Reels · flange sizes
Cable reel sizes
Cable reel sizes are given by flange diameter, and the reels in this region run from about 23 inches to 96 inches across. Each size has its own published traverse, drum, arbor hole and empty weight; the pages below give those figures from Southwire's, Sonoco's and AFL's own tables, size by size.
From the reel desk · Checked 9 November 2026
Four numbers per reel
- Flange: the diameter of the round end. The size a reel is called by.
- Traverse: the width between the flanges. Plus the flange thickness, it is how tall the reel stands on end.
- Drum: the diameter of the barrel. Stiff cable needs a bigger one.
- Arbor hole: the centre hole. 3⅛ inches on most wooden reels, 5¼ inches and up on heavy steel ones.
A fifth, the empty or tare weight, is printed on the cable tag and in the makers' tables.
The sizes at a glance
| Flange | A published reel | Traverse × drum | Empty weight | Take-back by size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in | Southwire C-5 (23 in) | 17 × 12 | 34 lb | Below every minimum |
| 30 in | Southwire A-10 | 22 × 16 | 66 lb | At the 30 in minimum |
| 36 in | Southwire N-24 | 28 × 14 | 83 lb | Yes; 200 to a Sonoco load |
| 42 in | Southwire A-29 | 28 × 21 | 154 lb | Yes; 120 to a load |
| 48 in | Southwire A-38 | 28 × 24 | 212 lb | Yes; 100 to a load |
| 54 in | Sonoco load-table reel | 32 × 36 | not published | Yes; 60 to a load |
| 60 in | Southwire A-62 | 28 × 28 | 397 lb | Yes; 39 to a load |
| 66 in | Southwire A-76 | 28 × 30 | 473 lb | Yes; 24 to a load |
| 72 in | Sonoco and AFL reels | 36 × 36 | not published | Top of Service Wire's range |
| 84 in | Southwire S-120 (steel) | 36 × 42 | 895 lb | Steel: return to maker |
| 96 in | Southwire S-300 (steel) | 60 × 42 | 1,082 lb | Steel: return to maker |
"Take-back by size" means only that the flange meets the program's size rule. A reel also has to be nailed wood in sound condition, and in a full truckload, usually of one maker's reels.
Why size matters to the desk
Size decides the truck and the equipment. Under 36 inches, a box truck and people. From 42 inches, a flatbed and a forklift or ramp. Over 72 inches, a crane or a heavy forklift. It also decides the buyer: tables cluster at 30 to 48 inches, farms at 48 to 72.
Measuring your own
If there is no tag, measure the flange edge to edge across the face, the traverse inside the flanges and the drum if you can reach it. The measuring guide shows where to put the tape.
24-inch
24-inch cable reels: the small spools under the take-back line
The 23 to 24 inch reels that carry building wire and multiplex: published sizes, why no take-back program wants them, and what they are good for.
30-inch
30-inch cable reels: the first size the maker programs accept
30-inch reels sit exactly on the take-back minimum. Published traverse, drum and weight, what they carry, and why condition decides where they go.
36-inch
36-inch cable reels: where the published load tables start
36-inch reels: Sonoco fits up to 200 in a trailer. Published dimensions, what they carry, and the tables, farms and contractors that want them.
42-inch
42-inch cable reels: heavy enough to need two people
42-inch reels weigh 114 to 167 lb empty. Published dimensions, Sonoco's 120-per-truckload figure, and where a 42 goes after the cable.
48-inch
48-inch cable reels: the four-foot reel
The 48-inch reel, about 212 lb empty: published dimensions, 100 to a Sonoco truckload, what it carries, and why buyers ask for it by name.
54-inch
54-inch cable reels: between the catalogue sizes
54-inch reels appear in Sonoco's load table at 60 to a truck but not in Southwire's catalogue. Dimensions, handling and what a 54 is used for.
60-inch
60-inch cable reels: five feet, wood or steel
At 60 inches reels come in wood and steel. Published dimensions (A-62, S-62), AFL's and Sonoco's truckload counts, and which ones belong to the maker.
66-inch
66-inch cable reels: utility-sized wood and steel
66-inch reels weigh 370 to 473 lb in wood. Published A-76, N-76 and steel S-77 dimensions, truckload counts, and where the desk sends each.
72-inch
72-inch cable reels: the top of Service Wire's range
72-inch reels are the largest Service Wire takes back and fit 22 to a Sonoco truck. Published dimensions, handling, and what happens to the rest.
84-inch
84-inch cable reels: mostly steel, mostly the maker's
At 84 inches the reels in the makers' tables are steel and returnable, or rare nailed giants. Published dimensions, weights near 900 lb, and who takes them.
96-inch
96-inch cable reels: eight feet and over half a ton
96-inch reels: Southwire's steel S-300 weighs 1,082 lb; Sonoco fits eight wooden 96s to a truck. Dimensions, ownership and how these reels move.
Reading the numbers
- Flange
- The diameter of the round end, edge to edge. The size a reel is known by.
- Traverse
- The inside width between the flanges, where cable winds. It sets how tall the reel stands on end.
- Drum
- The diameter of the barrel the cable winds onto. Stiff power cable needs a big drum.
- Arbor hole
- The centre hole for a shaft. 3⅛ in on most wooden reels; 5¼ in and up on heavy steel ones.
- Weight
- Empty, or tare, weight in pounds as the maker publishes it. A tag on the reel gives the same figure.
- Series letter
- Southwire codes the build: A and C nailed, N plywood or nailed, E and G plywood, S steel.
Reels you are likely to have
| Reel | Build | Flange | Traverse | Drum | Lb | Usually carries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-5 | Nailed wood | 23 | 17 | 12 | 34 | Copper building wire, grounding |
| A-10 | Nailed wood | 30 | 22 | 16 | 66 | Service drop, bare aluminium |
| N-24 | Nailed wood | 36 | 28 | 14 | 83 | Insulated and multiplex cable |
| A-29 | Nailed wood | 42 | 28 | 21 | 154 | Overhead conductor, feeders |
| A-38 | Nailed wood | 48 | 28 | 24 | 212 | Aluminium and ACSR, large feeders |
| A-62 | Nailed wood | 60 | 28 | 28 | 397 | Utility conductor |
| A-76 | Nailed wood | 66 | 28 | 30 | 473 | Heavy conductor |
| S-120 | Steel, returnable | 84 | 36 | 42 | 895 | Transmission and medium voltage |
Other makers' reels differ by an inch or two. All flange sizes · How to measure
Sources
Each opened and read on 9 November 2026.
- Southwire, Reel Packaging Information (CableTech Support): reel series, wooden reel dimensions and weights, steel reel dimensions and charges, tag contents; cites NEMA WC26
- Sonoco, EcoReel Recycling Program: free pickup of truckloads of viable nailed wood and polyfiber reels; reels repaired and returned to wire and cable makers; reels-per-truckload table
- AFL, Wood Reel Recycling Program: nailed wood only, no plywood; flanges at least 1½ in thick and 30 in across; 75% of staves; full truckloads; mainly East Coast and Midwest
- Service Wire, Reel Return: Service Wire labelled nailed wood reels with 30 to 72 in flanges, full truckloads only