ROPE & CORDAGE

Paracord

Light nylon kernmantle cord — 550 lb rated, seven removable inner strands, endlessly useful ashore.

INSPECT BEFORE LOAD · NEVER EXCEED WLL

Rope, splices and hardware are only as good as their condition. Inspect before every use and retire on evidence.

Specification

Type	III (550) — 7 inner strands
Fibre	Nylon sheath and core
Diameter	≈ 4 mm
Rated strength	550 lb / 249 kg
Elongation	≈ 30% at break
Wet strength loss	≈ 10%
Typical use	Lashing, whipping, lanyards, repair

Technical parameters

Type I	≈ 45 kg — light duty
Type II	≈ 180 kg — general
Type III	≈ 249 kg — standard
Type IV	≈ 340 kg — heavier sheath
Safe working load	Rated ÷ 5
Inner strands	7 (Type III)

SelectMaintain

Overview

Paracord is a nylon kernmantle cord: a core of seven twisted strands inside a woven sheath. Type III, the version sold almost everywhere, is rated to 550 pounds — about 249 kilograms — and gives a working load around a fifth of that. The core strands can be pulled out and used individually for whipping, lashing and repair, which is most of why the cord has the reputation it does.

It is a nylon product, so it behaves like nylon: it stretches, it absorbs some water, and it loses a little strength when wet. The outer sheath resists abrasion reasonably well for a cord of this size and is what you handle; the core carries the load.

Paracord belongs ashore and in light marine utility work. It is excellent for lashing, whipping, lanyards, gear loops and emergency repairs, and it is not a substitute for a rated line in any application where a person or a heavy load depends on it.

Safety notes

The 550 lb figure is a breaking strength for a new, dry cord. A working load is a fifth of that, and less if the cord is wet or worn.
Paracord is not a climbing or life-safety line, whatever the marketing says. Use rated hardware for anything that holds a person.
Melt the cut ends — nylon fuses — but do not let molten nylon touch skin.

Using it well

Pull a core strand and use it as whipping twine; it is exactly the right size for a 4 mm cord.
Pre-shrink by soaking and drying if the cord will be used somewhere dimensionally critical.
Inspect for a glazed, shiny sheath after heavy use — that is friction damage, and the sheath is now weaker than it looks.

Suited to

LanyardsWhippingLashingEmergency repair

Typical applications

CampSurvivalUtility

Figures are typical catalogue values for new equipment, quoted for comparison and planning. They are not a guarantee for any specific product or any specific load. Always work to the manufacturer’s stated working load limit and to the regulations that apply where you sail.

Related tools

Whipping Twine

Waxed twine bound around a rope end so the strands cannot unlay — the traditional finish.

Safety & Maintenance Maintain

Rope Bag

A ventilated bag that keeps a line coiled, clean and ready to run without tangling.

Safety & Maintenance Maintain

Nylon Rope

High-stretch synthetic with excellent shock absorption — the default for anchor rodes and dock lines.

Rope & Cordage Select

Safety Harness

A body-holding harness and tether system — the one item on this site that must be certified and inspected.

Safety & Maintenance Select

∞ CONTINUE

Where this fits

More in Rope & Cordage

Fibre, construction and how a line behaves under load.

6 tools

Free tool

Knot Strength Calculator

Work out what a knot costs you, and what the line can safely hold once it is tied.

Calculator

INTERACTIVE

3D Studio

Four interactive tools for knots, splices and rigging loads, running entirely in your browser.

3D Studio