{"id":3967,"date":"2020-01-07T14:59:08","date_gmt":"2020-01-07T14:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oceanbluefishing.com\/magazine\/?p=3967"},"modified":"2022-11-01T18:14:02","modified_gmt":"2022-11-01T07:14:02","slug":"pe-rating-fishing-line-diameter-chart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oceanbluefishing.com\/magazine\/pe-rating-fishing-line-diameter-chart\/","title":{"rendered":"PE Line Rating – Fishing Line Diameter Chart"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since the advent of PE rating braided lines in the early 90’s, anglers worldwide began to have more success in casting and landing fish due to its thin diameter and incredible strength-to-diameter ratio. Back in the day, when these braided lines’ production was still being improved, some problems like durability, castability, and knot strength were prevalent. These days, modern manufacturing methods and decades of trial and error led to creating trusty braided fishing line.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is PE line rating?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

PE is an acronym that stands for polyethylene. When applied to fishing, the polyethylene or PE rating is one of the ways of ranking fishing line. Simply put, it is a rating method that measures the diameter and approximates the strength capacity of braided fishing lines\u2014as the only line type that uses ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originating from the Chinese and handed down to the Japanese for their “gouw” numbering system on traditional silk threads, PE ratings evolved into use for modern fishing line. This system now sets the standard for the diameter measurements of fishing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does PE Rating Help?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In picking the perfect fishing line, anglers almost always consider the diameter and breaking strain. But with the diameter and breaking strain differing from one spool of line to another, shopping for fishing line can be confusing and downright nasty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make it easier, manufacturers now provide the PE rating and the breaking strain on the labels. As a general rule of thumb: Advertised breaking strains are set at ten times the PE rating (so, a line with PE rating 5 will break at 50 lbs. at the very least), although most lines, including premium ones, almost always test well above these numbers.
For seasoned anglers, the table below can serve as your guide to the different fishing line diameters (in millimeters) averaged to the modern standard PE rating.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Test<\/th>8 lb<\/th>12 lb<\/th>15 lb<\/th>20 lb<\/th>30 lb<\/th>40 lb<\/th>50 lb<\/th>60 lb<\/th>80 lb<\/th>100 lb<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Diameter in mm<\/th>0.115<\/td>0.128<\/td>0.163<\/td>0.225<\/td>0.299<\/td>0.317<\/td>0.332<\/td>0.422<\/td>0.48<\/td>0.545<\/td><\/tr>
PE Rating<\/th>0.5<\/td>0.6<\/td>1<\/td>1.7<\/td>3<\/td>3.5<\/td>4<\/td>6<\/td>8<\/td>10<\/td><\/tr>
Actual Average Break<\/th>14.2 lb<\/td>20.6 lb<\/td>23.7 lb<\/td>34.7 lb<\/td>49.0 lb<\/td>59.2 lb<\/td>78.5 lb<\/td>91.6 lb<\/td>116.2 lb<\/td>138.2 lb<\/td><\/tr>
Number of Strands<\/th>6<\/td>8<\/td>6<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td>8<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pros and Cons of Using the PE Rating when Buying Fishing Line<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Using a standardized PE line rating chart to base your fishing line purchase can be confusing. However, for many anglers, especially the uninitiated, knowing this system can be a real treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pros<\/h3>\n\n\n\n