Choose the right valve for your application. This guide covers the five major valve types, their strengths, and how to specify the correct valve for your system.
The table below provides a high-level comparison of the five most common industrial valve types. Use it as a starting point — detailed guidance for each type follows below.
| Characteristic | Ball Valve | Butterfly Valve | Gate Valve | Globe Valve | Check Valve |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | On/off isolation | High-flow regulation | Full-bore isolation | Throttling & flow control | Backflow prevention |
| Flow Control | Limited (on/off) | Moderate | Not recommended | Excellent | Automatic (one-way) |
| Pressure Rating | Up to PN63 / Class 600 | Up to PN25 / Class 150 | Up to PN40 / Class 300 | Up to PN40 / Class 300 | Up to PN40 / Class 300 |
| Cost (Relative) | Low–Medium | Low | Low–Medium | Medium–High | Low |
| Maintenance | Low — minimal moving parts | Low — simple disc design | Moderate — wedge wear | Moderate — disc & seat wear | Low — passive operation |
| Sizes Available | DN8–DN300 (¼″–12″) | DN50–DN1200 (2″–48″) | DN15–DN600 (½″–24″) | DN15–DN300 (½″–12″) | DN15–DN600 (½″–24″) |
Ball valves are the most widely used valve type in industrial and commercial applications. They use a spherical ball with a bore through its centre, rotated 90° by a lever or actuator to open or close the flow path.
A full-bore (or full-port) ball valve has an internal bore diameter equal to the pipe size, resulting in minimal pressure drop and unrestricted flow. Full-bore valves are essential where pigging is required or where pressure loss must be minimised.
A reduced-bore (standard-port) ball valve has a bore one size smaller than the pipe, which is acceptable for most general applications. Reduced-bore valves are more compact and cost-effective.
Ball valves are quarter-turn devices — a 90° rotation of the handle moves the valve from fully open to fully closed. This makes them quick to operate manually and ideal for actuated applications, particularly with pneumatic actuators where fast cycling is required.
Available in brass (DZR for potable water), stainless steel (316 or 304), carbon steel, PVC-U for chemical applications, and specialist alloys (Duplex, Hastelloy) for aggressive media.
Butterfly valves use a rotating disc mounted on a central shaft to control flow. They are lightweight, compact, and cost-effective — particularly in larger pipe sizes where a ball or gate valve would be prohibitively expensive and heavy.
Wafer butterfly valves are the most economical option. They sit between two pipe flanges and are clamped in place by the flange bolts. They cannot be used for dead-end service (one flange removed).
Lugged butterfly valves feature threaded bolt holes (lugs) allowing the valve to be bolted to a single flange. This permits dead-end service and makes downstream removal possible without draining the upstream system — a significant advantage in maintenance scenarios.
Because the disc sits in the flow path when open (unlike a ball or gate valve), butterfly valves have a slightly higher pressure drop. However, their large available sizes (up to DN1200) and light weight make them the valve of choice for high-volume flow applications.
Butterfly valves with EPDM or NBR seals are standard in HVAC chilled water and heating circuits. They are frequently supplied with electric actuators for building management system (BMS) integration.
Gate valves use a flat or wedge-shaped gate that moves perpendicular to the flow path. When fully open, the gate retracts entirely out of the bore, providing a completely unobstructed, full-bore flow path with virtually zero pressure drop.
Gate valves are designed for full isolation only — either fully open or fully closed. They must never be used for throttling, as partial opening causes high-velocity flow across the gate, leading to vibration, noise, and rapid erosion of the seating surfaces.
Gate valves require multiple turns of the handwheel to open or close, making them unsuitable for applications requiring frequent operation. For quick isolation, a ball valve is the better choice.
Globe valves feature a disc that moves linearly into a seat, providing excellent throttling and flow regulation capability. The S-shaped flow path through the valve body creates a higher pressure drop than other valve types, but this is the trade-off for precise flow control.
Globe valves are the valve of choice when you need to regulate flow rate rather than simply isolate. The linear relationship between stem position and flow rate makes them ideal for manual or automated process control applications.
Available with various disc types including flat disc, plug disc (for tighter shut-off), and needle designs (for very fine flow control). Seat materials range from metal-to-metal (for high temperature) to PTFE (for chemical resistance and tight shut-off).
Check valves allow flow in one direction only and close automatically when flow reverses. They are passive devices with no external operator — they rely on differential pressure and/or gravity to function.
Swing check valves use a hinged disc that swings open under forward flow and closes under reverse flow or gravity. They are best suited for horizontal pipelines and offer low pressure drop. Available in both wafer and flanged configurations.
Spring-loaded check valves use a spring to assist closure, making them suitable for both horizontal and vertical installations. The spring provides faster closure, reducing the risk of water hammer. Wafer-type spring check valves are extremely compact and lightweight.
Follow these five steps to specify the correct valve for your application:
What fluid or gas will pass through the valve? The media determines the body material, seal material, and valve type. Common media include potable water, process water, steam, compressed air, natural gas, hydraulic oil, and corrosive chemicals. Refer to our Chemical Compatibility Chart for material suitability.
Every valve has a maximum allowable pressure at a given temperature. Higher temperatures reduce the pressure rating of the valve body and seals. Ensure the valve's PN or Class rating exceeds your maximum operating conditions. See our Pressure-Temperature Ratings reference charts.
The three main connection types are:
Other options include butt-weld, socket-weld, compression, and tri-clamp (hygienic) connections.
Match body and seal materials to your media and operating conditions:
Choose manual operation (lever, handwheel) when the valve is easily accessible and operated infrequently. Choose actuated operation when:
Actuator types include pneumatic (fastest, ideal for process control), electric (no air supply needed, good for BMS), and hydraulic (highest torque, for large or high-pressure valves).
Our technical sales team has decades of experience specifying valves for every industry. Get free, no-obligation advice by email or by submitting a quote request.