---
title: "Flexible PVC — density, melting point and properties"
description: "Flexible PVC has a density of 1,250 kg/m³ (1,150–1,400). Melting point, strength, conductivity, what it is used for, and whether it floats, rusts or is magnetic."
url: https://atoneplace.net/material/pvc-flexible/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Flexible PVC

**Density of flexible PVC: 1,250 kg/m³ (1,150–1,400)**

1.25 g/cm³ · 78.0 lb/ft³

The same polymer as uPVC with 20-50% plasticizer stirred in, which is why its density spans such a wide band — the additive is lighter than the resin. Plasticizer migrates out over years, and that is precisely why old vinyl goes hard and cracks, why a car dashboard fogs the windscreen, and why the smell of a new inflatable eventually fades. It is also why flexible PVC should not be left in contact with polystyrene or acrylic, which it will attack.

## Properties

- **Density:** 1,250 kg/m³ (1,150–1,400) — 1.25 g/cm³
- **Tensile strength:** 10–25 MPa
- **Young's modulus:** 0.02 GPa
- **Thermal conductivity:** 0.15 W/(m·K)
- **Thermal expansion:** 150 µm/(m·K)
- **Floats in water:** No
- **Magnetic:** No

## What it is used for

- Mains cable insulation and sheathing
- Garden hose and clear tubing
- Vinyl flooring and wall covering
- Inflatable boats and pool liners

## How it compares

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.*

- air: 1.2 kg/m³
- expanded polystyrene foam: 20 kg/m³
- rigid polyurethane foam: 40 kg/m³
- Water — the float line: 1,000 kg/m³
- flexible PVC: 1,250 kg/m³
- tungsten: 19,250 kg/m³
- gold: 19,300 kg/m³
- platinum: 21,450 kg/m³

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.*

| Material | Density | Relative to water |
| --- | --- | --- |
| rigid polyurethane foam | 40 kg/m³ | 0.04× |
| expanded polystyrene foam | 20 kg/m³ | 0.02× |
| air | 1.2 kg/m³ | 0.00× |
| flexible PVC ← | 1,250 kg/m³ | 1.25× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |

## Does it rust?

Flexible PVC contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.

## Is it magnetic?

Flexible PVC is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Common questions

### What is the density of flexible PVC?

1,250 kg/m³ (1,150–1,400), or 1.25 g/cm³.

### Does flexible PVC float?

No. At 1,250 kg/m³ it is denser than water.

### Is flexible PVC magnetic?

Flexible PVC is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.

## Related pages

- [Does flexible PVC float?](https://atoneplace.net/does-it-float/pvc-flexible/)
- [PLA](https://atoneplace.net/material/pla/)
- [ABS](https://atoneplace.net/material/abs/)
- [Acrylic (PMMA)](https://atoneplace.net/material/acrylic/)
- [Polycarbonate](https://atoneplace.net/material/polycarbonate/)
- [Polypropylene](https://atoneplace.net/material/polypropylene/)
- [PTFE](https://atoneplace.net/material/ptfe/)
- [Rigid PVC](https://atoneplace.net/material/pvc-rigid/)
- [HDPE](https://atoneplace.net/material/hdpe/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)