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, plumber-tested 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.
Plumber’s quick take: for most DIY jobs, buy a red-and-blue roll of PEX-A tubing, a brass fitting assortment kit, and the matching crimp tool. That trio handles supply runs to sinks, toilets, and the water heater.
PEX-A or PEX-B? (The Honest DIYer Answer)
Both are reliable potable-water pipe; the difference is how they are made and joined. PEX-A is the most flexible and forgiving, it bends tighter, resists kinks (and a heat gun fixes a kink), and tolerates freezing better. PEX-B is stiffer and cheaper, and it is what is on most store shelves. Both join with crimp or cinch rings; PEX-A can also use expansion fittings (which need a pricier expansion tool). For a homeowner using a crimp tool, either tubing works, choose PEX-A for tight spaces and freeze-prone runs, PEX-B to save money.
| Pick | Best for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFIELD 1/2″ PEX-A, red + blue, 200 ft | Best all-around DIY starter | Both hot/cold colors, flexible, crimp-compatible |
| SharkBite 1/2″ PEX-B, 100 ft | Best budget single run | Trusted brand, stiffer, lowest cost |
| Lidertik 60-pc 1/2″ brass fittings | Best fittings assortment | Elbows, tees, couplings + crimp rings to start |
Best All-Around Tubing: PEX-A Red + Blue
1/2 in PEX-A · 200 ft (2 x 100 ft, red + blue) · expansion or crimp/clamp compatible · 200F at 80 psi (ASTM F876) · NSF-certified, potable · pipe cutter included
A two-color (red hot, blue cold) PEX-A roll is the kit I steer most DIYers to. The color coding keeps your hot and cold runs straight, PEX-A’s flexibility makes tight cabinet and joist routing far easier, and it shrugs off a freeze better than rigid pipe. Two hundred feet covers a typical bathroom or kitchen repipe with room to spare. Check the PEX-A tubing price on Amazon.
- PEX-A is the most flexible PEX type, with the tightest bend radius and a ‘shape memory’ that lets kinks be repaired with a heat gun.
- The 200 ft red-and-blue split covers both hot and cold runs in one kit, simplifying color-coding for a whole-house DIY job.
- It is rated for hot and cold potable water (200F at 80 psi) and is NSF-certified, so it is code-appropriate for drinking-water lines.
- Getting full flow from PEX-A really wants the expansion (F1960) method, which means buying an expansion tool the kit does not include.
- PEX-A typically costs more per foot than PEX-B for the same size and length.
- Like all PEX, it must be kept out of direct sunlight and cannot be used in UV-exposed outdoor runs long-term.
Verdict: Best for DIYers doing a larger hot-and-cold repipe who want the most forgiving, flexible tubing and don’t mind investing in an expansion tool.
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Best Budget Tubing: SharkBite PEX-B
1/2 in PEX-B · 100 ft coil · 1/2 in ID / 5/8 in OD · 200F at 80 psi (160 psi at 73F) · ASTM F876/F877, NSF potable
If you just need one supply run and want to spend the least, a 100-foot roll of SharkBite PEX-B is the value play, a name brand at the lowest cost. It is stiffer than PEX-A, so give yourself wider bends. Check the SharkBite PEX-B price on Amazon.
- SharkBite lists a maximum 200F at 80 psi and up to 160 psi at room temperature — the full hot-and-cold potable rating — at a budget-friendly per-foot price.
- PEX-B carries among the highest chlorine-resistance ratings, which helps longevity on hot recirculation and chlorinated municipal water.
- It works with standard crimp and clamp (cinch) fittings and push-to-connect, so no specialty expansion tool is required.
- PEX-B is stiffer than its PEX-A counterpart, giving a larger bend radius and less forgiving routing in tight spaces.
- A 100 ft single-color coil covers only about half the footage of the 200 ft all-around kit, so larger jobs need multiple coils.
- Kinks in PEX-B cannot be heat-repaired the way PEX-A kinks can and usually require cutting out the section.
Verdict: Best for budget-minded DIYers and small repairs who want trusted name-brand tubing that uses inexpensive crimp/clamp fittings with no special tool.
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Best Fittings Assortment: Brass Crimp Kit
60-pc 1/2 in assortment · 20 couplings + 20 tees + 20 elbows · lead-free brass · ASTM F1807 crimp · fits 1/2 in PEX-A/B/C
Tubing is useless without fittings. A 60-piece 1/2-inch brass crimp fitting kit gives you the elbows, tees, couplings, and crimp rings to make most connections without a second store trip. Brass crimp fittings are the proven, code-accepted standard. Check the fittings kit price on Amazon.
- The 60-piece mix of 20 couplings, 20 tees, and 20 elbows covers the three fittings most repipe jobs use most, in one box.
- These are ASTM F1807 brass crimp fittings, compatible with all brands of 1/2 in PEX-A, PEX-B, and PEX-C tubing.
- Lead-free brass construction makes them appropriate for potable drinking-water connections.
- F1807 fittings require a crimp ring and a crimp tool, neither of which is included in this fittings-only kit.
- The assortment is fixed at couplings/tees/elbows, so jobs needing valves, adapters, or stub-outs will need extra fittings.
Verdict: Best for DIYers crimping a multi-fixture repipe who want a bulk, ready-to-go stash of the three core 1/2-inch fittings.
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The One Tool You Cannot Skip
Crimp or cinch fittings need a crimper, this is the step that makes the connection watertight, and you cannot hand-tighten your way around it. Get the right one in our best PEX crimp tool guide (match it to your ring type, copper crimp rings vs. stainless cinch clamps). You will also want a clean tubing cutter and a crimp ring go/no-go gauge to verify each crimp. For whole-house plans, see cost to repipe a house.
The Bottom Line
Start with a red/blue PEX-A roll, a brass fitting assortment, and the matching crimp tool, that trio handles the large majority of home supply work. Buy PEX-B only if budget is tight and your runs are straightforward. And always pressure-test the system before you close the walls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to start working with PEX?
Three things: PEX tubing (1/2 inch covers most home supply runs, red for hot and blue for cold keeps it organized), a fitting assortment (brass crimp elbows, tees, and couplings plus rings), and the crimp or cinch tool that matches your ring type. A tubing cutter and a go/no-go gauge to check each crimp 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. PEX-A is more flexible and forgiving, it bends tighter, resists kinks, a heat gun can fix a kink, and it tolerates freezing better, which makes it easier for first-timers and tight spaces. PEX-B is stiffer and cheaper and is what most stores stock. Choose PEX-A for difficult routing and freeze-prone runs, PEX-B to save money on straightforward jobs.
Do I need a special tool for PEX?
Yes. Crimp and cinch PEX connections require a crimping tool to compress the ring and make the joint watertight, there is no hand-tighten shortcut. Match the tool to your rings: copper crimp rings use a crimp tool, stainless cinch clamps use a cinch tool. PEX-A expansion connections use a separate, pricier expansion tool. A tubing cutter and a crimp gauge to verify each joint are worth having too.
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