Oct 26, 2026News & Insights
Passing Link Chain: What It Is and Where to Use It
A general purpose chain form sold by size and length, usually low carbon steel and zinc plated. What it is for, how to specify it, and why it is not a lifting chain.
A passing link chain is one of the general purpose chain forms - the everyday commercial chain sold by size and length, usually in low carbon steel with a zinc finish. It is not a grade-marked lifting product, and the form itself says nothing about capacity. What it is good at is utility work: general purpose jobs, transport and towing, and the many places where a plain commercial chain is the right tool.
What the Form Is
The form is a general purpose steel chain, typically low carbon steel, with a zinc plated or electro galvanized finish for a bright appearance and basic corrosion protection. Its links are proportioned so the chain can be connected with standard hardware - shackles, connecting links and other fittings - which is what makes it practical for general work where a chain has to be joined, shortened or fitted with an end fitting. It sits with the commercial forms rather than among the lifting grades.
Where It Fits
It suits general purpose work, transport and towing, and general utility applications - the everyday duties where a plain commercial chain is wanted. The zinc finish makes it reasonable for outdoor use where a bright appearance and basic protection are enough, but it is not a substitute for a chain chosen for a corrosive environment. Where the chain has to be assembled with fittings, the form's proportions are the practical advantage.
What It Is Not
It is not a lifting chain. A lifting assembly needs grade-marked lifting chain, with fittings rated to match, and the link form of a general purpose chain does not change that. Nor is the form a strength claim: a passing link chain is a commercial chain, and it should be sized for the load like any other general purpose chain. Reading a chain's grade marking, and knowing which regime the chain belongs to, matters more than the shape of its links.
How to Specify It
Three answers do most of the work. The size, chosen for the load and for the fittings the chain will connect to. The finish, chosen for the exposure - zinc plated for general and outdoor use where basic protection is enough. And the length, in the form the packing allows. If the chain is going onto equipment, say what it connects to, because the fittings at each end are part of what the chain has to suit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is passing link chain a lifting chain?
No. It is a general purpose commercial chain form. Lifting requires grade-marked lifting chain with rated fittings, whatever the shape of the links.
What is passing link chain used for?
General purpose work, transport and towing, and general utility applications - typically where a plain commercial chain is wanted and has to be joined or fitted with standard hardware.
Does the link form make the chain stronger?
No. The form is about how the chain connects, not about capacity. Size the chain to the load as you would any general purpose chain, and do not treat the shape as a strength rating.
Boyuan Metal supplies zinc plated passing link chain in the American standard general purpose form, along with the other commercial chain forms. Tell us the size, the finish and the duty, and we will confirm the chain and the packing.