A 5/16" chain stamped "G70" can secure 4,700 lbs of cargo on a flatbed. A 5/16" G80 can lift 4,500 lbs in a rigging application. A 5/16" G100 can hold 5,700 lbs in overhead lifting. Same diameter. Same link count per foot. Very different jobs — and swapping one for another is either wasteful or dangerous, depending on which direction you go.
What Chain Grades Actually Mean
The grade number is derived from the minimum tensile strength of the steel — roughly the tensile strength in newtons per square millimeter. Higher grade = harder, higher-strength alloy = higher working load limit in the same chain diameter.
This means a larger-diameter low-grade chain can actually hold less than a smaller-diameter high-grade chain. Buying by diameter alone is the wrong approach. Grade and diameter together determine working load.
Grade 70 — Transport Chain
Grade 70 is the transport chain. It's what belongs on a flatbed, on a lowboy, on a step-deck — anywhere you're securing cargo for highway transport.
- Appearance: Yellow chromate coating, stamped "G7" or "G70" on every other link
- DOT compliance: Meets FMCSA 49 CFR 393.102 requirements for cargo securement
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Working load limits:
- 5/16" — 4,700 lbs
- 3/8" — 6,600 lbs
- 1/2" — 11,300 lbs
- Critical limitation: G70 is NOT rated for overhead lifting. Never use transport chain in a rigging or hoisting application — it is not designed for the shock loads and sustained lift forces involved.
If you're hauling freight on a flatbed, G70 is your chain. Full stop. Shop G70 transport chain in cut lengths and full rolls.
Grade 80 — Lifting Chain
Grade 80 is the workhorse of the rigging and overhead lifting world. It's a hardened alloy steel chain used in chain slings, hoist assemblies, and any application where the chain is supporting a suspended load.
- Appearance: Often gold, black, or natural alloy finish. Stamped "G8" or "G80."
- Primary use: Rigging, crane operations, chain slings, lifting hooks and assemblies
- Working load limits (5/16"): 4,500 lbs (vertical hitch)
- Required for: Any OSHA-regulated overhead lifting application — chain slings must be Grade 80 or higher
- Transport use: G80 can technically secure cargo, but it's more expensive than G70 and offers no advantage in that application. Most operators don't use it for tie-down.
Grade 100 — High-Capacity Lifting
Grade 100 provides higher working load limits than G80 in the same chain diameter, making it the choice for heavy rigging, crane operations, and industrial lifting where minimizing chain weight is critical.
- Appearance: Often marked with a distinctive color or finish per manufacturer. Stamped "G10" or "G100."
- Working load limits (5/16"): 5,700 lbs (vertical hitch) — 27% more than G80 at the same diameter
- Primary use: Heavy industrial lifting, crane rigging, applications where every pound of chain weight matters
- Cost: Premium pricing over G80 — justified only when the higher WLL is actually needed
Which Grade Do You Buy?
The answer is simple once you know the application:
- Hauling cargo on a flatbed, lowboy, or step-deck: G70, every time. It's DOT-compliant, purpose-built for transport, and priced for volume use.
- Rigging or overhead lifting: G80 minimum. G100 if you need higher capacity in a smaller diameter.
- Never substitute grades: A G70 chain in a lifting application is illegal under OSHA regulations and genuinely dangerous. The chain is not designed for the shock load of a suspended lift — it can fail catastrophically without warning.
- Don't over-specify either: Using G100 for flatbed tie-down is wasteful — you're paying a premium for lifting capacity you'll never use and don't need.
Match the grade to the job. That's the entire rule.
DOT Requirements for G70 Chain
When using Grade 70 chain for cargo securement on a commercial vehicle, federal regulations under 49 CFR Part 393 require:
- Grade stamping: The chain must be stamped with its grade designation on every other link. Unstamped chain cannot be verified and should not be used for regulated transport.
- WLL tag: The assembly must have a legible Working Load Limit tag or marking. Missing or illegible tags are a violation.
- Aggregate WLL rule: The total Working Load Limit of all tie-downs must equal at least 50% of the weight of the cargo being secured. For example, securing 20,000 lbs of freight requires tie-downs with a combined WLL of at least 10,000 lbs.
- Chain binder matching: Your chain binders must meet or exceed the WLL of the chain. A 3/8" G70 chain at 6,600 lbs WLL paired with a binder rated at 5,400 lbs creates a weak link — literally.
- Condition: Kinked, stretched, or visibly damaged chain must be taken out of service. Chain that has been cut and re-welded in the field is not acceptable for regulated transport.
Shop DOT-compliant G70 transport chain at Elohim USA — uncut and pre-cut lengths available, with bulk pricing for fleets.