Wire Rope Sling Load Capacity Chart

The Complete Guide to Wire Rope Sling Load Capacity Chart (8mm to 80mm)

When it comes to heavy lifting in industrial settings, wire rope slings are an indispensable tool. Whether you’re in construction, shipping, or manufacturing, understanding the exact load capacity of your wire rope sling is essential for safe and efficient lifting. This blog will provide a comprehensive lifting load chart for wire rope slings ranging from 8mm to 80mm, detailing the load capacities for different angles and hitch types.

What Are Wire Rope Slings?

Wire rope slings are constructed from multiple strands of steel wire twisted together to form a strong, flexible lifting tool. They are known for their durability, resistance to abrasion, and ability to handle extremely heavy loads. These slings are used in various applications, from hoisting machinery to securing cargo, and are crucial for safe lifting operations.

Comprehensive Lifting Load Chart (8mm to 80mm)

Below is an extensive lifting load chart for wire rope slings, covering diameters from 8mm to 80mm. The chart includes the working load limits (WLL) for different hitches—vertical, choker, and basket—as well as for different lifting angles.

Wire Rope Diameter (mm)	Vertical Hitch WLL	Choker Hitch WLL	Basket Hitch WLL	30° Angle WLL	45° Angle WLL	60° Angle WLL
8 mm	0.8 tons	0.6 tons	1.6 tons	0.4 tons	0.6 tons	0.7 tons
9 mm	1.0 tons	0.8 tons	2.0 tons	0.5 tons	0.7 tons	0.9 tons
10 mm	1.2 tons	0.9 tons	2.4 tons	0.6 tons	0.8 tons	1.0 tons
11 mm	1.5 tons	1.1 tons	3.0 tons	0.7 tons	1.1 tons	1.3 tons
12 mm	1.8 tons	1.4 tons	3.6 tons	0.9 tons	1.3 tons	1.5 tons
13 mm	2.1 tons	1.6 tons	4.2 tons	1.0 tons	1.5 tons	1.8 tons
14 mm	2.5 tons	1.9 tons	5.0 tons	1.3 tons	1.8 tons	2.1 tons
16 mm	3.2 tons	2.4 tons	6.4 tons	1.6 tons	2.3 tons	2.8 tons
18 mm	4.1 tons	3.1 tons	8.2 tons	2.1 tons	2.9 tons	3.5 tons
20 mm	5.0 tons	3.7 tons	10.0 tons	2.5 tons	3.5 tons	4.3 tons
22 mm	6.2 tons	4.6 tons	12.4 tons	3.1 tons	4.3 tons	5.3 tons
24 mm	7.5 tons	5.6 tons	15.0 tons	3.8 tons	5.2 tons	6.5 tons
25 mm	7.8 tons	5.9 tons	15.6 tons	3.9 tons	5.5 tons	6.7 tons
26 mm	8.4 tons	6.3 tons	16.8 tons	4.2 tons	5.9 tons	7.2 tons
28 mm	10.0 tons	7.5 tons	20.0 tons	5.0 tons	7.1 tons	8.7 tons
30 mm	11.5 tons	8.6 tons	23.0 tons	5.8 tons	8.2 tons	10.0 tons
32 mm	12.8 tons	9.6 tons	25.6 tons	6.4 tons	9.1 tons	11.1 tons
34 mm	14.5 tons	10.9 tons	29.0 tons	7.2 tons	10.3 tons	12.6 tons
36 mm	16.2 tons	12.1 tons	32.4 tons	8.1 tons	11.4 tons	14.0 tons
38 mm	18.0 tons	13.5 tons	36.0 tons	9.0 tons	12.7 tons	15.4 tons
40 mm	20.0 tons	15.0 tons	40.0 tons	10.0 tons	14.1 tons	17.3 tons
44 mm	24.0 tons	18.0 tons	48.0 tons	12.0 tons	16.9 tons	20.7 tons
48 mm	28.5 tons	21.3 tons	57.0 tons	14.3 tons	20.1 tons	24.6 tons
50 mm	31.2 tons	23.4 tons	62.4 tons	15.6 tons	22.0 tons	26.9 tons
52 mm	33.5 tons	25.1 tons	67.0 tons	16.8 tons	23.6 tons	28.9 tons
56 mm	40.0 tons	30.0 tons	80.0 tons	20.0 tons	28.2 tons	34.6 tons
60 mm	45.0 tons	33.7 tons	90.0 tons	22.5 tons	31.7 tons	38.9 tons
63 mm	50.0 tons	37.5 tons	100.0 tons	25.0 tons	35.3 tons	43.3 tons
65 mm	54.0 tons	40.5 tons	108.0 tons	27.0 tons	38.2 tons	46.8 tons
70 mm	62.0 tons	46.5 tons	124.0 tons	31.0 tons	43.9 tons	53.8 tons
76 mm	75.0 tons	56.3 tons	150.0 tons	37.5 tons	53.1 tons	65.1 tons
80 mm	80.0 tons	60.0 tons	160.0 tons	40.0 tons	56.4 tons	69.2 tons

How Load Conditions and Angles Affect Lifting Capacity

The lifting capacity of a wire rope sling isn’t just determined by its diameter. The angle of the lift and the type of hitch also play a critical role. Here’s how these factors influence the working load limit (WLL):

Vertical Hitch: This method involves lifting directly from above. It offers the maximum WLL, making it ideal for straightforward lifts.
Choker Hitch: This involves wrapping the sling around the load and securing it to itself. It reduces the WLL by approximately 20-25%, depending on the tightness of the choke.
Basket Hitch: This method doubles the WLL compared to a vertical hitch, as the load is evenly distributed. It’s excellent for balancing heavy loads.
Angle Impact: The smaller the angle between the legs of the sling and the load, the greater the stress on the sling. For instance, at a 30° angle, the WLL can be reduced by 50%, whereas at a 60° angle, the reduction is less significant, around 13%.

Practical Applications of Wire Rope Slings

Wire rope slings are used across various industries, each with unique demands:

Construction: Lifting steel beams, concrete blocks, and prefabricated structures.
Shipping: Handling cargo containers and heavy machinery during loading and unloading.
Manufacturing: Moving large pieces of equipment or materials within a production facility.
Oil and Gas: Lifting and securing drilling equipment and other heavy tools.

Visual Guide to Wire Rope Slings

[Image 1: Wire Rope Sling Lifting a Heavy Load]
A visual demonstration of a wire rope sling being used in an industrial setting, emphasizing its strength and versatility.

[Image 2: Illustration of Different Hitch Types]
A clear diagram showing vertical, choker, and basket hitches, explaining how each method impacts the WLL.

[Image 3: Angle Impact on WLL]
A detailed illustration of how different lifting angles affect the working load limit of a wire rope sling.

Conclusion

Wire rope slings are essential tools in heavy lifting operations. Knowing the exact lifting load capacity for each diameter and understanding how different load conditions and angles affect these capacities are crucial for safe and efficient lifting. Whether using an 8mm sling for lighter loads or a 80mm sling for massive industrial tasks, this comprehensive guide provides all the information needed to handle your lifting operations with confidence.