Hydraulic hose size chart
Hose is sized by inside diameter, expressed as a dash number in sixteenths of an inch. Everything downstream — ferrules, hose ends, crimp tooling — keys off that same dash number.
Dash size to bore
| Dash | Bore (in) | Bore (mm) | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| -03 | 3/16" | 4.8 | Pilot lines, small instrumentation runs |
| -04 | 1/4" | 6.4 | Pilot and return lines, compact machines |
| -05 | 5/16" | 7.9 | Return lines |
| -06 | 3/8" | 9.5 | The most common mobile hydraulic size |
| -08 | 1/2" | 12.7 | Pressure and return lines on mid-size machines |
| -10 | 5/8" | 15.9 | Main pressure lines |
| -12 | 3/4" | 19.0 | Main pressure lines, larger excavators and loaders |
| -16 | 1" | 25.4 | High-flow pressure and suction lines |
| -20 | 1 1/4" | 31.8 | Large flow, suction and return |
| -24 | 1 1/2" | 38.1 | Large return and suction |
| -32 | 2" | 50.8 | Suction and high-flow return |
The dash number does not equal the thread size of the fitting on the end.
A -08 hose takes a -08 hose end, but that hose end's thread depends on which connection family it is
(3/4-16 UNF on JIC, 13/16-16 on ORFS, M22×1.5 on metric). See the
fitting size chart for the thread tables.
Which hose standard goes with which duty
| Standard | Construction | Typical duty |
|---|---|---|
| SAE 100R1AT / EN 853 1SN | Single wire braid | General low and medium pressure |
| SAE 100R2AT / EN 853 2SN | Double wire braid | Medium and high pressure mobile hydraulics |
| SAE 100R16 / R17 | Compact double braid | Tight-bend routing where R2 is too stiff |
| SAE 100R12 / EN 856 4SP | Four-spiral | High pressure, high impulse (excavators, mining) |
| SAE 100R13 / R15 / EN 856 4SH | Four/six spiral, heavy wall | Very high pressure, heavy duty |
| SAE 100R3 / R6 | Textile braid | Return, drain and low-pressure lines |
| SAE 100R7 / R8 | Thermoplastic | Compact, chemically resistant, non-conductive duties |
End connection: what actually goes on the hose
- One-piece (swaged) hose end with ferrule — the mainstream choice. Lowest part count, most consistent crimp, best value at volume.
- Two-piece / interlock — used on spiral hose and on larger sizes where a single-piece ferrule cannot hold the impulse requirement.
- Reusable hose ends — screwed on with a mandrel and a wrench. Useful for field repair and for very low volumes, but slower to assemble and generally lower rated.
- Crimp ferrule only — bought in bulk by hose assembly shops that already stock the matching inserts and hose ends.
See hose fittings and ferrules for what we supply against each of these.
Crimp data is part of the product
A hose assembly is only as good as the crimp. For every assembly we supply we can
include the crimp specification (ferrule, die, and target crimp diameter) and the crimp record for the
batch — which is what lets your receiving team approve repeat orders without re-testing the hose end.
Before you order a hose assembly
- Dash size, or measure the bore.
- Both end connections: thread family and size at each end, straight or angled, and the angle.
- Overall length, and whether it is measured end-to-end or across the fittings.
- Hose construction (usually printed along the cover).
- Anything the application adds: abrasion sleeve, fire sleeve, dual-line clamp, bend restrictor.
Send the list — or a photo of the old hose with a tape measure alongside it.