Best riser clamp

Three riser clamp lines compared on their makers’ load tables, plus a checker for whether one clamp holds your riser.

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On this page
  1. The picks
  2. Spec scores
  3. Each pick
  4. Anvil Fig. 261
  5. nVent CADDY EZ‑Riser
  6. Empire Fig. 50SS
  7. Compare the picks
  8. Will one clamp hold it?
  9. Load by size
  10. How far apart
  11. How to install one
  12. Riser clamps for copper
  13. Which finish
  14. Cast iron and PVC risers
  15. Riser clamp vs pipe clamp
  16. Clamps we left out
  17. How to choose
  18. Questions
  19. How we picked

Quick answer

Get the Anvil Fig. 261, 8.7 on our spec score: a carbon steel riser clamp with a load and torque table for every size from 3/4 to 24 inches. For small risers you tighten in tight spots, get the nVent CADDY EZ‑Riser. For a wet 6-inch riser, get the Empire 304 stainless clamp.

Anvil Fig. 261 riser clamp: two plain steel halves bolted around a round opening, with long flat ears on each side
Top pick: Anvil Fig. 261$20.18 at AmazonPrice as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
Check it on Amazon

The three riser clamps I’d buy

All two-piece steel riser clamps for steel pipe, MSS SP‑58 Type 8. Each was new and in stock on Amazon as of Oct 22, 2026, and each scores 7.0 or higher on our spec score.

nVent CADDY EZ‑Riser clamp: two bright zinc-plated steel halves with long flat ears and bolts through slotted holes
Best for 1/2 to 1‑1/2 in. risers

nVent CADDY EZ‑Riser

$24.08 at Amazon
Check it on Amazon
Price as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT · low stock then
Details ↓

How the three compare on our spec score

Seven checks from each maker’s submittal or product page and the Amazon listings, equal weight. The rules and every input are in the method section near the end.

Anvil Fig. 2618.7CADDY EZ‑Riser8.1Empire Fig. 50SS7.6010Anvil Fig. 2618.7CADDY EZ‑Riser8.1Empire Fig. 50SS7.6
PlumbingPicks spec score out of 10, from the makers’ submittals and product pages, read Oct 22, 2026. It is not a customer rating or a load test of our own.

All three makers list their clamp under the same federal and MSS hanger type, Type 8, and all three hold UL listings for the middle sizes. So the basics match.

The score splits them on what each maker puts in writing (load at 2 inches, torque and temperature limits) and on what you can actually buy on Amazon: how many sizes, which finish, and how the bolts go on.

Each pick, in detail

What each maker’s documents say, which risers each one suits, and where each one lost points on our checks.

Best for full load and torque data

Anvil Fig. 261

Extension pipe or riser clamp, carbon steel, plain finish, 3/4 to 24 in. pipe

1‑1/2 in., part 0500173554
$20.18
Check it on Amazon
Sold by Megamart USA · in stock · price as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
6 in., part 500173620
$32.77
Check it on Amazon
Sold by eFaucets · low stock · price as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
8 in., part 0500361134
$58.07
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Sold by Megamart USA · in stock · price as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
8.7Spec scoreHow it’s scored
Size range9
Load at 2 in.10
Torque listed10
Sizes on Amazon10
Damp-spot finish5
One-tool hardware7
Temp limit listed10

Pros

  • Load, length and bolt torque listed for every size
  • 300 lb at 2 in. and 1,600 lb at 6 in.
  • Rated to 650°F in the plain finish
  • Four sizes on Amazon match Anvil part numbers

Cons

  • Plain steel; Anvil’s galvanized version isn’t on Amazon
  • Smallest size is 3/4 in.
  • Loose bolts and nuts
3/4–24 in.Carbon steelMSS SP‑58 Type 8UL 1‑1/2–8 in.Up to 3,200 lb

Buy it if

You hang steel or cast iron risers in a dry mechanical space and want a torque number to tighten to on every size.

Skip it if

The riser sits in a damp spot, or it’s 1/2 in. Look at the Empire stainless clamp or the CADDY EZ‑Riser.

Anvil’s Fig. 261 is its standard two-piece riser clamp, and I’ve used it. Anvil calls it an extension pipe or riser clamp, formerly the Afcon Fig. 400. It scored 8.7, the top score here.

Its submittal sheet has the fullest table of the three. For each size from 3/4 to 24 inches it lists the maximum load, weight, overall length, width and bolt torque. That torque column is why it got a 10 on our torque check. The other two makers’ sheets I read don’t give one.

The loads climb with pipe size. Anvil rates 220 lb at 3/4 and 1 inch, 300 lb at 2 inches, 750 lb at 4 inches, 1,600 lb at 6 inches and 2,500 lb at 8 inches. The 2-inch rating is a 10.

Torque runs from 21 ft-lb on the small sizes to 190 ft-lb at 24 inches. Anvil’s note says bolt torques should follow industry standards, and the table gives the numbers.

The plain finish is rated to 650°F. Anvil also makes it hot-dip galvanized, epoxy coated or painted, at 450°F for galvanized and epoxy. That temperature limit is a 10.

Anvil’s install note matters. The clamp is fitted and bolted below a coupling, hub or welded lugs on steel pipe. It isn’t meant to hang from rods; Anvil points to its Fig. 40 for that. It’s sized for standard steel pipe OD.

Four Anvil sizes are on Amazon, and their part numbers match Anvil’s. The 1‑1/2, 6 and 8 inch photos show this clamp. The 4-inch listing (0500173604) shows a coated clamp in its photo, but its text says plain, 750 lb, 12‑7/8 inches. Check the box when it arrives.

It lost points on finish and hardware. Plain steel is a 5 for damp spots, and the loose bolt and nut are a 7.

My call: in a dry chase or a boiler room, this is the clamp I’d order. Knowing the torque saves guessing on the bigger sizes.

Best for 1/2 to 1‑1/2 in. risers

nVent CADDY EZ‑Riser

NVent CADDY 510 EZ‑Riser riser clamp, electrogalvanized steel, 1/2 to 16 in. pipe

1/2 in., 5100050EG
$24.23
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Sold by Voomi Supply · in stock · price as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
3/4 in., 5100075EG
$16.69
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Sold by Megamart USA · in stock · price as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
1‑1/4 in., 5100125EG
$19.09
Check it on Amazon
Sold by TERRATREE INC · low stock · price as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
1‑1/2 in., 5100150EG
$24.08
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Sold by SEKEGE · low stock · price as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
8.1Spec scoreHow it’s scored
Size range9
Load at 2 in.8.5
Torque listed6
Sizes on Amazon10
Damp-spot finish7
One-tool hardware10
Temp limit listed6

Pros

  • Captive bolts with serrated washer heads: one tool
  • Slotted holes on sizes up to 12 in.
  • Electrogalvanized finish
  • Four small sizes on Amazon, from 1/2 in.

Cons

  • 255 lb at 2 in., below Anvil and Empire
  • No torque values on nVent’s page
  • Tops out at 16 in.
1/2–16 in.ElectrogalvanizedMSS SP‑58 Type 8UL, cUL 2–8 in.Up to 2,900 lb

Buy it if

You set small steel risers, 1/2 to 1‑1/2 in., in tight spots where holding a nut with a second wrench is a pain.

Skip it if

You need a torque number for the bolts, or a riser over 16 in.

The 510 EZ‑Riser is nVent CADDY’s quick-closing riser clamp for vertical steel pipe, and I’ve used it. Some Amazon listings still carry the older Erico name. It scored 8.1.

Its point is the hardware. nVent says the clamp comes ready to use, with slotted holes and no loose hardware. The serrated washer heads mean you tighten it with one tool. That’s a 10 on our hardware check.

nVent says the slotted holes simplify assembly, and they come only on sizes up to 12 inches. Larger sizes take standard holes.

The line runs 1/2 to 16 inches in 16 sizes, a 9 on range. It starts smaller than Anvil’s 3/4 inch, but it stops below 24 inches.

nVent lists a static load for each size. It’s 255 lb from 1/2 to 2 inches, 390 lb at 2‑1/2, 810 lb at 4 inches and 1,570 lb at 6 inches. The 2-inch figure is 45 lb under Anvil’s and Empire’s, so it’s an 8.5.

The page says to torque the bolts to the recommended value, but it gives no numbers, a 6. It gives no temperature limit either, another 6.

The finish is electrogalvanized: a thin zinc coat, better than plain steel indoors and below stainless. That’s a 7. Like Anvil, nVent says to fit it below a coupling or shear lug on steel pipe.

Four sizes are on Amazon with nVent part numbers: 1/2, 3/4, 1‑1/4 and 1‑1/2 inch. Their photos show the EZ‑Riser. I left out an Erico 3-inch listing whose photo shows a different clamp.

My call: this is the one for small risers. Dropping the halves on and turning one wrench beats fighting a loose nut behind a pipe.

Best for a damp 6 in. riser

Empire Fig. 50SS

Empire Industries Fig. 50SS standard riser clamp, 304 stainless steel, 6 in. pipe

6 in., 304 stainless
$194.98
Check it on Amazon
Sold by Turtle & Hughes Inc. · in stock · price as of Oct 24, 2026, 5:30 AM EDT
7.6Spec scoreHow it’s scored
Size range10
Load at 2 in.10
Torque listed6
Sizes on Amazon4
Damp-spot finish10
One-tool hardware7
Temp limit listed6

Pros

  • 304 stainless: the only stainless pick
  • 1,600 lb at 6 in., the same as Anvil
  • Widest range: 1/2 to 30 in.
  • 300 lb at 2 in.

Cons

  • Only the 6 in. size is on Amazon
  • No torque or temperature limit in the submittal
  • Listing brand field says Penn Tool Co.
6 in. (line 1/2–30 in.)304 stainlessMSS SP‑58 Type 8UL, ULC 2–8 in.1,600 lb at 6 in.

Buy it if

You’re supporting a 6-inch steel riser in a wet or corrosive spot, like a pump room, a parking deck or near a cooling tower.

Skip it if

Your riser isn’t 6 inches. Empire makes the other sizes, but Amazon only carries this one.

Empire Industries’ Fig. 50 is its standard riser clamp, and the 50SS is the T-304 stainless version. I’ve used it. The Amazon listing is the 6-inch size. It scored 7.6.

Empire’s submittal says stainless riser clamps are recommended where the clamp needs protection from a corrosive setting. That’s the reason to buy it, and it’s a 10 on finish.

The Fig. 50 line is the widest of the three, 1/2 to 30 inches, a 10 on range. Empire also makes it in plain steel, electrogalvanized, hot-dip galvanized, plastic coated and 316 stainless, plus sizes for ductile iron pipe.

Empire lists a maximum recommended load per size. It’s 255 lb through 1‑1/2 inches, 300 lb at 2 inches, 810 lb at 4 inches and 1,600 lb at 6 inches. The 2-inch figure is a 10.

The listing matches Empire’s sheet. Its title says 6 inches, 1,600 lb, stainless, Empire Industries. Its bullets say 304 grade. Amazon’s brand field says Penn Tool Co. and its maker field says Empire.

Empire’s sheet also gives the bolt size, overall length and weight. The 6-inch clamp takes 1/2-inch bolts, is 15‑3/8 inches long and weighs 3.72 lb.

It lost points on three checks. Only one size is on Amazon, a 4. The submittal gives no torque values, a 6, and no temperature limit, another 6. The bolt and nut are loose, a 7.

Empire notes the plastic coated version keeps the pipe from touching the clamp, to cut noise and stop electrolysis between them. That one isn’t on Amazon.

My call: for a 6-inch steel riser that sweats or sits in a wet room, stainless is worth it. A plain clamp there rusts long before the pipe does.

The three side by side

Range, finish, ratings and what’s on Amazon, from each maker’s submittal or product page.

PickSpec scorePhotoSize rangeFinishLoad at 2 in.Load at 6 in.Torque listedShort pros / consBuy
Anvil Fig. 2618.7Anvil Fig. 261 riser clamp3/4–24 in.Plain steel300 lb1,600 lbYesFull data / Bare steelCheck it on Amazon
nVent CADDY EZ‑Riser8.1nVent CADDY EZ‑Riser clamp1/2–16 in.Electrogalvanized255 lb1,570 lbNoOne tool / Lower 2 in. loadCheck it on Amazon
Empire Fig. 50SS7.6Empire stainless riser clamp1/2–30 in.304 stainless300 lb1,600 lbNoStainless / 6 in. only on AmazonCheck it on Amazon

From Anvil’s Fig. 261 submittal (PH-1.18), nVent’s 510 EZ‑Riser product page and Empire’s Fig. 50 submittal, read Oct 22, 2026.

Will one riser clamp hold your riser?

Pick the pipe size and how many feet hang on the clamp. The checker sets the weight of the pipe against each maker’s rated load.

15 ft of 2 in. Schedule 40 steel, full of water, weighs about 77 lb.

Anvil Fig. 261: 300 lb max load, 10-1/4 in. long. About 3.9 times the weight.

nVent CADDY EZ-Riser: 255 lb static load, 10-1/4 in. long. About 3.3 times the weight.

Empire Fig. 50: 300 lb max recommended load, 10-9/16 in. long. About 3.9 times the weight.

Pipe and water weights are worked out from ASME B36.10 Schedule 40 wall thickness. Loads and lengths are from each maker’s sheet. This checks the clamp only. The pipe has to bear on a coupling, hub or lug, and the floor or steel under the clamp has to carry the weight too.

Steel pipe size15 ft full of waterAnvil Fig. 261CADDY EZ‑RiserEmpire Fig. 50
1/2 in.15 lbNot made255 lb255 lb
3/4 in.20 lb220 lb255 lb255 lb
1 in.31 lb220 lb255 lb255 lb
1‑1/4 in.44 lb250 lb255 lb255 lb
1‑1/2 in.54 lb250 lb255 lb255 lb
2 in.77 lb300 lb255 lb300 lb
2‑1/2 in.118 lb400 lb390 lb400 lb
3 in.162 lb500 lb530 lb530 lb
3‑1/2 in.201 lb600 lbNot made670 lb
4 in.245 lb750 lb810 lb810 lb
5 in.350 lb1,500 lb1,160 lb1,500 lb
6 in.473 lb1,600 lb1,570 lb1,600 lb
8 in.754 lb2,500 lb2,500 lb2,500 lb
10 in.1,121 lb2,500 lb2,500 lb2,500 lb
12 in.1,532 lb2,700 lb2,700 lb2,700 lb

Fifteen feet is the most the International Plumbing Code allows between vertical supports on steel pipe. At that spacing, every clamp in the table carries the full riser with room to spare, from 1/2 inch to 12 inches.

The margin is smallest on big pipe. At 12 inches, 15 feet of full pipe weighs about 1,530 lb against 2,700 lb of rating. If one clamp carries more than one floor of pipe, run the checker with the real length.

My call: the clamp is rarely the weak link. What it sits on, and whether the pipe has a coupling or lug to bear on, usually matters more.

How much weight a riser clamp holds

Each maker rates its clamp by pipe size. The ratings are close, with one gap at 1/2 to 2 inches.

CADDY EZ‑Riser, 4 in.810 lbEmpire Fig. 50, 4 in.810 lbAnvil Fig. 261, 4 in.750 lbAnvil Fig. 261, 2 in.300 lbEmpire Fig. 50, 2 in.300 lbCADDY EZ‑Riser, 2 in.255 lbCADDY EZ‑Riser, 4 in.810 lbEmpire Fig. 50, 4 in.810 lbAnvil Fig. 261, 4 in.750 lbAnvil Fig. 261, 2 in.300 lbEmpire Fig. 50, 2 in.300 lbCADDY EZ‑Riser, 2 in.255 lb
Rated loads from Anvil’s Fig. 261 submittal, nVent’s 510 EZ‑Riser page and Empire’s Fig. 50 submittal, read Oct 22, 2026.

The three makers use different words for the number: Anvil says maximum load, nVent says static load and Empire says maximum recommended load. Read each as the most that size should carry.

At 6 inches, Anvil and Empire both rate 1,600 lb and nVent rates 1,570. That answers the question people ask Google most about this size.

From 8 to 12 inches, all three match: 2,500 lb at 8 and 10 inches and 2,700 lb at 12 inches. Anvil’s 24-inch clamp is rated 3,200 lb, the most of any size here.

How far apart riser supports go

The International Plumbing Code sets the most distance allowed between vertical supports, by pipe material. Your local code may differ.

Pipe materialMax vertical spacingMid-story guide
Steel pipe15 ftNo
Cast-iron pipe15 ftNo
Copper or copper-alloy pipe and tubing10 ftNo
Brass pipe10 ftNo
PVC and ABS pipe10 ft2 in. and smaller
CPVC, PEX, PE-RT and PP10 ft2 in. and smaller
Stainless steel drainage10 ft2 in. and smaller
PEX-AL-PEX and PE-AL-PE4 ftNo

Those are from IPC 2021 Table 308.5. Its footnote says that for sizes 2 inches and smaller, a guide goes midway between required vertical supports on the marked materials, so the pipe can’t move sideways.

A riser clamp at each floor usually covers the spacing in a building with 10-foot floor heights. Taller floors may need a clamp in between, set on a lug or coupling.

Section 308.3 adds a materials rule: hangers have to carry the pipe and what’s in it, and can’t be of a material that causes galvanic action. That rule shapes the copper section below.

How to install a riser clamp

The steps follow Anvil’s and nVent’s install notes. A riser clamp works by bearing on something: the floor or steel under it, and a fitting or lug above it.

  1. 1
    Pick the size by pipe OD

    Steel riser clamps are sized for standard steel pipe OD. Anvil says that has to be considered when the riser is another kind of pipe.

  2. 2
    Find what the clamp bears on

    Anvil and nVent both say to fit the clamp below a coupling, hub, shear lug or welded lug. The fitting is what stops the pipe from sliding down through the clamp.

  3. 3
    Set the ears on the support

    The long ears rest on the floor deck, sleeve or framing steel. Jones Stephens describes the job as moving the pipe’s weight over a wider area of the floor.

  4. 4
    Bolt the halves together

    Close the two halves around the pipe and draw the bolts up evenly on both sides, so the clamp sits square.

  5. 5
    Torque to the number

    Anvil lists 21 ft-lb for its small sizes, 32 for 2 to 3 inches and 46 for 3‑1/2 to 6 inches. For CADDY and Empire, ask the maker for the value.

  6. 6
    Add guides where required

    On plastic and other marked pipe 2 inches and smaller, add a mid-story guide per IPC Table 308.5.

Anvil adds one more point: the Fig. 261 isn’t made for hanging from rods. For a clamp hung on threaded rod, Anvil points to its Fig. 40. Our beam clamp guide covers the rod side of hanging pipe from steel.

My call: snug both bolts in turns, a little on each side, rather than running one tight first. A clamp drawn up on one side sits crooked on the floor.

Copper tube needs a copper-size clamp

Copper tube’s outside diameter is smaller than steel pipe of the same size, and bare steel touching copper is what the code’s galvanic rule warns about.

SizeSteel pipe ODCopper tube ODDifference
1/2 in.0.840 in.0.625 in.0.215 in.
3/4 in.1.050 in.0.875 in.0.175 in.
1 in.1.315 in.1.125 in.0.190 in.
2 in.2.375 in.2.125 in.0.250 in.
4 in.4.500 in.4.125 in.0.375 in.

Steel ODs are from ASME B36.10; copper ODs are from nVent’s copper EZ‑Riser table. At 2 inches, a steel clamp’s opening is a quarter inch bigger than the copper tube, so it won’t grip.

Makers sell a separate line for copper. nVent’s 511 EZ‑Riser for copper tube is copper electroplated, from 1/2 to 4 inches. Its loads are lower: 75 lb at 1/2 and 3/4 inch, 150 lb at 2 inches and 300 lb at 4 inches.

It’s a different product from the steel-pipe clamps, so it isn’t scored here. One Amazon listing for the 2-inch copper clamp says 255 lb; nVent says 150. Go by nVent.

Plain, galvanized or stainless

All three makers sell the same clamp in several finishes. The place the riser runs through decides which one you need.

FinishWhere it fitsMaker notes
Plain carbon steelDry chases and mechanical roomsAnvil: rated to 650°F
ElectrogalvanizedDry indoor spacesnVent CADDY 510’s only finish
Hot-dip galvanizedDamp spaces and outdoorsAnvil: rated to 450°F
Plastic coatedNoise, vibration, mixed metalsEmpire: keeps the pipe off the clamp
304 or 316 stainlessCorrosive or wet spacesEmpire: recommended for corrosive settings

Electrogalvanizing is a thin plated zinc layer. Hot-dip galvanizing dips the part in molten zinc for a thicker coat. Both beat bare steel; stainless beats both where water or chemicals sit on the clamp.

On Amazon, only the plain Anvil, the electrogalvanized CADDY and the 6-inch Empire stainless matched their makers on Oct 22, 2026. For hot-dip galvanized or plastic coated clamps, a supply house is the place to look.

My call: plain steel is fine in a heated, dry building. Anything near a floor drain, a pump or an exterior wall gets galvanized or stainless.

Riser clamps on cast iron and plastic pipe

People search for riser clamps for cast iron and PVC. The makers’ sheets say steel-pipe clamps need care on both.

RiserWhat the sheets sayWhat to do
Cast iron soil pipeAnvil: sized for steel pipe OD; see its cast iron soil pipe dataCheck the clamp size against the soil pipe’s OD
Cast iron (Jones Stephens)Its riser clamp isn’t designed for soil pipeUse a clamp the maker lists for soil pipe
PVC, ABS, CPVCIPC: 10 ft vertical, guides at 2 in. and smallerFollow the pipe maker’s riser support guide
Ductile ironEmpire: separate DIP sizes, 50DIPSS and 50DIPSXOrder the DIP size, not the steel size

Anvil’s Fig. 261 sheet lists cast iron pipe as a use, but says the clamp is sized for steel pipe OD and points to its catalog’s cast iron data. Measure the soil pipe before you order.

For plastic pipe, the code table is the floor, not the whole story. Plastic expands and contracts more than steel, and pipe makers publish their own support rules. Our cast iron vs PVC guide covers how the two behave in a stack.

Riser clamp vs other pipe clamps

Google’s top question after “what is it” is how a riser clamp differs from a pipe clamp. The short answer is direction.

SupportPipe runsHow it holdsOur guide
Riser clampVerticalBolts around the pipe, ears rest on the floor or steelThis page
Clevis or split-ring hangerHorizontalHangs from threaded rodClevis vs split ring
One- or two-hole strapAlong a surfaceScrews to a wall or joistOne-hole vs two-hole
Beam clampHangs rod from steelClamps to a beam flangeBeam clamps
Repair clampAnySeals a leak; doesn’t supportPipe repair clamps

A riser clamp carries weight straight down into the floor. Horizontal hangers carry it up into the structure through rods. That’s why Anvil says its riser clamp isn’t meant for hanger rods.

A pipe repair clamp is the one that gets mixed up most. It stops a leak but isn’t a support. Our repair clamp guide covers that job.

Riser clamps we checked and left out

These came up in Amazon searches on Oct 22, 2026. Here’s what kept each off the list.

Clamp or listingWhat we foundWhy it’s out
Jones Stephens H70200, 2 in.Carbon steel, 10‑7/8 in. wide; not for soil pipeMaker page gives no load or standard
Highcraft DMST riser clampsListing says copper, iron, CPVC and PEXNo maker page or load table found
“1 in. IPS Riser Clamps” listingTitled B-Line, carries an Anvil part numberBrand and part don’t match
Erico 5100300EG, 3 in.Part number matches CADDY 510Photo shows a different clamp
T&L TL50B0200 and other small brandsBrand-written listings onlyNo maker data to score
“For Anvil” riser clampsThird-party listing named after AnvilNot sold as the Anvil brand
nVent CADDY 511 copper clampsCopper tube sizes, 75–300 lbDifferent product; see the copper section

Jones Stephens is a real plumbing supply brand, and its clamp may hold up fine. But its page lists no load and no hanger standard, so there’s nothing to score it on against three maker tables.

For the mismatched listings, the issue is the listing, not the clamp. If the brand, part number or photo doesn’t match, I can’t tell you what will arrive.

How to choose in five questions

QuestionIf yesIf no
Is the riser copper tube?A copper-size clamp, like nVent’s 511Next question
Is it wet, outdoors or corrosive?Stainless (Empire Fig. 50SS at 6 in.) or hot-dip galvanizedNext question
Is it 1/2 to 1‑1/2 in. in a tight spot?nVent CADDY EZ‑RiserNext question
Do you want a torque number for each size?Anvil Fig. 261Next question
Is the floor-to-floor run over 15 ft?Add a support between floorsOne clamp per floor

My call for most jobs: Anvil Fig. 261 on steel risers 2 inches and up in dry spaces, CADDY EZ‑Riser on the small ones, and stainless wherever the clamp will stay wet.

If you thread the riser yourself, our pipe threading oil guide and pipe threading machine guide cover that side. For anchoring to concrete under a riser, see our concrete anchor guide.

Questions people ask

What is the best riser clamp?

Anvil Fig. 261 scores 8.7 on our spec score, with a load and torque table for every size from 3/4 to 24 inches. nVent CADDY EZ‑Riser is next at 8.1 for small risers.

What is a riser clamp used for?

It supports a vertical pipe run. It bolts around the pipe below a coupling, hub or lug, and its ears rest on the floor or steel at each level.

How much weight can a riser clamp hold?

It depends on size. Anvil rates 300 lb at 2 inches, 750 lb at 4 inches and 2,500 lb at 8 inches; nVent and Empire are close.

How much weight can a 6 inch riser clamp hold?

Anvil and Empire rate their 6-inch clamps at 1,600 lb. nVent rates its 6-inch EZ‑Riser at 1,570 lb.

What is the difference between a pipe clamp and a riser clamp?

A riser clamp holds vertical pipe and rests on the floor. Pipe clamps and hangers hold horizontal or wall-run pipe from rods, straps or beams.

How far apart do riser clamps go?

The 2021 IPC allows up to 15 feet between vertical supports on steel and cast iron, and 10 feet on copper and plastic. Plastic 2 inches and smaller also needs a mid-story guide.

How do you install a riser clamp?

Close it around the pipe right below a coupling or lug, rest the ears on the floor or steel, and tighten the bolts evenly. Anvil lists torque by size.

Can you use a steel riser clamp on copper pipe?

Not well. Copper tube is smaller than steel pipe of the same size, and the IPC bars hanger materials that cause galvanic action. Use a copper-size clamp.

Can you use a riser clamp on PVC pipe?

Follow the PVC maker’s support guide. The IPC sets 10 feet between vertical supports on PVC, with a mid-story guide on 2 inches and smaller.

Can a riser clamp go on cast iron pipe?

Anvil lists cast iron as a use but sizes its clamp for steel pipe OD. Check the soil pipe’s OD against the clamp before ordering.

Can you hang a riser clamp from threaded rod?

Not the Anvil Fig. 261. Anvil says it isn’t meant for hanger rods and points to its Fig. 40 for that.

What size riser clamp do I need?

The nominal size of the pipe. Steel clamps fit steel pipe OD, so 2-inch steel pipe takes a 2-inch clamp. Copper tube takes a copper-size clamp.

How we picked these

Why trust me

I’m Isaac Daniels, a licensed journeyman plumber in Georgia (license #JP507711), and I’ve used all three picks. Every spec here comes from Anvil’s, nVent’s and Empire’s own submittals and product pages, read Oct 22, 2026. Where I add advice of my own, it’s labeled as my call.

How I pick

  • Only two-piece steel riser clamps for steel pipe, MSS SP‑58 Type 8, from makers that publish a load table. Each was new and in stock on Amazon, checked through Amazon’s product data the same day.
  • The listing has to match the maker’s part number and photo. Where one didn’t, I say so or leave it out.
  • Each card’s spec score comes from the seven checks below. All three score 7.0 or higher.

The spec score, check by check

Each check scores 0 to 10 and counts one seventh. It’s our score from maker documents and Amazon’s product data, not a customer rating or a load test of our own.

Check (weight)How it’s scored
Size range (1/7)10 when the line runs 1/2 in. to 24 in. or larger; 9 when it starts above 1/2 in. or stops below 24 in.
Load at 2 in. (1/7)10 for a rated load of 300 lb or more; 8.5 for 255 lb
Torque listed (1/7)10 when the maker’s submittal or page lists bolt torque by size; 6 when it doesn’t
Sizes on Amazon (1/7)10 for 4 or more sizes whose listings match the maker; 4 for one
Damp-spot finish (1/7)10 stainless; 7 electrogalvanized; 5 plain steel (the finish of the Amazon listings)
One-tool hardware (1/7)10 when the bolts are held in place and tighten with one tool; 7 for a loose bolt and nut
Temp limit listed (1/7)10 when the sheet gives a maximum temperature; 6 when it doesn’t
TotalAverage of the checks, to one decimal
PickRange2 in. loadTorqueAmazon sizesFinishHardwareTempScore
Anvil Fig. 2619 (3/4–24)10 (300 lb)10 (yes)10 (4)5 (plain)7 (loose)10 (650°F)8.7
nVent CADDY EZ‑Riser9 (1/2–16)8.5 (255 lb)6 (no)10 (4)7 (electrogalv.)10 (one tool)6 (no)8.1
Empire Fig. 50SS10 (1/2–30)10 (300 lb)6 (no)4 (1)10 (304 SS)7 (loose)6 (no)7.6

Sources

  • Anvil International, Fig. 261 extension pipe or riser clamp submittal (PH-1.18): read Oct 22, 2026.
  • nVent CADDY, 510 EZ‑Riser and 511 EZ‑Riser for copper tube product pages: read Oct 22, 2026.
  • Empire Industries, Fig. 50 standard riser clamp submittal: read Oct 22, 2026.
  • Jones Stephens, H70200 2 in. riser clamp product page: read Oct 22, 2026.
  • International Code Council, 2021 International Plumbing Code, Section 308 and Table 308.5 (free public view): read Oct 22, 2026.
  • Engineering ToolBox, ASME/ANSI B36.10/19 steel pipe dimensions (Schedule 40 OD and wall); pipe and water weights calculated by PlumbingPicks from them: read Oct 22, 2026.
  • Brand-written Amazon listing text and item data for B0078R9LJY, B0078S88TM, B082BVD5SK, B0078S4Q48, B0078REQLC, B0078REP5Y, B01MZHVY8K, B0078ROOCS, B0GQSH8FQL and the left-out listings: read through Amazon’s product data, Oct 22, 2026.
  • Google results for “riser clamp”: seen Oct 22, 2026. Search volumes from Semrush, Oct 22, 2026.

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