Guide to Liquid Pumps
Use the guide below to help you select the best type of pump for your application. This information is intended as a general guideline and will not hold true for all pumps within a classification; check individual pump specifications on the given product pages for complete details.
Pump type | Max flow | Max | Self- | Pulseless | Fluid | Particulate | Run | Advantages | |
GPM | L/min | ||||||||
Air-operated | 5.0 to | 19.0 to | Up to | Excellent | Fair | Medium | Yes | Yes | Use for highly viscous or particulate-laden |
Bellows | 0.008 to | 0.03 to | Up to | Good | Poor | Medium | Yes | Yes | Can pump liquids or gases |
Centrifugal | 2.3 to | 8.7 to | Up to | Poor | Excellent | Light | No | No | Fluid transfer at high flow rates |
Diaphragm | 0.003 to | 0.01 to | Up to | Good | Poor | Medium | No | Yes | High-accuracy; for applications |
Double- | 1.0 to | 3.79 to | Up to | Excellent | Fair | Medium | Yes | Yes | Use for viscous or |
Drum | 6.0 to | 22.7 to | Up to | Poor | Excellent | Medium | No | No | Economical. Used to pump fluids from drums and cannisters |
Flexible | 3.8 to | 14.4 to | Up to | Excellent | Excellent | Light | No | No | Low-cost utility pump |
Flexible | 1.0 to | 3.8 to | Up to | Excellent | Excellent | Medium | Yes | Yes | Gentle pumping action uses no |
Gear | 0.006 to | 0.026 to | Up to | Poor | Excellent | Medium | No | No | Pulseless flow at high pressures |
Hand | 2.0 to | 7.6 to | — | Good | Fair | Light | No | No | Economical. No electrical parts |
Hose | 0.66 to | 2.5 | Up to | Excellent | Poor | Medium | Yes | Yes | Noncontaminating; Use for high flow and |
Piston | 0.004 to | 0.015 to | Up to | Good | Poor | Medium | No | Yes | Highest pressure and accuracy; |
Pressure | 2.0 to | 7.6 to | Up to | N/A | Excellent | Light | No | No | High pressure capabilities; |
Progressing | 0.5 to | 1.9 to | Up to | Fair | Excellent | Very | Yes | No | Pulseless flow for highly viscous |
Rotary vane | 0.75 to | 2.8 to | Up to | Fair | Very | Light | No | No | High-pressure capabilities; |
Submersible | 3.0 to | 11.4 to | Up to | Poor | Excellent | Light | No | No | Use for emptying tanks or sumps |
Syringe | 0.002 to | 0.008 to | Up to | N/A | Excellent | Light | No | Yes | Low flow rates at high pressure and accuracy |