threads come in ¾” size.

Irrigation Piping Systems spotlight on Pipe and Hose Threads

Conclusion

The comparison of hose thread vs pipe thread clearly shows why you can not use a hose thread in place of a pipe thread. Even if the sizes of the threads are the same, they have different thread lines. But if you need to connect a hose with a pipe, you can use the adapters recommended above. The fittings have hose thread in one end and pipe thread in the other.