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Port needle sizes are given as a gauge (needle thickness) and a length. This page lists the gauge and length combinations one manufacturer publishes for its power-rated port access needle, explains how that manufacturer says length is measured, and separates it from the standard line. For gauge, outer diameter and colour on another brand, see port needle types, sizes and labels.
General product information, not medical advice. Which needle a person receives is decided by their clinical team, not by a chart.
Port needle sizes chart
Gauge and length for the Gripper Plus Power P.A.C. Safety Huber Needle, from ICU Medical’s product page (checked 2026-11-01). The same combinations are listed for the Y-site and non-Y-site models.
| Gauge | Length (in) | Length (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| 20G | 5/8 in | 16 mm |
| 20G | 3/4 in | 19 mm |
| 20G | 1 in | 25 mm |
| 20G | 1 1/4 in | 32 mm |
| 19G | 5/8 in | Not listed |
| 19G | 3/4 in | 19 mm |
| 19G | 1 in | 25 mm |
| 19G | 1 1/4 in | 32 mm |
The manufacturer states that the Gripper Plus Power 22G is not available in all markets. Check your product’s labelling: sizes differ between brands and between markets, and this chart is one manufacturer’s list, not an industry standard.
How to read gauge and length
A port needle is described by two numbers. Gauge is the needle’s thickness, and a higher number means a thinner needle. Length is how long the needle is. ICU Medical’s selection guide (P26-8135, 2026) says its Gripper Plus and Gripper Plus Power P.A.C. needles are available in 19, 20 and 22G and in lengths from 16 to 32 mm.
The same gauge direction applies to other needles: see insulin pen needle sizes for another gauge-and-length lookup.
How the manufacturer measures length
According to ICU Medical’s needle selection guide, length is measured from the plastic base to the tip of the needle, and the foam is included in that measurement. Gauge and length are therefore read from the product label and ordering information, and the full instructions for use accompany each product.
Standard vs power-rated needles
ICU Medical lists two related lines. The standard Gripper Plus is described as non-siliconized and non-coring, with a 20 cm extension set (with or without Y-site), a priming volume of 0.3, 0.5 or 0.8 mL depending on the set, and pressure-rated up to 45 psi (product information P23-5745-3-US, 2023). The Power P.A.C. line is described as allowing power injection up to 5 mL/sec and pressure up to 300 psi, with blue tubing that distinguishes it from non-power needles. Power injection with a port is covered in power port, and the port itself in what an implanted port is.
Inches to mm
The manufacturer pairs each inch length with a millimetre length: 5/8 in with 16 mm, 3/4 in with 19 mm, 1 in with 25 mm and 1 1/4 in with 32 mm. Use the figure printed on the package and product page.
Common mix-ups
Huber needle gauge vs other needle gauges
A Huber needle is a non-coring needle designed to minimise damage to a port septum (Mais IFU). The sizes above apply only to implanted-port access needles, not to other needles that share the gauge scale.
19G vs 22G
Because a higher gauge number is a thinner needle, 22G is thinner than 19G. Both appear in the manufacturer’s gauge range, but 19G is not listed in the 5/8 in length in the chart above.
FAQ
What gauge is a port needle?
One manufacturer lists 19, 20 and 22G for its Gripper Plus and Power P.A.C. lines (ICU Medical, 2026). Other brands list other gauges; read your product’s label.
What length is a port needle?
The same manufacturer lists 16 to 32 mm, and its power-rated line comes in 16, 19, 25 and 32 mm in 20G and 19, 25 and 32 mm in 19G.
What is a Huber needle gauge?
It is the same gauge scale used for other needles: the number is the thickness, and a higher number is thinner. For the Mais gauge, diameter and colour table, see port needle types, sizes and labels.
Sources
- ICU Medical, Gripper Plus and Gripper Plus Power P.A.C. Needle Selection, P26-8135, 2026 (checked 2026-11-01): https://www.icumed.com/media/4vdpohr1/p26-8135-us-can-gripper-plus-needle-selection-one-pager.pdf
- ICU Medical, Gripper Plus Power P.A.C. Safety Huber Needle product page, specifications and ordering information (checked 2026-11-01): https://www.icumed.com/products/infusion-therapy/vascular-access/central-catheters/port-access-needles/gripper-plus-power-pac-safety-port-access-needle/
- ICU Medical, Gripper Plus Port Access Needle product information, P23-5745-3-US, 2023 (checked 2026-11-01): https://www.icumed.com/media/ttdo5jj2/p23-5745-3-us-gripper-plus.pdf
- Mais India Medical Devices, Huber Needle instructions for use, 2026 (checked 2026-11-01): https://www.maisindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IFU-Huber-Needle.pdf
