Decking Rope & Fittings

Decking Rope

We currently sell five main types of Decking Rope by the metre:

• Synthetic Hemp
• Synthetic Sisal
• PolySilk
• Jute
• Manila

Most people choose a diameter between 24mm and 36mm for decking or rope rails. With other sizes available in the respective Jute, Synthetic Hemp, Manila, and PolySilk categories. If you need more than one length, this can be easily specified in the ‘Add order note’ box during checkout.

All of our ropes for decking, garden balustrades, and rope rails are manufactured by a trusted overseas partner and are of superior quality. Our natural ropes, Manila, and Jute will come with ends bound with PVC tape; our synthetic ropes (Synthetic Hemp, Synthetic Sisal, and Polysilk) will come with heat-sealed ends. You can also choose end finishes like whipped, end-capped, soft eye spliced, and hard eye spliced.

Which is the right decking rope for my project? 

How to attach rope to your decking posts

There are three main ways to attach your rope to the decking posts: 

• Drill holes in the posts, thread the rope through and secure it with knots.
  
  To ensure you get the right fit, we advise waiting for your order to arrive before cutting or drilling holes in your posts. The diameter of the hole will always need to be larger than the rope’s diameter; otherwise, the rope is likely to ‘bunch’ up when you attempt to feed it through. We always recommend testing out on an old piece of wood first. A detailed guide on how to drill holes in rope posts can be found in our blog, or watch our video. 

• Tie the rope around each post with a clove hitch.
  
  
• Use our plush metal fittings, such as hooks and rings, end cups and plates.

Metal fittings are affordable to buy and easy to fit; they’re an effective way to secure the rope in place and enhance its overall appearance – creating impressive, professional-looking results. 

We stock an extensive range of rope end cups, hooks, and eye plates, centre brackets and cap ends. So whether you’ve opted for a synthetic or natural fibre decking rope, you’re sure to find a suitable style to match.

How to measure rope for your decking

The easiest way is to use a bit of string, holding it up against the posts and creating the swag effect you like best. Remember to add in extra length for any knots, metal fittings, etc.

We advise that you:

• Add an extra 40-50cm for any knots you intend to tie in the rope
• Add 10-15% to account for any shrinkage (applies to natural fibre ropes only)
• Deduct around 9cm for each metal hook and eye plate used

We sell by the metre, so always over-measure rather than under-measure – there's nothing worse than being 50cm short.

Further advice on how to determine the right length for your needs can be found in our blog – including a step-by-step calculation sheet.

Which diameter is best?

The right diameter for you will, of course, depend on the nature of your project. But, for most home decking, we believe 24-36mm will be the sweet spot.

From a distance, this won’t look too thin – but it won’t be too bulky or heavy either.

 It’s worth saying, garden decking ropes made from natural fibres can vary ever so slightly in diameter batch to batch by around +/- 10%. This is most noticeable with Manila. Ropes made from synthetic fibres tend to be more accurate.

Why choose us for decking rope?

We’re all about customer satisfaction, here at RopesDirect. As an exclusively online supplier, we aim to supply the best possible products at the best possible price. Orders placed before 12 pm will usually be delivered in 1-2 working days.

Our team have excellent knowledge of the garden decking ropes available and are always happy to help. So, if you have any questions or would like advice on the best type of decking rope for you, please feel free to get in touch, and we’ll respond to your enquiry as soon as possible.