304
General purpose
Widely used for industrial hypodermic tubing, dispensing needles, probes, sleeves and precision fabricated components.
Product form hub · Hypodermic tubing
Stainless Steel Hypodermic Tube
Specify stainless steel hypodermic tube by alloy, gauge or actual OD, wall series, inside diameter, temper, tolerance, length, end condition and cleanliness requirement. This page turns common needle-tubing conventions into a clear purchasing specification.
304 / 316 / 316L
Gauge + OD / ID / wall
Hard drawn · straight lengths
Precision needle tubing · product visual
Common alloys304 / 316 / 316L
ASTM A908 scope0.2 to 5.2 mm OD · gauges 6–33
Typical wall familiesRW / TW / XT / XX and custom walls
Build the specification
01Choose grade
02Choose gauge / OD
03Choose wall series
04Set temper / tolerance
05Confirm length / ends
06Send RFQ
Product overview
What to define before buying stainless steel hypodermic tube
Hypodermic tubing is precision small-diameter stainless tubing commonly specified by gauge and wall series, or directly by OD, ID and wall thickness. For a reliable quotation, define alloy, dimensions, temper, tolerance, length, end condition, surface and cleanliness rather than ordering by gauge alone.
Material304 stainless
Common general-purpose alloy for industrial needle tubing, dispensing components and precision assemblies.
Material316 / 316L
Selected when improved corrosion resistance or a medical-device material route is required by the drawing or specification.
GeometryGauge + wall series
RW, TW, XT and XX are common commercial wall families, but actual OD / ID / wall values should control the order.
DeliveryStraight / cut length
Specify full-length tube, cut pieces, bevel, point, deburr or other end preparation only when required.
M03 · Grade selection
Choose the alloy from corrosion, joining and regulatory needs
304 and 316-series stainless steels dominate commercial hypodermic tubing. Final alloy selection should follow corrosion exposure, forming or joining, cleanliness, downstream processing and any customer or medical-device specification.
316
Higher corrosion resistance
Common where the finished assembly needs improved corrosion resistance or a customer drawing calls for 316 tubing.
316L
Low-carbon 316 route
Frequently specified for medical and precision fluid-handling components where the drawing requires 316L chemistry and traceability.
Customer alloy
Drawing controlled
If the project calls for another austenitic grade or special chemistry, quote the exact material designation and governing specification.
M04 · Technical data
Common stainless steel hypodermic tube gauge reference
The table below shows representative Regular Wall (RW) commercial hypodermic-tube dimensions. Gauge naming can vary between suppliers, so use the actual OD, ID and wall values as the purchasing dimensions. These are reference values, not a stock promise.
| Gauge / wall | OD (in / mm) | ID (in / mm) | Wall (in / mm) | Specification note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 RW | 0.134 / 3.404 | 0.106 / 2.692 | 0.014 / 0.356 | Large hypodermic / needle-tube reference |
| 12 RW | 0.109 / 2.769 | 0.085 / 2.159 | 0.012 / 0.305 | Common precision needle-tube geometry |
| 14 RW | 0.083 / 2.108 | 0.063 / 1.600 | 0.010 / 0.254 | General dispensing and component tubing |
| 16 RW | 0.065 / 1.651 | 0.047 / 1.194 | 0.009 / 0.229 | Precision industrial / medical-component route |
| 18 RW | 0.050 / 1.270 | 0.033 / 0.838 | 0.0085 / 0.216 | Small dispensing and probe assemblies |
| 20 RW | 0.0355 / 0.902 | 0.0235 / 0.597 | 0.006 / 0.152 | Fine-bore needle and dosing components |
| 22 RW | 0.028 / 0.711 | 0.016 / 0.406 | 0.006 / 0.152 | Fine fluid path / cannula component reference |
| 24 RW | 0.022 / 0.559 | 0.012 / 0.305 | 0.005 / 0.127 | Very small precision tube assemblies |
| 25 RW | 0.020 / 0.508 | 0.010 / 0.254 | 0.005 / 0.127 | Fine dispensing and laboratory hardware |
| 26 RW | 0.018 / 0.457 | 0.010 / 0.254 | 0.004 / 0.102 | Small-bore precision component |
| 30 RW | 0.012 / 0.305 | 0.006 / 0.152 | 0.003 / 0.076 | Micro-scale needle tubing reference |
| 33 RW | 0.008 / 0.203 | 0.004 / 0.102 | 0.002 / 0.051 | Near lower end of ASTM A908 gauge range |
RW means Regular Wall. Other wall families such as TW (Thin Wall), XT (Extra Thin) and XX are also common. Gauge labels are only shorthand; always confirm the actual OD, ID, wall thickness and tolerance on the drawing or RFQ.
M05 · Dimensions and condition
Define gauge, wall series and finished tube condition
For hypodermic tubing, gauge alone is not enough because one gauge can be supplied in several wall families. Control the actual OD, ID, wall, temper, surface, straightness and end condition wherever the finished assembly depends on them.
Gauge & dimensions
- Gauge number and wall family
- Actual outside diameter
- Inside diameter and wall thickness
- OD / ID / wall tolerances
Temper & manufacture
- Hard drawn / full hard where specified
- Welded and drawn or seamless route
- Straightness and cut length
- Surface finish / passivation requirement
Ends & cleanliness
- Square cut, bevel, point or custom end
- Deburred / burr-controlled edge
- Bore cleanliness and particle requirement
- Protective packaging and traceability if required
M06 · Selection guide
Match the hypodermic tube to the finished component
Two tubes with the same gauge can have very different IDs and stiffness because the wall family changes. Start with flow, stiffness, penetration, forming, joining and regulatory requirements, then choose the exact dimensions.
Flow / dispensingControl ID and ID tolerance because small bore changes can materially alter flow and dosing behavior.
Needle / cannula fitControl OD, straightness, wall and end geometry where the tube interfaces with hubs, sleeves or molded components.
Stiffness / formingWall family and hard-drawn temper influence stiffness, forming response and resistance to buckling.
Joining / finishingLaser welding, brazing, adhesive bonding, grinding, beveling or pointing can drive alloy, surface and end requirements.
Worked example
Example of a clear hypodermic tube specification
Quote-ready example
This is an example of how a buyer can describe the requirement clearly. Replace the values with the actual drawing or application requirement.
ProductStainless steel hypodermic tube
Alloy316L stainless steel
Size20 RW · 0.0355 in OD × 0.0235 in ID × 0.006 in wall
ConditionHard drawn, straight tube
Length300 mm cut length
EndsSquare cut, deburred
Quality noteConfirm OD / ID tolerance, bore cleanliness, straightness and material traceability before production
M08 · Applications
Where stainless steel hypodermic tube is commonly used
Medical-device components
Rigid needle tubing, cannula components and other device subcomponents when the applicable medical specification is defined.
Dispensing needles
Adhesive, fluid and chemical dispensing needles that require small OD, controlled bore and repeatable flow.
Probes & sampling
Sampling needles, instrument probes and compact fluid-path components.
Precision sleeves
Small sleeves, ferrules, guides and spacers where tight OD / ID control is important.
Industrial needles
Needle-like tooling for filling, dosing, testing, cleaning and production equipment.
Custom micro-fabrication
Cut, formed, bevelled, pointed or joined tube components for compact precision assemblies.
Important limitation: the term “hypodermic tube” does not by itself establish medical-device suitability, sterility, pressure rating or biocompatibility. Medical use should be tied to the applicable device specification such as ISO 9626, plus customer requirements for cleanliness, traceability, validation and downstream processing.
M10 · Standards
Standards and purchasing references
Use the standard or customer drawing required by the actual project. Industrial needle tubing and tubing intended for medical-device manufacture can follow different dimensional, mechanical, cleanliness and verification requirements.
Covers austenitic stainless steel needle tubing in hard-drawn tempers for industrial applications, generally 0.008–0.203 in OD with gauges normally 6 through 33.
Applies to rigid stainless steel needle tubing for manufacture of hypodermic needles and other medical devices, covering designated metric sizes from 10 Gauge to 34 Gauge.
Use the drawing to control alloy, actual dimensions, wall family, temper, straightness, ends, cleanliness, traceability and any finished-component validation.
M11 · FAQ
Stainless steel hypodermic tube FAQ
How is stainless steel hypodermic tube size specified?
A gauge number is common, usually combined with a wall family such as RW or TW. For purchasing accuracy, also state the actual OD, ID, wall thickness and dimensional tolerances.
What stainless grades are commonly used?
304 and 316-series stainless steels are common. The drawing or governing standard should identify the exact grade required, especially for regulated medical-device components.
What do RW, TW, XT and XX mean?
They are commercial wall-series descriptions such as Regular Wall, Thin Wall and extra-thin variants. The exact dimensions can vary by gauge and supplier, so OD, ID and wall values should be stated on the order.
Why is inside diameter important?
ID controls flow area and often affects stiffness and downstream component fit. At hypodermic sizes, a very small dimensional change can materially change performance.
Does “hypodermic tube” automatically mean medical grade?
No. Industrial hypodermic tubing and medical-device needle tubing can follow different requirements. Medical applications should specify the applicable standard, material, cleanliness, testing and traceability requirements.
Product details
What buyers usually verify visually
Review representative precision-tube inspection, clean assembly and packing evidence before finalizing the purchase specification.
Hypodermic tube bundleGauge, outside diameter and straight-length appearance
Tube end & boreWall series, ID, cut quality and burr condition
Packing & traceabilityProtect fine-bore tubing and keep size / alloy identification clear
Hypodermic tube resources
Continue from technical research to purchase
Material hubStainless Steel
Review the parent material hub and related stainless steel product forms.
Open stainless steel hub → TechnicalTechnical ResourcesUse standards, comparisons and engineering references to clarify the purchase specification.
Open technical resources → SourcingRequest a QuoteMove from a reviewed specification to a purchasing conversation.
Open RFQ page →M13 · Technical reference
Reference basis for this hypodermic tube guide
This page uses representative commercial hypodermic-tubing gauge data together with the dimensional scope of ASTM A908-24 and the medical-device needle-tubing route in ISO 9626:2016. Exact size, alloy, tolerance, documentation and actual supply availability should be confirmed before order placement.
M14 · RFQ
Request a technical quote
For a faster review, include alloy, gauge or actual OD / ID / wall, wall series, tolerance, temper, length, quantity, end condition, cleanliness requirement and destination.
- Alloy / material designation
- Gauge + wall family, or actual OD × ID × wall
- OD / ID / wall tolerance
- Temper / manufacture route and cut length
- Ends, cleanliness, quantity and destination