The best PVC cement for most home plumbing is Oatey PVC Medium Clear (31019), a medium-bodied ASTM D2564 cement for pressure and drain pipe up to 6 inches. Move to heavy-bodied Weld-On 711 gray for Schedule 80 or pipe over 6 inches, and to Christy’s Red Hot Blue Glue when the pipe is wet or the line has to go back in service fast.
PVC cement does not work on CPVC hot water lines or black ABS drain pipe the way the right cement does, so buy Oatey FlowGuard Gold 1-Step for CPVC, Oatey ABS Medium Black for ABS, and green transition cement for an ABS-to-PVC drain joint.
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First confirm what pipe you have. Print on the pipe wall names the material and schedule. If you are not sure, read CPVC vs PVC pipe and PVC vs ABS pipe before you buy a can.
PVC, CPVC and ABS cement compared
Match three things on the can to the job: the pipe material, the ASTM standard, and the largest pipe size the maker lists. Each spec below comes from the maker’s data sheet or catalog.
| Cement | Pipe | Body | Standard on the label | Largest size listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oatey PVC Medium Clear (31019) | PVC, all schedules | Medium | ASTM D2564 | 6 in. |
| Weld-On 711 Gray | All rigid PVC incl. Sch 80 | Heavy | ASTM D2564, NSF/ANSI 14 and 61 | 12 in. |
| Christy’s Red Hot Blue Glue | All rigid PVC | Medium, very fast set | ASTM D2564, NSF/ANSI 14 and 61 | 6 in. |
| Oatey FlowGuard Gold 1-Step (31911) | CTS CPVC hot and cold water | One-step | ASTM F493 | 2 in. CTS |
| Oatey ABS Medium Black (30889) | ABS, non-pressure | Medium | ASTM D2235 | 8 in. |
| Oatey ABS to PVC Transition Green (30925) | ABS to PVC, non-pressure | Medium | ASTM D3138 | 6 in. |
BEST PVC CEMENT · MEDIUM BODY TO 6 IN.
Oatey PVC Medium Clear 31019: best everyday PVC cement
Oatey’s catalog describes Medium Clear as a medium-bodied clear cement for all schedules and classes of PVC pipe and fittings, recommended for potable water, pressure pipe, conduit and DWV. It meets ASTM D2564 and is listed for interference-fit pipe up to 6 inches. The catalog gives an application range of 40°F to 110°F. Item 31019 is the 16 oz can; 31018 is the 8 oz can if you only have a few joints. The Amazon link below is the 4 oz can, item 31017; we found no in-stock single 8 or 16 oz can there on October 14, 2026.
Choose it when you are working on 1/2 inch to 4 inch house piping: a water service, a sprinkler main, a drain or vent. Medium body covers the whole range a homeowner or service plumber usually sees, so one can does it all. Oatey’s thinner Regular Clear is listed only to 4 inches in Schedule 40 and 2 inches in Schedule 80, which is why we lean toward medium.
Skip it if the pipe is wet, if you are gluing Schedule 80 or pipe bigger than 6 inches, or if it is below 40°F where you are working. Those jobs call for one of the cements below.
BEST HEAVY-BODIED · SCH 80 AND LARGE PIPE
Weld-On 711 Gray: best for Schedule 80 and big pipe
Weld-On lists 711 as a heavy-bodied, medium-set gray PVC cement for all rigid PVC, including Schedule 80, through 12 inches with an interference fit. It meets ASTM D2564 and is listed to NSF/ANSI 14 and NSF/ANSI 61. Weld-On says the medium set gives more working time in warm weather, and its selection sheet says heavy-bodied cements work best on 6 to 12 inch pipe. SKU 10121 is the pint.
Choose it when you glue gray Schedule 80 fittings, 6 inch and up drain or pressure pipe, or a fitting that feels loose on the pipe. Heavy body fills the gap better than a thin cement. Gray also matches gray pipe, which helps on exposed work.
Skip it on small pipe in a cold crawl space. Heavy cement can be more than a 1/2 inch joint needs, and medium set is slower in the cold. Oatey Heavy Duty Clear is the backup: the catalog lists it to 12 inches with an interference fit and 18 inches for non-pressure.
BEST FOR WET PIPE · VERY FAST SET
Christy’s Red Hot Blue Glue: best for wet conditions and fast repairs
Christy’s data sheet calls Red Hot Blue Glue a very aggressive, deep blue, medium-bodied, very fast setting PVC cement for all classes and schedules, designed to bond in wet, dry and humid conditions. It meets ASTM D2564, is listed to NSF/ANSI 14 and 61, and covers pipe up to 6 inches. Christy’s states it can be used without primer on non-pressure systems up to 6 inches and pressure systems below 4 inches, if local codes permit.
Choose it when you are fixing a broken irrigation line in a muddy hole, cutting into a line that will not drain dry, or need a water line back on quickly. Pair it with a slip coupling from our PVC repair coupling guide for a break in the middle of a run.
Skip it if your inspector wants to see purple primer on every joint, or for large pipe where a very fast set leaves too little time to seat the fitting. The Oatey equivalent is Rain-R-Shine, which Oatey’s catalog lists as a medium-bodied, fast-setting D2564 cement to 6 inches.
BEST CPVC CEMENT · ASTM F493
Oatey FlowGuard Gold 1-Step: best CPVC cement for house water lines
Most CPVC in homes is tan copper tube size (CTS) pipe. Oatey’s catalog lists FlowGuard Gold 1-Step yellow cement for CTS CPVC hot and cold potable water pipe and fittings, to ASTM F493, up to 2 inches. Oatey says it may be used without primer where local codes permit, and it lists an application range of 0°F to 110°F. Item 31911 is the 8 oz can and 31912 is the 16 oz can. The Amazon link below is the 16 oz 31912, because on October 14, 2026 we found the 8 oz can there only in multi-packs.
Choose it when you repair or extend tan CPVC water lines. Weld-On’s FlowGuard Gold Yellow is the backup. Weld-On lists it as medium-bodied and fast setting, to ASTM D2846 and F493, NSF/ANSI 14 and 61, for potable water up to 180°F.
Skip it for Schedule 80 orange industrial CPVC. That is a different job. Weld-On’s 724, for example, is a heavy-bodied chemical-service CPVC cement that the maker says should always be used with P-70 primer. Also skip plain PVC cement on CPVC: the PVC cements above list D2564, not F493.
BEST ABS CEMENT · ASTM D2235
Oatey ABS Medium Black 30889: best ABS cement
Black ABS drain pipe needs ABS cement. Oatey’s catalog lists ABS Medium Black as a medium-bodied black cement for all schedules and classes of ABS pipe and fittings, for all non-pressure applications, to ASTM D2235, up to 8 inches. Item 30889 is the 8 oz can and 30892 is the 16 oz can. The Amazon link below is the 16 oz 30892; the 8 oz listing had no buy box on October 14, 2026.
Choose it when you are adding a drain, replacing a trap arm, or repairing an ABS vent. Weld-On 771 is the backup: medium-bodied, fast setting, to ASTM D2235 and NSF/ANSI 14 DWV, through 8 inches.
Skip it on any pressure line, and on a joint where ABS meets PVC. That joint needs the transition cement below.
ABS TO PVC · ASTM D3138
Oatey ABS to PVC Transition Green 30925: for the one joint where two plastics meet
Oatey lists its green transition cement for joining ABS to PVC in non-pressure transition joints, to ASTM D3138, up to 6 inches. Item 30925 is the 16 oz can. We left the Amazon link out because its size and model fields disagree.
Choose it when an old ABS stack meets a new PVC run and you want a solvent joint. Skip it if your local code or inspector does not accept a glued ABS-to-PVC joint. Many plumbers use a shielded mechanical coupling there instead, and it is worth a call to the building department before you glue.
Buy from an Oatey dealer; the Amazon listing could not be matched to a single size and model on October 14, 2026.
How to choose PVC cement
Weld-On’s selection sheet says cement choice depends on four things: pipe size, pipe material, the air temperature, and the application. Work through them in that order.
1. Match the cement to the pipe material
Read the print on the pipe. White or gray PVC takes a cement that lists ASTM D2564. Tan or orange CPVC takes ASTM F493. Black ABS takes ASTM D2235. An ABS-to-PVC joint takes ASTM D3138. If the can does not name the standard for your pipe, put it back.
2. Match the body to the pipe size
Body is how thick the cement is. Thin cement suits small pipe with tight fittings. Thicker cement fills more gap on larger pipe. Use the largest size the maker lists as your limit: Oatey Regular Clear to 4 inches in Schedule 40, Medium Clear to 6 inches, and Weld-On 711 or Oatey Heavy Duty to 12 inches.
3. Check the temperature range
Oatey’s PVC and ABS cements list 40°F to 110°F for application. FlowGuard Gold 1-Step, rated down to 0°F, is the exception. In heat, a medium-set cement such as 711 gives you more time to line up the fitting. Weld-On publishes a set and cure time table (weldon.com); follow it, and the can, before you test or pressurize.
4. Match the application
For drinking water, look for NSF/ANSI 61 on the label. Weld-On 711 and Christy’s Red Hot Blue Glue both list it. For drains only, NSF/ANSI 14 DWV is what you will see. Pool, electrical conduit and chemical lines have their own cements; this page covers house plumbing.
Primer, one-step and all-purpose cement
Some cements say they can skip primer, but every one of those statements ends with the same words: where local codes permit. Many plumbing codes require primer on PVC and CPVC pressure joints, and some inspectors want to see purple on every joint. Our page on whether purple primer is required covers the code side. Oatey describes its Purple Primer as an ASTM F656 primer for PVC and CPVC, NSF and IAPMO listed, for areas where code calls for proof that primer was used.
All-purpose cement is the other trap. Oatey’s All Purpose cement lists D2564, D2235 and F493, so it is made to bond PVC, ABS and CPVC. It is handy in a service truck, but check that your local code accepts it before you use it on a job that gets inspected. When in doubt, buy the cement that names your one pipe.
If you are tying into a water main, a sewer lateral, or anything that needs a permit, hire a licensed plumber. A bad joint on a building sewer is a dig-up, not a drip.
PVC cement FAQ
What is the best PVC cement?
For most home water and drain lines, a medium-bodied clear PVC cement that meets ASTM D2564, such as Oatey PVC Medium Clear 31019, covers pipe up to 6 inches. Use a heavy-bodied cement like Weld-On 711 for Schedule 80 or pipe over 6 inches.
Can I use PVC cement on CPVC pipe?
Not as a general rule. CPVC cement is made to ASTM F493, while standard PVC cement is made to ASTM D2564. Use a cement that names CPVC and F493 on the label, such as Oatey FlowGuard Gold 1-Step for CTS CPVC water lines.
What is the difference between regular, medium and heavy body PVC cement?
Body is the thickness of the cement. Regular body suits small pipe with tight fittings, medium body covers most house sizes up to 6 inches, and heavy body fills larger gaps on 6 to 12 inch pipe and Schedule 80. Check the largest size listed on the can.
Do I need primer with PVC cement?
Often yes. Some cements say primer can be skipped where local codes permit, but many codes require primer on PVC and CPVC pressure joints. Ask your local building department, and use purple primer if the inspector wants to see it.
Can I glue ABS to PVC?
Only with a transition cement made to ASTM D3138, such as Oatey ABS to PVC Transition Green, and only on non-pressure drain joints. Some codes and inspectors do not accept a glued ABS-to-PVC joint, so check first or use a shielded mechanical coupling.
Is PVC cement safe for drinking water lines?
Look for NSF/ANSI 61 on the label. Weld-On 711 and Christy’s Red Hot Blue Glue both list NSF/ANSI 61. Let the joint cure as the maker directs and flush the line before use.
How we chose
This is a document-based comparison from a licensed plumber’s point of view. We read the maker’s data sheet, product page or catalog for every cement named here and kept only cements that state their ASTM standard, pipe material and size range. We favored medium-bodied cements for everyday house work, then filled the jobs medium cement does not cover well: big pipe, wet pipe, CPVC, ABS and transition joints. Sources and linked listings were read October 14, 2026; sellers and availability change. We do not publish prices or claim hands-on testing. More about our selection method and Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- Oatey 2023 Product Catalog (PDF) (oatey.com): Regular, Medium and Heavy Duty Clear sizes and D2564; Rain-R-Shine; All Purpose standards; FlowGuard Gold 1-Step F493 and 0°F to 110°F; ABS Medium Black D2235; Transition Green D3138; Purple Primer F656; item numbers.
- Weld-On 711 PVC product page (weldon.com): heavy body, medium set, 12 in., D2564, NSF/ANSI 14 and 61, 3-year shelf life.
- Weld-On 705 PVC product page (weldon.com): medium body, fast set, 6 in., D2564, primer statement.
- Christy’s Red Hot Blue Glue product data sheet (PDF) (tchristy.com): very fast set, wet conditions, 6 in., D2564, NSF/ANSI 14 and 61, primer statement.
- Weld-On FlowGuard Gold Yellow product page (weldon.com): CTS CPVC, D2846 and F493, 180°F potable water, 2-year shelf life.
- Weld-On 724 CPVC product page (weldon.com): industrial CPVC cement used with P-70 primer.
- Weld-On 771 ABS product page (weldon.com): D2235, NSF/ANSI 14 DWV, 8 in.
- Weld-On 794 ABS-PVC transition product page (weldon.com): D3138, non-pressure, 6 in., not Schedule 80.
- Weld-On Solvent Cement Selection Tips (PDF) (weldon.com): selection factors; heavy body for 6 to 12 in. pipe.
- Weld-On set and cure time table (PDF) (weldon.com): referenced for cure times; follow the can.