Fire Hose Sizes & Types Guide
Complete reference for selecting the right fire hose · By size · By type · By application
Choose the Right Fire Hose Size & Type in Three Steps
Fire hose comes in many sizes and many constructions, and the wrong specification can mean inadequate flow at the fire, hose damage from over-pressurization, failed code inspection, or simply paying for capability you don't need. The right hose is matched to three things: (1) the application (attack, supply, dewatering, marine, wildland), (2) the internal diameter (1" through 12"), and (3) the construction grade (single-jacket, double-jacket, rubber-covered, layflat).
This guide walks through all three dimensions and links to the matching CA-FIRE product page so you can request a quote on the exact specification you need. Start with the navigation below — jump to Size if you know your diameter, or Type if you know your application.
Browse by Size
If you know the internal diameter you need — 1", 1½", 1¾", 2", 2½", 3", 4", 5", 6" or larger — jump straight to the size reference.
By Size →Browse by Type
If you know the application — attack, supply, cabinet, wildland, marine, industrial — jump to the construction-type guide.
By Type →Fire Hose Sizes — Complete Reference
Fire hose internal diameter (ID) is the single most important spec because it directly determines flow rate. A 5" hose flows about 2.5× the volume of a 4" hose at the same friction loss. Larger diameter also means more weight and bulk, so the right size balances flow needs against handling. Here is the complete CA-FIRE size range with the typical applications and matching product page for each.
1-Inch Fire Hose
The smallest commonly used fire-service diameter. Light, low-flow, easy to backpack into rough terrain.
- Typical flow: ~30–60 GPM
- Primary use: Wildland engine attack, hand-crew progressive lay, mop-up, garden / agricultural
- Best product: Forestry & Wildland Hose
1.5-Inch Fire Hose
The dominant occupant-use and cabinet-hose diameter. Light enough for untrained occupants; flows enough for small structural fires.
- Typical flow: ~95–125 GPM
- Primary use: NFPA 14 cabinet hose, Class II/III standpipe, occupant-use, light brigade attack
- Best product: Single-Jacket Fire Hose
1.75-Inch Fire Hose
The U.S. modern brigade attack-line standard. Balances flow (~185 GPM) with weight and nozzle reaction force for a one-person handline.
- Typical flow: ~150–185 GPM
- Primary use: Brigade attack preconnect, structural firefighting handline
- Best product: Attack Fire Hose
2-Inch Fire Hose
High-flow attack line for industrial and high-challenge fires. Lower friction loss than 1¾" while still a one-person handline.
- Typical flow: ~200–250 GPM
- Primary use: Industrial fire attack, ARFF, high-flow brigade handline
- Best product: Attack Fire Hose
2.5-Inch Fire Hose
The classic big-line workhorse — high-flow attack, master-stream supply, standpipe pack, and direct hydrant connection.
- Typical flow: 250+ GPM
- Primary use: Two-person attack, master-stream supply, FDC connection, standpipe outlet
- Best products: Attack · Hydrant · Double-Jacket
3-Inch Fire Hose
Smaller LDH supply or master-stream feed where 4"/5" would be excessive. Common in industrial fire-protection installations.
- Typical flow: ~400 GPM at 20 psi friction loss / 100 ft
- Primary use: Small LDH supply, master-stream feed, industrial fire main
- Best products: Hydrant Hose · Rubber-Covered
4-Inch LDH Fire Hose
LDH supply for smaller departments. Lighter and more compact than 5", delivers 800+ GPM at hydrant pressures.
- Typical flow: ~800 GPM
- Primary use: LDH supply line, hydrant-to-pumper, relay pumping
- Best products: Rubber-Covered LDH · Hydrant Hose
5-Inch LDH Fire Hose
The dominant LDH size in modern U.S. fire service. Flows 1,250+ GPM at 20 psi friction loss / 100 ft — 2.5× the volume of 4" at the same friction.
- Typical flow: 1,250+ GPM
- Primary use: Primary LDH supply, hydrant steamer port to pumper, NFPA 1963 Storz standard
- Best products: Rubber-Covered LDH · Hydrant Hose
6-Inch LDH Fire Hose
Maximum-flow LDH for industrial, port and refinery service. Pending NFPA 1960 will add 6" Storz to the U.S. standardized sizes.
- Typical flow: 1,800+ GPM
- Primary use: Industrial fire-protection supply, refinery, port, very-large-flow municipal
- Best products: Rubber-Covered LDH · Layflat (Industrial)
8-Inch Fire Hose
Industrial-scale water transfer. Mining dewatering, municipal bypass pumping, fracking water transfer. Not common in conventional fire service.
- Typical flow: 3,000+ GPM
- Primary use: Industrial supply, mining dewatering, bypass pumping
- Best products: Layflat (TPU) · Rubber-Covered
10-Inch Fire Hose
The largest commonly supplied diameter. Used for high-volume water transfer in industrial, mining and emergency-response applications.
- Typical flow: 4,500+ GPM
- Primary use: Large-volume industrial transfer, mining, bypass
- Best product: Layflat TPU
12-Inch Fire Hose
The largest CA-FIRE produces. Specialty application only — large-scale industrial water-transfer projects, mining, frac-water supply.
- Typical flow: 6,000+ GPM
- Primary use: Very-large-scale industrial transfer
- Best product: Layflat TPU
Fire Hose Types — Complete Reference
"Type" refers to the hose construction and intended application. CA-FIRE manufactures 10 distinct product types, each engineered for a specific service profile. The right type depends on what the hose will do — high-pressure brigade attack, occupant-use cabinet service, LDH hydrant supply, low-pressure water transfer, marine fire protection, mining dewatering, or wildland firefighting.
Attack Fire Hose
The handline that puts water on the fire. Double-jacket woven construction, EPDM/TPU/NBR lining options.
Fire Hydrant Hose
Pre-coupled supply hose for hydrant-to-pumper service. Storz, NH, NST, NPSH thread options.
Single-Jacket Fire Hose
Lightweight occupant-use hose for fire cabinets, racks and NFPA 14 standpipe systems.
Double-Jacket Fire Hose
Heavy-duty woven construction with two polyester jackets. The brigade attack-hose standard.
Rubber-Covered Fire Hose
4-layer through-the-weave nitrile + Hypalon construction. The LDH supply-side standard.
Forestry & Wildland Hose
Single-jacket TPU-lined hose for wildland fire crews. Includes percolating and helitack variants.
Layflat Fire Hose
Extruded thermoplastic layflat for water transfer, dewatering, irrigation. NSF for potable water.
Industrial Mill Fire Hose
Heavy-duty wash-down and mining-service hose. NR/SBR/CR rubber lining, single or double jacket.
Marine Fire Hose
Non-perishable shipboard fire hose certified for SOLAS Chapter II-2 service. EPDM or TPR lined.
Hard Suction Hose
Helix-reinforced PVC hose for fire-engine drafting from lakes, ponds, dry hydrants, folding tanks.
Master Cross-Reference — Size × Type
Which product types are available in which sizes? This master matrix shows the standard size range for each of CA-FIRE's 10 product types.
| Product | 1" | 1½" | 1¾" | 2" | 2½" | 3" | 4" | 5" | 6" | 8"+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack Hose | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Hydrant Hose | — | — | — | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Single-Jacket | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — |
| Double-Jacket | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Rubber-Covered | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (8–12") |
| Forestry / Wildland | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (perc.) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Layflat | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (8–12") |
| Mill / Industrial | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — |
| Marine | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — | — |
| Hard Suction | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ (4 / 4½") | ✓ | ✓ | — |
Sub-sizes (1¼", ¾", ½", 4½") available within several product types — see individual product pages for the complete size list. Custom diameters and lengths to order.
Decision Guide — Common Procurement Scenarios
Still unsure which size and type to specify? Match your scenario below to the right CA-FIRE product.
Sizes & Types FAQ
What is the most common fire hose size?
The most common fire hose size globally is 1½" (38 mm) — used in fire cabinets, standpipe stations and occupant-use installations in millions of buildings worldwide. In U.S. fire service, the most common brigade attack-line size is 1¾" (45 mm), which has displaced 1½" as the modern preferred preconnect. On the supply side, 5" LDH (127 mm) has become the dominant size for hydrant-to-pumper connections per NFPA 1963.
What is the difference between 1.5 inch and 1.75 inch fire hose?
1½" (38 mm) is the traditional cabinet and occupant-use size — lighter, lower flow (~95–125 GPM), easier for untrained occupants to handle. It is the NFPA 14 occupant-use standard.
1¾" (45 mm) is the modern brigade attack-line preconnect — only 7 mm larger ID, but flows ~185 GPM versus ~120 GPM for 1½", while remaining a one-person line. The 50%+ increase in flow rate with only marginal handling penalty made 1¾" the dominant choice in U.S. brigade service from the 1990s onward.
For cabinet / standpipe / occupant use, specify 1½". For brigade attack handlines, specify 1¾". Both are stocked in our Attack Fire Hose and Single-Jacket product lines.
What is the difference between 4-inch and 5-inch LDH?
The flow difference is dramatic: 5" LDH flows approximately 2.5× the volume of 4" LDH at the same friction loss. A 5" hose delivers about 1,250 GPM at 20 psi friction loss / 100 ft; a 4" hose delivers about 500 GPM at the same friction.
This is why most modern U.S. fire apparatus specify 5" Storz at the pump inlet — NFPA 1963 standardized 5" Storz dimensions, and the higher flow at lower pressure makes 5" the default for hydrant-to-pumper supply. 4" LDH remains common in smaller departments, areas with low hydrant residual pressure, or where the bulk of 5" is impractical.
See our Fire Hydrant Hose and Rubber-Covered LDH pages for both sizes.
How many types of fire hose are there?
CA-FIRE manufactures 10 distinct product types covering the full fire-service and industrial water-transfer schedule:
(1) Attack Fire Hose, (2) Fire Hydrant Hose, (3) Single-Jacket, (4) Double-Jacket, (5) Rubber-Covered LDH, (6) Forestry / Wildland, (7) Layflat, (8) Mill / Industrial, (9) Marine, (10) Hard Suction.
Industry classifications (NFPA, EN, BS, USFS) cross-reference into these 10 product categories — for example, NFPA 1961 Attack covers our Attack/Double-Jacket products, EN 671-1 covers our Fire Hose Reels, USFS 5100-187 covers our Forestry/Wildland line.
How do I know which hose size my fire department or building uses?
For an existing installation:
• Fire department: check the spec sheet from your apparatus manufacturer, or measure the male coupling waterway diameter on an existing hose. NH/NST thread sizes are named after the waterway ID — so a coupling marked "2.5 NH" has a 2.5" waterway and is for 2½" hose.
• Building cabinet hose: read the printed identification along the hose jacket (CA-FIRE prints size, service test pressure, manufacture date and serial number on every hose). If the print has worn off, measure the ID at a cut end.
• For new installations: refer to the local fire code (NFPA 14 in the U.S., BS EN 671 in Europe/UK/international, AS/NZS 1221 in Australia/New Zealand). The code will specify the required hose size for each occupancy type and standpipe class.
What is the longest fire hose CA-FIRE can supply in a single section?
Standard maximum single-section length depends on construction type:
• Woven-jacket hose (single-jacket, double-jacket, attack, hydrant, marine, forestry): 30 m (100 ft) standard; custom up to 100 m (330 ft) for industrial users.
• Rubber-covered LDH: 30 m standard; up to 100 m (330 ft) in single seamless extrusion.
• Layflat hose: 100 m standard; up to 400 m (1,320 ft) in TPU construction for fracking, mining and emergency response applications.
• Hard suction hose: 10 ft (3 m) standard; 20 ft (6 m) for some sizes (limited by truck side-mount storage compartments).
Longer continuous lengths reduce the number of field couplings on long lays — important for critical supply lines where coupling leaks would be problematic.
Can I get custom sizes or specifications?
Yes. CA-FIRE manufactures custom sizes, custom lengths, custom colors and custom OEM branding to order. Reasonable MOQs apply for fully custom orders. Standard products ship from stock; custom orders typically have a 4–8 week lead time depending on specification.
Common custom orders include: non-standard diameters (e.g. 2¾", 4½", 1¼"), longer lengths (50 m, 100 m woven hose), unique color combinations, branded jacket printing with department / company / distributor identification, and specialty linings for specific chemical compatibility. Contact sales@ca-fire.com with your custom requirement.
How do I request a quote across multiple sizes and types?
Email sales@ca-fire.com or WhatsApp +86 181-5036-2095 with your complete schedule. Useful information to include: (1) hose IDs and lengths, (2) construction type / variant for each item, (3) coupling type and material, (4) jacket color, (5) total quantity per line, (6) required certifications (NFPA / UL / FM / EN / CCS / MSHA / etc), (7) delivery destination port. We respond within one business day with itemized pricing, lead time and freight options.
We routinely quote multi-line orders covering all 10 product types — fire-apparatus OEM builds, distributor stocking orders, fleet replacements, and project-specific fire-protection installations.