Barbed wire is sold by the kilo and used by the metre. IS 278:2009 fixes the weight of every size, so the conversion is exact — here it is, with a calculator for strands, reels and posts.
The common 2.50 mm barbed wire with barbs every 75 mm (IS 278 size 1) weighs 136–155 g per metre: 1 kg is 6.5–7.4 m, a 25 kg reel is 161–184 m and 50 kg is 323–368 m. With barbs every 150 mm (size 2), 1 kg is 8.3–9.3 m.
Uses the middle of the IS 278 weight range for the size. Add a few percent for tying off at posts and corners.
| Size | Line / point wire (mm) | Barbs every | g per metre | Metres per kg | Metres in 25 kg | Metres in 50 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.50 / 2.50 | 75 mm | 136–155 | 6.5–7.4 | 161–184 | 323–368 |
| 2 | 2.50 / 2.50 | 150 mm | 108–120 | 8.3–9.3 | 208–231 | 417–463 |
| 3 | 2.50 / 2.00 | 75 mm | 108–125 | 8.0–9.3 | 200–231 | 400–463 |
| 4 | 2.50 / 2.00 | 150 mm | 89–103 | 9.7–11.2 | 243–281 | 485–562 |
| 5 | 2.24 / 2.00 | 75 mm | 97–106 | 9.4–10.3 | 236–258 | 472–515 |
| 6 | 2.24 / 2.00 | 150 mm | 78–85 | 11.8–12.8 | 294–321 | 588–641 |
Weights are the minimum and maximum in IS 278:2009 Table 1. Closer barbs mean more point wire, so size 1 (75 mm) is heavier per metre than size 2 (150 mm) on the same line wire.
Barbed wire is still ordered by gauge. 12 gauge is about 2.5 mm — IS 278’s 2.50 mm line wire; 13 gauge is about 2.24 mm; 14 gauge is about 2.0 mm, IS 278’s point wire for sizes 3 to 6. A “12 × 14” barbed wire is 2.50 mm line wire with 2.00 mm points — IS 278 size 3 or 4.
Order by designation, e.g. Steel Barbed Wire, A-1 IS 278: Type A (Iowa), size 1. Barbed wire → · HSN 7313 00 10, 18% GST.
6.5 to 7.4 m for 2.50 mm wire with barbs every 75 mm (IS 278 size 1); up to about 12.8 m for the lightest size (2.24 mm wire, barbs every 150 mm).
161 to 184 m for IS 278 size 1 (2.50 mm, barbs at 75 mm); 208 to 231 m for size 2 (barbs at 150 mm).
From 78 to 155 g per metre depending on size, as set in IS 278:2009 Table 1.
Fence length × number of strands, plus a few percent for tying off. 100 m with five strands is 500 m — about 73 kg of size 1 wire, or three 25 kg reels.
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