Paracord

Cord shopping guide

550 Paracord

Help me choose the right cord Compare sizes, construction, strength, lengths, and common project uses.

Cord discovery and education

Choose by size, structure, and project

Start with how much bulk your project needs, then compare construction, core count, common store lengths, and project fit. Every Shop link opens the matching current collection.

Thirteen burgundy cord types arranged in horizontal rows beside a US quarter for relative scale
  1. Paramax
  2. Shock Cord 1/4
  3. Shock Cord 3/16
  4. Shock Cord 1/8
  5. 750 Cord
  6. 550 Paracord
  7. Whipmaker Cord
  8. Coreless 550
  9. 425 Cord
  10. 325 Cord
  11. 275 Cord
  12. 95 Cord
  13. Micro Cord
Each row is labeled. Use the quarter and neighboring rows for relative scale. Listed dimensions remain the reference for each family.

Ten non-shock families

Complete cord comparison

Approximate dimensions describe family size. Product listings remain the source for current colors, stock, and purchasable variants.

Comparison of Bored Paracord's ten current non-shock cord families
Cord family Approximate size Material and construction Cores Published breaking strength Common store lengths Common project uses
Paramax Large-diameter braided cord Approximately 1/4 inch (6.3 mm) Nylon32-strand woven sheath with 3 thick inner strands 3 1,000 lb published breaking strength 100 ft Dog leashes, pet accessories, large decorative knots, and thick woven projects Shop
750 Cord Large 11-core cord Approximately 4 to 5 mm NylonWoven nylon sheath with 11 inner strands 11 750 lb minimum breaking strength 100 ft and 1,000 ft Larger bracelets, belts, handles, leashes, and substantial knotwork Shop
550 Paracord The everyday standard Approximately 4 mm NylonCommercial Type III construction with a woven nylon sheath and 7 cabled inner strands 7 550 lb minimum breaking strength 1 ft sample; 10, 25, 50, and 100 ft; separate 250 ft and 1,000 ft spools Bracelets, lanyards, keychains, handle wraps, zipper pulls, and general crafts Shop
Whipmaker Cord Flat specialty cord Approximately 3/16 inch wide when flat NylonHollow coreless braid 0 (hollow/coreless) Not published for this family 100 ft and 1,000 ft Synthetic whips, flat plaiting, and narrow hollow-braid projects Shop
Coreless 550 Flat 550-style sheath Approximately 1.5 mm thick by 5 mm wide when flat NylonHollow 550-style woven sheath with no inner strands 0 (hollow/coreless) Not published for this family 100 ft and 1,000 ft Synthetic whips, shoelaces, flatter bracelets and lanyards, and cable wraps Shop
425 Cord Midweight three-core cord Approximately 3 mm (about 1/8 inch) NylonWoven nylon sheath with 3 inner strands 3 425 lb minimum breaking strength 100 ft; separate spool listings when available Bracelets, lanyards, and keychains when 550 Paracord feels too bulky Shop
325 Cord Slim three-core cord Approximately 3 mm NylonWoven nylon sheath with 3 inner strands 3 325 lb minimum breaking strength 100 ft and 1,000 ft Slim bracelets, detailed weaving, keychains, lanyards, and decorative knots Shop
275 Cord Lightweight five-core cord Approximately 3/32 inch (2.38 mm) NylonWoven nylon sheath with 5 inner strands 5 275 lb minimum breaking strength 100 ft and 1,000 ft Narrow bracelets, small lanyards, keychains, accents, and detail work Shop
95 Cord Fine three-core cord Approximately 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) NylonWoven nylon sheath with 3 inner strands 3 95 lb minimum breaking strength 100 ft; separate 1,000 ft spools Crochet, macrame, fine weaving, small bracelets, jewelry, and crafts Shop
Micro Cord Fine braided cord Approximately 3/64 inch (1.18 mm) NylonFine braid without a removable core No core 100 lb minimum breaking strength 125 ft and 1,000 ft Accent stitching, jewelry, zipper pulls, lacing, and fine detail work Shop
ParamaxApproximately 1/4 inch (6.3 mm)

Large-diameter braided cord

Material
Nylon
Construction
32-strand woven sheath with 3 thick inner strands
Core count
3
Published breaking strength
1,000 lb published breaking strength
Stretch
No verified value
Common store lengths
100 ft
Origin
Made in the USA
Common project uses
Dog leashes, pet accessories, large decorative knots, and thick woven projects
Shop Paramax
750 CordApproximately 4 to 5 mm

Large 11-core cord

Material
Nylon
Construction
Woven nylon sheath with 11 inner strands
Core count
11
Published breaking strength
750 lb minimum breaking strength
Stretch
No verified family-wide value
Common store lengths
100 ft and 1,000 ft
Origin
Made in the USA
Common project uses
Larger bracelets, belts, handles, leashes, and substantial knotwork
Shop 750 Cord
550 ParacordApproximately 4 mm

The everyday standard

Material
Nylon
Construction
Commercial Type III construction with a woven nylon sheath and 7 cabled inner strands
Core count
7
Published breaking strength
550 lb minimum breaking strength
Stretch
No verified family-wide value
Common store lengths
1 ft sample; 10, 25, 50, and 100 ft; separate 250 ft and 1,000 ft spools
Origin
Made in the USA
Common project uses
Bracelets, lanyards, keychains, handle wraps, zipper pulls, and general crafts
Shop 550 Paracord
Whipmaker CordApproximately 3/16 inch wide when flat

Flat specialty cord

Material
Nylon
Construction
Hollow coreless braid
Core count
0 (hollow/coreless)
Published breaking strength
Not published for this family
Stretch
No verified family-wide value
Common store lengths
100 ft and 1,000 ft
Origin
Made in the USA
Common project uses
Synthetic whips, flat plaiting, and narrow hollow-braid projects
Shop Whipmaker Cord
Coreless 550Approximately 1.5 mm thick by 5 mm wide when flat

Flat 550-style sheath

Material
Nylon
Construction
Hollow 550-style woven sheath with no inner strands
Core count
0 (hollow/coreless)
Published breaking strength
Not published for this family
Stretch
No verified family-wide value
Common store lengths
100 ft and 1,000 ft
Origin
Made in the USA
Common project uses
Synthetic whips, shoelaces, flatter bracelets and lanyards, and cable wraps
Shop Coreless 550
425 CordApproximately 3 mm (about 1/8 inch)

Midweight three-core cord

Material
Nylon
Construction
Woven nylon sheath with 3 inner strands
Core count
3
Published breaking strength
425 lb minimum breaking strength
Stretch
No verified family-wide value
Common store lengths
100 ft; separate spool listings when available
Origin
Made in the USA
Common project uses
Bracelets, lanyards, and keychains when 550 Paracord feels too bulky
Shop 425 Cord
325 CordApproximately 3 mm

Slim three-core cord

Material
Nylon
Construction
Woven nylon sheath with 3 inner strands
Core count
3
Published breaking strength
325 lb minimum breaking strength
Stretch
No verified family-wide value
Common store lengths
100 ft and 1,000 ft
Origin
Made in the USA
Common project uses
Slim bracelets, detailed weaving, keychains, lanyards, and decorative knots
Shop 325 Cord
275 CordApproximately 3/32 inch (2.38 mm)

Lightweight five-core cord

Material
Nylon
Construction
Woven nylon sheath with 5 inner strands
Core count
5
Published breaking strength
275 lb minimum breaking strength
Stretch
No verified family-wide value
Common store lengths
100 ft and 1,000 ft
Origin
Made in the USA
Common project uses
Narrow bracelets, small lanyards, keychains, accents, and detail work
Shop 275 Cord
95 CordApproximately 1/16 inch (1.6 mm)

Fine three-core cord

Material
Nylon
Construction
Woven nylon sheath with 3 inner strands
Core count
3
Published breaking strength
95 lb minimum breaking strength
Stretch
No verified family-wide value
Common store lengths
100 ft; separate 1,000 ft spools
Origin
Made in the USA
Common project uses
Crochet, macrame, fine weaving, small bracelets, jewelry, and crafts
Shop 95 Cord
Micro CordApproximately 3/64 inch (1.18 mm)

Fine braided cord

Material
Nylon
Construction
Fine braid without a removable core
Core count
No core
Published breaking strength
100 lb minimum breaking strength
Stretch
No verified family-wide value
Common store lengths
125 ft and 1,000 ft
Origin
Made in the USA
Common project uses
Accent stitching, jewelry, zipper pulls, lacing, and fine detail work
Shop Micro Cord

Other current cord paths

Shock and specialty cord

Shock Cord uses a different elastic construction, so its three current shopping links remain separate from the non-shock comparison.

Learn before you weave

Cord basics and selected tutorials

A focused starting set from the existing learning library. More patterns and project ideas remain available in the New Happenings archive.

What is Paracord?Understand sheaths, cores, sizing, breaking strength, and safe selection. How to Make the Under CurrentFollow an existing weave tutorial from the store archive. Make the Modified Double V BraceletExplore a wider bracelet pattern from the existing tutorial archive. How to Make the Serpent River BarTry another pattern from Bored Paracord's archived guides. Make Shawn's WeaveExplore one of Bored Paracord's archived weave tutorials. How to Make the Back to Back BarTry another pattern from the existing tutorial archive.

400 products

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