JIC Hose End Sizes: Hose Dash vs Fitting Size
On most hose the dash is the bore in sixteenths of an inch, and the JIC end has the same dash. SAE 100R5 hose is the main exception.
Last updated October 30, 2026. Reference values; verify against manufacturer specifications.
On most hydraulic hose, the dash number is the inside diameter in sixteenths of an inch, and the JIC end that goes with it usually carries the same dash: a -8 hose with -8 JIC ends has a 1/2 in bore and 3/4-16 threads. The main exception is SAE 100R5 hose, which takes the dash of the tube it replaces, so its bore is smaller. This page shows hose bore, hose dash and JIC end size side by side, and how to check a hose end before ordering a replacement.
Hose dash size and JIC end chart
| Dash | Hose bore, most hydraulic hose (in / mm) | Hose bore, SAE 100R5 (in / mm) | JIC end thread (same dash) |
|---|---|---|---|
| -4 | 1/4 / 6.4 | 3/16 / 4.8 | 7/16-20 |
| -5 | 5/16 / 7.9 | 1/4 / 6.4 | 1/2-20 |
| -6 | 3/8 / 9.5 | 5/16 / 7.9 | 9/16-18 |
| -8 | 1/2 / 12.7 | 13/32 / 10.3 | 3/4-16 |
| -10 | 5/8 / 15.9 | 1/2 / 12.7 | 7/8-14 |
| -12 | 3/4 / 19.1 | 5/8 / 15.9 | 1-1/16-12 |
| -16 | 1 / 25.4 | 7/8 / 22.2 | 1-5/16-12 |
| -20 | 1-1/4 / 31.8 | 1-1/8 / 28.6 | 1-5/8-12 |
| -24 | 1-1/2 / 38.1 | 1-3/8 / 34.9 | 1-7/8-12 |
| -32 | 2 / 50.8 | 1-13/16 / 46.0 | 2-1/2-12 |
Hose bores per the SAE J517 dash convention as listed by Parker, Gates and others; SAE 100R5 bores per a Pressure Connections 100R5 data sheet, the Malone Specialty hose reference chart and calibr.pro (which cites Parker, Eaton and Gates catalogs). Millimetres are converted from inch. JIC threads per SAE J514. -2, -3 and -14 are left out because hydraulic hose is rarely made in those sizes.
Why hose and tube use the same dash number differently
Tube is sized by its outside diameter, because the fitting grips the outside. Most hose is sized by its inside diameter, because the bore decides how much oil flows. Both use sixteenths of an inch, so a -8 tube and a -8 hose both carry "8/16 in", but on different surfaces. A -8 tube with a 0.065 in wall has a bore of only about 0.37 in, smaller than a -8 hose.
JIC fittings follow the tube convention: a -8 JIC end is the end for 1/2 in OD tube. On a standard hose, the -8 crimp end for 1/2 in bore hose normally finishes in a -8 JIC thread, so the numbers line up. That is a convention of the hose-end catalogs, not a rule, which is why reducing ends exist.
The SAE 100R5 exception
SAE 100R5 is a medium-pressure hose with a textile cover that is widely used for air brake and fuel lines as well as hydraulics. Its dash number gives the OD of the tube it replaces, not its own bore. A -8 R5 hose therefore has a 13/32 in (10.3 mm) bore, not 1/2 in. Hose and Fittings lists SAE 100R14 (PTFE) hose and the SAE J51 and SAE J2064 refrigerant hoses as following the same tube-based sizing.
The practical effect: R5 hose needs R5 hose ends. A -8 crimp end made for 100R2 hose will not fit -8 R5 hose, even though both may finish in a -8 JIC swivel. When you replace an assembly, read the hose type on the layline as well as the dash.
Common JIC hose end styles
| End style | What it connects to | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Female JIC swivel, straight | A male JIC port adapter or tube end | The most common hose end; the nut turns so the hose does not twist |
| Female JIC swivel, 45° or 90° elbow | A male JIC end where the hose must turn | Short-drop and long-drop elbows differ in the length of the bend |
| Male JIC, rigid | A female JIC swivel | Has the 37° cone on the hose end itself |
| Reducing female swivel | A smaller or larger JIC male than the hose dash | For example -8 hose with a -6 JIC end; the end is marked separately |
Female swivels are the usual choice because the nut can be turned without twisting the hose. Elbow ends save space but must be clocked (aligned) before crimping. For how male and female ends seal, see male vs female JIC fittings. Other shapes, such as unions, tees and bulkheads, are covered in JIC fitting types.
How to size a replacement hose end
- Read the layline. The printing on the hose usually gives the hose type (for example 100R2, 2SN or 100R5) and the dash or bore size.
- If the layline is gone, cut and measure. Measure the bore of a clean cut end with an inside caliper. The hose outside diameter varies with the hose type and does not give the dash.
- Measure the JIC end separately. Measure the female thread ID across the crests and count the TPI. A -8 female reads about 0.69 in (17.5 mm) with 16 TPI. The JIC thread pitch chart lists every size.
- Check the seat. A JIC female has a 37° seat inside the nut; an SAE 45° female has a 45° seat on the same thread in several sizes.
- Match hose, ferrule and end from one maker. SAE J517 notes that hose from one maker is usually not compatible with connectors from another, and that the maker's assembly instructions apply.
Hose pressure and the JIC end
A hose assembly is limited by the lower of the hose rating and the end rating. A -8 R5 hose is rated at 2,000 psi on one maker's data sheet, while SAE J514 lists a -8 JIC swivel at 4,000 psi, so the hose sets the limit. On high-pressure wire-braid hose the JIC swivel can be the weaker part. See the JIC pressure rating page for the fitting values.
Metric hose labels
European and many Asian hose catalogs mark hose by a DN (nominal bore) number instead of a dash. The DN is a rounded millimetre value, and catalogs round it differently: a -8 hose is listed as DN 12 in some catalogs and DN 13 in others, and -12 as DN 19 or DN 20. Go by the bore in millimetres rather than the DN label when matching to a dash size.
References
SAE J517 (hydraulic hose; dash convention, connector compatibility and surge notes); Hose and Fittings, hydraulic stamped size (dash convention and exceptions); Pressure Connections Corp, SAE 100R5 hose data sheet; Malone Specialty, hose reference charts; calibr.pro hydraulic dash size chart (citing Parker 4400, Eaton and Gates catalogs). Values are reference only.
Frequently asked questions
Is hose dash size the inside or outside diameter?
On most hydraulic hose, it is the inside diameter in sixteenths of an inch. SAE 100R5 and some PTFE and refrigerant hoses are the exception: their dash gives the OD of the tube they replace.
What size JIC fitting goes on a -6 hose?
Usually a -6 JIC end, which has a 9/16-18 thread. Reducing ends are available, so measure the end you have.
What is the inside diameter of a -8 R5 hose?
13/32 in (about 10.3 mm). Standard -8 hose such as 100R2 has a 1/2 in bore.
Can I use 100R2 hose ends on 100R5 hose?
No. The hoses have different bores and constructions, so the crimp ends are different even when both finish in the same JIC thread.
Does the hose outside diameter tell me the dash size?
No. The outside diameter depends on the hose type and reinforcement. Measure the bore or read the layline.