As a result, this type of stainless steel tubing is usually formed into hypodermic needles for medical applications. It is a slender, hollow, cylindrical length of stainless steel, typically 316 or 304 grade, with a puncturing point made at one end to form a needle. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Cada Stainless & Alloys
Chester, NY | 845-469-3899Cada Stainless & Alloys has the stainless steel tubing that you need. We also specialize in the supply of stainless steel strips and coils, providing many finishing options, processing options, and other customization options.

Stainless Shapes, Inc.
Elgin, IL | 800-748-9811At Stainless Shapes, we want to prove to you that ours is the best price, delivery and service for quality stainless steel tubing, bar stock, hot roll wire rod, hex bar and squares. Round, rectangle, square, welded, seamless and polished stainless steel tubing. Many grades. Call for a fast, accurate quote.

Metal Associates
Pompton Plains, NJ | 800-838-1978Our company may have started small, but we quickly grew to handle the largest aluminum orders. Our metals are made from the highest quality materials, and we pledge to offer superior service to all our customers. We don’t want customers who use us one time, we want to establish lifelong relationships with customers that last generations. Contact us for more info!

Metalmen Sales Inc.
Long Island City, NY | 800-767-9494metalmen supplies polished and mill finished Stainless Steel tube and pipe. We have access to unique inventories and have well-worn relationships with mills and custom producers. Our broad experience enables us to address most every supply challenge. Call us for prompt quotes and on-time deliveries.

TW Metals, Inc.
Exton, PA | 800-545-5000Built on 100 years of history, TW Metals maintains an extensive, highly responsive distribution network for what you need, when you need it. Stainless, carbon, aluminum, nickel, titanium. Coil, Sheet, Rod, Bar, Wire, Tubing, Pipe, Specialty Products & Extrusions. Custom and off-the-shelf long products.

In terms of needle applications, there are a variety of diameters of hypodermic tubing that work best for certain requirements. For instance, large diameter hypodermic tubing are used for blood donation because the wideness of the needle allows for the removal of blood at a much quicker pace than would be allowed by an average or small diameter hypodermic tube.
Small diameter hypodermic tubing, on the other hand, should not be used for blood donations because the small size of the needle will rupture the red blood cells and make the blood unable to be utilized by recipients. In addition to needle applications, hypodermic tubing is also utilized for spacers, hypodermic guide wires, cannulas and hypodermic capillary tubing in the medical, mechanical, electronic, chemical and aeronautical industries.
Hypodermic tubing is differentiated from other types of tubing by its own set of gauge sizes. For example, fractional tubing is measured by outside diameter and wall thickness, using common fraction sizes like 1/4" outside diameter combined with a .035" wall thickness. Hypodermic tubing comes in thin, regular and heavy wall varieties. Hypodermic tubing may be offered in 6", 12", 24" or 36" lengths. However, hypodermic tubing, or needle tubing, is categorized by gauges, which are determined by the outside diameter and the inside diameter of the tube.
Hypodermic tubing can range from .005" to .259" outside diameter and .002" to .239" inside diameter. Hypodermic tubing gauges are generally found numbered between 3 and 35, the smaller the number, the larger the diameters. For medical applications, the largest usable gauge size is 7, while the smallest usable gauge size is 33.
Hypodermic tubing gauges are rooted in the Birmingham Gage, which is otherwise known as Stub's Iron Wire Gage and also measures the thicknesses of pipes. Hypodermic tubing manufacturers should have gauge size charts available to assist in deciding which type of hypodermic tubing is needed for a specific application.