API 5L X60 pipe is a line pipe grade with a minimum yield strength of 414 MPa (60,000 psi) and a minimum tensile strength of 517 MPa (75,000 psi). ISO 3183 designates the same grade L415. It sits between X52 and X65 and is one of the most widely specified grades for oil and gas transmission lines, because it delivers enough strength for high-pressure service while remaining weldable with procedures most qualified contractors already hold.
Download API 5L X60 Pipe data sheet (PDF) One-page summary of the supply range, chemistry, mechanical properties and inspection documents on this page. The standard is the governing document.
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Size range and specification
- Outside diameter 1/2 inch – 48 inch (12.7 – 1219 mm); seamless normally up to 24 inch
- Wall thickness 3.2 – 40 mm (SCH 10 – SCH 160, or by wall thickness)
- Length SRL 5.8 m, DRL 11.8 m, 20 FT, 40 FT, or random 6 – 18 m
- Ends Plain end, beveled end, threaded with coupling
- Surface treatment Black varnish, 3PE / 3LPE, FBE, 3PP, bare
- Manufacturing process Hot rolled seamless, ERW, LSAW, SSAW
- Delivery standard API 5L / ISO 3183, PSL1 or PSL2
- Delivery condition Normalized (N), quenched and tempered (Q), thermomechanically rolled (M)
How this grade is supplied
- Inspection Inspected by the producing mill’s own inspection department, which is independent of production, against the delivery standard above. Third-party inspection — SGS, BV or TUV, or an inspector you send yourself — can be arranged at the mill or before shipment; give us the dates and the scope at the order stage.
- Certificate A mill test certificate to EN 10204 3.1 showing the heat number, the chemical composition and the mechanical results is standard on every order. EN 10204 3.2, countersigned by the inspector you nominate, is available on request.
- Documents with the goods The mill test certificate and the packing list travel with the shipment, and the heat number is traceable from cast through to the finished product.
- Packing Sea-worthy export packing: bundled by size with end protection, corrosion protection on request, stencilled with the size, grade and heat number.
- MOQ One bundle or one truckload; mixed sizes within a bundle accepted.
- Lead time Counted from order confirmation, not from the enquiry. Stock sizes 5–10 days; mill run or non-stock 3–5 weeks. The delivery window is fixed on the quotation.
- How we supply Sourced through partner mills; the producing mill is named on the quotation.
API 5L X60 chemical composition, PSL2, wall thickness up to 25.0 mm (maximum, %)
| Grade / Delivery condition | C | Si | Mn | P | S | CE(IIW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X60N – normalized | 0.24 | 0.45 | 1.40 | 0.025 | 0.015 | 0.43 |
| X60Q – quenched and tempered | 0.18 | 0.45 | 1.70 | 0.025 | 0.015 | 0.43 |
| X60M – thermomechanical (TMCP) | 0.12 | 0.45 | 1.60 | 0.025 | 0.015 | 0.43 |
PSL2 grades carry a delivery condition suffix; the three conditions supplied in X60 are shown above. The carbon content falls and the manganese content rises as the delivery condition moves from normalized to quenched and tempered to thermomechanically rolled, and that shift is what buys the better toughness and weldability of Q and M material. When carbon is 0.12% or below, the CE(Pcm) limit of 0.25 applies instead of CE(IIW). PSL1 X60 has looser limits (P 0.030% max, S 0.030% max) and no carbon equivalent requirement. The standard permits manganese to be raised above the tabulated maximum when carbon is reduced below its maximum, within a limit set by the grade.
Source: chemical composition requirements of API 5L / ISO 3183, Table 4 (PSL 1) and Table 5 (PSL 2). The standard is the governing document.
API 5L X60 mechanical properties
| Grade | ISO 3183 designation | Yield strength | Tensile strength | Yield / tensile ratio max | Elongation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X60 PSL1 | L415 | 414 MPa min (60,000 psi) | 517 MPa min (75,000 psi) | not specified | per formula |
| X60 PSL2 | L415 | 414 – 565 MPa (60,000 – 82,000 psi) | 517 – 758 MPa (75,000 – 110,000 psi) | 0.93 | per formula |
Elongation is calculated from the API 5L formula Af = C x A^0.2 / U^0.9, where A is the applicable tensile test cross-sectional area in mm2, U is the specified minimum tensile strength in MPa, and C is 1940 in metric units (625,000 in US customary units). API 5L Table 7 is published in both SI and US customary units; the ranges above are the US customary table converted to MPa, the same convention used on the other grade pages on this site. PSL1 grades specify minimum yield and tensile strength only; phosphorus and sulphur are capped at 0.030% each and no carbon equivalent is required.
Source: tensile requirements of API 5L / ISO 3183, Table 7. The standard is the governing document.
What Is API 5L X60 Pipe?
API 5L X60 is a carbon steel line pipe grade with a minimum yield strength of 60,000 psi, equal to 414 MPa. ISO 3183 designates the same grade L415. It sits between X52 and X65 in the API 5L range and is one of the most frequently specified grades worldwide, because it delivers enough strength for high-pressure transmission while still being weldable with procedures that most qualified contractors already hold.
Three Delivery Conditions: N, Q and M
X60 is supplied in three PSL2 delivery conditions and the chemistry moves with them. X60N is normalized, with carbon up to 0.24% and manganese to 1.40%. X60Q is quenched and tempered, which cuts carbon to 0.18% and raises manganese to 1.70%. X60M is thermomechanically rolled, with carbon at 0.12% and manganese at 1.60%. Lower carbon is bought at the price of higher manganese and a tighter rolling schedule, and it is what gives Q and M material their better toughness and weldability. A buyer who specifies only the grade and not the delivery condition can receive any of the three.
Where X60 Pipe Is Used
X60 is the standard choice for oil and gas transmission mains, both onshore and offshore. Typical work includes gas trunklines, crude oil export lines, high-pressure gathering systems, and flowlines where the produced fluid is sweet. It is also used for structural pipe in offshore jackets and for high-pressure water injection lines. In pipeline projects where the wall thickness is set by internal pressure, X60 usually gives the lowest total cost of the grades in common supply.
X60 versus X52 and X65
X60 is stronger than X52 by about 15% in guaranteed yield strength and weaker than X65 by about 8%. The gap to X65 is small and the two are frequently interchangeable, so a project that can use X65 can almost always use X60 if the wall thickness is recalculated. What decides between them is usually availability and price at the required wall thickness rather than the grade itself. Where the specification fixes the grade, the practical question is instead which delivery condition the mill can offer at the size and wall in question.
Sizes, Ends and Coatings
X60 is available seamless up to about 24 inch and welded in ERW, LSAW and SSAW in larger sizes. Standard lengths are single random at 5.8 m and double random at 11.8 m, with 20 ft and 40 ft for export. Ends are plain, beveled or threaded with coupling. External coatings include black varnish, 3PE/3LPE, FBE and 3PP, and internal flow coating is available. For sour service, or where the pipeline requires hardness control, the coating and welding procedures have to be agreed with the line specification rather than chosen by the pipe mill.
What to state on the enquiry
X60 can be ordered as X60N, X60Q or X60M, and the delivery condition changes both the material and the testing. State it explicitly:
- Manufacturing method: seamless, ERW, LSAW or SSAW.
- Grade and delivery condition: X60N, X60Q or X60M.
- PSL level: PSL1 or PSL2.
- Outside diameter, wall thickness or schedule, and length.
- CVN impact test temperature and acceptance energy, if required.
- Carbon equivalent limit and method: CE(IIW) or Pcm.
- End finish and coating: bare, varnished, FBE, 3PE, or another system.
- Certificate level and any third-party inspection requirement.
- Quantity, destination port and Incoterms.
Do not write only “API 5L X60 pipe”. X60N, X60Q and X60M are different orders; leaving out the delivery condition delays the quotation.
Typical applications
- Oil and gas transmission mains
- High-pressure gathering systems
- Crude oil export lines
- Offshore structural pipe
- High-pressure water injection lines
Standards covered
Frequently asked questions
Why is API 5L X60 so widely used?
X60 sits at the point where the strength is high enough for high-pressure transmission and the carbon is still high enough for conventional welding procedures. That combination is available from a large number of mills across a wide range of sizes and wall thicknesses, which keeps lead times short and prices competitive.
Is API 5L X60 the same as L415?
Yes. L415 is the ISO 3183 designation for the same grade. The number is the minimum yield strength in megapascals, so L415 and X60 describe the same steel; the difference is only which unit the purchase order is written in.
Can X60 be supplied in PSL1?
Yes. PSL1 X60 requires only minimum yield and tensile strength, with phosphorus and sulphur at 0.030% maximum each and no carbon equivalent requirement. It is cheaper and is used for lower-demand lines. PSL2 adds the tighter chemistry, the carbon equivalent limit, the 0.93 yield-to-tensile cap and mandatory impact testing.
Where to go next
- API 5L Seamless Steel Pipe – seamless line pipe to API 5L
- API 5L LSAW Welded Steel Pipe – large diameter LSAW line pipe
- API 5L SSAW Spiral Welded Steel Pipe – spiral welded pipe for large diameter mains
- API 5L X52 Pipe – the mid-range line pipe grade in detail
- API 5L X65 PSL2 Pipe – the high-strength line pipe grade in detail
- API 5L X42 Pipe – the low-strength line pipe grade above Grade B
- API 5L X70 Pipe – high-strength pipe for large diameter lines
- Steel Pipe Weight Calculator – work out the weight of any size and wall thickness
- Pipeline Transmission – line pipe for gathering and transmission
- Get a Quote – send the grade, size, quantity and destination port
- API 5L ERW Welded Steel Pipe – smaller diameter ERW line pipe
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