Barbed Wire & Razor Wire Buying Guide: Galvanized vs PVC-Coated — How to Specify Security Fencing by Wire, Barb, and Roll
Barbed wire and razor wire look simple, but the wire diameter, zinc coating, barb spacing, and roll weight decide whether the fence lasts 3 years or 15. Cheap thin wire with light zinc rusts through in two seasons; over-specified razor tape doubles a border-project budget. Match the wire to the threat level and the environment, and the fence pays for itself.
This guide compares barbed vs razor (concertina) wire, coatings, specifications, and a complete RFQ checklist.
Barbed Wire vs Razor (Concertina) Wire
| Aspect | Barbed wire | Razor / concertina wire |
|---|---|---|
| Deterrence | Boundary + livestock control | High-security anti-climb/anti-cut |
| Form | 2–5 strands on posts | Coiled tape (BTO/CBT), often 450–980 mm dia. |
| Typical use | Farms, borders, perimeters | Prisons, military, critical infrastructure |
| Cost per meter | Low | 3–6x barbed |
Wire & Coating Guide
| Spec | Options | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Line wire | 1.6–2.8 mm (common 2.5 mm) | 2.5 mm the export default; 1.6 mm only for short farm runs |
| Barb wire | 1.6–2.2 mm, 4-point or 2-point | 4-point barbs hold livestock and deter better |
| Barb spacing | 75–150 mm (common 100 mm) | Denser spacing for security, wider for farm economy |
| Zinc coating | 40–275 g/m² | ≥120 g/m² humid zones; ≥200 g/m² coastal |
| PVC coating | Green/black over galvanized core | Estates and parks where looks matter |
Razor Wire Types (What BTO/CBT Mean)
- BTO-22: the standard concertina blade — prisons, borders, industrial sites.
- CBT-60 / CBT-65: longer barb tape for maximum deterrence on high walls.
- Flat-wrap vs concertina coil: flat-wrap for wall tops, concertina coils for ground barriers and multi-stack arrays.
- Core wire should be high-tensile (≥1400 MPa) galvanized — soft core wire sags and gaps within a year.
Roll Packing Buyers Should Confirm
- Barbed wire: 25 kg, 50 kg, or 200–500 m rolls — confirm meters per roll, not just weight.
- Razor coils: loops per roll, coil diameter, clips per loop (usually 3–5).
- Seaworthy packing: plastic film + woven bag + pallet; coils compressed and strapped.
Common Applications
- Farm, ranch, and border fencing (barbed strands).
- Prison, military, and substation perimeters (concertina stacks).
- Industrial yards and logistics parks (barbed + razor combos).
- Temporary security barriers and crowd control.
RFQ Checklist
- Type: barbed (strands) or razor (BTO/CBT + coil dia.)
- Wire dia., barb type, barb spacing
- Coating: zinc g/m² or PVC color
- Roll: meters/kg per roll, loops per coil, total quantity
- Destination / Incoterm
FAQ
How many strands for a farm fence? 3–4 strands for cattle, 5 for sheep/goats; posts every 3–5 m with stays.
What zinc weight for coastal fencing? At least 200 g/m² galvanized, or PVC-coated over a heavy-galvanized core.
Why did my wire rust in one year? Almost always light zinc (under 60 g/m²) on thin wire — specify the coating weight on the PO, not just “galvanized”.
Why Source Barbed & Razor Wire from Yihang Metal
Yihang Metal supplies galvanized and PVC-coated barbed wire and BTO/CBT razor concertina coils in export-standard rolls with verified wire diameter, barb spacing, and zinc weights from 40 to 275 g/m², each lot weighed and meter-checked before loading. Full containers typically ship in 20–30 days.
Ready to specify your security wire? Send us the type, wire diameters, barb spacing, coating, roll packing, and quantity, and we will confirm availability and lead time with a fixed-price quote. Email [email protected] or use the quote form on this page — our team replies within one business day.