Sep 11, 2026News & Insights
G80 vs G100 Lifting Chain: Which Grade Should You Choose?
Grade 80 or grade 100 lifting chain? Both carry a 4:1 safety factor - the real question is strength-to-weight, fitting compatibility and cost. A practical comparison for buyers.
Grade 80 and grade 100 are the two grade-marked lifting chain grades used in overhead lifting. Both are heat-treated alloy steel chains, and both carry a safety factor of 4. The practical question is not which one is 'better' but which one suits your load, your equipment and your working conditions.
The Short Answer
Choose grade 80 for general lifting duty - it is the most widely used lifting grade and the most widely supported by standard fittings. Choose grade 100 where weight matters, because grade 100 carries the same load in a smaller, lighter chain. If your existing lifting equipment (hooks, shackles, chain slings) is rated for grade 80, staying with grade 80 is usually the simplest route.
G80 vs G100 at a Glance
Property | Grade 80 | Grade 100 |
|---|---|---|
Material | Alloy steel (20CrNiMo / 20Mn2) | Alloy steel (22MnCrNi) |
Standard | GB/T 20947-2007 / ISO 3077:2001 | EN 818-2 |
Safety factor | 4:1 | 4:1 per EN 818-2 |
Strength-to-weight | Standard | Higher - smaller diameter for the same load |
Typical use | General lifting, lashing and cargo securement | Lifting where a lighter assembly is wanted |
Why Grade 100 Lets You Go Smaller
Grade 100 chain has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than grade 80. In practice that means a smaller diameter grade 100 chain can carry the same working load as a larger grade 80 chain. Where the assembly has to be carried, where the lifting point is tight, or where payload is limited, that difference matters. Where it does not matter, grade 80 does the job at lower cost.
The Compatibility Point Most Buyers Miss
Every component in a lifting assembly must be rated for the grade of chain it is used with. Hooks, shackles and connecting links are marked with their own grade, and the assembly should be matched as a set. Using a fitting of a different or unknown grade in an assembly is a common and avoidable mistake. If you are building or replacing an assembly, tell us the complete set - chain, hooks and fittings - so the components match.
What Both Grades Have in Common
Both grades carry a safety factor of 4 times, both are heat-treated alloy steel, and both must be loaded within their rated working load limit with the load applied in line. Both need to be inspected periodically and taken out of service if the chain is stretched, cracked, or worn beyond the limit. The grade marking must remain legible; if it cannot be read, the chain should not be used for lifting.
Our Lifting Chain Range
We supply both grade 80 lashing and lifting chain and grade 100 EN 818-2 lifting chain, together with the matched hooks, shackles and connecting components. Send us the working load, the lifting equipment and the environment and we will confirm the grade, the diameter and the fittings.
Tell us the application and we will recommend the grade and diameter.