Razor Wire – Blade Types, Coil Sizes, and How to Specify the Right One

Introduction

The most common mistake when buying razor wire is choosing on blade picture alone. The wrong profile or coil size can leave a high-security fence easy to climb, or push the project cost well above what you actually needed. Specifying razor wire correctly means understanding how blade type, coil diameter, core wire, and surface finish work together for a given threat level and environment.

What Is Razor Wire?

Razor wire is a high-security fencing material made of a high-tensile steel core wire with sharp, stamped steel blades crimped onto it at regular intervals. The blades come from hot-dip galvanized or stainless steel strip and act as both a physical and a psychological barrier. Compared with traditional barbed wire, razor wire is far harder to cut or climb.

The two common product forms are:

• Concertina coils – spring-like spirals that expand on site, the most widely used configuration.

• Flat wrap – razor wire stretched against fence panels or wall surfaces where vertical depth is limited.

Razor wire is almost always used as a topping for chain link, palisade, or welded mesh fencing, or masonry walls.

Blade Profiles: BTO vs CBT

Blade profile is the single most important specification. Two main families exist:

• BTO (Barbed Tape Obstacle) – compact blades for general perimeter security. Common profiles are BTO-10, BTO-22, and BTO-30. BTO-22 is the global default for industrial and commercial perimeters.

• CBT (Concertina Barbed Tape) – larger diamond-shaped blades for high-security sites. The standard profiles are CBT-60 and CBT-65, both with roughly 100 mm blade spacing. CBT-65 is widely used for prisons, military bases, and border control.

Typical values:

In short: BTO handles most industrial and commercial perimeters; CBT is for sites where a determined intrusion is a real risk.

Coil Diameter and Loop Count

Coil diameter drives both cost and security performance. Common outside diameters run from 300 mm to 1,500 mm, with 450 mm, 500 mm, 700 mm, 900 mm, and 960 mm the most frequently ordered. Larger diameters give a deeper, more intimidating barrier but use more material per linear meter.

For most projects, a 450 mm or 500 mm coil covers the standard "Y-bracket on a chain link fence" application. For heavier threat profiles – prison walls or border lines – 700 mm to 960 mm coils are more typical.

Loop count is how many blade-bearing loops are produced per coil, with 33, 51, 56, 68, and 88 the common counts. More loops give a denser barrier and a higher blade count per running meter.

Core Wire and Surface Finish

The core wire is the backbone of the coil. The industry-standard core wire diameter is 2.5 mm (±0.1 mm) in high-tensile steel, with premium products typically in the 1,200–1,500 MPa tensile range. A thinner core wire (2.0 mm or below) is easy to cut with hand tools and is a main reason low-cost razor wire fails quickly. Always compare core wire diameter and tensile strength when checking quotations.

Surface finish determines service life:

• Hot-dip galvanized (HDG) – the right default for most industrial sites; 10–15 years inland is achievable.

• Electro-galvanized – cheaper but much shorter life, often 1–3 years in humid or coastal conditions.

• PVC coated – adds color and corrosion resistance for residential wall-tops and coastal sites.

• Stainless steel 304/316 – for marine, chemical, and high-humidity environments.

How to Specify Razor Wire in an RFQ

A clear RFQ avoids re-quoting. For each project, confirm:

1. Blade profile (BTO-22, BTO-30, CBT-60, CBT-65, or other)

2. Coil outside diameter (450, 500, 700, 900, 960 mm, or custom)

3. Loop count per coil, or requested stretch length

4. Core wire diameter and tensile strength

5. Surface finish (HDG zinc weight, PVC color, or stainless grade)

6. Packing (waterproof paper, woven bag, pallet, strapped coils)

7. Total quantity, destination port, and Incoterm

Sending a drawing or photo of the existing fence helps the supplier match the correct bracket, clip, and installation method.

Installation and Safety

Razor wire is a high-risk product to handle. Installation should be done by trained personnel using cut-resistant gloves, long-sleeve clothing, and proper tools. Coils are anchored on Y-shaped brackets, straight-line brackets, or wall-top arms, and adjacent coils are clipped together to form a continuous barrier. Check local regulations on installation height and residential use before ordering.

Sourcing from FOCCRED

FOCCRED supplies a full range of concertina razor wire in hot-dip galvanized, PVC coated, and stainless steel finishes. BTO-10, BTO-22, BTO-30, CBT-60, and CBT-65 profiles are available in coil diameters from 450 mm to 960 mm, with custom configurations on request. As a manufacturer and exporter, FOCCRED works directly with distributors, fencing contractors, and project buyers on container-load orders.

Contact FOCCRED

FOCCRED supplies concertina razor wire for distributors, contractors, and project buyers. Send your required blade profile, coil diameter, finish, quantity, packing, and delivery destination for a tailored quotation.

View our concertina razor wire product page, email robin@foccred.com, or contact us on WhatsApp.

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