Specification
Chain grades explained: 70, 80, 100 and 120
Updated August 1, 2026 · 3 minute read · All guides
In short
Grade 70 is a transport chain for towing and load securement and is not rated for overhead lifting. Grades 80, 100 and 120 are alloy lifting chains. Grade 100 carries roughly 25 percent more working load limit than Grade 80 at the same nominal chain size, and Grade 120 carries roughly a further 20 to 25 percent above Grade 100, which makes it the heavy duty option for lifting assemblies.
Key facts
- Grade 30 and 43 are utility and transport chains. Neither is rated for overhead lifting.
- Grade 70 is the standard transport chain for tie down and towing. Not rated for overhead lifting under any finish.
- Grade 80 is the traditional alloy lifting chain and still the baseline for many hoists.
- Grade 100 is roughly 25 percent stronger than Grade 80 at the same size. It is the TELEMAC standard for chain slings.
- Grade 120 is roughly 20 to 25 percent above Grade 100 again, and is what heavy duty means on a lifting assembly.
- Grade is stamped into the links. No legible grade marking means the chain cannot be rated.
The grades at a glance
| Grade | Material | Primary use | Rated for overhead lifting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 30 | Low carbon steel | General purpose utility | No |
| Grade 43 | High test carbon steel | Towing, logging, general tie down | No |
| Grade 70 | Heat treated carbon steel | Load securement and towing | No |
| Grade 80 | Alloy steel | Overhead lifting | Yes |
| Grade 100 | Alloy steel | Overhead lifting | Yes |
| Grade 120 | Alloy steel, square link | Heavy duty overhead lifting | Yes |
The line that matters most
Grade 70 transport chain is not a lifting chain. It is heat treated carbon steel, usually gold chromate finished, and it is rated for tie down and towing. No finish, brand or marketing description changes that.
Overhead lifting requires an alloy chain of Grade 80 or above, assembled into a sling, proof-tested and tagged as a lifting assembly. This is the most common specification error we see on incoming enquiries, and it is the one with the worst consequences.
What moving up a grade actually buys
Higher grade gives you a choice, and buyers use it in two different ways:
- More capacity at the same size. Keep the chain size and gain working load limit. A 1/2 inch four-leg assembly rated 31,200 lb in Grade 100 is rated 37,400 lb in Grade 120.
- The same capacity in a lighter sling. Drop a chain size and hold the rating. This is the argument that wins with crews, because the person handling a four-leg assembly forty times a shift feels every kilogram.
Grade 120 also uses a square link profile rather than round, which is part of how it achieves the strength without the weight.
Grade must run through the whole assembly
An assembly is rated to its lowest rated component. Fitting Grade 80 hardware to Grade 100 chain rates the whole sling down to the hardware, silently, with the original tag still hanging on it.
That means:
- Master links, connectors, hooks and shortening devices all have to be matched in grade and rated capacity.
- Any repair has to use correctly rated components, following the original manufacturer's instructions.
- The assembly must be re-rated and re-tagged whenever a component is changed.
A bin of unmarked spare hooks is the single most reliable way to turn a certified assembly into an uncertified one.
Identifying grade on chain you already own
Grade is embossed or stamped into the links at intervals: 70, 80, 100, 120, or an equivalent manufacturer mark. On alloy lifting chain the marking is usually accompanied by a manufacturer identifier.
If a chain carries no legible grade marking:
- It cannot be rated.
- For lifting, it should be removed from service.
- For securement, it should be treated as unrated and replaced.
Send us a photograph of the marking and we will identify it.
Where each grade sits in our catalogue
- Chain slings: Grade 100 as standard, Grade 120 as the heavy duty build.
- Towing and recovery: Grade 70 transport as standard, Grade 100 alloy as the heavy duty build.
- Trench box lifting chains: Grade 100 and Grade 120, in two leg and four leg configurations.
- Hoists: Grade 80 load chain as standard, Grade 100 on heavy duty builds.
How to specify the right chain grade
Choosing between Grade 70, Grade 80, Grade 100 and Grade 120 chain for a lifting or load securement application.
- 1Establish whether the chain will liftIf the load is suspended overhead at any point, you need an alloy lifting chain of Grade 80 or above, assembled and tagged as a lifting assembly. If the chain only secures or tows, Grade 70 transport chain is the correct family.
- 2Work out the load, including the angleTake the load weight, then account for sling angle. As the included angle between legs closes, tension in each leg rises sharply. Multi-leg ratings are normally stated at a 60 degree included angle.
- 3Choose the grade against weight and dutyGrade 100 is the general baseline for lifting. Choose Grade 120 where a lighter sling matters to the crew, where the duty cycle is severe, or where you need more capacity without moving up a chain size.
- 4Match every fitting to the chain gradeThe assembly is rated to its lowest rated component. Master links, connectors and hooks must be matched in grade and rated capacity.
- 5Confirm the identification and paperworkThe assembly should arrive proof-tested, with a permanent tag showing manufacturer, grade, working load limit, serial, batch and date, and a certificate that references that serial.