Millipede Pipes: Sizes, Uses and Design Ideas for Grills, Gates and Railings

Millipede pipes (sometimes spelt milipede) are decorative steel pipes with a ribbed, segmented surface, a bit like the body of a millipede. Used instead of plain square or round bars, they make grills, gates and railings look richer without adding any ornaments.

Sizes and where each one works

As a rule, the more the pipe is the main feature, the bigger it should be. On a window, thinner pipes keep the view open; on a perimeter wall, thicker pipes look solid from the road.

Design ideas

• Window grills: vertical ¾″ millipede pipes with a plain frame. Simple, secure and decorative.
• Perimeter wall grills: 1¼″ or 1½″ pipes on top of a wall, painted two-tone so the ribs stand out.
• Gates: millipede pipes in the upper half, checkered plate below for privacy.
• Balconies: alternate millipede and plain bars for rhythm.

Painting millipede pipes

The ribs hold dust and water, so clean them well before priming. A popular finish is a dark base colour with the raised ribs dry-brushed in gold or silver. For the most durable finish, use powder coating.

Millipede vs sugarcane vs twisted

Not sure millipede is the right pattern? Compare all three in Twisted vs millipede vs sugarcane pipes.

How much pipe do I need?

For a grill or railing with vertical pipes:

1. Measure the width of the opening and decide the spacing between pipes (centre to centre).
2. Width ÷ spacing = number of pipes (round up and add one for the end).
3. Multiply by the height of each pipe to get the total length.
4. Ask us for the current stock length, then plan your cuts so offcuts are as short as possible.

Example: a window 1.5 m wide with pipes at 12 cm centres needs about 13 pipes. If each is 1.2 m tall, that is about 15.6 m of pipe.

Security: spacing on window grills

For burglar-proofing, the gap between pipes matters more than the pipe size. Keep it narrow enough that nobody can squeeze through, and add horizontal bars so the pipes cannot be bent apart. Weld every crossing.

Common mistakes

• Ribs not lined up: cut every pipe at the same point in the pattern so the ribs form straight lines across the grill.
• Open pipe ends: water gets in and rusts the pipe from inside. Cap or weld the ends closed.
• Thin paint over dust: clean the ribs properly; dust trapped in the pattern makes paint peel.

Ask for a price on the millipede pipes page. We sell to hardware shops, fundis and homeowners.