When do I need a land drain elbow instead of bending the pipe?

When the run must turn a corner — around a patio, along a path, or past a solid obstruction — and a gentle curve in the coil would kink, squash or lift the pipe off the gravel bed. The L / elbow connector joins two pipe ends at that change of direction.

Which sizes are available?

Match the elbow to your land drain pipe: 60mm, 80mm or 100mm. There is no 50mm elbow on this listing. Pipe sizes differ by brand — check fit before ordering.

Is this a bend or a straight coupler?

It is an L / elbow connector for changing direction, not a straight coupling. Use a same-size coupling for a straight join; use the elbow when the trench turns.

Should I use an elbow or a T / Y at a corner?

For a side branch into a straight main, use a Y (herringbone) or a T (right-angle branch) — see how to join land drain pipe. The elbow is for turning the same run at a corner, connecting two pipe ends, not adding a third outlet.

What angle is the elbow?

The product describes an L-shaped elbow that changes pipe direction. It does not publish a degree rating on the listing, so do not assume a specific angle from the name alone — offer the pipes up square in the trench and keep the pipe on the stone bed.

Are these for foul drainage?

No. Like other land-drain fittings they are for perforated groundwater pipe in a French drain, not foul or sealed underground drainage.

Land drain elbows — turning corners without kinking the pipe

4 October 2026 · The Shape Shop

A patio edge, path corner or trench kink needs a change of direction — not a forced bend in the coil. The land-drain L / elbow joins two pipe ends at a corner in 60, 80 or 100mm. Check fit before ordering.

Corrugated land drain will take a gentle curve, but a sharp turn around a patio, path or outbuilding is where DIY runs go wrong. Force the coil and you squash the cut, lift the pipe off the gravel, or leave a kink that holds water. That is when you want an L / elbow connector — two pipe ends joined at a corner — not a fight with the pipe.

Our how to join land drain pipe guide mentions elbows only in passing. This article is the corner job in full.

What the elbow is for

The land drain elbow (L connector) is an L-shaped fitting that changes direction on a land drain run. It connects two pipe ends at a corner. It is not a straight coupling, not a Y branch, and not a T.

Typical garden jobs:

Turning along a patio or path edge
Working past a step, wall footing or tree root zone without crushing the coil
Keeping a continuous fall when the trench plan has a clear change of line

Sizes — 60, 80 and 100mm

From the product listing: 60mm, 80mm and 100mm. Match the elbow to the coil. There is no 50mm option on this product. Made in the United Kingdom.

The listing describes an L-shaped elbow that changes pipe direction. It does not state a degree figure. Do not invent one — cut both pipes square, offer them up in the trench, and keep the pipe nested on the stone bed so the fall is not lost at the corner.

Sizing and fit — check before you order

Internal pipe sizes differ by brand. Measure your pipe or check the product size notes and check fit before ordering. Shape Shop will release outside-diameter (OD) fittings soon for wider compatibility — no launch date or SKUs yet.

More on coil sizes: land drain sizes: 60mm, 80mm or 100mm?. We do not sell the coil — buy pipe from a merchant and match the fitting.

Elbow vs Y, T and a forced bend

Straight join — Coupling
Herringbone lateral into a main — Y junction
Right-angle side branch into a main — T junction (see T vs X vs 4-way)
Same run turns a corner — Elbow / L
Gentle curve in open ground — Often the coil itself — no fitting

Do not force a Y into a hard corner; that is what the elbow (or a T, if you are adding a branch) is for. Full join choices: how to join land drain pipe.

Fitting tips

1. Cut square in a groove in the pipe. 2. Round the end with your hands so it is not oval. 3. Push the elbow on straight — no glue, no tape. This is not a watertight underground drainage joint. 4. Keep the pipe on the gravel bed so the fall continues around the corner.

These are groundwater fittings for perforated land drain, not foul.

Frequently asked questions

When do I need a land drain elbow instead of bending the pipe?: When the run must turn a corner — around a patio, along a path, or past a solid obstruction — and a gentle curve in the coil would kink, squash or lift the pipe off the gravel bed. The L / elbow connector joins two pipe ends at that change of direction.
Which sizes are available?: Match the elbow to your land drain pipe: 60mm, 80mm or 100mm. There is no 50mm elbow on this listing. Pipe sizes differ by brand — check fit before ordering.
Is this a bend or a straight coupler?: It is an L / elbow connector for changing direction, not a straight coupling. Use a same-size coupling for a straight join; use the elbow when the trench turns.
Should I use an elbow or a T / Y at a corner?: For a side branch into a straight main, use a Y (herringbone) or a T (right-angle branch) — see how to join land drain pipe. The elbow is for turning the same run at a corner, connecting two pipe ends, not adding a third outlet.
What angle is the elbow?: The product describes an L-shaped elbow that changes pipe direction. It does not publish a degree rating on the listing, so do not assume a specific angle from the name alone — offer the pipes up square in the trench and keep the pipe on the stone bed.
Are these for foul drainage?: No. Like other land-drain fittings they are for perforated groundwater pipe in a French drain, not foul or sealed underground drainage.

Fittings for this job

Pipe, gravel and membrane come from a merchant. These are the Shape Shop parts that match this article.

Elbow 60, 80 and 100mm for Land Drain Pipe, UK Made

60 · 80 · 100mm

From £7.95

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