Ball Valve Full Bore vs Reduced Bore: What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Choose?

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Ball Valve Full Bore vs Reduced Bore: What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Choose?

15/04/2026

🔷 What are full bore and reduced bore ball valves?

In industrial valve systems, ball valves are commonly available in two main types:

Full bore (full port)
Reduced bore (reduced port)

👉 The key difference lies in the diameter of the ball opening compared to the pipe diameter.

⚙️ 1. What is a full bore ball valve?

A full bore ball valve has an internal bore diameter equal to the pipe diameter.

📌 Key features:

No restriction in flow
Near-zero pressure drop
Allows pipeline pigging (cleaning)
Larger size and higher cost

👉 Full bore = maximum flow with minimal resistance

⚙️ 2. What is a reduced bore ball valve?

A reduced bore ball valve has an internal bore diameter smaller than the pipe diameter.

📌 Key features:

Flow is restricted at the valve
Causes some pressure drop
More compact design
Lower cost

👉 Reduced bore = cost-effective with some flow reduction

📊 Comparison: Full Bore vs Reduced Bore

Criteria	Full Bore	Reduced Bore
Bore diameter	Equal to pipe	Smaller than pipe
Pressure drop	Near zero	Present
Flow capacity	Maximum	Reduced
Pigging capability	Yes	No
Size	Larger	More compact
Cost	Higher	Lower

🏭 When should you use a full bore ball valve?

Choose a full bore ball valve when:

✔️ Maximum flow is required

Oil & gas pipelines
Large water systems

✔️ Pigging is needed

Long-distance pipelines

✔️ Minimal pressure loss is critical

High-efficiency systems

🏭 When should you use a reduced bore ball valve?

Choose a reduced bore ball valve when:

✔️ Maximum flow is not required

✔️ Cost reduction is important

✔️ Pigging is not needed

✔️ Small or auxiliary systems

⚠️ Common mistakes

Using reduced bore valves in large pipelines → reduces efficiency
Using full bore valves in small systems → unnecessary cost
Not calculating flow requirements before selection

🔥 Quick selection tips

👉 Large pipelines → choose Full Bore
👉 Small systems → choose Reduced Bore

🏁 Conclusion

Full bore and reduced bore ball valves mainly differ in flow capacity and internal bore size:

Full bore = high efficiency, maximum flow
Reduced bore = compact and cost-effective

👉 Choosing the right type helps optimize:

System performance
Investment cost
Equipment durability

📞 Contact Information

PHUC MINH ENGINEERING – pm-e.vn supplies full bore and reduced bore ball valves according to international standards.

🌐 Website: pm-e.vn
📧 Email: info@pm-e.vn
📱 Hotline: +84 907 450 506 – +84 902 720 814 – +84 902 800 728

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