Webbing Sling Weight Capacity in Singapore: Complete SWL Table by Width, Ply and Hitch Configuration

You have a load to lift. You know the weight. You need to know which webbing sling to use.

This is the most common question in lifting equipment — and the answer depends on three things: the width of the sling, the number of plies, and the hitch configuration you are using.

This guide gives you the complete answer. Below you will find the full SWL table for FRT's standard polyester webbing sling range — organised by width and ply, with capacity figures for all three hitch configurations. Use it to select the right sling for your lift, verify your existing slings are correctly rated, and understand exactly what factors affect webbing sling capacity.

What Determines a Webbing Sling's Weight Capacity?

Before diving into the tables, it helps to understand what actually determines how much a webbing sling can lift — because the same sling can have very different effective capacities depending on how you use it.

1. Width

The wider the sling, the more load-bearing polyester yarn it contains, and the higher its SWL. Width is the primary determinant of sling capacity within a given ply count.

2. Ply Count

Ply refers to the number of layers of webbing in the sling body. A 2-ply sling has two layers of webbing; a 4-ply sling has four. More plies means more material and a higher SWL in the same width.

FRT manufactures webbing slings in 1-ply to 4-ply as standard, with custom higher-ply constructions available for very high SWL requirements.

3. Hitch Configuration

How you rig the sling changes the effective capacity. There are three standard hitch configurations:

• Vertical hitch — the sling runs straight from hook to load. The sling carries 100% of the rated SWL. This is the baseline configuration all SWL ratings refer to.

• Choker hitch — the sling wraps around the load and back through itself. The SWL is reduced to 75%-80% of the vertical rating due to the bend at the choke point.

• Basket hitch — the sling passes under the load with both ends on the hook. With legs perfectly vertical, the SWL is 200% of the vertical rating. In practice, basket hitch capacity must be adjusted for sling leg angle — see our [sling angle guide →](link to your sling angle blog post)

4. Sling Angle

For basket hitch and multi-leg configurations, the angle between sling legs reduces the effective SWL. This is covered in detail in our [sling angle chart and load reduction guide →]

Complete SWL Table: 2-Ply Polyester Webbing Slings

All values below are for standard 2-ply polyester webbing slings manufactured to EN 1492-1, in the specified hitch configuration with sling legs vertical.

Width	Colour	SWL — Vertical	SWL — Choker (×0.75)	SWL — Basket Vertical (×2.0)
30mm	Violet	1.0T	0.75T	2.0T
60mm	Green	2.0T	1.5T	4.0T
90mm	Yellow	3.0T	2.25T	6.0T
120mm	Grey	4.0T	3.0T	8.0T
150mm	Red	5.0T	3.75T	10.0T
180mm	Brown	6.0T	4.5T	12.0T
240mm	Blue	8.0T	6.0T	16.0T
300mm	Orange	10.0T	7.5T	20.0T
330mm	Orange	12.0T	9.0T	24.0T

Important: Basket hitch SWL values above assume perfectly vertical sling legs. Apply the angle factor from our [sling angle guide →]

Complete SWL Table: 4-Ply Polyester Webbing Slings

4-ply slings offer significantly higher SWL than 2-ply slings of the same width — approximately double the capacity. Use 4-ply slings when you need higher SWL without increasing sling width, or when additional abrasion resistance is required.

Width	Colour	SWL — Vertical	SWL — Choker (×0.75)	SWL — Basket Vertical (×2.0)
60mm	Green	4.0T	3.0T	8.0T
90mm	Yellow	6.0T	4.5T	12.0T
120mm	Grey	8.0T	6.0T	16.0T
150mm	Red	10.0T	7.5T	20.0T
180mm	Brown	12.0T	9.0T	24.0T
240mm	Blue	16.0T	12.0T	32.0T
300mm	Orange	20.0T	15.0T	40.0T
330mm	Orange	25.0T	18.75T	50.0T

Multi-Leg Webbing Sling SWL: 2-Leg and 4-Leg Configurations

Multi-leg webbing sling sets are used when a single-leg sling does not provide sufficient SWL, or when the load requires multiple attachment points for stability.

2-Leg Webbing Sling Set SWL (at Common Rigging Angles)

The table below gives the combined SWL of a 2-leg webbing sling set — each leg being a 2-ply standard sling — at three common rigging angles between the legs.

Single Leg SWL (vertical)	2-Leg SWL at 0° (vertical)	2-Leg SWL at 90°	2-Leg SWL at 120°
1.0T	2.0T	1.41T	1.0T
2.0T	4.0T	2.83T	2.0T
3.0T	6.0T	4.24T	3.0T
4.0T	8.0T	5.66T	4.0T
5.0T	10.0T	7.07T	5.0T
6.0T	12.0T	8.49T	6.0T
8.0T	16.0T	11.31T	8.0T
10.0T	20.0T	14.14T	10.0T

Key takeaway: At 90° between legs — a very common rigging angle on Singapore worksites — the combined SWL is only 141% of one leg's SWL, not 200%. At 120°, the combined SWL equals just one leg's SWL. Never exceed 120° between legs.

4-Leg Webbing Sling Sets

Always calculate a 4-leg sling as a 2-leg sling. You can never guarantee all four legs share the load equally in real rigging conditions. Use the 2-leg table above and apply the appropriate angle factor.

How to Select the Right Webbing Sling for Your Lift: Step by Step

Use this decision process for every lift:

Step 1 — Confirm the Load Weight

Weigh the load or obtain confirmed weight from engineering drawings. Never estimate — a 10–15% estimation error is enough to push you over the sling's SWL.

Step 2 — Choose Your Hitch Configuration

• Single vertical leg → use the Vertical SWL column

• Choker hitch → use the Choker SWL column (75% of vertical)

• Basket hitch, legs vertical → use the Basket SWL column (200% of vertical)

• Multi-leg → calculate using the 2-leg table above with the actual angle between legs

  
  

Step 3 — Apply the Angle Factor

For any basket hitch or multi-leg rig where legs are not perfectly vertical, apply the angle factor from our [sling angle guide →](link to your sling angle blog post). This is the step most riggers skip — and the most dangerous omission.

Step 4 — Select Width and Ply

From the SWL tables above, select the smallest width and ply combination that provides the required SWL at the actual rigging configuration. Use a minimum 20% safety margin above the calculated load — if your load is 4T, select a sling rated for at least 5T in the actual hitch configuration.

Step 5 — Confirm the Colour

Cross-reference your selected sling's SWL against the EN 1492-1 colour code. The sling colour must match the SWL rating. For the full colour code chart, read our [webbing sling colour code guide →] Step 6 — Check the Label

Before use, confirm the identification label shows the correct SWL, the label is legible, and the sling has been formally inspected within the last 12 months. For the full inspection guide, read our [webbing sling inspection guide →]

Worked Examples: Selecting the Right Webbing Sling

Example 1: Single Vertical Lift

• Load weight: 3.5T

• Configuration: Single leg, vertical hitch

• Required SWL: 3.5T × 1.25 safety margin = 4.375T minimum

• Selection: 120mm 2-ply webbing sling (4.0T) — just under margin. Choose 120mm 4-ply (8.0T) for comfortable margin, or 125mm 2-ply (5.0T)

• Colour: Grey (4T) or Red (5T)

  
  

Example 2: Two-Leg Rig at 60° Between Legs

• Load weight: 5T

• Configuration: Two-leg sling, 60° between legs

• Angle factor at 60°: 0.866

• Required SWL per leg: (5T ÷ 2) ÷ 0.866 = 2.89T per leg

• Add 20% margin: 2.89T × 1.2 = 3.47T per leg

• Selection: Two legs of 90mm 2-ply (3.0T each) — just under. Use 120mm 2-ply (4.0T each) for safe margin

• Colour: Grey (4T each leg)

  
  

Example 3: Choker Hitch

• Load weight: 1.2T

• Configuration: Choker hitch (single leg)

• Choker factor: 0.75

• Required vertical SWL: 1.2T ÷ 0.75 = 1.6T minimum

• Add 20% margin: 1.6T × 1.2 = 1.92T

• Selection: 60mm 2-ply (2.0T vertical) — gives 1.5T in choker, just under margin. Use 90mm 2-ply (3.0T vertical) = 2.25T in choker for safe margin

• Colour: Yellow (3T)

  
  

Example 4: Basket Hitch, 90° Leg Angle

• Load weight: 8T

• Configuration: Basket hitch, 90° between legs

• Basket factor (vertical legs): 2.0

• Angle factor at 90°: 0.707

• Combined SWL at 90°: Vertical SWL × 2.0 × 0.707

• Required vertical SWL: 8T ÷ (2.0 × 0.707) = 8T ÷ 1.414 = 5.66T

• Add 20% margin: 5.66T × 1.2 = 6.79T

• Selection: 180mm 2-ply (6.0T) — under margin. Use 240mm 2-ply (8.0T) for comfortable margin

• Colour: Blue (8T)

Custom SWL Requirements Beyond the Standard Range

FRT's standard range covers SWL ratings from 0.5T to 15T in 2-ply construction. For lifting applications requiring higher SWL — 30T, 40T, 50T, 60T, and above — FRT manufactures custom 4-ply webbing slings to specification.

High-SWL custom webbing slings are used in Singapore's offshore, marine, and heavy industrial sectors for:

• Large vessel lifts

• Heavy structural steel erection

• Offshore platform maintenance

• Heavy machinery installation

All custom slings are manufactured, proof load tested, and certified in-house at FRT's Singapore facility — typically within 1 to 3 working days for standard custom specifications.

For more on custom webbing slings, read our [custom webbing sling guide →]

Important Notes on Using These Tables

These tables are reference values based on EN 1492-1. Always verify against your specific sling's identification label and test certificate before use. Actual SWL may vary slightly by manufacturer and production batch.

Apply the 20% working margin. Never select a sling at exactly 100% of its rated SWL. Use a sling rated for at least 120–125% of your maximum load in the actual hitch configuration. This margin accounts for dynamic load effects, slight weight estimation errors, and equipment condition over time.

The basket hitch SWL assumes vertical legs. The 2.0 basket factor only applies when sling legs hang perfectly vertical. In practice, legs are almost never perfectly vertical — always measure and apply the angle factor.

Ply count must be confirmed from the label — not assumed from colour. A green sling is rated 2T in 2-ply but 4T in 4-ply. Always read the label to confirm ply count and SWL.

Inspect before every lift. A sling in poor condition should never be used regardless of its rated SWL. Refer to our [webbing sling inspection guide →]

Order Webbing Slings From FRT in Singapore

FRT manufactures polyester webbing slings across the full SWL range — from 0.5T violet slings to 60T custom multi-ply configurations — at our Singapore facility. All slings are:

• Manufactured to EN 1492-1

• Supplied with test certificates meeting MOM requirements

• Colour-coded to the correct EN 1492-1 SWL colour

• Available in standard lengths (1m to 10m) and custom lengths

• Available in standard and custom eye configurations

• Available for same-day or next-day collection in Singapore for standard sizes

FRT has been manufacturing polyester webbing slings in Singapore since 1995. All products comply with EN 1492-1 and MOM lifting equipment regulations.