Pediatric Chest Tube Size by Weight

Chest Tube · Equipment

Notes

• Suction: ~15 cmH2O

Chest Tube: value for each weight

Weight	Age (estimate)	Value
2 kg	preterm	10–12 Fr 10 to 12 French
3 kg	newborn	10–12 Fr 10 to 12 French
4 kg	1 mo	10–12 Fr 10 to 12 French
5 kg	2 mo	10–12 Fr 10 to 12 French
6 kg	4 mo	10–12 Fr 10 to 12 French
7 kg	6 mo	10–12 Fr 10 to 12 French
8 kg	8 mo	10–12 Fr 10 to 12 French
9 kg	10 mo	10–12 Fr 10 to 12 French
10 kg	1 y	16–20 Fr 16 to 20 French
11 kg	1 y 6 mo	16–20 Fr 16 to 20 French
12 kg	2 y	20–24 Fr 20 to 24 French
13 kg	2 y 4 mo	20–24 Fr 20 to 24 French
14 kg	2 y 8 mo	20–24 Fr 20 to 24 French
15 kg	3 y	20–24 Fr 20 to 24 French
16 kg	3 y 6 mo	20–24 Fr 20 to 24 French
17 kg	4 y	20–24 Fr 20 to 24 French
18 kg	4 y 6 mo	20–24 Fr 20 to 24 French
19 kg	5 y	24–32 Fr 24 to 32 French
20 kg	5 y 6 mo	24–32 Fr 24 to 32 French
21 kg	6 y	24–32 Fr 24 to 32 French
22 kg	6 y 4 mo	24–32 Fr 24 to 32 French
23 kg	6 y 8 mo	24–32 Fr 24 to 32 French
24 kg	7 y	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
25 kg	7 y 4 mo	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
26 kg	7 y 8 mo	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
27 kg	8 y	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
28 kg	8 y 4 mo	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
29 kg	8 y 8 mo	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
30 kg	9 y	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
31 kg	9 y 4 mo	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
32 kg	9 y 8 mo	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
33 kg	10 y	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
34 kg	10 y 3 mo	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
35 kg	10 y 6 mo	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
36 kg	10 y 9 mo	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
37 kg	11 y	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
38 kg	11 y 4 mo	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
39 kg	11 y 8 mo	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French
40 kg	12 y	28–32 Fr 28 to 32 French

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Values imported unchanged on 2026-11-04. Independent verification against official sources is in progress (see Methodology).

Last updated: 2026-11-04