Gate valves and ball valves are both isolation valves, meant to be fully open or fully closed. The right choice comes down to how fast you need to shut off, how tight the seal must be, and how much space and budget you have.

How a Gate Valve Works

A gate valve raises and lowers a wedge (the gate) to open or close the line. It gives a straight-through, low-restriction path when open, which means very little pressure drop. It takes several turns of the handwheel to operate, so it is slow to close.

How a Ball Valve Works

A ball valve uses a quarter-turn ball with a bored hole. A 90-degree turn goes from full open to full shut, giving fast, positive shutoff and a bubble-tight seal. Ball valves are compact and reliable for on/off duty.

Which Should You Choose?

• Choose a ball valve for fast shutoff, tight sealing, frequent operation, and compact installations.
• Choose a gate valve for large-bore lines where low pressure drop matters and the valve stays open most of the time, such as water mains and pump isolation.
• Avoid both for throttling. Partially open gate and ball valves wear and erode. Use a globe or control valve to regulate flow.

We stock ball, gate, globe, butterfly, and check valves in brass, stainless, and iron. Browse ball valves and gate valves, or request a quote.