Heat Shrink Size Chart & Measurement Guide

Measuring your cabling to determine the right size heat shrink tubing to use is easy but it’s a step you don’t want to skip. Taking your best guess or eyeballing this type of measurement often leads to tubing that is too loose after heating which defeats the purpose you are trying to achieve. In this blog, you'll hear from our product specialists on how to measure your cabling to be sure you order the right size.

How To Measure For Heat Shrink Tubing Sizes

In order to get an accurate measurement for your heat shrink tubing, you’ll need to measure the diameter of both the largest and smallest parts of the wire, cabling, or hose you are trying to bundle. Calipers are the best tool for the job and will get you the most accurate measurements but if you don’t have any, a standard ruler or measuring tape can work in a pinch.

Once you have those two measurements, you can use the Heat Shrink Size Chart below to find the right fit for your application.

Step 1) Find the unshrunk diameter measurement on our size chart below that is slightly bigger than the measurement of the largest part you are covering. The supplied measurement is the inner diameter of the heat shrink tubing. Remember that it will shrink down so give yourself a little wiggle room to easily get it over your assembly. We recommend choosing a before size that is about 25% larger than your largest measurement.

Step 2) Next,look on the chart for the shrunk diameter measurement you need. This option will be the size just smaller than your smallest measurement.

Step 3) Once you’ve used the chart below to identify the starting diameter and the shrink ratio you’ll need for your project, you can head over to our heat shrink tubing catalog to explore various colors, material, and lengths.  

Heat Shrink Size Chart

Heat Shrink Tubing Material Options

Polyolefin Heat Shrink Tubing

Polyolefin heat shrink tubing is made from a type of polymer commonly used in heat shrink tubing due to its flexibility and resistance to chemicals.

Dual Wall Adhesive Heat Shrink Tubing

Dual Wall heat shrink tubing is composed of a waterproof polyolefin outer layer and an inner layer of conductive cloth with high frequency EMI shielding properties.

Utra Clear PVC Heat Shrink Tubing

Ultra clear PVC heat shrink tubing is ideal for applications where you need to maintain visibility of whatever wires and cables you are managing.

Fabric Heat Shrink Tubing

Fabric heat shrink tubing is composed of a unique mixture of polyolefin and polyester yarns, with a woven composition that provides exceptional abrasion resistance.

Diesel Heat Shrink Tubing

Diesel heat shrink tubing, often used in aviation and automotive industries, is composed of an Elastomer Polyolefin that offers a high level of resistance to diesel fuels, hydraulic fluids and engine oils.

Viton Heat Shrink Tubing

Viton heat shrink tubing is ideal for applications that demand fluid resistance. It’s made from a rubber-like, highly fluid-resistant, flame retardant flouro-elastomer.

Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) Heat Shrink Tubing

PVDF heat shrink tubing, also known by the brand name Kynar offers excellent chemical resistance, thermal stability, and flame retardant properties.

EMI Shielding Heat Shrink Tubing

EMI shielding heat shrink tubing offers a conductive interior that protects against electromagnetic interference.

PTFE Heat Shrink Tubing

PTFE heat shrink tubing is composed of a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene known for having the lowest coefficient of friction.

Let Us Help

Find what you need? Great! You can easily place an order online by searching our catalog using the search bar for the part number in the chart above. Need something cut to length or maybe an alternate size? Give us a call or complete our contact form and we can help you get the right heat shrink tubing size or find a different product to meet your needs.