How to Choose PE Braided Fishing Line: 4, 8, 9, 12 and 16 Strand Compared
Short answer: pick 4-strand PE braid for value ranges and abrasive fishing, 8-strand as your main all-round line, 9-strand or 12-strand for premium, smoother and rounder line, and 16-strand hollow-core braid when anglers need the highest strength per diameter and knotless splicing. Then choose sizes, colors, spool lengths and packaging for your market. This guide compares all five constructions with full size charts, so you can plan a braided line range with real numbers.
What PE braided fishing line is made of
Braided line is made by braiding strands of UHMWPE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) fiber into one line. Compared with nylon monofilament of the same strength, braid is much thinner and has almost no stretch. Anglers feel bites more clearly, cast farther and set hooks at long range. That is why braid is standard for bass, sea, carp and pike fishing, and why most tackle retailers stock several braid lines.
4, 8, 9, 12 and 16 strands compared
More strands of thinner fiber give a rounder, smoother line. Fewer, thicker strands give a stiffer line with more texture.
| 4-strand | 8-strand | 9-strand | 12-strand | 16-strand hollow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-section | Flatter | Round | Almost perfectly round | Very round, dense | Round, hollow core |
| Surface | Textured, stiffer | Smooth | Very smooth | Very smooth, soft | Smooth, tough |
| Casting | Good | Very good | Excellent, cuts water easily | Excellent | Very good |
| Size range we make | 0.1# – 12# | 0.4# – 32# | 0.8# – 10# | 0.8# – 10# | 1.0# – 10# |
| Price position | Entry, value | Mid, best seller | Premium | Premium | Specialist |
| Best for | Bottom fishing, heavy cover, micro sizes for ultralight | All-round spinning and baitcasting, offshore | Long casting, finesse, premium ranges | Sensitive, quiet line for bass and inshore | Big-game, rock fishing, spliced leaders |
A strong retail shelf often uses three tiers: a 4-strand for price buyers, an 8-strand as the main seller, and a 9- or 12-strand as the premium line.
Size charts
Braid is sold by a Japanese size number (#), with diameter in millimeters and breaking strength in pounds and kilograms. The number is a guide to diameter, so always check the diameter and test. These are the charts for our standard series.
4-strand PE braid
| Size (#) | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 10 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter (mm) | 0.05 | 0.06 | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.16 | 0.18 | 0.20 | 0.24 | 0.28 | 0.32 | 0.36 | 0.40 | 0.44 | 0.48 | 0.50 | 0.55 |
| Strength (lb) | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 |
| Strength (kg) | 1.8 | 2.3 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 6.8 | 8.1 | 9.0 | 9.9 | 13.5 | 18.0 | 22.5 | 27.0 | 31.5 | 36.0 | 40.5 | 45.0 |
8-strand PE braid
| Size (#) | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter (mm) | 0.10 | 0.12 | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.20 | 0.24 | 0.28 | 0.32 | 0.36 | 0.40 | 0.44 | 0.48 | 0.50 | 0.55 | 0.60 | 0.70 | 0.72 | 0.80 | 1.00 | 1.20 |
| Strength (lb) | 8 | 10 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 120 | 150 | 180 | 200 | 250 | 300 |
| Strength (kg) | 3.6 | 4.5 | 6.8 | 8.1 | 9.0 | 11.3 | 13.5 | 18.0 | 22.5 | 27.0 | 31.5 | 36.0 | 40.5 | 45.0 | 54.0 | 67.5 | 81.0 | 90.0 | 112.5 | 135.0 |
9-strand PE braid
| Size (#) | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter (mm) | 0.15 | 0.18 | 0.20 | 0.24 | 0.28 | 0.33 | 0.38 | 0.41 | 0.44 | 0.48 | 0.52 | 0.55 |
| Strength (lb) | 16 | 18 | 20 | 25 | 32 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 |
| Strength (kg) | 7.2 | 8.1 | 9.0 | 11.3 | 14.4 | 18.0 | 22.5 | 27.0 | 31.5 | 36.0 | 40.5 | 45.0 |
Our 9-strand line is braided with a German seamless weaving process. The ninth strand makes the line rounder than an 8-strand braid, so it cuts through water more easily and runs more smoothly through the guides.
12-strand PE braid
| Size (#) | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter (mm) | 0.16 | 0.18 | 0.20 | 0.24 | 0.26 | 0.28 | 0.30 | 0.32 | 0.36 | 0.40 | 0.44 | 0.48 | 0.50 | 0.55 |
| Strength (lb) | 18 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 |
| Strength (kg) | 8.1 | 9.0 | 9.9 | 11.3 | 13.5 | 15.8 | 18.0 | 22.5 | 27.0 | 31.5 | 36.0 | 40.5 | 45.0 | 49.5 |
Twelve carriers of UHMWPE fiber give a dense, soft line with strong knot strength, good abrasion resistance and high sensitivity, suited to both freshwater and saltwater.
16-strand hollow-core PE braid
| Size (#) | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter (mm) | 0.18 | 0.20 | 0.24 | 0.26 | 0.28 | 0.30 | 0.32 | 0.36 | 0.40 | 0.44 | 0.48 | 0.50 | 0.55 |
| Strength (lb) | 22 | 27 | 34 | 40 | 48 | 50 | 55 | 66 | 76 | 85 | 95 | 105 | 120 |
| Strength (kg) | 10.0 | 12.3 | 15.4 | 18.4 | 21.8 | 22.8 | 25.0 | 30.0 | 34.5 | 38.8 | 43.0 | 47.8 | 54.4 |
Hollow-core braid has no core in the middle, so another line can be spliced inside it. Anglers use it to join leaders without knots, which keeps the full strength of the connection. It is a specialist line for big-game, rock and offshore fishing.
Which sizes to stock
| Fishing | Typical sizes | Typical strength |
|---|---|---|
| Ultralight, trout, panfish | 0.3# – 0.8# | 6 – 15 lb |
| Bass, walleye, inshore | 1.0# – 2.0# | 15 – 25 lb |
| Pike, carp, heavy-cover bass | 3.0# – 4.0# | 30 – 50 lb |
| Catfish, saltwater spinning | 5.0# – 8.0# | 50 – 90 lb |
| Offshore jigging, big-game | 8.0# and up | 80 lb and up |
Most retail ranges carry 6 to 10 sizes; the middle sizes, 1.0# to 4.0#, sell the most.
Colors and special braids
- Moss green, grey and dark green: low-visibility freshwater colors.
- Fluorescent yellow, white and orange: easy to see above water, for watching the line for bites.
- Multicolor: changes color at set lengths so anglers can see how much line is out, essential for offshore jigging.
- Fadeless (pre-dyed) braid: the fiber is dyed before braiding, so the color does not wash out with use.
- Sinking braid: a braid with a sinking core, used for long casting and fishing near the bottom.
- PE-cored line: a PE braid over a lead, nylon, fluorocarbon or PE core, for carp and specialist rigs.
We also dye to custom colors. Our PE color card has around 40 standard solid, camo and multicolor options.
Spool lengths and packaging
Common retail lengths are 100 m, 150 m and 300 m, with 500 m and 1000 m spools for heavy users and re-spooling. Line can be packed on printed spools, in color boxes or clear cases, or on bulk spools. See our fishing tackle packaging guide for the options.
What to ask a braid supplier
- Which strand counts and sizes can you make? A single supplier for 4- to 16-strand keeps your range consistent.
- Can I see the full size chart with diameter and test for every size?
- Can you provide test reports? Ask for the reports your market or retailer requires.
- Can you send samples of the sizes I plan to stock? Test knots, color fastness and casting yourself.
- What are the MOQ, lead time, payment and shipping terms?
Braided line from Jwell Fishing
Jwell Fishing has supplied fishing tackle from Jiangxi, China since 2002. Our line range covers 4-, 8-, 9-, 12- and 16-strand PE braid, fadeless and sinking braid, PE-cored and lead core line, nylon monofilament and fluorocarbon, all available under your brand. Test reports and certificates are available on request. Samples are usually ready in about one week and paid by PayPal; the sample fee is refunded when you place a bulk order, which is paid by T/T. We ship on any common terms, and most customers choose door-to-door delivery.
See our fishing line range or ask for a quote.
FAQ
Is 8-strand braid stronger than 4-strand?
Not always at the same size. In our charts, 4-strand and 8-strand have similar strength at the same diameter. The difference is feel: 8-strand is rounder and smoother, 4-strand is stiffer and more abrasion resistant.
What is hollow-core braid used for?
Splicing. Another line can be pulled inside hollow-core braid to make a knotless connection, which is popular for big-game leaders and wind-on connections.
What braid size is best for bass fishing?
Most bass anglers use 1.5# to 4.0#, about 20 to 50 lb, depending on cover. Heavier sizes are used for frogs and heavy vegetation.
Why does braid need a leader?
Braid is opaque and has almost no stretch. Many anglers add a fluorocarbon or nylon leader for lower visibility in clear water and some shock absorption.