Barbed wire is a simple and cost-effective livestock fencing solution. But what many farmers may not realize is that not all barbed wire is equal. A quick trip to the farm store will reveal a number of different options, ranging from different metals to different gauges of barbed wire.
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For some, these options pose more questions–leaving farmers unsure of which wire to choose.
When it comes to barbed wire–here’s what you need to know: the key differences are in the gauge or size of the wire and the carbon content in the composition of the steel.
Let’s take a closer look at how 12.5-gauge low carbon barbed wire measures up to 14-gauge high tensile barbed wire.
What is Barbed Wire?
Barbed wire is a material for perimeters and certain types of livestock. It features zinc-coated wire with barbs–or twisted protrusions – that deter animals from climbing or pushing through the fence line.
It’s a lower-cost alternative to electric or woven field fencing. While barbed wire is often used as a standalone fencing material on farms, you’ll also find this wire used as a topper for woven fences or as a reinforcement to prevent climbing in commercial and military security applications.
How Wire Strength is Determined
There are two key factors that determine how strong or durable a wire product is. The first is the gauge – this number measures the size of the wire. What you need to know is that a higher number means a smaller diameter, so 14-gauge barbed wire is thinner and lighter than 12.5-gauge barbed wire.
In addition to the size of the wire, there are also key differences in the composition of the wire. Specifically, the carbon content in the metal. A low carbon content typically means that the steel is pliable and easy to stretch while a high carbon content is associated with strength.
To better understand how surface area and carbon content affect the strength and durability of wire fencing, we use American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) ratings. Using controlled, repeated tests, each material is provided a break-strength rating that roughly translates to how much force it takes to break the wire. These ratings can help you quickly determine which fencing materials are appropriate for your needs.
Types of Barbed Wire
Barbed wire comes in two different key varieties–low-carbon and high-tensile. The majority of barbed wire found in agriculture applications is made from low-carbon steel, providing a strong but supple material known for its flexibility and resistance to breakage.
By contrast, high-tensile wire contains more carbon, which makes the steel inherently stronger. This allows for a thinner, lighter wire with comparable strength.
12.5 Gauge Barbed Wire: What You Need to Know
This is the most common gauge of barbed wire found on farms. It’s suitable for most animals, offering up to 1,000 pounds of break-strength. This classic-style barbed wire features a low carbon content that makes the wire easy to work with.
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Best Uses
Typical barbed wire fencing, like the 12.5-gauge barbed wire designed and sold by Red Brand, features a double-strand reverse twist design made from high-quality, low-carbon steel. This is a good choice for many kinds of livestock.
We recommend the two-point Defender barbed wire for large-area confinement where cattle, bison, or hogs have plenty of room to roam. For tighter areas of confinement, the four-point Ruthless design offers a little more reinforcement.
Benefits of Traditional 12.5 Gauge Wire
Choose 12.5-gauge low carbon wire to create sturdy, durable perimeter fencing solutions for cattle, bison, or hogs. This type of fencing features a flexible wire that is easy to work with, offering a little stretch that bulks up the durability of the fence. The stretch ensures that the wires are less likely to break when an animal comes into contact with the fence–which can be effective for preventing fence failure.
What to Consider
Typical 12.5-gauge barbed wire is made from zinc-coated low-carbon steel. It’s durable enough to provide a sturdy perimeter fence reinforced with sharp barbs spaced every four-to-five inches apart and does not require complex tensioning.
14 Gauge High Tensile Barbed Wire: What You Need to Know
High-tensile barbed wire appeals to some farmers due to its increased break strength, offering up to 1,600 lbs. of resistance. The high carbon content of the steel provides inherent strength. The wire is also thinner and lighter than its low carbon counterpart, which means it holds up well with fewer t-posts.
Best Uses
When 14-gauge wire is used on the farm, it’s made from high-tensile steel, which allows for a lighter, but stronger wire that offsets the thinner gauge. This wire makes a good choice for perimeter fencing to keep wildlife out and interior fencing to keep livestock like cattle contained.
Benefits of 14 Gauge Wire
While thinner and lighter than traditional barbed wire, 14-gauge high tensile wire can provide more strength and durability when properly tensioned. This type of wire fence provides up to 1,600 pounds of impact strength compared to the 1,000 pounds that double-strand 12.5-gauge barbed wire offers.
What to Consider
High-tensile wire requires proper tension and can be more difficult to install and maintain. While it does provide a stronger barrier in terms of force-per-square-inch, it’s also far less flexible. This means an impact from an animal is much more likely to down a high-tensile fence line, even if the fence can ultimately withstand greater force, causing the potential for catastrophic fence failure and serious injury from cut wires.
How to Choose the Right Barbed Wire
Choosing the right fencing material requires a careful assessment of priorities like budget, herd characteristics, type of animal, and geography. The most common choice for modern barbed wire is still the same as it was in the s when early settlers began setting up livestock farms across the western US–low carbon 12.5-gauge barbed wire. It’s cost-effective, strong, and offers a low-maintenance barrier that works for many kinds of animals.
Central KSDoes anybody have a recommendation on who makes the best barbed wire these days? We have used Red Brand for decades and loved it, but I have serious doubts about them recently. Last fall I bought a roll of their barbless cable for tying up panels. It work hardened terribly. I could twist it up one time and then if I needed to undo it to move the panel it would just break off at the twist. These were just hand twists, not really tight with pliers. Reading reviews for barbed wire on the TSC website, someone else mentioned exactly the same thing with their newer barbed wire.
We have used a little OK in the past. It was not very good, but at least it was better than the newer Red Brand. Is there another maker out there that is better than either of those two?
We have always used 12 gauge and would like to stick with it. I'm not entirely opposed to trying a high tensile wire, but Dad used some years ago and had so much trouble with it that he is completely against it.
NE OregonOur forest service range guy said when he buys barbed wire the thing he finds is how much does the roll weigh. And a he found if he orders bulk and specifically asks for the heaviest rolls they have, they often deliver lighter wire, like they know they can get away with it because nobody really thinks a company like red brand has more than one kind of barbed wire. He did mention redbrand as being one that did that to him. Said it seemed like it didn't matter so much the brand as making sure you get the heaviest wire they have. He said the actual pounds he looks for but I can't recall at the moment.
Southern IAI would think a slightly lighter weight roll with a really high quality galvanizing would be superior to a heavy roll with a low quality galvanizing job. Red Brand has been the go to brand for years.
Glasford, IL.We use all Red Brand here. I bought several rolls of OK several years back because it was cheaper. It was crap. It did not stretch well. And has rusted way worse than the Red Brand. You can tell exactly were it is in comparison. Just my opinion though.
Everyone's quality has gone to hell, including Red Brand although they are still probably the best. Same goes for t-posts.
We pay more for em but we're still getting an inferior product compared to those of yesterday
South TexasGaucho. Getting hard to find it, lots of places will try to give a generic instead, ask for gaucho and when I go to load it's OK or something and have to get a refund. Cedar posts are a pain to buy now too. Takes way too long driving all over the where to find decent fence material.Last year we put in a new 5 strand perimeter fence around a woods with all Red Brand barb wire. It has to be the cheapest wire I've ever used in my life. Like previous posters stated it wouldn't even tighten up nicely, had more cows out in a "new" fence then I've ever had out before. Seriously looking for a different supplier as I was always under the impression red brand was the best. We've fixed multiple spots where the wire just decided it was going to snap in half.
Eastern IowaGaucho is the nastiest dang stuff to work with, but it will outlast any post. It is high tensile with hardened barbs. Been using it exclusively here for the past 25+ years and most looks new yet, only complaint is how a guy goes about replacing the posts when the time comes. I hate getting too close to it.
sc ia+1 on the Gaucho. Besides lasting longer the cows don't stick their heads through it as much.
SW, MissouriI like gaucho about all I've ever put up, have done redbrand on some custom jobs and it was always corroded and the last would have big gaps 5-10' with no barbs. Also bigger wire is heavy and sags over time if posts are too far apart. I have recently finished a job using 14 gauge herdsman brand which is similar to stay tuff, I'm a big fan of that wire.
North Central TexasI use sheffield or ok wire. Don't buy the commercial grade which is what most places stock. OK has a grey tag for class 3 premium that is as good as any.
Difference in weight is usually the barb type and the spacing.
Edited by ntexcotton 4/6/ 13:58
Depends on the day, otherwise SW Franklin Co, MOIf you have fence that gets flooded, Gaucho sucks. It is wound in different directions between each barb, and if it catches a log the barbs can slide down the wire, unwinding it. It also will not last if it gets buried in debris and you take your time getting around to fixing the fence. It is both higher-stressed (high tensile ) and smaller-diameter wire, so corrosion will weaken it fast if the galvanizing is breached. It is also very springy and wants to coil up when it's free, even after being stretched.
If it gets installed once and never touched again, it makes nice fence. It seems to make a tighter fence than Red Brand, and it is definitely more difficult to climb through.I really like working with the gaucho wire because its easier to get tight then the standard red brand wire and is also cheaper.
North ArkansasA few years ago one of my neighbors and I replaced a mile of fence between us. We split the expense and each of us bought wire, I bought 12 1/2 ga Red Brand and he bought 12 1/2 ga what he called OK brand. After 7 years you can really tell a difference. The Red brand is crap and is rusted pretty bad. The wire my neighbor bought still looks bright. As far as the way it stretched and spliced, I couldn't tell much difference.tj33
Posted 4/6/ 19:47 (# - in reply to #)
Subject: RE: Best barbed wireWater Boy - 4/6/ 17:24
If you have fence that gets flooded, Gaucho sucks. It is wound in different directions between each barb, and if it catches a log the barbs can slide down the wire, unwinding it. It also will not last if it gets buried in debris and you take your time getting around to fixing the fence. It is both higher-stressed (high tensile ) and smaller-diameter wire, so corrosion will weaken it fast if the galvanizing is breached. It is also very springy and wants to coil up when it's free, even after being stretched.
If it gets installed once and never touched again, it makes nice fence. It seems to make a tighter fence than Red Brand, and it is definitely more difficult to climb through.
Xplainsman53
Posted 4/6/ 21:19 (# - in reply to #)
Subject: RE: Best barbed wire
Oklahoma PanhandleI always liked CF&I wire. I've had people say you are wasting your time if you use anything else. Maybe OK next if you can't get it.landman
Posted 4/6/ 22:12 (# - in reply to #)
Subject: RE: Best barbed wireGaucho period, only barb wire to ever useDFRina
Posted 7/15/ 19:58 (# - in reply to #)
Subject: RE: Best barbed wireAs for the choice of barbed wire, you can try Chinese brands. There is a city in China called Anping, where there are many manufacturers. Dongfu barbed wire manufacturer is one of them. Their product quality is not a problem, because they have strict supervision on export products. And the price is relatively low because they are factory direct sales, not traders.