Syringe sizes chart: different syringe sizes at a glance
The size of a syringe is its capacity in mL; the scale printed on it is either insulin units or millilitres. BD's general syringe line comes in 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 mL,[1] and the common insulin syringes are 0.3, 0.5 and 1 mL.[5]
| Size | Kind | Scale | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.3 mL | Insulin syringe | Units (U-100: 30 units) | ½-unit lines available |
| 0.5 mL | Insulin syringe | Units (U-100: 50 units) | Also the U-500 syringe: 250 units of U-500 |
| 1 mL | Insulin syringe | Units (U-100: 100 units) | 1-unit or 2-unit lines |
| 1 mL | Tuberculin / low-dose | mL, 0.01 mL lines | Also made with U-40 or U-100 scales |
| 3 mL | General syringe | mL | Listed for general use |
| 5 mL | General syringe | mL | Luer-Lok or slip tip |
| 10 mL | General syringe | mL | Luer-Lok or slip tip |
| 20 mL | General syringe | mL | Also with eccentric tip |
| 30 mL | General syringe | mL | Luer-Lok or slip tip |
| 50 mL | General syringe | mL | Also catheter tip; perfusion versions for syringe pumps |
Sources for the rows: insulin syringe capacities and line spacing from the ADA and embecta;[5][6] the U-500 syringe from BD;[7] the 1 mL mL-scale syringe from BD's tuberculin and Plastipak listings;[4][3] the 3 mL general-use listing and the 3 to 50 mL sizes and tips from BD's conventional syringe line.[2][1] The line spacing of the larger sizes is not given on those pages, so read it off the barrel.
20, 30, 50 and 60 mL syringes
Large syringes from 20 to 60 mL are general syringes scaled in mL. BD's conventional line offers Luer-Lok and slip tips at 20, 30 and 50 mL, adds an eccentric tip at 20 and 50 mL and a catheter tip at 50 mL.[1] BD also lists a 60 mL syringe (a bulk, non-sterile model) with 1 mL minor and 10 mL major graduations and 0.20 mL of wasted space.[9]
| Size | Tips (BD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 20 mL | Luer-Lok, slip, eccentric | – |
| 30 mL | Luer-Lok, slip | – |
| 50 mL | Luer-Lok, slip, eccentric, catheter | Perfusion versions for syringe pumps (Plastipak) |
| 60 mL | Luer-Lok (bulk, non-sterile listing) | 1 mL minor, 10 mL major lines; 0.20 mL wasted space |
Units or mL: the scale matters more than the size
The same 1 mL barrel can carry three scales: BD makes 1 mL syringes with 0.01 mL, U-40 or U-100 graduations.[3] An insulin syringe counts units of one insulin strength; every other syringe counts millilitres. Mixing them up is one of the errors covered in syringe measuring mistakes, and the 1 mL pair is compared in tuberculin syringe vs insulin syringe.
- Units: 0.3, 0.5 and 1 mL insulin syringes. On U-100, 1 unit is 0.01 mL; see mL to units.
- mL: tuberculin and general syringes from 1 to 50 mL; convert a dose with mg to mL. The 3, 5 and 10 mL sizes are covered in 3 mL syringe.
Syringe tip types
BD offers four tips across its general syringe sizes; the choice depends on what the syringe connects to.[1]
| Tip | Sizes | Used for (BD description) |
|---|---|---|
| Luer-Lok | 1–50 mL | Injections that need a secure connection to another device |
| Luer slip | 1–50 mL | A friction fit: push and twist the tip into the needle hub |
| Eccentric luer slip | 20 and 50 mL | Venipuncture and drawing fluids close to the skin |
| Catheter tip | 50 mL | Flushing catheters, gastrostomy tubes and other devices |
Needle syringe sizes: gauge and length
Needles are sized separately from syringes, by length and gauge. Insulin syringes come with the needle in place; embecta's U-100 range uses 12.7 mm × 27G or 29G, 8 mm × 30G or 31G, and 6 mm × 31G.[6] BD's 1 mL Plastipak syringes are offered with 25G to 30G needles or without a needle.[3] The insulin sizes in detail are in insulin syringe sizes.
FDA safety communication on plastic syringes
The FDA has advised checking where plastic syringes were made and, if possible, using syringes not manufactured in China, after reports of leaks, breakage and other failures; its latest update is dated August 2024.[8] The FDA says glass syringes, pre-filled syringes and syringes for topical use are not included, and asks for problems to be reported through MedWatch.[8]
How to pick a syringe size
Pick the scale first, then the smallest size that holds the whole amount. BD notes that low-dose syringes make it easier to accurately measure a small dose.[3]
- Insulin: an insulin syringe whose scale matches the insulin strength; see insulin syringe.
- A dose in mL up to 1 mL: a 1 mL syringe with 0.01 mL lines.
- Larger volumes: the general size just above the volume, such as a 3 mL syringe for 2.5 mL.
Your syringe comes from your instructionsPrescribers and pharmacists choose the syringe for a medicine. Use this chart to understand the options, not to swap the one you were given.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes do syringes come in?
Insulin syringes come in 0.3, 0.5 and 1 mL. General syringes from BD come in 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 mL.
What is the smallest syringe size?
Among common syringes, the 0.3 mL insulin syringe, which holds 30 units of U-100 insulin.
What is the difference between a Luer-Lok and a slip tip?
A Luer-Lok tip gives a secure connection to another device; a slip tip is a friction fit that is pushed and twisted into the needle hub.
Are syringe sizes the same as needle sizes?
No. A syringe size is its capacity in mL; a needle is sized by length and gauge, such as 6 mm × 31G.
Sources
- BD conventional needles and syringes (product line)
- 3 mL BD Luer-Lok syringe (product 309657)
- BD Plastipak 3-piece syringe product family
- BD SafetyGlide tuberculin syringe, 1 mL (product 305945)
- 7. Diabetes technology: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022
- Technical data sheet: insulin syringes (Micro-Fine, Ultra-Fine)
- BD receives FDA clearance for new syringe designed for the administration of Humulin R U-500 insulin
- UPDATE: Evaluating plastic syringes made in China for potential device failures: FDA safety communication
- BD syringe 60 mL LL, bulk non-sterile (product 301035)