Galvanized Steel Wire (GI Wire) – Electro & Hot-Dip

Galvanized low-carbon steel wire for binding rebar, fencing, wire mesh, cable armouring, nails and handicrafts. Available electro-galvanized (bright, economical) or hot-dip galvanized (heavy zinc, long outdoor life) in 0.3–5 mm.

Product	Galvanized low-carbon steel wire
Type	Electro-galvanized / hot-dip galvanized
Diameter	0.3 – 5.0 mm (BWG 8 – 30)
Zinc coating	Electro 8–50 g/m²; hot-dip 40–300 g/m²
Tensile strength	350 – 1,200 MPa
Base material	Q195, Q235, SAE1006, SAE1008
Standards	ASTM A641, EN 10244-2, JIS G3547, ISO 7989
Coil weight	0.5 kg – 800 kg
Packing	Plastic film + woven bag / hessian, on pallets; seaworthy
MOQ	5 tons
Delivery	15 – 21 days
Loading port	Tianjin / Qingdao

Electro-galvanized or hot-dip galvanized?

	Electro-galvanized (cold galvanized)	Hot-dip galvanized
Zinc coating	8 – 50 g/m²	40 – 300 g/m²
Surface	Bright, smooth, even	Duller, thicker, slightly rough
Corrosion life	Indoor or short-term outdoor	Many years outdoors
Typical use	Rebar binding, handicrafts, hangers, nail wire	Fencing, chain-link, gabions, vineyard wire, armouring
Price	Lower	Higher (more zinc)

For tying rebar on a construction site, electro-galvanized BWG 18–21 binding wire is the market standard. For fences and gabions that stand in the weather for years, specify hot-dip wire with at least 60 g/m² of zinc (heavier for coastal sites).

Wire gauge chart (BWG to mm)

BWG	Diameter (mm)	Weight (kg/km)	Length per kg (m)
8	4.19	108.2	9.2
10	3.40	71.3	14.0
12	2.77	47.3	21.1
14	2.11	27.5	36.4
16	1.65	16.8	59.6
18	1.24	9.5	105.5
20	0.89	4.9	204.8
21	0.81	4.1	247.2
22	0.71	3.1	321.8

Weights are calculated for bare steel (7.85 g/cm³); the zinc layer adds less than 1%. Actual diameters follow the tolerance of the standard, typically ±0.02–0.05 mm.

Tensile strength options

Soft annealed (350–500 MPa): twists easily by hand or with a tying tool; used for binding wire.
Medium (500–800 MPa): fencing line wire, mesh welding and nail making.
High tensile (1,000 MPa and above): high-tensile fence wire, ACSR and cable armouring.

Coils and packing

We wind the wire to suit how you sell it:

Small coils of 0.5–25 kg for hardware retail, wrapped in plastic film and hessian or woven bags.
Rebar-tie coils of 1–2 kg, or pre-cut U-type tie wire.
Spools, and large coils of 50–800 kg for mesh and nail factories.
Pallets or bundles with your label, printed in English, French or Arabic.

Base material is Q195 or SAE1008 low-carbon wire rod. Standards can be quoted to ASTM A641, EN 10244-2, JIS G3547 or ISO 7989 on request. Delivery time is 15–21 days, and wire is loaded at Tianjin or Qingdao.

Frequently asked questions

Which gauge is used for tying rebar?

BWG 18 (1.24 mm) is the most common, and BWG 20–21 (0.8–0.9 mm) is used with tying tools and for light mesh. Soft annealed wire is preferred because it twists easily without breaking.

How many metres are in a 25 kg coil of BWG 18 wire?

About 2,640 metres, because BWG 18 weighs roughly 9.5 kg per km.

Can you print our brand on the coil label?

Yes. We make custom labels, bag printing and carton marking for distributors, with a minimum of one container per design.

What zinc coating should I choose for fencing wire?

Choose at least 60 g/m² hot-dip coating for inland fences, and 200 g/m² or more for coastal or high-humidity areas.