Rubber Vs PVC Air Hose [Price & Durability]

October 6, 2022 13

Rubber and PVC are the two most common air hose materials currently on the market. Both materials are readily available for purchase and are used for many different purposes. The material that your air hose is made out of will affect the overall air transfer efficiency.

A rubber air hose is generally the best option to consider due to its highly flexible nature and affordable pricing. A rubber air hose will be viable for more situations than a PVC air hose would. Because of this, it has a clear advantage over PVC air hoses.

That being said, certain circumstances could call for the more rigid PVC air hose. This guide will break down the different factors that can influence which type of air hose material you should utilize. You can use the information in this guide to ensure that you are using the proper material for your needs.

Rubber Vs PVC Air Hose Price

A PVC air hose will be the cheaper option to consider when choosing air hose materials. PVC is one of the most readily available materials in the world, making the cost per foot extremely cheap. You can generally find PVC air hoses for less than a dollar a foot, or for $20 per 25 feet.

Rubber air hoses will generally cost at least double that of PVC air hosing at the same length. You can expect to pay an average of around $1.50 a foot for rubber hosing, or around $35 for 25 feet. Depending on what you need the air hosing for, it is generally the cheaper option to opt for PVC air hosing.

You can save money on your air hose by purchasing it online. The table below contains some of the most popular online vendors and their prices for both types of air hose materials. You can use this information to ensure that you are getting the best deal on your air hose materials.

Vendor	Avg. Rubber Air Hose Cost (per 25-ft)	Avg. PVC Rubber Air Hose Cost (per 25-ft)
Walmart	$35	$25
Amazon	$33	$27
Lowes	$37	$22
Home Depot	$35	$19
Harbor Freight	$32	$17

Which Is More Durable?

Rubber has a clear advantage over PVC air hoses in terms of durability. Due to the extremely flexible and stretchable nature of rubber air hoses, they are much less prone to damage than PVC air hoses. Since PVC air hoses are made of a much stiffer material, they are subject to cracking quite easily.

Rubber is also extremely resilient to snags and punctures due to the tough mesh layers that surround the hose. This makes rubber the overall better choice if durability is a major factor in your purchase decision.

You can expect any PVC hosing that you purchase to be extremely sensitive to breaks, cracks, and extreme weather. If you need to be able to depend on your air hose to be working properly at all times, a rubber air hose is the best option.

That being said, if you find you need a sturdier material to transport something like C02, then a PVC hose is the better option. PVC is much more rigid than rubber and can offer more resistance to twisting.

Which One Lasts Longer?

Rubber air hoses will long outlast any PVC air hoses that are currently available for purchase. You can expect your rubber air hose to last for around ten years before needing to be replaced. The average PVC air hose only has a lifespan of five years.

Most often PVC air hoses will encounter some kind of damage requiring a replacement long before reaching their maximum life expectancy. This gives rubber air hoses a steep advantage over PVC in terms of overall longevity.

You can use the table below as a visual representation of the average lifespan of the two different air hose materials discussed in this guide. This can help you make an informed decision when choosing an air hose material in regard to overall longevity.

Hose Type	Avg. Life Expectancy
Rubber	10 years
PVC	5 years

Rubber Vs PVC Air Hose Uses

A rubber air hose will be the best option to consider if you are working with compressed air. Due to the heat generated by the use of compressed air, a PVC air hose could be caused to erode and degrade much faster than a rubber hose would.

You should also consider using a rubber hose if you are working in extremely cold weather conditions. Freezing conditions can make PVC air hosing completely unusable. The rubber on the other hand will remain flexible during colder weather.

For more heavy-duty jobs like mining, drilling, or general construction, you should consider using a PVC hose for the added sturdiness. A rubber hose will likely get torn or ripped doing these types of more extensive jobs. In this case, the PVC hose can use its rigidness to its advantage.

The type of application that you will utilize your air hose for will determine the type of material that you should consider. It is important that you consider the different uses for the two types of air hose materials before purchasing to ensure that you are using the most efficient air hosing material for the task.

Rubber Vs PVC Air Hose Pros and Cons

The list below contains some of the pros and cons of both of the air hose materials discussed in this guide. You can use this list to help you better determine which type of air hose material is appropriate for your needs.

It is important to consider the different pros and cons of both types of air hoses to ensure that you are choosing the one that will work best for your particular situation.

Rubber Air Hose Pros And Cons

Rubber air hoses have the advantage over PVC hoses when it comes to durability and versatility. One of the best reasons to use a rubber air hose is the fact that it can be utilized for many different applications, making it the more viable air hose material.

You can expect a rubber hose to untangle easier and to rarely leak due to cracks or tears. It is also generally higher quality material than PVC, leading to longer lifespans for your hose.

The main drawback of using rubber air hose material is that it is quite a bit heavier than PVC and also about twice the cost per foot. It also more easily collects dirt and debris due to the type of material that it is made out of.

PVC Air Hose Pros And Cons

The main advantage that PVC hose has over rubber is affordability. Due to the relatively low quality of the PVC material, it can be found for much cheaper than rubber hosing. This makes it a more economical choice if the price is a major factor in your purchase decision.

The main drawback of using a PVC air hose over a rubber hose is that they are much less durable. They also have far less versatile uses, making them useful in only certain circumstances. Generally, PVC is much lower quality material and that is reflected in its durability, longevity, and overall performance.

Rubber Vs PVC Air Hose Comparison Table

The table below contains a quick comparison table so that you can view all of the information represented in this guide side-by-side. This table can help you make an informed purchase decision when deciding between the two air hose materials.

Element	PVC Air Hose	Rubber Air Hose
Material	Rigid Plastic	Flexible, stretchable rubber
Weight	Light	Heavy
Durability	Prone to damage	Much less prone to damage
Usage	Good for heavy-duty jobs like mining and general construction. Not suitable for air compressors.	Good for general use purposes. Not recommended for heavy-duty jobs.
Price	$20 per 25-ft	$35 per 25-ft
Longevity	5 years	10 years
Environmental Concerns	Not suitable for cold weather	Fine in all weather conditions

Final Thoughts

This guide has provided you with all of the information that you need to make an informed purchase decision regarding the two most popular air hose materials. Rubber and PVC air hosing are the most common types of tubing that you will encounter.

The type of tubing that you use can affect the overall efficiency of the job in which you are utilizing it. You should use the information provided in this guide to help you determine which air hose material is appropriate for your specific needs.

It is important that you purchase the right type of air-hosing material for the job you are doing. Ensuring this can help you save money, and time, and avoid potentially dangerous situations caused by using inappropriate air hose materials.

All of the information in this guide can provide you with detailed information regarding the different factors that go into determining the best air hose material for your situation. As this guide has shown, a rubber air hose will generally be the best option for you to choose for most situations.