Chain link mesh size, wire, heights and rolls: a buyer's reference
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Chain link mesh size is the size of each diamond, measured in mm between two parallel sides. IS 2721:2025 lists mesh of 10 to 54 mm on wire of 2.03 to 4.88 mm, heights of 0.91 to 3.66 m and rolls of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 m. SIMO Securon makes chain link to your size, in its own grades or to IS 2721 or EN 10223-6.
What is chain link mesh size?
Chain link, also called cyclone fence or jali, is sized by two things: the wire and the mesh.
- The mesh size is the size of each diamond, measured in mm between two parallel sides.
- The wire is measured across its diameter, in mm.
A smaller diamond keeps out smaller animals and uses more wire per square metre, so it weighs more and costs more. A thicker wire makes a stiffer mesh, and also weighs more. Height, roll length, coating and line wires complete the specification.
- The wire, measured across its diameter in mm
- The mesh size, measured across a diamond between two parallel sides
Chain link sizes in IS 2721 and EN 10223-6
IS 2721:2025 is the Indian Standard for chain link fence fabric. Its figures, in brief:
| What | IS 2721:2025 |
|---|---|
| Wire diameter | 2.03 to 4.88 mm |
| Mesh size | 10 to 54 mm in the main size table; larger mesh, up to 150 mm, in its other tables |
| Standard heights | 0.91 to 3.66 m |
| Custom heights | Up to 6.56 m |
| Widths | 0.90 to 3.00 m |
| Roll lengths | 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 m |
| Line wires | two line wires up to 2 m high, and three from 2.5 m |
| Galvanised wire (Class 1) | To IS 280, 400 to 550 MPa, with heavy zinc to IS 4826 |
EN 10223-6:2012, the European standard for chain link fencing, covers wire up to 5.00 mm and typical heights of 0.5 to 4.0 m. It calls wire up to 600 N/mm² low tensile and wire above it high tensile; see high tensile chain link.
SIMO Securon makes chain link to your size in its own grades, and builds any order to IS 2721:2025 or EN 10223-6:2012 when your specification calls for it. For thick wire on a tall fence, see heavy duty chain link.
Chain link wire gauge: ask for mm
Many quotations give the wire as a gauge number: “10 gauge”, “12 SWG” or “8 g”. Gauge systems differ, and sellers convert them differently, so the same gauge number can mean different wires. Both standards state wire in mm, and so should your quotation.
For reference, the imperial Standard Wire Gauge (SWG) gives these diameters:
| SWG | Wire diameter |
|---|---|
| 6 SWG | 4.88 mm |
| 8 SWG | 4.06 mm |
| 10 SWG | 3.25 mm |
| 12 SWG | 2.64 mm |
| 14 SWG | 2.03 mm |
IS 2721’s wire runs from 2.03 to 4.88 mm: from 14 SWG to 6 SWG. A lower gauge number is a thicker wire.
Chain link coating mass: what to ask for
The coating protects the wire, so its mass decides how long the fence lasts. It is stated in GSM, grams per square metre of wire surface.
- IS 2721:2025 Class 1 asks for heavy zinc to IS 4826, rising with the wire size: 260 g/m² at 2.24 to 2.8 mm, 270 at 2.8 to 3.55 mm, 280 at 3.55 to 4.0 mm and 290 at 4.0 to 5.0 mm.
- Chain link as commonly sold carries 40 to 60 GSM of zinc. Quotations often claim 120 GSM on 2.5 mm wire; what buyers receive is usually far lighter.
Ask any supplier for the coating type and its mass in writing. SIMO Securon’s grades state theirs:
| Grade | Coating | Rated life (C1 to C3, ISO 9223) |
|---|---|---|
| SIMO Securon Alpha | Zn-Al 90/10, 240 GSM minimum | 35+ years |
| SIMO Securon Zeta Nova | Zn-Al 90/10, 120 GSM | 20 years |
| SIMO Securon Pi | Zinc, 80 to 100 GSM, with topcoat | 10 years |
Rated life assumes correct installation; sites within 20 km of the coast, or chemically aggressive sites, need a site-specific recommendation. A grade is SIMO Securon’s own specification, so a grade order is not an IS 2721 order unless your specification names it; see GI chain link and zinc-aluminium chain link.
How much does chain link weigh per metre?
The weight of a running metre of chain link depends on the wire diameter, the mesh size, the height and the coating. Thicker wire and a smaller mesh both add weight. That is why a price per kg says little on its own: two meshes at the same price per kg can differ in wire, coating and metres per kg.
When a quotation is per kg, ask for the weight per running metre in writing, then compare the price per running metre of finished fence, with the posts. See chain link fencing price for what sets it.
How do you read a chain link quotation?
A complete quotation states each of these. If one is missing, ask for it in writing.
| The quotation should state | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Wire diameter, in mm | A gauge number alone can mean different wires |
| Mesh size, in mm | A smaller diamond uses more wire and weighs more |
| Height and roll length, in metres | They set how many rolls the boundary needs |
| Coating type and mass, in GSM | The coating decides how long the fence lasts |
| Wire tensile strength | Above 600 N/mm² is high tensile under EN 10223-6 |
| Standard and class, if any | IS 2721 Class 1, for example, sets the zinc by wire size |
| Line wires and posts | Chain link needs a post every 2.5 to 3 m |
| Price unit | Per kg, per sq ft, per roll or per running metre |
Coloured, PVC-coated chain link is a polymer-coated class of IS 2721 (Classes 2, 3a and 3b), which SIMO Securon sources and does not make.
How do you order chain link to size?
Tell us the wire, the mesh size, the height, the length and the grade, or the standard your specification names. Not sure of the size? Tell us what the fence must keep in or out, and we suggest one. SIMO inspects every order; external testing and third-party inspection are available on request, at extra cost.
It comes supply only, or supplied and installed by SIMO Securon’s crews anywhere in India; see chain link fence installation. For a long boundary, a fixed knot fence needs around half the posts of chain link. To see how many posts chain link needs on your boundary, beside a knotted fence, use the fencing cost estimator.
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Tell us the wire, mesh, height and length you need, the grade or standard, where it goes, and whether you want it installed. Add your specification or drawing if you have one, or book a call. Overseas enquiries are welcome; we reply in English.
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- We confirm the specification, quantity and delivery with you, and send a quotation.
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FAQ
Chain link size questions
What is the standard mesh size for chain link?
There is no single size. IS 2721:2025 lists mesh of 10 to 54 mm in its main size table, on wire of 2.03 to 4.88 mm, and larger mesh in its other tables. The right size depends on what the fence must keep in or out, and on its height. Tell us the job and we suggest a size.
What wire gauge is chain link?
IS 2721:2025 states chain link wire in mm, from 2.03 to 4.88 mm: about 14 SWG to 6 SWG on the imperial Standard Wire Gauge. Sellers convert gauge numbers differently, so ask for the wire diameter in mm.
How long is a chain link roll?
IS 2721:2025 gives roll lengths of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 m. Ask for the roll length in metres with the height and mesh size, so you can count the rolls for your boundary and compare quotations.
How many line wires does chain link need?
IS 2721:2025 asks for two line wires up to 2 m high, and three from 2.5 m. The line wires run along the posts and carry the mesh, so it stays straight between them.
How much does chain link weigh per metre?
It depends on the wire diameter, the mesh size, the height and the coating: thicker wire and a smaller mesh weigh more. When a quotation is per kg, ask for the weight per running metre in writing, so you can compare it with quotations per metre.
Send us your chain link size
Tell us the wire, mesh, height and length you need, or just the boundary and what it is for, and we confirm the size.