Paracord is considered essential survival gear and has dozens of uses. But, while paracord definitely could help save your life in an emergency situation, its strength is often hyped up.
Here’s what you need to know about how strong paracord really is.
Quick answer:
550 paracord is rated to hold 550lbs of static weight and has a safe working load of around 110lbs. This is strong enough to tie down tents, tie ridgeline for a shelter, fix shoelaces, and do many other tasks.
Paracord is NOT strong enough for climbing, rappelling, lifting heavy objects overhead, or even for hanging a bug out hammock.
Military Paracord Strength Ratings
There are a lot of rope products that go under the name paracord. When talking about “real” paracord though, we are usually referring to military-issued paracord. These are labeled with the code MIL-C-5040H.
There are six types of military paracord and each has specific physical properties. Type III paracord, also called 550 paracord, is the most popular with survivalists.
Type
Minimum strength
Minimum elongation
Minimum length per pound of cord
Core yarns
Sheath structure
I
95 pounds
30%
950 feet
1
16/1
IA
100 pounds
30%
1,050 feet
no core
16/1
II
400 pounds
30%
265 feet
4 to 7
32/1 or 36/1
IIA
225 pounds
30%
495 feet
no core
32/1 or 36/1
III
550 pounds
30%
225 feet
7 to 9
32/1 or 36/1
IV
750 pounds
30%
165 feet
11
32/1, 36/1, or 44/1
How Is Paracord Strength Measured?
There are many types of tests to measure paracord strength. One of the simplest tests involves clamping one end of the paracord between two grips. Weight is then added to the other end until the paracord breaks.
Other strength tests measure a cord’s ability to withstand breaking when objects are dropped and yet other tests measure how much the cordage deforms.
What Does Minimum Strength Mean with Paracord?
The minimum strength rating is the minimum amount of static force the cord can hold without breaking. For safety, cord manufacturers add a margin of error (usually around 20%) when calculating minimum strength. This means that type III paracord could hold more than 550 lbs of static weight and still not break.
*Some rope brands use the term “tensile strength” or “minimum breaking strength” instead of minimum strength.
**Paracord strength is often given in pounds (lbs) or kilograms. However, it’s more accurate to list strength in kilonewtons (kN).
Static Force vs. Dynamic Force
When trying to figure out how strong paracord is, it is important that you realize paracord strength ratings are based on static force.Static force is a load that does not change size, position, or direction. By contrast, dynamic force is a load that does move and will pull on the paracord.
For example, let’s say that you use paracord to hang a hammock. If you lie still in the hammock, the paracord is under static force. If you start swinging around in the hammock (or shift your weight, get in/out of the hammock…), the paracord is under dynamic force.
Aside from things like knife handle wrappings, most uses for paracord involve dynamic force. Even things like tying a tarp shelter with paracord involve dynamic force: the wind blowing on the tarp will exert dynamic force on the paracord holding it.
How Much Dynamic Force Does an Object Exert?
An object in movement can exert a huge amount of force. A 160lb person, for example, will exert this much force during a fall:
10 foot fall = 1,683 lbs of force
50 foot fall = 8,410 lbs of force
Unless you are great at physics, it is very difficult to calculate how much force an object will exert (here’s the basic math behind it). Because of this, some brands list “working load” of their rope to indicate its strength.
Working Load of Paracord
Working load is the maximum amount of weight that should ever be applied to paracord. The working load is always much lower than the strength. With paracord, the maximum working load is usually around 20% of the strength. For 550 paracord, this means a maximum working load of 110lbs.
Most manufacturers don’t list the working load of their paracord. When it is listed, it can cause a lot of confusion. For example, in this Reddit thread, someone warned against using Walmart paracord because it listed a working load of 110lbs. As one person responded, “Props to the walmart brand for prominently displaying the safe working load, even though it leads to people like you thinking it’s lesser quality.”
*Note that the working load still doesn’t account for dynamic force: 550 paracord will hold a 100lb cast iron cauldron. But the cord might break the moment that cauldron starts swinging around!
The Navy has a very detailed course chapter about calculating material strength which you can get here.
Other Things That Affect Paracord Strength
Knots and Splices
Each knot you add to paracord will reduce strength. Some types of knots can reduce strength by 60%! In general, splices are stronger than knots.
Knot
Rope strength
No knot
100%
Figure 8
75-80%
Double fisherman’s
65-75%
Bowline
70-75%
Water knot
60-70%
Clove hitch
60-65%
Overhand
60-65%
*Whenever possible, use a tensionless knot around a cylindrical object which is at least 4 inches in diameter. Knots that are around objects smaller than 4 inches put more stress on the cord fibers, making them weaker.
Angles
Any place that the paracord bends or is angled will be weaker. For example, if you run paracord under a board to make a swing, it will be much weaker at the place where it bends around the edge of the board.
Wetness
Nylon absorbs water. When wet, the fibers get stretched out, become more susceptible to abrasion, and lose strength. According to various studies and reports, rope can lose anywhere from 15% to up to 70% when wet. Keep this in mind when working with wet paracord.
Length
When dealing with dynamic force (an object in motion), longer paracord is stronger than shorter paracord. This is because long paracord has more room to absorb shock, meaning that the force isn’t as great.
Chemicals
Keep your paracord away from chemicals. Even drawing on your paracord with magic marker can reduce its strength significantly.
Age
Paracord gets weaker as it ages. There aren’t any guidelines about when paracord “goes bad” though. You’ll have to inspect your paracord for signs of aging like brittle fibers, tears in the sheath, or discoloration.
Can I use paracord to hang a hammock?
While plenty of people have gotten away with using paracord to hang a hammock, it is simply not meant for that. The maximum working load of 550 paracord is only about 110lbs, which is lower than the weight of most adults.
Even though the weight is distributed between two pieces of paracord, both pieces of paracord are weakened because of their knots and because the hammock is at an angle.
So long as you are very lightweight, lie down in the hammock very carefully and don’t swing around, the paracord should hold up. But it would only take one wrong moment for the paracord to snap!
Can I use 550 paracord for climbing?
Paracord should never be used for climbing, rappelling or rescue. Type III (550) paracord only has a breaking strength of 2.4kN. Even type IV (750) paracord is too weak for climbing. It will easily snap when dynamic force is applied to it. Ropes used for climbing will have a breaking strength of at least 9kN and ropes for rescue are even stronger than this.
There are various standards for rescue ropes and safety lines. These include:
National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA)
OSHA
European Standard 1891
For example, NFPA has a minimum breaking strength of 4,500lbs and maximum working load of 300lbs for a one-person rope. OSHA requires at least 5,000lbs of strength for most safety lines. If you want a rescue rope, look for one which is certified by one of these groups.
The bottom line? Paracord has many uses – but climbing or pulling people to safety aren’t among them. If you need rope for rescue, then get rope which meets the minimum safety standards.
Quick answer: 550 paracord is rated to hold 550lbs of static weight and has a safe working load
safe working load
Working Load Limit (WLL) is the maximum working load designed by the manufacturer. This load represents a force that is much less than that required to make the lifting equipment fail or yield. The WLL is calculated by dividing MBL by a safety factor (SF).
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Working_load_limit
Paracord is very strong for its thickness. This paracord comes in a simple easily recyclable box which states that this paracord has 100 pound pull strength, 360 pounds working load, and 1100 pounds breaking point.
A Type I cord with a break strength of 95 pounds and 1 inner strand. A Type II cord with a break strength of 275 pounds and 5 inner strands. A Type II cord with a break strength of 325 pounds and 3 inner strands. A Type II cord with a break strength of 425 pounds and 3 inner strands.
This paracord has a Working Load Limit of 169 lb. Please do not confuse Working Load Limit with Breaking Strength of a paracord. Working load limit is always a lower value than the breaking strength of a rope and the maximum allowed weight that the paracord can handle under normal conditions.
Braided utility rope is capable of supporting up to 300 lbs. of weight, but the paracord's unique layered design makes it the strongest of them all. This rope can safely support up to 550 pounds of weight without breaking.
Historically associated with airborne units and divisions, paracord is not used as cordage for modern "square" parachutes. However, it continues to be used by many military units in almost any situation where light cordage is needed.
Can Paracord Support body weight/hold a person? Yes, if you are not moving and do not weigh 500 lbs. However, if you are moving or falling, a single strand of paracord will definitely break under the weight of an average sized adult.
550 paracord is rated to hold 550lbs of static weight and has a safe working load of around 110lbs. This is strong enough to tie down tents, tie ridgeline for a shelter, fix shoelaces, and do many other tasks.
The 1100 Paracord is a durable and strong cordage for heavy-duty tasks at camp or in the field. With 5.5 mm thickness and 16 inner strands, it is twice as strong as regular 550 paracord. Perfect for securing shelter and gear, it can be used to tie down luggage, tarps, tents, or equipment on vehicles, kayaks, and rafts.
Kevlar® (Aramid) Paracord is more durable, over two times stronger and heat resistant to 900 degrees Fahrenheit when comparing it to regular or Mil Spec 550 Parachute Cord (Paracord).
Real US 550 paracord (like the kind sold by SgtKnots.com) can take 550 pounds of static tension before breaking. #36 tarred twine is a touch weaker, it's true, but its 320-pound breaking point is plenty strong for almost all survival and camping applications.
For example, the most commonly used "Paracord Type III" is also called "550 Paracord" because it has a breaking load of 550 lbs. (249 kg). In addition to Type III, Type II is also widely used for more elegant knotwork and 'Type I' and 'Micro' are often used as an accessory cord.
Show Police support while carrying around life-saving rope during emergencies. Extremely practical for officers in the field who need to quickly react to situations. A Paracord Bracelet is recommended to be worn at all times.
Paracord bracelets actually started as a way for service members and first responders to carry extra cord in a lightweight, compact manner. A paracord bracelet is made out of paracord, or “550 cord”. Paracord was originally used in parachutes during World War II.
Slightly thicker than our 550 cord, 750 paracord is 26% stronger than 550 cord. It is used for countless projects such as belts, leashes, emergencies, and heavier duty projects. 550 Paracord is the most used, dependable, tough and long lasting cord we offer.
Ironheart 550 paracord comes in 100 feet and is perfect for tie-downs, paracord bracelets, lanyards, tent tie-downs, wrapping knives, and many other outdoor projects. Since all of our 550 paracord is gutted, its static strength rating is reduced to under 250 pounds.
The components of all-nylon Paracord make it weather resistant, meaning it will not rot or mildew. The strength of this compact cord gets the 550 term from its ability to withstand 550 lbs. of weight. Paracord is used in survival situations, emergency situations, self defense, and every day uses.
If you melt the cut ends of your paracord (which is a great way to keep it from unraveling), you already know the material is somewhat flammable. Whether your cord is made from nylon or polyester, both of these plastics will burn once they are hot enough.
This is Genuine MIL-C-5040 Type III Parachute Cord is the official product used by the U.S. Military. Its military designation is MIL-C-5040 Type III and has a rated strength of 550 lbs. This Genuine Paracord is Made in the USA and is offered here in multiple colors and sizes.
Paracord, of course. A paracord dog toy will be the ultimate test for your dog, entertaining it as it tries for hours on end to chew through the resistant cordage. Finally, you'll have a toy that can withstand more than a few days of torment.
Paracord is such a great material for making a leash. It's durable and strong, and now you can purchase cord material in just about any color. The dog leash is a fun project, and once you get started, it's easy to do.
I've worked with this stuff in some fairly heavy lifting situations before, mostly with ham radio antennas, and it seemed to have a little stretch over time, but it was days between tensioning the first few times, and then it stopped stretching all together.
Take your survival paracord and wrap it around the limb, cushioning, and hard object. Tie a knot that is strong enough for a secure hold, but not too tight to where it limits blood flow. Tie knots above and below the broken bone, or in the cases of joint injuries, above and below the affected joint.
Buying paracord bracelets in a store will usually cost you $5-10 each! You can make at least 5 of your own bracelets for the cost of a single, premade one—and the paracord will be better quality too!
Bigger and better than 550 paracord, 750 is the strongest tactical paracord available. Slightly thicker than 550 paracord, 750 paracord is 26% stronger. It is used for countless projects such as belts, leashes, emergencies, and heavier duty projects.
ParaMax is the newest and strongest in the world of "paracord". With a tensile strength of 1000+ pounds and a diameter of 1/4" (6mm), it acts more as a very high quality rope than paracord. Like paracord, ParaMax is made from the same 100% nylon fibers which give it a great "soft" feel and a nice clean look.
550 paracord can be used to aid in climbing by performing a variety of tasks. If left with absolutely no other option, 550 paracord (doubled up) can serve as an emergency only rappelling rope that will likely get you to safety if proper caution and technique is used.
If you do not have tree straps, you can use paracord to secure your hammock to the tree and carabiners to hook up your hammock. Attach the other end to your prussick loop. Your hammock should be stretched tight at this point.
The way to tell if a paracord is fake is to cut it and count the strands; some companies will only have 2-3 strands inside, will real paracord (like this one) will have 8 strands.
The strands are twisted in groups of two to form the 7 strands commonly cited. A braided nylon outer sheath contains and protects the cordage inside. 7 strands made up on two strings each for a rating of 35 pounds.
see less TITAN Paracord will float initially due to any air trapped in the Nylon strands, but will then slowly sink. Nylon is denser than water and so is negatively buoyant. If your looking for a paracord that will float, you'll need to buy some cheaper commercial stuff that is not MIL-C-5040 compliant.
The Double Fisherman. This knot is sometimes known as the strongest knot. It is probably the very best way to join two ropes end to end. It's extremely secure, and it won't weaken the rope to the same extent as many other joining knots ("bends").
Nylon ropes are the strongest variety of all the common types of rope. Their synthetic material allows them to lift extremely heavy loads. It's also very flexible and stretchy, returning to its original shape after stretching. Nylon rope also is an ideal choice when shock resistance matters.
Technora, which is an aramid made from two diamines, has many high-performance properties.It is heat and chemical resistant, and it is said to be much stronger than steel. Due to Technoras' extreme durability and strength, the fiber is used often in industrial applications.
A type III paracord is commonly referred to as a “550 paracord”. With seven to nine core yarns, type III has either a 32/1 or 36/1 sheath structure. This is an ideal choice for the majority of survival tasks. Type IV is a very strong cord, with a minimum strength of 750 pounds and a minimum of 165 feet per pound.
Paracord is very strong for its thickness. This paracord comes in a simple easily recyclable box which states that this paracord has 100 pound pull strength, 360 pounds working load, and 1100 pounds breaking point.
95 Paracord is thinner and made for smaller projects and crafts such as creating jewelry (bracelets & necklaces) and lanyards. The ends of the cord can be melted to keep it from fraying and ruining unused cording.
This 550 Paracord is an essential for anyone passionate about the outdoors and preparedness. Formulated with seven strands of strong and durable fibres, it is capable of sustaining up to 550 lbs of weight, making it perfect for the most demanding camping, backpacking and survival tasks.
Description. 550 Type III paracord is the most well-known cord used by the US military. The 7 inner strands are made up of high strength fibers guarantee the cord's high tensile strength (550 pounds) and durability; which is an impressive feat due to its small size.
Type III (550) paracord only has a breaking strength of 2.4kN. Even type IV (750) paracord is too weak for climbing. It will easily snap when dynamic force is applied to it. Ropes used for climbing will have a breaking strength of at least 9kN and ropes for rescue are even stronger than this.
Kevlar® (Aramid) Paracord is more durable, over two times stronger and heat resistant to 900 degrees Fahrenheit when comparing it to regular or Mil Spec 550 Parachute Cord (Paracord).
Nano Paracord is our thinnest cord but it has no shortage of great uses. It's small size means that large amounts can be packed into a very small space. This little cord can be used for crafting smaller bracelets and jewelry, as well as for certain emergency situations where a high strength rating is not necessary.
The word 'Paracord' comes from its use by American paratroopers during the Second World War. After a parachute landing the cord would be cut from the parachute and used for all kinds of applications. Because of its popularity today the cord is available in many variants of varying quality.
What Is Battle Cord? Battle Cord is just like our trusted 550 paracord, only stronger. Battlecord is crafted with a tough outer sheath and seven inner strands of true static core, each tested at 350 pounds of tensile strength, which can be pulled out for additional cordage when needed.
Address: Apt. 915 481 Sipes Cliff, New Gonzalobury, CO 80176
Phone: +6773780339780
Job: Sales Executive
Hobby: Gaming, Jogging, Rugby, Video gaming, Handball, Ice skating, Web surfing
Introduction: My name is Carmelo Roob, I am a modern, handsome, delightful, comfortable, attractive, vast, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
