We are Hebei Leeter Import and Export Co., Ltd ("Leeter"), a construction wire and mesh manufacturer in Dingzhou, Hebei, China, drawing, galvanizing and coating since 2006 for buyers across North America and Europe; our PVC coated wire is drawn and coated to the core and OD you order.
Core diameter vs finished OD
The single most misread spec on PVC-coated wire is diameter, because two numbers exist. The core is the bare galvanized steel that carries the load and holds tension; the finished OD is what a caliper reads over the plastic. A thin decorative coat adds roughly 0.4mm to the diameter (0.2mm of plastic per side); a heavier chain-link or gabion coat adds 0.8 to 1.0mm. Always quote both — "1.2mm core, 2.0mm coated" is unambiguous; "2mm PVC wire" is not.
| Core diameter | Coating added (dia.) | Finished OD | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.8mm | ~0.4mm | ~1.2mm | Floristry, light craft, twist ties |
| 1.0mm | ~0.4–0.6mm | ~1.4–1.6mm | Garden tie wire, trellis training |
| 1.2mm | ~0.6–0.8mm | ~2.0mm | General garden/tie wire, hangers |
| 1.4mm | ~0.6–0.8mm | ~2.0–2.2mm | Light chain-link, plant supports |
| 1.6mm | ~0.8mm | ~2.4mm | Chain-link fabric, mesh panels |
| 2.0mm | ~0.8–1.0mm | ~3.0mm | Chain-link, gabion selvedge, fencing |
| 2.5mm | ~1.0mm | ~3.5mm | Heavy gabion mesh, boundary fence |
| 3.0mm | ~1.0mm | ~4.0mm | Gabion frame wire, straining lines |
Added thickness is nominal — tell us the finished OD you need and we set the die and extruder to hit it.
Why the galvanized core matters under the PVC
It is tempting to think the plastic is the whole corrosion story. It is not. PVC resists water but is not a perfect vapour barrier over years of service, and every cut end, staple hole and abrasion scuff exposes the steel. If the core is bare or lightly coated, rust starts at those points and creeps under the jacket, lifting it. A galvanized core — electro-galvanized for a thin even zinc layer, or hot-dip for heavier outdoor service — gives the steel its own defence, so the assembly weathers even where the plastic is nicked. For any wire that lives outdoors, specify a galvanized core, not a plain black-annealed one under the PVC. If you are weighing coatings, our notes on electro vs hot-dip galvanizing explain which zinc layer suits which exposure.
Colours and coating thickness
Green is the default landscape colour because it disappears against foliage; white suits garden fencing, greenhouses and interior use; black reads as neutral for architectural mesh and craft. Other RAL colours run to order on volume. Coating thickness is a real spec, not a finish detail: a thin coat (0.4mm on diameter) is enough for indoor and decorative wire, while outdoor chain-link and gabion wire want a thick coat (0.8 to 1.0mm) that survives handling, UV and ground contact. Thicker plastic also lets the wire hold colour and gloss longer. State coat class — thin, standard or heavy — alongside the colour.
UV resistance and service life
Standard PVC chalks and embrittles under strong sun over a few seasons. For fencing and gabion wire that sits in full exposure, specify UV-stabilised PVC, which carries additives and carbon-black or pigment loading that slow photo-degradation and hold flexibility for many years. Green and black pigments naturally screen UV better than white, so white wire benefits most from stabiliser. Indoor and short-life garden wire does not need the premium; outdoor fencing does.
Common uses
- Garden and tie wire — soft, easy to bend by hand, kind to plant stems; the volume retail line, usually 0.8 to 1.6mm core in green.
- Chain-link fabric — PVC over galvanized core gives a coloured, long-life fence; typical 1.6 to 2.5mm core.
- Gabion wire — mesh, selvedge and frame wire coated for shoreline, road and landscape gabions where zinc alone is not enough.
- Floristry and craft — fine 0.5 to 0.8mm core, coloured, corrosion-free and skin-friendly.
- Hangers, hooks and general fixing — coated wire that will not mark or rust the surface it touches.
For continuous fencing programs, PVC-coated wire pairs naturally with our galvanized tie wire and mesh lines in the same container.
How to spec PVC-coated wire
Give us five things and the order is unambiguous: (1) core diameter in mm; (2) finished OD over the coating in mm; (3) colour (green, white, black or RAL number); (4) coat class — thin, standard or heavy — and whether UV-stabilised; and (5) the core finish — electro- or hot-dip galvanized. Add packing (coil weight, spool or carton). Leeter draws the core, galvanizes and extrudes the PVC to those figures, with mill test reports and pre-shipment AQL inspection; MOQ runs from about one pallet up to a 20-foot container, lead time 15 to 35 days, FOB or CIF, OEM and private-label spools available.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between core diameter and coated diameter on PVC wire?
Core diameter is the bare galvanized steel wire that carries the load; coated (finished OD) diameter is what a caliper measures over the PVC jacket. The plastic typically adds 0.4 to 1.0mm to the diameter, so a 1.2mm core finishes near 2.0mm OD. Always quote both numbers when ordering PVC-coated wire, because "2mm wire" alone is ambiguous.
Why does PVC-coated wire need a galvanized core?
PVC-coated wire needs a galvanized core because the plastic jacket is not a perfect long-term barrier and every cut end, staple hole or scuff exposes bare steel. A galvanized core gives the steel its own zinc protection, so rust does not start at those points and creep under the coating. For any outdoor PVC-coated wire, specify a galvanized core rather than plain black steel.
What colours does PVC-coated wire come in?
PVC-coated wire is most commonly green, white or black. Green is standard for garden and landscape wire because it blends with foliage, white suits greenhouses and garden fencing, and black reads neutral for architectural mesh and craft. Other RAL colours are available to order on volume runs. Colour is a pigment in the PVC, so it is consistent through the coating.
Is PVC-coated wire UV resistant?
Standard PVC-coated wire chalks and becomes brittle under strong sun over a few years. For outdoor fencing and gabion wire, specify UV-stabilised PVC, which carries additives and pigment loading that slow sun damage and keep the wire flexible for many years. Green and black resist UV better than white, so white PVC-coated wire benefits most from a UV-stabilised grade.
How do I specify PVC-coated wire for an order?
Specify PVC-coated wire with five figures: core diameter in mm, finished OD over the coating in mm, colour (green, white, black or RAL), coat class (thin, standard or heavy, UV-stabilised if outdoor) and core finish (electro- or hot-dip galvanized). Add packing such as coil weight or spool type. Those five numbers let a manufacturer draw, galvanize and coat the exact wire you need.
