What is a Bull Head Tee?

A bull head tee fitting is sometimes referred to as a bull nose or riser tee. Bull head tees are a common fitting used in piping systems. Bull head tees are simply tees where the “branch” connection is of a larger size/diameter than the straight through "run” connections which are of equal size.

The bull head tee got its name because the side outlet (branch) connection is the largest socket on the tee and looks like a bull's head when the branch is in the downward facing direction.

Bull head pipe tees are widely used in low pressure heating and air conditioning and gas distribution systems. In a bull head tee, the flow typically enters the tee through the "branch" connection and the outlet is split between the two equal "run" connections. This is ideal for supplying flow to smaller diameter piping in two opposite directions without the need for reducers.

Bull head tees are available in a wide range of tee fitting types and materials, including but not limited to carbon steel, cast iron, copper, malleable iron, stainless steel, and various plastics.

CAUTION: There is some confusing misinformation out there where it is stated that the bull head tee is the opposite to what is described above, advising that the bull nose “branch” connection is smaller in size than the straight through "run” connections. There will be some companies where a tee is called a bull head tee regardless of whether the branch is smaller or larger than the run connections. If the branch is smaller, it is simply a reducing tee. See the article below on how to describe a reducing tee.

Additional Resources

How to describe a reducing tee:

https://support.boshart.com/how-to-describe-a-reducing-tee