Sep 16, 2026News & Insights
Steel Wire Rope Construction Types Explained
Construction tells you how a wire rope is built: strand count, wires per strand, core and contact type. Here is how to read the notation and why it decides how the rope behaves.
Two ropes can share a diameter and a finish and still behave completely differently. The reason is the construction: how many strands the rope has, how many wires are in each strand, what the core is made of, and how the wires touch.how to choose the right steel wire rope.
How to Read a Wire Rope Notation
Construction is written as two numbers, then the core. In 6x19 + FC, the 6 is the outer strand count, the 19 is the wires in each strand, and FC is the core. Two rules cover most of it: more wires per strand means thinner wires, so the rope bends more easily but resists abrasion less; fewer but thicker wires, as in 6x7, make a stiffer rope that stands up better to wear.
The Main Construction Families
Single strand: 1x7, 1x19, 1x37
A single strand of seven, nineteen or thirty-seven wires with no outer strands. These are stiff, and are used for static tension work such as guy lines, not for running over sheaves.
Six strand: 6x7, 6x19, 6x36, 6x37
The workhorse family. 6x7 is the stiffest and generally the most abrasion-resistant, suited to straight pulls and rough conditions. 6x19 is the most common general-purpose construction in practice. 6x36 and 6x37 bend easily and suit rope that runs over sheaves and drums. For a worked example of one construction, see our 6x7 FC wire rope guide.
Eight strand and rotation-resistant: 8x7, 8x19, 8x19S, 8x25Fi, 8x37, 35Wx7
Eight-strand constructions spread load over more strands. Rotation-resistant types such as 35Wx7 are used where a single-part hoist must not spin under load, common on cranes and installations with a free-hanging hook. Contact type matters too: in point-contact ropes such as 6x7 the wires touch at points, while line-contact and compacted constructions spread the contact over a wider area, improving fatigue life. We compare the two cores in FC vs IWRC core comparison.
Our Standard Construction Range
Our range covers single strand 1x37; six-strand 6x7, 6x19, 6x19S, 6x36WS and 6x37; eight-strand 8x7, 8x19, 8x19S, 8x25Fi and 8x37; and rotation-resistant 35Wx7 - in fiber (FC), wire strand (WRC) or independent wire rope (IWRC) core, in carbon or stainless steel. To specify: 6x19 where the rope runs over sheaves, 6x36 or 6x37 where bending is severe, 6x7 for straight static pulls in abrasive conditions, and a rotation-resistant construction where a single-part hoist must not rotate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 6x19 mean on a wire rope?
Six outer strands, each made of nineteen wires. The first number is always the strand count in this notation and the second the wires per strand, so 6x7, 6x36 and 8x19 all read the same way.
What are the main types of steel wire rope construction?
Single strand (1x7, 1x19, 1x37), six strand (6x7 through 6x37, the workhorse family), and eight strand or rotation-resistant types (8x19, 8x25Fi, 8x37, 35Wx7).
What is the difference between wire rope structure and construction?
They mean the same thing. Structure, construction and lay are all used for how the strands and wires are arranged.
Which construction is most flexible?
Flexibility rises with the number of wires per strand. 6x36 and 6x37 bend more easily than 6x19, which in turn is more flexible than 6x7.
Choosing between constructions is easier with a second opinion. Send us your application and required specification, and we will confirm the most suitable construction from our standard range.