Hole saw sizes for UK pipe (free printable PDF)
UK waste pipe is named smaller than it measures: 40 mm solvent-weld waste is about 43 mm across. Copper is the size it says, so a same-size saw is too tight. Every size below is the real outside diameter and the saw that clears it.
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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How to read it
Find your pipe and read across. Easy clearance is the one to use unless you need a tight fit. Waste pipe comes in two kinds of the same nominal size, solvent weld and push-fit, with different outside diameters, so check the print on the pipe.
Gear for this job
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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 your local building code; for electrical work, follow your local electrical code and the fitting maker's instructions.