How Many Types of Cable Ties Are There?

How many types of zip tie there are depends on how you classify them. Cable ties classification can generally be thought about using five different grouping systems.

  1. Type Classification – come from various manufacturer’s standardization guidelines
  2. Material Types – what the zip ties are made from
  3. Design – basic structure of the ziptie that influences how it functions
  4. Performance Ratings – how well they tolerate different conditions
  5. Size – both the length and width of the cable tie

Let’s look at each of these ways zip ties can be classified in more detail.

What Are the Types of Cable Tie Based on Compliance Standards?

Type classifications of zip ties are defined by compliance standards set by various industries. For instance, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) sets out what requirements zip ties must meet to be appropriate for use in electrical work in guidelines from UL 62275. The six types defined in this way are:

  1. Type 1 – Composite or nonmetallic ties that show full declared tensile loop strength during normal use and at least 50% of tensile loop strength in specific adverse conditions.
  2. Type 11 – Type 1 ties that show improved tensile loop strength in adverse conditions, which results in more lifetime reliability.
  3.  Type 2 – Metallic ties that retain 100% of declared tensile loop strength in test conditions.
  4. Type 21 – Type 2 ties that use pre-qualified materials that increase the reliability.
  5. Type 2S – Type 2 metallic ties that are rated for supporting conduit and cables in building construction to meet installation codes.
  6. Type 21S – Type 21 ties that are rated for supporting conduit and cables in building construction to meet installation codes.

What Are the Different Types of Zip Ties By Material?

Usually zip ties are made from one of the following six material types:

  • Aluminum
  • Fabric
  • Nylon
  • PTFE
  • PVC
  • Stainless Steel

How Do I Choose a Cable Tie Based on Type of Design? 

Although you might think of a standard cable tie as only coming in one design, there are actually 11 different category types available. These are:

Which Cable Ties are Strongest Under Different Types of Conditions?

Performance rating categories in cable ties are used to show how various factors might affect the loop tensile strength of a zip tie. Choosing the correct type of performance rated tie is especially important to consider if you are using a zip tie that will be exposed to heavy loads, extreme temperatures, high UV light, corrosive materials or fire.

  • Mechanical – A way of rating zip ties based on minimum loop tensile strength, measured when locked. This is often given in pounds.
  • Thermal – The minimum and maximum temperatures at which a zip tie will perform consistently or can be installed are given for different types of ties. Standard polyamide zip ties should be used between 176°F and 14°F (85°C and -10°C).
  • Environmental – Exposure to UV light and corrosive materials are environmental conditions cable ties are rated for. They may be labeled as ‘for outdoor use’ or ‘for indoor use’ according to their UV resistance. An optional declaration can be made for resistance to corrosion on metallic ties where applicable.
  • Fire Effects – A baseline level of flame resistance is expected and required for all zip ties used in electrical systems where sparks could ignite flammable materials. These will be categorized as non-flame propagating in North American standards. All metallic zip ties are considered inherently non-flame propagating.

Are There Different Sizes of Zip Ties by Length?

Zip ties come in a wide range of lengths, which allows you to find the right one for your job. There are over 20 standard lengths in zip ties, from 4”- 60”.

What Are the Standard Cable Tie Sizes by Width?

The width of a cable tie will have a big impact on its strength. For instance, an 8” zip tie made from UV resistant Nylon 6/6 with a width of 2.5mm has a tensile strength of 18 lbs. An 8” zip tie of the same material with a width of 4.5 mm has a tensile strength of 75 lbs. 

The standard widths available in zip ties are:

  • 2.5mm
  • 3.6mm
  • 4.5mm
  • 4.6mm
  • 4.8mm
  • 7.9mm
  • 8.5mm
  • 9mm

ZipTie.com: Your Source for Cable Ties

We have an wide range of cable ties all in one place to make it easy to explore all your options and find just the right zip tie for your needs. Whether you need just a few or are ordering thousands, we have customizable options and wholesale prices. 

Our ties are manufactured with high quality materials, like premium nylon 6/6. Browse our catalog today to see all we have to offer.

Shopping Cart