What is wire mesh?
Wire mesh is a grid of metal wire, produced by weaving, welding or other fabrication methods. Most industrial demand falls into two families:
- Woven wire mesh — wires interlaced on looms; flexible and precise.
- Welded wire mesh — wires resistance-welded at every intersection; rigid and strong.
Beyond these, specialist formats cover the rest: hexagonal netting, expanded metal, perforated sheet and custom fabricated mesh. Each is built for a different job, so the first question is never “what is cheaper?” — it is “what does the application need?”
Woven wire mesh: precision for filtration and screening
Woven mesh is made by interlacing warp and weft wires on a loom, in plain, twill or Dutch weave patterns:
- Plain weave — the standard pattern; each wire passes over one at a time.
- Twill weave — wires pass over two at a time, which allows finer meshes.
- Dutch weave — tightly packed wires that filter very fine particles.
The key specification is mesh count — the number of openings per linear inch (25.4 mm). Our woven stainless range runs from 1 mesh up to 500 mesh, so the finer end is genuine filtration territory: chemical, food and pharmaceutical processing, sieving and particle separation.
Because woven mesh is flexible and can be produced to very fine apertures, it is also a favourite for architectural screening and decorative facades — a completely different job from filtration, but the same product family.
Welded wire mesh: strength for construction and guarding
Welded mesh is produced by resistance-welding every intersection of the grid — no weaving, no joints that can slip. That gives it two things woven mesh does not: rigidity and high strength for its weight.
It is supplied in panels (rigid and self-supporting) or rolls (flexible, easy to cut and fix), with apertures typically from 6 mm to 150 mm and wire from 0.5 mm to 6.0 mm. A PVC-coated option is available where extra surface protection or a colour finish is needed.
Typical jobs: concrete reinforcement and site work, machine guards and safety barriers, cages and partitions, agricultural fencing. If the mesh has to hold its shape and take a load, welded is usually the answer.
Galvanized wire: protection against rust
Galvanized wire is low-carbon steel (Q195/Q235) coated with a layer of zinc. The zinc does more than cover the surface — it corrodes in preference to the steel, protecting cut edges and scratches as well. The important decision is how much zinc:
- Electro-galvanized (EG) — a thin, smooth coating, typically around 15–30 g/m² depending on the coating class. It is economical and looks clean, but it is best suited to indoor use or as a base for further processing such as weaving and binding.
- Hot-dip galvanized (HDG) — a thick coating, commonly from 40 g/m² up to 260 g/m² in our range. This is the choice for outdoor, fencing, agricultural and harsh-environment applications, where it protects for years rather than months.
The practical rule: if the wire will sit outside or get wet, specify hot-dip and name a zinc weight — “galvanized” alone is not a specification. European standard EN 10244-2 and ASTM A641 define coating classes by minimum zinc mass, so a figure in g/m² is the clearest way to communicate what you need.
Stainless steel: when it is worth the upgrade
Stainless wire and mesh (grades 201, 304, 316 and 316L) cost more than galvanized — and are worth it when corrosion, hygiene or appearance decide the job:
- 304 — the workhorse grade for general anti-rust use, food contact and mild industrial environments.
- 316 / 316L — for coastal, saltwater, chemical and other corrosive conditions where 304 will not hold up.
- 201 — a budget option for less demanding indoor uses.
Stainless is available as wire from 0.05 mm to 8.0 mm in soft, half-hard or hard temper, and as woven mesh (1–500 mesh) or welded mesh (6–150 mm aperture). If you are not sure whether stainless is justified for your case, send us the environment and the expected service life — the recommendation is usually clear within one reply.
Six specifications to get right
Before you ask for a quote, make sure these are defined:
| Specification | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Material & grade | Q195/Q235 carbon steel, or stainless 201/304/316 | Q235, hot-dip galvanized |
| Mesh count or aperture | Openings per inch (woven) or clear opening (welded) | 100 mesh / 50×50 mm |
| Wire diameter | Wire thickness, often given in BWG gauge | BWG 16 |
| Coating / zinc weight | Type of coating plus weight in g/m² | HDG, 60 g/m² |
| Size | Roll or panel dimensions and quantity | 1 × 30 m rolls |
| Standard / tolerance | Which standard to meet, and acceptable tolerance | EN 10244-2 |
Wire diameter is often quoted in BWG gauge (for example BWG 16). Because gauge references vary between systems, always confirm the exact millimetre value with your supplier rather than relying on the gauge number alone.
Choosing by application
| Application | Best starting point |
|---|---|
| Construction & reinforcement | Welded mesh panels or rolls, galvanized binding wire |
| Filtration & sieving | Woven stainless mesh, fine counts, Dutch weave |
| Agriculture & fencing | Hot-dip galvanized wire, hexagonal netting, field fencing |
| Architecture & screening | Stainless woven mesh, perforated panels |
Buying from Anping: what to ask your manufacturer
Anping, Hebei has been China’s wire mesh cluster for decades — wire drawing, galvanizing, weaving and welding all happen in one small city, which is why buyers come here for both price and lead time. We have been manufacturing here since 2012, with wire drawing, galvanizing, weaving and welding all in-house, and we ship to 30+ export markets.
When you send an enquiry, a good manufacturer should be able to answer all of the following:
- Can you confirm wire diameter, aperture and zinc weight against my spec?
- Can you send a sample before mass production?
- What is the MOQ, and what does it cost at full quantity?
- What is the lead time for rolls and for panels?
- How is inspection carried out — and can I get test or mill certificates?
- How is the mesh packed for sea freight?
- Which incoterms do you quote — FOB, CIF or EXW?
- What HS code applies to my product? (Most wire mesh falls under HS 7314 — confirm the subheading with your forwarder.)
FAQ
Woven or welded — how do I choose? Start with the job: filtration, fine apertures and flexibility point to woven; rigidity, strength and load-bearing point to welded.
What does “mesh count” mean? The number of openings per linear inch (25.4 mm). The higher the mesh count, the finer the openings. Our woven range runs from 1 to 500 mesh.
Hot-dip or electro-galvanized? Outdoor and harsh environments call for hot-dip (40–260 g/m²). Indoor, dry or processing uses can make do with electro. When in doubt, hot-dip costs little more and lasts far longer.
Can you customise specifications? Yes — wire diameter, aperture, zinc weight, size and packaging can all be made to order. Send your spec sheet for an accurate quote.
Ready to order? Send your drawing or spec sheet to sales@bkmesh.com or message us on WhatsApp at +86 139 3288 8991. Our sales team replies within one business day.