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Choosing the correct valve type is essential for ensuring system efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Two of the most commonly used valves in industrial applications are ball valves andgate valves.
While they may appear similar in purpose—controlling the flow of fluids—their design, operation, and performance characteristics differ significantly. In this guide, we’ll compare ball valves and gate valves across key aspects to help engineers and procurement managers make the right decision for their projects.
Ball Valve: Uses a spherical ball with a hole (bore) through the center. When the hole aligns
with the pipeline, fluid flows freely. Rotating the ball 90° closes the passage, making it quick and efficient
for on/off control.
Gate Valve: Uses a wedge-shaped gate that moves up and down to control flow. Gate valves provide
a straight-line flow path with minimal resistance but take more time to operate compared to ball valves.
Ball Valve: Offers fast quarter-turn operation (90° rotation) for immediate shut-off. Ideal in emergency situations requiring rapid response.
Gate Valve: Requires multiple turns of the handwheel to open or close, making it slower and less suitable for applications needing quick shut-off.
Ball Valve: Provides tight sealing and reliable shut-off. Suitable for applications in
oil & gas, chemical processing, food & beverage, and pharmaceutical industries where leakage prevention is critical.
Gate Valve: Designed mainly for isolation rather than throttling. Common in water supply,
wastewater treatment, and power plants where valves remain open or closed for long periods.
Ball Valve: Highly durable, requires less maintenance, and performs well under high pressure and temperature. However, prolonged throttling can cause seat wear.
Gate Valve: More prone to wear in applications with frequent operation or corrosive media. They require periodic maintenance to ensure reliable sealing.
Ball Valve: Generally more expensive but compact in size. Offers excellent value where
quick shut-off and low leakage are priorities.
Gate Valve: Usually lower in cost, especially for larger sizes. However, they are bulkier
and require more installation space.
Feature | Ball Valve | Gate Valve |
Operation | Quarter-turn (90°) | Multi-turn (slow) |
Sealing | Tight, reliable shut-off | Good, but prone to wear |
Applications | Oil, gas, food, pharma, chemical | Water, wastewater, power plants |
Durability | High, low maintenance | Moderate, needs regular checks |
Cost | Higher (but long-term value) | Lower (especially in large sizes) |
Size & Space | Compact | Bulkier, requires more space |
When deciding between a ball valve and a gate valve, the choice depends on your project’s priorities.
If you need fast operation, tight shut-off, and minimal leakage, ball valves are the better option. For large-scale water or utility systems where cost efficiency and infrequent operation are key, gate valves remain a practical solution.
At DKV, we manufacture both ball valves and gate valves tested to ISO and CE standards, ensuring performance, safety, and reliability across industries.
With over 40 years of expertise and global supply to 60+ countries, we help engineers and procurement managers select the best valve for their needs.
Side-by-side cutaway diagrams of ball valve and gate valve designs
Operation speed comparison chart (quarter-turn vs. multi-turn)
Application photos: industrial pipelines, water treatment plants
Not sure whether a ball valve or gate valve is right for your system?
Contact the DKV engineering team today for expert guidance, technical datasheets, or a project-specific quotation.
We provide certified, high-quality valves designed to keep your operations running smoothly.
DKV – China Which Has About 40 Years Experience Of Valves, Pipes And Fittings
Poly Center T41601, Le Cong Town, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China
We will contact you within 1 working day, please pay attention to the email with the suffix “@dkvchina.com”.
We will contact you within 1 working day, please pay attention to the email with the suffix “dkvchina.com”.