Nuts & Olives
Shop compression olives and nuts for plumbing fittings. The olive sits between the fitting body and the nut — when the nut is tightened, the olive compresses around the pipe to create the seal. Copper olives are the standard choice for domestic pipework; brass olives suit harder pipe materials. Sizes from 8mm to 22mm. Free delivery on orders over £200 to England and Wales.
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Copper Olives (2 Pack)
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£0.42 INC VAT
£0.35 EXC VAT -
Brass Compression Nuts (2 Pack)
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£0.70 INC VAT
£0.58 EXC VAT
Compression olives and nuts
The olive is the component that makes a compression fitting work. When the nut is tightened, the olive deforms against the pipe surface and the fitting body to create a seal. It sounds simple, and it is — but the olive size must match the pipe outside diameter exactly, and the material must suit the pipe.
Copper olives are the standard choice for soft copper tube — the most common material in UK domestic pipework. They deform cleanly and give a reliable seal. Brass olives are harder and better suited to steel pipe or chrome copper, or situations where a joint might need to be remade: a brass olive holds its shape better on a second compression.
One point worth reinforcing: olives are single-use. Once a joint has been made and the olive compressed, it should be replaced if the joint is ever taken apart and remade. Reusing a deformed olive rarely seals as well as a new one. Sizes run from 8mm to 22mm to cover the standard pipe diameters in domestic and light commercial use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size compression olive do I need?
The olive size must match the pipe outside diameter. For 15mm copper pipe, use a 15mm olive; for 22mm pipe, a 22mm olive. Check the pipe OD carefully — metric and imperial pipe sizes are close but not interchangeable.
Are copper or brass olives better?
Copper olives are the standard choice for soft copper pipe. Brass olives are harder and better suited to steel or harder pipe materials, or where the joint may need to be remade multiple times.
Can I reuse a compression olive?
No. A compression olive deforms when tightened to create the seal. It should be replaced if the joint is ever remade.
Do you sell individual olives or only in packs?
Check the product listing — some sizes are available individually and some are sold in packs. Contact our team if you need a specific quantity.
Do you deliver compression olives and nuts near me?
We deliver to England and Wales with free delivery on orders over £200.