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PEX is the reason a homeowner can now repipe a bathroom in an afternoon, no torch, no solder, no open flame near framing. But walking into the store cold is confusing: PEX-A or PEX-B? What fittings? What rings? Here is the short answer on what tubing and fittings to actually buy to get started, plus the one tool you cannot skip. If you are weighing PEX against the alternatives first, read our PEX vs. copper vs. CPVC breakdown.
Brass or poly for the fittings themselves? Water chemistry usually decides it.
Quick answer from a licensed plumber: a PEX starter kit is four parts that have to match: tubing, fittings, rings or clamps, and the tool that closes them. For a first job I would buy a red-and-blue roll of PEX-A tubing, brass crimp fittings with copper crimp rings, and the crimp tool made for those rings. SharkBite’s PEX-A guide says crimp and clamp fittings are approved for PEX-A, PEX-B and PEX-C, and that expansion fittings work only with PEX-A. That set handles supply runs to sinks, toilets and the water heater.
Top picks: for tubing, the EFIELD 200 ft PEX-A red and blue roll; for fittings, SharkBite brass crimp fittings, which SharkBite makes from lead-free DZR brass to take either copper crimp rings or stainless clamps. Picking the two together is our judgment, not a test result.
PEX-A or PEX-B? (The Honest DIYer Answer)
Both are potable-water pipe; the difference is how they are made and joined. SharkBite’s spec sheets list its PEX-a as peroxide-method pipe and its PEX-b as silane-method pipe, and its catalog says the letters are not a rating system. ASTM F876, the tubing standard, covers PEX crosslinked by peroxide, azo or silane compounds or by electron beam; the abstract we read does not sort them into A, B or C. What you notice on the job:
- Bend radius. SharkBite lists an unsupported bend radius of 6 times the outside diameter for PEX-a and 8 times for PEX-b. On 1/2 inch pipe (0.625 inch OD) that is about 3.75 inches against 5 inches (our arithmetic).
- Kinks. Uponor says PEX-a is the only PEX type whose kinks can be repaired with a heat gun; on PEX-b or PEX-c it says the fix is to cut in a fitting.
- Connections. Crimp and clamp fittings work on PEX-A, PEX-B and PEX-C. Expansion fittings (ASTM F1960) work only on PEX-A, and they need an expansion tool, which is a different tool from the crimp tool.
For a homeowner using a crimp tool, either tubing works. Our judgment: PEX-A for tight cabinet and joist routing, PEX-B for straightforward runs where you want single-color pipe with a full maker spec sheet.
| Pick | Best for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFIELD 1/2″ PEX-A, red + blue, 200 ft | Best all-around DIY starter | Red and blue 100 ft coils in one order; listing recommends expansion, also takes barb crimp or clamp |
| SharkBite 1/2″ PEX-B, blue, 100 ft | Best single 100 ft run | Full maker spec sheet; takes crimp, clamp and push-to-connect |
| SharkBite 1/2″ brass crimp fittings | Best fittings | Lead-free DZR brass; copper crimp rings or stainless clamps |
Which Fittings Go With Which Tubing
SharkBite’s PEX-A guide lists three fitting standards and the tubing each is approved for. The tool follows the ring, not the fitting: copper crimp rings need a crimp tool, stainless clamps need a cinch tool, and expansion rings need an expansion tool.
| Fitting | Standard | Tubing |
|---|---|---|
| Brass (metal) barb fitting, copper crimp ring or stainless clamp | ASTM F1807 (clamps: F2098) | PEX-A, PEX-B, PEX-C |
| Plastic (poly) barb fitting, copper crimp ring or stainless clamp | ASTM F2159 (clamps: F2098) | PEX-A, PEX-B, PEX-C |
| Cold-expansion ring and fitting | ASTM F1960 | PEX-A only |
ASTM F1807 covers metal insert fittings used with copper crimp rings or alternate stainless clamps. ASTM F2159 covers plastic insert fittings, and F1960 covers cold-expansion fittings and their PEX reinforcing rings. SharkBite also lists its push-to-connect fittings for both its PEX-a and PEX-b pipe. Pick one ring type per job and buy the tool for it.
Does Tubing Color Tell You the PEX Type?
No. SharkBite sells blue PEX-a (UA60B100) and blue PEX-b (U860B100), and its catalog lists PEX-b in white, red and blue. Red and blue are hot and cold: Uponor describes its red and blue AquaPEX as giving “full-color hot-water and cold-water differentiation.” Other colors mark the job. SharkBite’s catalog lists purple pipe for reclaimed water and orange pipe with an oxygen barrier for radiant floor and hydronic heating. To know the type, read the product name or the maker’s spec sheet; SharkBite’s sheets give PEX-a the material code PEX 5006 and PEX-b PEX 5306.
Best All-Around Tubing: PEX-A Red + Blue
1/2 in PEX-A · 200 ft (2 x 100 ft, red + blue) · listing recommends expansion, also takes barb crimp or clamp · listing cites ASTM F876, F877, F2023 · pipe cutter included per listing
A two-color (red hot, blue cold) PEX-A roll is the tubing I steer most DIYers to. The color coding keeps your hot and cold runs straight, and PEX-A’s tighter bend radius makes cabinet and joist routing easier. Two hundred feet should cover a typical bathroom or kitchen repipe, but measure your runs first (our estimate). EFIELD’s listing calls the pipe “the most flexible tubing for potable water,” recommends the expansion connection for full water flow, and says it also takes barb crimp, clamp or sleeve connections. We could not find an EFIELD spec sheet, so the standards above are the listing’s words. Check the EFIELD PEX-A on Amazon.
- PEX-A has the tighter bend radius of the two types SharkBite lists (6 times the outside diameter against 8 for PEX-b), which helps in cabinets and joist bays; the EFIELD listing gives no bend radius.
- The roll is 100 ft blue plus 100 ft red per the listing, so hot and cold runs come color-coded in one purchase.
- The listing says the pipe meets ASTM F876 (tubing), F877 (system) and F2023 (the hot chlorinated-water test).
- EFIELD’s listing recommends the expansion connection for full water flow, which needs an expansion tool plus expansion fittings and rings that this roll does not include.
- This listing is the basic roll with a pipe cutter; fittings, rings and the tool are all separate.
- Keep coils out of sunlight. SharkBite lists six months of UV resistance for its own PEX, and we found no UV figure for this roll.
Verdict: Best for DIYers doing a larger hot-and-cold repipe who want flexible, color-coded tubing. Decide on the connection method before you buy fittings.
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Best Single-Run Tubing: SharkBite PEX-B
1/2 in PEX-b · 100 ft blue coil (U860B100) · 0.625 in OD / 0.475 in ID · 160 psi at 33-70°F, 100 psi at 180°F, 80 psi at 200°F · ASTM F876, F877, F2023 · NSF/ANSI 61 and 14
If you just need one supply run, a 100-foot roll of SharkBite blue PEX-B is the name-brand, fully documented pick. Blue is the cold side; SharkBite also sells PEX-b in red and white. It is stiffer than PEX-A, so give yourself wider bends. Check the SharkBite blue PEX-B on Amazon.
- SharkBite’s spec sheet lists 160 psi at 33 to 70°F, 100 psi at 180°F and 80 psi at 200°F for the pipe.
- SharkBite lists it as rated to recirculate hot water continuously at 140°F, and its product page says PEX-b has its highest-rated chlorine resistance.
- SharkBite approves it for brass barb (ASTM F1807) and plastic barb (ASTM F2159) fittings and for its push-to-connect fittings, so it needs no expansion tool.
- It bends wider: SharkBite lists 8 times the outside diameter, about 5 inches on 1/2 inch pipe (our arithmetic).
- Uponor says a kink in PEX-b cannot be heat-repaired; you cut out the kinked section.
- A 100 ft single-color coil is half the footage of the 200 ft two-color roll above, and you need a second coil in the other color for hot lines.
Verdict: Best for DIYers and small repairs who want trusted name-brand tubing that uses standard crimp or clamp fittings with no expansion tool.
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Best Fittings: SharkBite Brass Crimp Fittings
1/2 in brass barb · elbow (UC248LFA10), tee (UC362LFA10), coupling (UC008LFA10), 10 per pack · lead-free DZR brass · copper crimp ring or stainless clamp · 33°F at 160 psi to 200°F at 80 psi · SharkBite: certified for potable water
Tubing is useless without fittings. Buy one 10-pack each of SharkBite’s 1/2-inch crimp elbow, crimp tee and crimp coupling, plus a pack of copper crimp rings. SharkBite’s own pipe pages list brass barb fittings (ASTM F1807) as approved for its PEX-a and PEX-b, and EFIELD’s listing says its pipe takes barb crimp connections, so this set fits both rolls above.
- SharkBite makes them from lead-free DZR brass and lists them as certified for potable water and radiant heating.
- The same fitting takes copper crimp rings or stainless steel clamps, so you can choose the crimp or cinch tool.
- SharkBite’s PEX-a and PEX-b pipe pages both list brass barb fittings (ASTM F1807) as approved for the pipe.
- Rings are not in the box, and neither is the tool: buy the rings (a 25-pack is linked) and the crimp or cinch tool separately.
- You choose the mix: three 10-packs is 30 fittings, and valves, adapters and stub-outs are separate.
- Match ring to tool. Copper crimp rings need a crimp tool and a go/no-go gauge, and stainless clamps need a cinch tool.
Verdict: Best for DIYers crimping or clamping a multi-fixture repipe who want maker-documented brass fittings and the choice of ring type.
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If you run PEX for a living, I send an occasional note when I write one of these up. That is the whole offer.
The One Tool You Cannot Skip
Each connection system needs its own tool, and there is no hand-tighten shortcut. Copper crimp rings need a crimp tool sized for the ring and a go/no-go gauge: SharkBite says the Go side should slide over the crimped ring and the No-Go side should not slide over it at all. Stainless clamps need a cinch tool, and expansion rings need an expansion tool. Match the tool to your rings in our best PEX crimp tool guide, and check each crimp with a crimp ring go/no-go gauge. You will also want a clean cut, so see the tubing cutter guide. For whole-house plans, read what a whole-house repipe involves.
The Bottom Line
Start with a red/blue PEX-A roll, a set of brass crimp fittings with copper crimp rings, and the matching crimp tool; that set handles the large majority of home supply work. Choose PEX-B when your runs are straightforward and you want single-color pipe. And always pressure-test the system before you close the walls. If a crimp joint leaks on the test, see how to fix a leaking PEX crimp and how to remove a PEX crimp ring.
A crimp or cinch tool is the right start for one bathroom. If PEX becomes most of what you run, a press tool does PEX and copper with the same gun and takes the fatigue out of a long day.
If expansion is the route you want, DeWalt vs Milwaukee PEX expander compares the two cordless tools and the heads they take. More on expansion: best PEX expansion tool.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to start working with PEX?
Four parts that match: PEX tubing (this page covers 1/2 inch; red for hot and blue for cold keeps it organized), brass barb elbows, tees and couplings, the copper crimp rings or stainless clamps for them, and the tool for those rings. A tubing cutter and, for copper crimp rings, a go/no-go gauge round it out. With those you can run supply lines to sinks, toilets and the water heater.
Should a DIYer use PEX-A or PEX-B?
Either works with a crimp tool. Our judgment: PEX-A for tight routing, because SharkBite lists a bend radius of 6 times the outside diameter for PEX-a against 8 for PEX-b, and PEX-B for straightforward runs. Only PEX-A can use expansion fittings, and Uponor says only PEX-a kinks can be repaired with a heat gun.
Do I need a special tool for PEX?
Yes for the ring systems on this page. Copper crimp rings use a crimp tool and a go/no-go gauge, stainless clamps use a cinch tool, and expansion rings use a separate expansion tool. SharkBite also lists push-to-connect fittings for its PEX-a and PEX-b pipe, which is a different system from the rings. A tubing cutter is worth having too. Not sure which ring to stock? Crimp ring vs cinch clamp compares the two systems side by side.
Does tubing color tell me if PEX is A, B or C?
No. SharkBite sells blue PEX-a and blue PEX-b, and its catalog lists PEX-b in white, red and blue. Red and blue mark hot and cold, and colors such as purple (reclaimed water) and orange (oxygen barrier heating pipe) mark the job. Read the product name or the maker’s spec sheet to know the type.
Can I use crimp or cinch fittings on PEX-A?
Yes. SharkBite’s PEX-A guide lists crimp/barb fittings (ASTM F1807) and clamp/barb fittings (ASTM F2159) as approved for PEX-A, PEX-B and PEX-C, and says expansion fittings must be used with PEX-A. Uponor’s warranty is worded for AquaPEX with ProPEX fittings, so read your pipe maker’s terms before you mix connection types.
Should I buy brass or plastic PEX fittings?
SharkBite sells both lead-free brass and Acudel polymer barb fittings, and lists its poly alloy range for places where corrosion may affect DZR brass. Water chemistry usually decides it; see brass vs poly PEX fittings.
Can I bury PEX or run it under a slab?
SharkBite says its PEX-a and PEX-b pipe is approved for water service lines and burial applications, including being buried under concrete. Check the fitting’s own approval for underground use and your local code before you bury a joint.
What do the ASTM numbers on PEX mean?
ASTM F876 is the tubing standard and F877 covers the tubing and fittings as a system rated for 100 psi up to and including 180°F. F1807 covers metal insert fittings used with copper crimp rings or alternate stainless clamps, F2159 covers plastic insert fittings with crimp rings or clamps, and F2098 covers the stainless clamps. F1960 covers cold-expansion fittings and their reinforcing rings. F2023 is the hot chlorinated-water test method.
Sources
Read September 29, 2026. Where a fact comes from an Amazon listing rather than a maker document, the text says so.
- SharkBite product pages: blue PEX-a coils, blue PEX-b coils, brass crimp elbow
- SharkBite spec sheets: PEX-a and blue PEX-b (bend radius, pressure ratings, material codes, listings); PEX and PEX barb fittings catalog (colors, letter designations)
- SharkBite PEX-A connection system guide (which fittings suit which PEX)
- Uponor: Not all PEX is created equal (kink repair, expansion flow; Uponor’s own claims) and Uponor FAQ (warranty)
- ASTM standards: F876, F877, F1807, F2159, F2098, F1960, F2023
- The Amazon listings linked above, for the EFIELD roll
For the plumbers reading this
Most of this site is written for homeowners — this page clearly isn’t. If you’re in the trade and want the occasional straight-shooting note when I publish something like this (fittings comparisons, tool guides, code changes), drop your email. No spam, no course funnel, written by a licensed GA journeyman.