What size hole saw for 40 mm waste pipe?
40 mm waste pipe isn't 40 mm across. Solvent-weld waste is about 43 mm, and push-fit waste is about 41 mm, so a 40 mm hole saw is too small for either.
A 48 mm hole saw clears either type with room to spare.
Pipe size
Change the pipe to compare. 28 mm copper and 50 mm waste are in the chart below.
Hole saw for 40 mm waste pipe, by fit
About 1.5 mm around the pipe. The pipe is 42.7–43.1 mm across.
The smallest standard saw that clears the pipe at the top of its tolerance (43.1 mm).
About 1.5 mm around the pipe. The pipe is 40.8–41.2 mm across.
The smallest standard saw that clears the pipe at the top of its tolerance (41.2 mm).
Get the gear
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The size on the pipe
Solvent-weld (ABS or MUPVC) and push-fit (polypropylene) waste are made to different standards, so the same nominal size has two different outside diameters. Check the print on the pipe, or measure it.
Which one to use
Easy clearance leaves about 1.5 mm around the pipe, for movement and a slightly off-line cut. The snug fit is the smallest standard saw that clears the pipe at the top of its tolerance. In joists, the limits depend on your building regulations, so check before you bore.
Common questions
What size hole saw for 40 mm waste pipe?
A 48 mm hole saw clears both kinds of 40 mm waste pipe. Solvent-weld waste is 42.7–43.1 mm across (snug fit 44 mm); push-fit waste is 40.8–41.2 mm (snug fit 43 mm).
Why isn't 40 mm waste pipe 40 mm across?
Waste pipe is named by a nominal size, not its outside diameter, and the two common kinds are made to different standards: solvent weld (ABS or MUPVC) and push-fit (polypropylene). Check the print on the pipe, or measure it.
UK pipe hole saw chart
Hole saw sizes for UK pipe
| Pipe | Actual OD | Easy clearance | Snug fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 mm copperCopper (EN 1057) | 14.91–15.09 mm | 19 mm0.75" | 16 mm0.63" |
| 22 mm copperCopper (EN 1057) | 21.9–22.1 mm | 27 mm1.06" | 24 mm0.94" |
| 28 mm copperCopper (EN 1057) | 27.9–28.1 mm | 32 mm1.26" | 29 mm1.14" |
| 32 mm wasteSolvent weld (ABS/MUPVC) | 36–36.5 mm | 40 mm1.57" | 37 mm1.46" |
| 40 mm wasteSolvent weld (ABS/MUPVC) | 42.7–43.1 mm | 48 mm1.89" | 44 mm1.73" |
| 50 mm wasteSolvent weld (ABS/MUPVC) | 55.7–56.1 mm | 60 mm2.36" | 57 mm2.24" |
| 32 mm wastePush-fit (polypropylene) | 34.4–34.8 mm | 38 mm1.50" | 35 mm1.38" |
| 40 mm wastePush-fit (polypropylene) | 40.8–41.2 mm | 46 mm1.81" | 43 mm1.69" |
| 50 mm wastePush-fit (polypropylene) | 53.9–54.3 mm | 59 mm2.32" | 56 mm2.20" |
| 110 mm soilSoil pipe (PVC-U) | 110–110.3 mm | 114 mm4.49" | 111 mm4.37" |
Actual OD = the widest range across the makers’ and standards’ tables. Snug fit = smallest standard metric saw that clears the top of that range; easy clearance = smallest at least 3 mm over it (about 1.5 mm around). Solvent weld and push-fit waste of the same nominal size are different sizes: check the print on the pipe.
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Where these numbers come from
Outside diameters are copied from the makers’ and standards’ tables; where they differ, the range covers all of them, and the snug fit clears the top of it. Saw sizes are the metric sizes in both Starrett’s and Bosch’s bi-metal ranges. Inch equivalents are converted from millimetres.
- Wednesbury, Black Label EN 1057 copper tube data sheet
- FloPlast, 32/40/50 mm ABS solvent weld waste tech sheet
- Polypipe, Technical Installation Guide (above and below ground drainage)
- Wavin, OsmaSoil & OsmaWaste product information manual
- Starrett, Saws & Hand Tools catalogue (bi-metal sizes)
- Bosch Professional, Accessories Catalogue 2026 (GB), hole saws
General sizing guidance from published pipe, conduit and hole saw dimensions. Before boring framing, check the hole limits in the Building Regulations; for electrical work, follow the wiring regulations and the fitting maker's instructions.