Same o.d., same fittings, you won't notice a difference in flow from the change in i.d. Answer from Shmeepsheep on reddit.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/plumbing › type l vs m copper pipe?
r/Plumbing on Reddit: Type L vs M copper pipe?
September 22, 2021 -

Im swapping out original copper water lines with new copper while I already have a few walls opens. I haven’t cut into the old lines yet to determine whether it’s type M or L and there isn’t printing on the pipes indicating it, but the question is this. If I upgrade what I currently have access to, to type L for longevity purposes, am I going to have issues with flow restriction? Any issues with mixing in type L if the original is type M?

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C-FLO COPPER
c-flo.com › home › what are the types of copper pipe?
What are the types of Copper Pipe? A Detailed Guide
July 23, 2024 - Over the years, copper has remained a popular choice for piping due to its excellent thermal conductivity, bacteriostatic properties, and long lifespan. There are several copper pipes, each designed for specific applications and with distinct characteristics. The four main types of copper pipes are Type K, Type L, Type M, and DWV (Drain, Waste, and Vent).
Discussions

Type M vs Type L Copper Pipe in ResidentialType M vs Type L Copper Pipe in Residential
I'm currently in the process of a flip in Chicago, IL and I've had an inspector tell me my plumbing was incorrect and needed to be revisited. After br More on biggerpockets.com
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July 31, 2023
Type L vs M copper pipe?
Same o.d., same fittings, you won't notice a difference in flow from the change in i.d. More on reddit.com
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62
6
September 22, 2021
Do I have Type M or L copper?
L copper has blue lettering and M copper has red lettering. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/askaplumber
71
13
June 21, 2024
Copper re-pipe type L/M
In places with bad water quality L is much better and will buy you an extra 10-20 years of life. If you have decent water quality type m can still last 30-50 years easily, but only if properly installed. Number one failure is caused by not reaming the pipe, this causes cavitation in the water which will cause pinholes eventually. This will happen to L also if not reamed but will take much longer. From there it is a preference issue. More on reddit.com
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June 16, 2022
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Family Handyman
familyhandyman.com › home › skills › plumbing › pipes
Differences Between Type L and Type M Copper Pipes
September 10, 2025 - But for normal in-wall household plumbing, Type M works fine. When it comes to copper piping for water lines, acidic water with a pH of seven or less can be hard on copper pipes. If you have a well and find out from testing that the water is acidic, you may want to use the thicker-wall Type L pipe or plastic CPVC pipe and fittings.
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Petersen Products
petersenproducts.com › home › pipe specifications
Copper Pipe Size Chart | OD, ID, Wall Thickness & Tube Sizes
Wall thickness, defined by the type of tube, K, L, or M, is an important factor when copper lines are exposed to pressure, burial depth, or external loads. Tubes with thicker walls offer greater strength and long-term durability, while thinner walled tubing is suitable for light-duty applications.
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Engineering Toolbox
engineeringtoolbox.com › copper-tubes-dimensions-pressure-d_84.html
Copper Tubes Type K, L and M - Working Pressures vs. Size
March 19, 2025 - ASTM B88 - Seamless Copper Water Tubes - Dimensions · Ratings based on service temperature max. 150 oF (66 oC). ... 1 N/mm2 = 106 Pa (N/m2) = 1 MPa = 10 bar = 1.020×105 kp/m2 = 102.0 m H2O = 9.869 atm = 145.0 psi (lbf/in2)
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PexUniverse
pexuniverse.com › copper-pipe-dimensions-specs
K, L, M Copper Pipe Dimensions & Technical Specifications - PexUniverse
OD - Outside Diameter; for copper ... ID - Inside Diameter Wall Thickness - denotes the thickness of the pipe wall. The main difference between L, M and K type copper pipes are their wall thickness....
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Baosteelpipes
baosteelpipes.com › home › news › what is the difference between type m & l copper pipe?
What Is The Difference Between Type M & L Copper Pipe? - Industry News - News - Gnee Steel
April 25, 2023 - Soft copper pipe bends easily without tools and is more properly called tubing. Inflexible hard copper pipe requires pipe bending equipment in order to bend it and is usually cut and fit rather than bent. Most residential water supply plumbing uses two types of hard copper pipe called type M and type L.
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Terry Love
terrylove.com › home › forums
Type M vs Type L copper
May 26, 2005 - Terry Love Plumbing Advice, Remodel DIY & Professional Forum. The best plumbing forums in the USA and Canada. A place for home owners to ask questions and for professionals to share information.
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Apollo Plumbing
apolloplumbing.net › home › apollo services › plumbing repairs everett, wa › copper pipe repair › type l vs type m copper: key differences
Type L vs Type M Copper: Key Differences | Apollo Plumbing
June 16, 2025 - It has very thin walls and is mostly phased out. It is now often replaced by plastic pipe. Color code: Yellow. Used for waste lines only. Rigid copper comes in straight lengths and needs fittings. Flexible copper comes in coils and bends around corners. Types K and L come in both forms.
Price   $$
Address   1239 State Ave., 98270, Marysville
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Munotmetalloys
munotmetalloys.com › home › difference between copper tube types – l vs k vs m
Difference Between Copper Tube Types - L vs K vs M
June 23, 2025 - Finally, because it’s more corrosion-resistant than other home piping materials like CPVC or PEX, M copper tube has a longer lifespan and less maintenance required. Type L copper tubing is referred to as ‘medium wall,’ with a wall thickness ...
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Interstatemetal
interstatemetal.com › copper tubes: types, sizes, applications
Copper Tubes in Type K, L & M | Interstate Metal
June 13, 2025 - Type L outer diameters often range from 3/8 inch to 25/8 inch. Thicker types are best for applications that require higher pressures. This type is flexible and available in 25-feet or 50-feet rolls. The outer diameter typically ranges from 1/8 inch to 1 3/8 inch.
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BiggerPockets
biggerpockets.com › forums › illinois real estate q&a discussion forum › type m vs type l copper pipe in residential
Type M vs Type L Copper Pipe in ResidentialType M vs Type L Copper Pipe in Residential
July 31, 2023 - I'm currently in the process of a flip in Chicago, IL and I've had an inspector tell me my plumbing was incorrect and needed to be revisited. After bringing a more reputable plumber in he mentioned that all my rigid copper piping had red lettering (type M - lighter duty) and Chicago required blue lettering (type L - medium grade) throughout.
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Copper.org
copper.org › applications › plumbing › cth › standard-tubes › cth_1stand_type.html
Copper Tube Handbook: I. Types of Copper Tube
Types K, L, M, DWV and Medical ... with different wall thicknesses. Type K tube has thicker walls than Type L tube, and Type L walls are thicker than Type M, for any given diameter....
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Jtcopper
jtcopper.com › home › resource › blog
Different Types of Copper Pipe: Exploring Type M and Type L Copper Pipes by Jintian Copper - Ningbo Jintian Copper (Group) Co., Ltd.
July 16, 2023 - Type L and Type M copper pipe have ... that distinguish them. Type M copper pipes have a thinner wall, typically around 0.03 inches, while Type L copper pipes have a thicker wall, around 0.04 inches....
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Plumbing Forums
plumbingforums.com › general plumbing discussion › showers & tubs
Ok to use copper pipe type M | Plumbing Forums - Professional & DIY Plumbing Forum
March 25, 2024 - - Would it be common for a professional plumber to use Type M copper pipe in this situation? Thanks! ... Being in Southern California, many home builders use type M throughout the house, and have no issues. ... We are not allowed to use "m" in mass for potable water we can only use it on drains/vents and heating systems type L lasts longer
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Westlake Ace Hardware
westlakehardware.com › home › what do the letters ‘k,’ ‘l’ and ‘m’ on copper tubing mean?
What do the letters 'K,' 'L' and 'M' on copper tubing mean? - Westlake Ace Hardware
October 13, 2020 - Type K is the heaviest. Type L is medium weight and used most often for water lines in homes. Type M is thinner and is used underground or for light
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Muellerstreamline
muellerstreamline.com › home › products › copper tube › plumbing copper tube
Plumbing Copper Tube - Mueller Streamline Co.
March 15, 2019 - With a full line of copper tube products to support most all plumbing supply and DWV applications manufactured in accordance with applicable standards, our ongoing commitment to quality continues to make Streamline® Copper Tube the preferred and specified brand of industry professionals. Streamline® Copper Tube for use in plumbing and mechanical applications. Available sizes (Type K, L, M, & DWV) ranging from ¼” to 8” in diameter.