Skip to content
Rolling OffsetCalculator
More free tools

Rolling Offset Calculator / Steel pipe

Steel Pipe Rolling Offset Calculator

The tool is set to 2 inch butt weld steel with 45 degree long radius elbows. Change the size in the take-off box.

Inches, center to center. Type 12.5, 12 1/2 or 2'-3 1/2".

Set the fraction on Rise

Fitting angle
degrees

Fitting take-off (optional)

True offset (set)
– 
Travel
– 
Run
– 
Cut length
– 

Rolling offset diagram A box with rise, roll and run as its edges. The true offset crosses the rise and roll face. The travel crosses the whole box.
Not to scale. Dots are the pipe center lines at each fitting. Travel is the long diagonal through the box.

Formulas: true offset = √(rise² + roll²), travel = true offset ÷ sin(angle), run = true offset ÷ tan(angle). Right-triangle geometry, explained here. Formulas and take-off sources last checked October 20, 2026.

Steel take-off per 45 degree elbow

Take-off here is the center to end dimension of an ASME B16.9 long radius 45 degree elbow, measured to the weld end.

Steel, butt weld take-off per 45 degree fitting by pipe size
Pipe sizeTake-off (in)Decimal
1"7/80.875
1 1/4"11.000
1 1/2"1 1/81.125
2"1 3/81.375
2 1/2"1 3/41.750
3"22.000
4"2 1/22.500
6"3 3/43.750

Source

The two tables agree.

Worked example

Rise 12 inches, roll 9 inches, 2 inch steel. Travel is 21 3/16". Take-off is 1 3/8 inch per elbow. Cut length = 21.21 - 2 x 1.375 = 18.46 inches, about 18 7/16".

Root gap and other angles

A butt weld needs a root gap, often about 1/8 inch per joint. The tool does not include it in the cut length, so subtract it yourself. Steel at an angle other than 45 degrees is scaled from the 45 degree value. Treat that result as approximate and check it against your fitting.

Questions

What is the take-off of a 2 inch steel 45 degree long radius elbow?

1 3/8 inch (1.375), center to end, from ASME B16.9 dimension tables.

Do I subtract the weld gap?

Yes, if your procedure leaves a gap. The tool shows the cut length without it.

Calculators for specific jobs

Each page opens the calculator with the right settings and adds the charts for that job.

More free tools from Bingemind