1/4 or 3/8 Air Hose For Air Compressor (Differences and Tips)
When you buy an air hose, the size does not influence the air pressure. It is about airflow. Think of it this way, a thinner sidewalk doesn’t change the number of people who use it, it just has less pedestrian flow than a wider sidewalk.
When it comes to air pressure, there is no difference between these two hoses. The difference comes in with the diameter of the hose hole and how easy it is to coil up and store. Another difference will be the price of both hoses. The 1/4” should be cheaper than the 3/8”.
To learn more about these hoses, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can buy the right one for you and your RV needs. If you have an air hose and compressor on board, you can stop searching for gas stations that offer free air.
1/4 vs 3/8 Air Hose 101
Does Air Compressor Hose Size Matter?
In some ways, yes it will matter. When you go a little bit larger, from 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch in diameter, you may see a little increase in power and airflow. But it will not be that much.
The issue is not the size of the whole per se, but the size of the fitting. When it comes to filling a tire, the chuck and valve openings are controlling the amount of air going into your tire.
The size of the hose cannot change that fact and you may still be sitting there for 5 minutes waiting for the tire to fill up no matter how big or small your air hose is. The length of the hose may matter more than the diameter size.
The longer the hose the higher the pressure drop from source to destination. Don’t worry so much about diameter but be more concerned about the length of the hose.
Difference Between 1/4 And 3/8 Air Hose
The biggest difference will be use. The 3/8 inch diameter hose can be used for more tools than the 1/4” hose. Those tools are the high-powered impact wrenches and so on. The 1/4 inch diameter hose is not made to handle the airflow needed to power those tools.
The next difference will be the price. The 1/4” size will be half the price approx., of the 3/8” hose. The price difference depends on materials used, quality, and who made the hose as well as who is selling it.
Then the 3/8” hose will weigh more than the 1/4” model. That stands to reason as it is a bigger hose and will have more construction materials in it than its competitor. That extra construction material will also make the 3/8” hose more durable.
However, the fitting may only be 1/4” so you are not gaining much by buying a 3/8” hose for tire filling and minor projects.
Air Compressor Hose 1/4 vs 3/8
When you look at this chart, you will see that there is little difference between these two hose options.
| Category | 3/8 inch hose | 1/4 inch hose |
| Construction material | Rubber, PVC, Hybrid, Polyurethane | Polyurethane, Hybrid, Nylon, PVC |
| Weight | A bit on the heavy side | Much lighter than a 3/8 inch hose |
| Durability | Very good | Not as good as the 3/8 inch hose |
| Price | Ranges from $9 to over $500 | Ranges from $8 to almost $300 |
| Corrosion resistance | High | Moderate |
| Temperature tolerance | -40 to 140 degrees F | -30 to 130 degrees F |
| Pressure total | 300 PSI | 300 PSI |
Data taken from https://hosetips.com/3-8-vs-1-4-air-hose/
As you can see, both hoses can handle the same amount of air pressure and are close to each other when it comes to operating temperatures. The main issue you may have is storage space as the 1/4” hose will take up less room in your RV than the 3/8” hose.
Do I Want a 3/8 or 1/4 Air Hose?
This depends on your purpose. If your purpose is only for filling your tires with air, then you would be best served by buying the lighter, cheaper, and easier to handle 1/4” air hose. Going to a 3/8” hose here would not help you out.
But if your purpose is to use the hose for other duties like powering air tools, then you would be best served by the 3/8” hose. The 1/4” option doe snot produce the airflow you would need to power those tools.
Remember, we are talking airflow not air pressure. Both hoses can produce the same air pressure but a stronger airflow is needed for certain power tools. Before you buy, define what uses the air hose will have, and then go and buy the appropriate size.
What Size Air Hose is Best?
They are both good when it comes to tire filling and small projects that do not need a lot of airflow. When it comes to tire filling, the 1/4-inch hose would be best as the 3/8 inch hose may only have a 1/4 inch fitting on it.
The fitting has to fit the tire valve and that valve will dictate how fast or slow air gets into your tire. If you have a small valve, then do not expect to fill your tire faster with a 3/8 inch hose.
But if you are looking for durability and corrosion resistance, then the 3/8 inch air hose would be the better one. It is built with thicker materials and can handle day-to-day use much better than the 1/4” air hose.
If you are looking at storage and handling, then the 1/4” air hose is better. It handles better because it is lighter. Plus, since it is smaller, it will take up less room.
How Many CFM Can a 3/8 Hose Handle?
A lot depends on the fitting but with a standard model, you may be lucky for the hose to be rated above 10 CFM. Some people have reported higher CFM ratings but the fitting was different from the standard one.
You have to check the packaging and talk to some air hose experts to get the right rating. In most cases, you will not need a high CFM rating to use the air hose. Those ratings we quoted were at 90 PSI.
When you talk to different experts, you will get different opinions on this topic. But they do mention that length will play a strong role in how much air travels through the hose. The shorter the hose the better the pressure and airflow.
What will play a role in your decision will be how many CFM can the air tool handle. One was rated at 7 CFM at 90 PSI. This situation is not just about air hoses.
What's Smaller Than a 3/8 Hose?
There is a measurement called ‘dash size’ that is now being used to tell you the diameter of a hose. Each dash & number represents 1/16” in diameter. For example, a -1 would equal 1/16” and a -6 would equal 6/16” or 3/8” diameter.
Anything marked from -1 to -5 would be smaller than a 3/8” hose. There is another code used to market hoses and that is 387TC-6. You know what the -6 is for but the other numbers and letters represent the GlobalCore hose.
You may only find that the 1/4 and 3/8” air hoses are the ones on sale at most general locations. You may not find anything smaller than 1/4” or a hose measuring between 1/4 and 3/8” diameter.
1/4 to 3/8 Air Hose Adapter
The purpose of this adapter is to give you more flexibility when all you have is a 1/4” air hose. Once installed the adapter will allow you to use your 1/4” holes to power your 3/8” air tools. That is the basic difference.
You can find these adapters on sale everywhere fittings are sold. They are usually made from brass and should resist corrosion, etc. There are also different designs you can choose from. The good news is that those designs do not alter the price that much.
They are sold in different formats and if you buy a pack of 6 or more, you are still not paying that much for them.
Some Final Words
When it comes to air hoses, the purpose you need them for will dictate the size you will buy. Both hoses are similar in most aspects with the 3/8” hose being the tougher option. It will last longer under normal use.
The factors you should consider will be weight, handling, and storage space. A 1/4” air hose is just as good as a 3/8” hose when it comes to tire filling and minor work projects you are doing.
