Reels
Cable reel sizes and types
Every reel is named by its flange diameter and described by its build. Size tells you what it carries, how heavy it is and how it has to be moved. Build tells you who probably owns it and where it goes when it is empty.
By flange size
| Size | Drum | Traverse | Empty weight | Usually carries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24-inch reels | 10–14 in | 12–16 in | 25–70 lb | Data, alarm and control cable; welding wire |
| 30-inch reels | 12–16 in | 14–18 in | 50–110 lb | Building wire, MC and small control cable |
| 36-inch reels | 14–20 in | 18–24 in | 70–190 lb | Feeders and tray cable; the commonest empty |
| 42-inch reels | 18–24 in | 20–28 in | 110–260 lb | Feeders on warehouse and plant jobs |
| 48-inch reels | 20–28 in | 24–32 in | 150–380 lb | Feeders, fibre and collection cable |
| 60-inch reels | 28–36 in | 28–36 in | 300–600 lb | Medium-voltage and long feeder runs |
| 72-inch reels | 32–42 in | 32–42 in | 450–900 lb | Primary underground and substation cable |
| 84-inch reels | 40–48 in | 36–48 in | 700–1,350 lb | Heavy utility and plant cable |
| 96-inch reels | 48–60 in | 42–54 in | 950–2,000 lb | Transmission and very long heavy runs |
Ranges cover the builds seen across makers. Measure any particular reel before relying on it; the sizes guide explains how the numbers relate and the weights guide shows how the estimates are worked out.
By build
- Nailed wood reels
The common one-way reel: boards nailed into flanges, staves nailed to the drum.
- Bolted wood reels
Through-bolted flanges built for many trips, and often a maker's returnable reel.
- Plywood reels
Solid plywood flanges on small and mid-size reels for light cable and fibre.
- Plastic reels
Moulded reels for building wire and data cable, usually inside a maker or distributor loop.
- Steel reels
Heavy-cable and utility reels that almost always belong to a maker or utility program.
- Fibre optic reels
Fibre makers' reels, with their own return programs and truckload rules.
- Wire rope reels
Heavy-built reels from rigging, crane and hoist rope, with thick flanges and steel arbors.
| Build | Usually owned by | Usual exit when empty |
|---|---|---|
| Nailed wood | The customer, after delivery | Buyback, or recycling if rotted |
| Bolted wood | The cable maker | Maker take-back |
| Plywood | The customer | Buyback in pallet lots |
| Plastic | A distributor or maker loop | Back to the branch |
| Steel | A maker, utility or rental firm | Back to its owner |
| Fibre optic | Either; check for a label | Maker program or buyback |
| Wire rope | Either; steel ones the supplier | Recycling when greased |
Choosing a reel to buy
- Start from the cable: its outside diameter and minimum bend radius set the smallest drum you can use.
- Work out the length you need to hold and run it through the capacity calculator.
- Check the stand or trailer: maximum flange and overall width.
- Pick a build: nailed for one-off use, plywood for light indoor cable.
- Ask for the reel by flange, drum and traverse.
Reading a reel you want to sell
Look for ownership first: return wording, a reel number, a steel plate or through-bolts. Then look at condition: flat flanges, sound staves, a round arbor hole and untorn drive holes. A reel that passes both checks is worth quoting; one that fails the first goes back to its owner, and one that fails the second goes to recycling. Mixed stacks are normal; sorting them is our job, not yours.
Questions
What size are wooden cable reels?
Flanges run from about 12 inches on small spools to 96 inches on utility reels. Most empties in Chicagoland yards are 36 or 48 inches.
Which builds do you buy?
Sound one-way reels: mostly nailed wood and plywood. Bolted, steel and plastic reels usually belong to a maker or distributor and are routed back.
Can I ask for a reel by drum or traverse?
Yes. Give the flange, the smallest drum your cable allows and the traverse range you need, and we match from what comes in.
How much does a large wooden spool weigh?
The table on this page gives estimated empty weights for each flange size; a 72-inch nailed reel is roughly 450 to 900 pounds by our estimate.
Request a pickup or quote
Work order received
- Reference
- Request
Next we read what you sent, sort the reels by tag and condition, and come back with what we buy, where returnables go, and a pickup day for your corridor. If it helps, reply with a photo of the stack and the reel tags.