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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: Buy the RIDGID RP 115 if every joint you press is 1/2 or 3/4 inch copper, stainless or Viega PEX. It is the lighter tool, at 2.9 lb. Buy the RP 251 if you press 1 or 1-1/4 inch copper, carbon steel or refrigeration lines, since the RP 115 tops out at 3/4 inch. They take different jaw series, Mini and Compact, so the jaws you already own may decide it.
For most residential service plumbers: the RIDGID RP 251, a 3.6 lb Compact tool that presses up to 1-1/4 inch copper and 1-1/2 inch PEX. Check the RIDGID RP 251 kit on Amazon
The RIDGID RP 115 and RP 251 both run on RIDGID’s 12V battery and both press ProPress copper and PureFlow PEX fittings. The split is size and jaws. The RP 115 is a Mini Series tool that stops at 3/4 inch. The RP 251 is a Compact Series tool that presses up to 1-1/4 inch copper, 1-1/2 inch PEX and 1 inch carbon steel. The two take different jaw series, so the choice also decides which jaws you buy from here on. For RIDGID against Milwaukee, see RIDGID vs Milwaukee press tools; for every brand together, see the best press tools. I run RIDGID and Milwaukee tools on my own jobs; every spec below comes from RIDGID’s documents.
RP 115 vs RP 251 Side by Side
| RP 115 (Mini) | RP 251 (Compact) | |
|---|---|---|
| Copper / stainless | 1/2 to 3/4 in. | 1/2 to 1-1/4 in. |
| PEX | 1/2 to 3/4 in. | 1/2 to 1-1/2 in. |
| Carbon steel | N/A | 1/2 to 1 in. |
| Refrigeration copper | N/A | 1/4 to 1-3/8 in. |
| Jaw systems listed | ProPress, PureFlow | ProPress, PureFlow, MegaPress, ASTM F 1807, RLS |
| Ram force | 3,400 lb (15 kN) | 5,400 lb (24 kN) |
| Stroke | 1.26 in. | 1.2 in. |
| Battery | 12V | 12V |
| Presses per charge | 160 (catalog sheet) | Up to 140 |
| Cycle time | ~3 sec (catalog, manual); ~4.5 sec (catalog sheet) | ~5 sec |
| Weight, tool only | 2.9 lb | 3.6 lb (sheet); 3.57 lb (manual) |
| Weight with battery and jaw | 5.4 lb with 1/2 in. copper jaw (sheet); 5.5 lb (catalog) | 6.7 lb with 1/2 in. copper jaw |
| Length, tool only | 13 in. | 13 in. |
| Head swivel | 210° (specs); 270° (manual text) | 360° |
| Service | Required at 20,000 cycles | No scheduled maintenance (sheet); 60,000-cycle interval (catalog) |
| Operating range | 15°F to 104°F | 15°F to 122°F (manual); 15°F to 104°F (catalog) |
| Bluetooth | Not listed in RIDGID’s RP 115 documents | Yes, RIDGID Link app |
| Jaw series | Mini only | Compact only |
| Linked kit | 72553, ProPress jaws 1/2 and 3/4 in. | 78148, ProPress jaws 1/2 to 1-1/4 in. |
From RIDGID’s catalog sheets, 2024 pressing catalog and operator’s manuals, read on October 1, 2026. Where RIDGID documents give different numbers, each is shown. Every linked listing was sold by Amazon.com and in stock that day.
Which One Should You Buy?
Start with the biggest pipe you press
If your pressing is fixture supplies, water heater connections, short repairs and branch lines at 1/2 and 3/4 inch, the RP 115 covers it. If you ever press a 1 inch water service, or 1 inch and 1-1/4 inch trunk lines or boiler piping, the RP 115 cannot do it, and the RP 251 can. Plumber’s note: look at the last few houses you piped. If a 1 inch line showed up on most of them, the RP 115 means carrying a second tool or going back to the torch for those joints.
Your jaws decide more than the tool does
RIDGID’s 2025 compatibility sheet lists Mini Series jaws for the RP 115 and Compact Series jaws for the RP 251 and its older Compact tools. If you already own Compact jaws from an RP 240 or RP 241, the RP 251 keeps them working. With the RP 115 you buy a new set of Mini jaws. RIDGID lists only four Mini jaws: ProPress and PureFlow in 1/2 and 3/4 inch. If you press MegaPress on gas or hydronic steel, or RLS on refrigeration lines, only the RP 251 of these two has jaws for it. Fitting systems matter too: RIDGID says to use its tools and attachments only when the fitting maker specifies them for that system, and its compatibility sheet lists which fitting makers approve each tool series. Our MegaPress vs ProPress guide covers the steel and copper systems.
Weight and reach
The RP 115 is 2.9 lb for the tool alone and 5.4 to 5.5 lb with a battery and a jaw, depending on the RIDGID document. The RP 251 is 3.6 lb alone and 6.7 lb with a battery and a 1/2 inch jaw, about 1.2 to 1.3 lb more ready to press (our arithmetic). Both tools are 13 inches long without a jaw. The RP 251 head turns a full 360°. RIDGID lists the RP 115 swivel at 210° in its specs, but the manual text says 270°. Plumber’s note: overhead or under a sink, a pound and the swivel both count over a day of pressing.
Service and the trigger
The RP 115 needs service at 20,000 cycles, and the manual says it will not run until that is done. The RP 251 catalog sheet lists no scheduled maintenance, though RIDGID’s 2024 catalog lists a 60,000-cycle service interval. The triggers work differently too. On the RP 115 you hold the trigger until the ram retracts on its own; releasing it stops the cycle. On the RP 251, the manual says once the tool locks on, releasing the switch will not stop it.
RIDGID RP 115 Mini Press Tool (Kit 72553)
Mini Series · 1/2 to 3/4 in. copper, stainless and PEX · 3,400 lb (15 kN) ram force · 12V battery · 160 presses per charge (catalog sheet) · 2.9 lb tool only · 210° head swivel · service required at 20,000 cycles
The RP 115 is RIDGID’s Mini Series tool, and RIDGID calls it the smallest, lightest press tool on the market. Its catalog sheet and RIDGID’s pressing catalog list a capacity of 1/2 to 3/4 inch on copper, stainless steel and PEX. The catalog lists carbon steel and refrigeration copper as N/A. The manual gives 3,400 lb (15 kN) of ram force and a 1.26 inch stroke. It runs on a 12V battery, and the catalog sheet lists 160 presses per charge. The tool alone is 2.9 lb in all three RIDGID documents. RIDGID says it can press 75% of the fittings in the market.
The RP 115 takes RIDGID Mini Series jaws. RIDGID lists four: ProPress jaws in 1/2 and 3/4 inch for copper and stainless, and PureFlow jaws in 1/2 and 3/4 inch for PEX. The linked kit (72553) comes with the ProPress jaws, a 12V battery, a charger and a case, per the listing. If you also press Viega PEX, RIDGID’s catalog lists the RP 115 kit 72558 with both ProPress and PureFlow jaws. Plan for service: the manual says the status light starts blinking at 18,000 cycles, and the tool will not run past 20,000 until a RIDGID Authorized Independent Service Center services it.
- 2.9 lb tool only, about 0.7 lb lighter than the RP 251 (our arithmetic)
- Presses 1/2 and 3/4 in. copper, stainless and PEX
- One-handed jaw opening and a SlimGrip handle, per RIDGID
- 160 presses per charge on the catalog sheet vs 140 for the RP 251
- Tops out at 3/4 in.; no 1 in. or 1-1/4 in. copper
- No carbon steel (MegaPress) or refrigeration jaws; RIDGID lists only ProPress and PureFlow Mini jaws
- Tool locks at 20,000 cycles until it is serviced
- Takes Mini Series jaws only; Compact jaws are listed for other tools
Verdict: The press tool for residential work where every joint you press is 1/2 or 3/4 inch.
RIDGID RP 251 Compact Press Tool (Kit 78148)
Compact Series · 1/2 to 1-1/4 in. copper and stainless, 1/2 to 1-1/2 in. PEX, 1/2 to 1 in. carbon steel, 1/4 to 1-3/8 in. refrigeration copper · 5,400 lb (24 kN) ram force · 12V battery · up to 140 presses per charge · 3.6 lb tool only · 360° head · Bluetooth (RIDGID Link app)
RIDGID calls the RP 251 the newest tool in its Compact Press Tool family. Its catalog sheet lists 1/2 to 1-1/4 inch on copper and stainless steel, 1/2 to 1-1/2 inch on PEX, 1/2 to 1 inch on carbon steel and 1/4 to 1-3/8 inch on refrigeration copper. The manual gives 5,400 lb (24 kN) of ram force and a 1.2 inch stroke. It runs on a 12V battery, and RIDGID says it completes up to 140 presses per charge. The tool alone is 3.6 lb on the catalog sheet (3.57 lb in the manual), and 6.7 lb with the battery and a 1/2 inch copper jaw.
The RP 251 takes RIDGID Compact Series jaws. RIDGID’s catalog lists Compact jaws for ProPress, PureFlow, MegaPress, ASTM F 1807 PEX and RLS refrigeration fittings, so one tool covers more fitting systems than the RP 115. It has an in-line body with a forward trigger, a 360° head swivel, an LED light ring and Bluetooth for the RIDGID Link app. RIDGID rates the brushless motor for over 60,000 press cycles. The linked kit (78148) comes with ProPress jaws for 1/2 to 1-1/4 inch, per the listing. If you only press 1/2 to 1 inch, the RP 251 kit 78158 has jaws for 1/2 to 1 inch. RIDGID’s catalog says every RP 251 kit includes two 12V batteries, a charger and a case.
- Presses 1 and 1-1/4 in. copper and up to 1-1/2 in. PEX
- Compact jaws for MegaPress, ASTM F 1807 and RLS as well as ProPress and PureFlow
- 5,400 lb (24 kN) ram force, about 59% more than the RP 115 (our arithmetic)
- Bluetooth press counts, tool locking and service info in the RIDGID Link app
- 3.6 lb tool only and 6.7 lb with battery and jaw, heavier than the RP 115
- ~5 sec cycle vs ~3 to 4.5 sec listed for the RP 115
- Takes Compact Series jaws only; Mini jaws are listed for the RP 115
- Up to 140 presses per charge vs 160 listed for the RP 115
Verdict: The press tool to buy if you press 1 inch or 1-1/4 inch, carbon steel or refrigeration lines.
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Before You Buy
- List your largest pipe size. Anything over 3/4 inch means the RP 251.
- List your fitting systems. The RP 115 has Mini jaws for ProPress and PureFlow only. MegaPress, ASTM F 1807 PEX and RLS need the RP 251’s Compact jaws.
- Check the jaws you own. Mini jaws are listed for the RP 115; Compact jaws are listed for the RP 251 and older Compact tools.
- Read the kit contents. The 72553 RP 115 kit includes 1/2 and 3/4 inch ProPress jaws, a battery, a charger and a case, per the listing. The 78148 RP 251 kit includes 1/2 to 1-1/4 inch ProPress jaws, and the 78158 kit 1/2 to 1 inch. Match the fitting system with the right copper press fittings.
- Check the temperature range. RIDGID lists the RP 115 at 15°F to 104°F in both its manual and catalog. The RP 251 manual lists 15°F to 122°F, but the 2024 catalog lists 15°F to 104°F. The RP 115 manual says the tool will not turn on outside its range, so keep tools and batteries out of a freezing truck.
Pressing Tips From the Manuals
The RP 115 manual says to keep the trigger pressed until the ram retracts on its own, since that shows the tool reached full force. If you have to pull the tool off early, the pressure release button frees it, and that joint must be pressed again. The RP 251 has a Normal Mode and a Control Mode; in Control Mode the first press closes the jaw so you can adjust it before the second press runs the cycle. On ProPress fittings, the RP 115 manual says to look for the RIDGID witness mark on a hex flat, which shows a proper RIDGID ProPress jaw was used. Mark the insertion depth before you press; our insertion depth guide shows how. Plumber’s note: a pressed joint is only as good as the cut and the depth mark. Square cuts, deburred ends and a visible mark at the fitting shoulder matter more than which tool you carry.
FAQ
Can I use RP 251 jaws on the RP 115?
No. RIDGID’s RP 115 manual says the tool is designed for RIDGID Mini Series attachments and to use only equipment designed and recommended for the RP 115. RIDGID’s pressing catalog and its 2025 compatibility sheet list Mini jaws for the RP 115 and Compact jaws for the RP 251, RP 240, RP 241, RP 210-B, RP 200-B and RP 100-B. The RP 251 manual says Compact attachments only work with Compact tools, and its list does not include the RP 115. Budget for a separate jaw set if you own both.
Can the RP 115 press 1 inch copper?
No. RIDGID lists the RP 115 at 1/2 to 3/4 inch on copper, stainless steel and PEX. For 1 and 1-1/4 inch copper you need a Compact tool like the RP 251. For 1-1/2 inch copper and up, RIDGID lists its Standard tools, the RP 350 and RP 351.
Can the RP 115 press black iron or carbon steel?
No. RIDGID’s pressing catalog lists carbon steel as N/A for the RP 115, and its only Mini jaws are for ProPress (copper and stainless) and PureFlow (PEX). The RP 251 presses 1/2 to 1 inch carbon steel with Compact MegaPress jaws, per RIDGID.
Do the RP 115 and RP 251 use the same battery?
Both manuals list RIDGID RB-1200 Series 12V lithium-ion packs, and both catalog sheets list a 12V Advanced Lithium 2.5 Ah battery. RIDGID lists 160 presses per charge for the RP 115 and up to 140 for the RP 251.
Does the RP 115 need service?
Yes. The RP 115 manual says the status light starts blinking at 18,000 cycles, and the tool will not run past 20,000 cycles until a RIDGID Authorized Independent Service Center services and recalibrates it. RIDGID’s RP 251 catalog sheet lists no scheduled maintenance and a motor rated for over 60,000 press cycles, while its pressing catalog lists the RP 251 service interval as 60,000 cycles.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber who uses RIDGID and Milwaukee tools on jobs. Every spec here comes only from the RIDGID documents listed below or from the Amazon listings we link. On October 1, 2026, every linked listing was sold by Amazon.com and in stock. If you buy through a link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Sources
- RIDGID: Pressing Product Catalog (RP 115, RP 251, Mini and Compact jaws)
- RIDGID: RP 115 catalog sheet R-22-E and RP 115 operator’s manual 999-995-408.10
- RIDGID: Press tool compatibility sheet (fitting maker approvals as of June 2025)
- RIDGID: RP 251 catalog sheet R-24-G, RP 251 operator’s manual 999-995-443.10 and the RP 251 product page
- Amazon listings for the RIDGID 72553 and 72558 RP 115 kits and the 78148 and 78158 RP 251 kits (linked above)
Bottom Line
The RP 115 and RP 251 share RIDGID’s 12V battery and press the same ProPress and PureFlow fittings at 1/2 and 3/4 inch. They split on size, jaws and service. The RP 115 is the lighter Mini tool for 1/2 and 3/4 inch work, with a 20,000-cycle service stop. The RP 251 adds 1 and 1-1/4 inch copper, carbon steel, refrigeration jaws, a 360° head and Bluetooth, which RIDGID’s RP 115 documents do not list. Pick by the biggest pipe you press and the jaws you already own.