Tan synthetic rope with the look of natural Manila, without the splinters, rot or shrinking. Also called Unmanila, Poly Manila or Tan Pro.
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- Not sure what you need? Open the chat button on this page and a rope expert will help you choose.
Great for
- Pick your size by post: 4x4 takes 1-1/2 in, 6x6 takes 2-1/2 in.Help me size my fence
- Water and salt don’t affect it, and it floats.
- Smooth on the hands, with no splinters.
- 3/4 to 2 in, chosen by how it looks.Set up my swing
Another rope to consider
Specs
See all sizes
| Diameter | Weight (Lbs / 100 Ft) | Breaking Strength | Safe Working Load Limit (SWLL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 1.11 | 1079 | 90 - 216 |
| 3/8 | 2.45 | 2248 | 187 - 450 |
| 1/2 | 4.39 | 3417 | 285 - 683 |
| 5/8 | 6.87 | 5755 | 480 - 1151 |
| 3/4 | 9.92 | 8093 | 674 - 1619 |
| 1 | 17.54 | 14388 | 1199 - 2878 |
| 1-1/4 | 27.49 | 21222 | 1769 - 4244 |
| 1-1/2 | 39.46 | 30574 | 2548 - 6115 |
| 2 | 70.15 | 50357 | 4196 - 10071 |
| 2-1/2 | 109.61 | 76435 | 6370 - 15287 |
| 3 | 157.84 | 134885 | 11240 - 26977 |
| 4 | 280.6 | 190637 | 15886 - 38127 |
How it holds up
- SunModerate
- Rot and mildewExcellent
- Water and saltUnaffected
- StretchLow
- Rubbing and wearModerate
- Oil and chemicalsVery good
Description
Promanila is a tan synthetic rope with the look of natural Manila, made for outdoor rope fences, railings, dock rails and swings. It's a 3 strand polypropylene danline rope with added UV inhibitors, so it stays smooth, won't splinter, rot or shrink, and it floats. Compared with natural Manila, it's stronger, lighter and lasts up to three times longer. A lot of tan rope sold as Promanila is plain polypropylene that fades and splinters early in the sun, and the danline build is what makes ours last. It's our most popular outdoor decorative rope, and where the sun is strong all year, Blonde Twisted Polyester lasts longest.
- Also called Unmanila, synthetic Manila, Poly Manila, Pro Manila, Tan Pro and Poly Tan
- Smooth on the hands, with no splinters
- Unaffected by water and salt
- Resists rot, mildew, marine growth, oil and most chemicals
- Pick the size by post: 1-1/2 in for 4x4 posts, 2-1/2 in for 6x6
How it compares
Prices and strength for 1-1/2 in.
| Quality |  PromanilaThis rope |  Twisted Polyester |  Natural Manila |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Tan, like Manila | Blonde is the closest to tan | Real plant fiber |
| Full sun | Moderate | Excellent | Good |
| Rot and mildew | Excellent | Excellent | Low |
| Breaking strength | 30,574 lb | 46,400 lb | 16,650 lb |
| Custom length price | $2.39/ft | $3.59/ft | $2.39/ft |
| Choose it for | The look, outside full-sun climates | Longest life in full sun | Classic, old school natural fiber look |
Questions
About the rope
What is a standard end?
The end is wrapped in brown tape and hot-cut to seal it. Keep the tape on, or peel it off once the end has cooled. It’s free, and on a fence it’s the strongest finish: a lag screw through the post holds the cut end.
How does it compare with natural Manila?
It’s smoother, nearly 50% stronger and lasts up to three times longer. It doesn’t mildew, rot, shed or shrink, and it floats. Some people still prefer the real thing, and we stock it in all sizes.
How long will it last in the sun?
Ours is danline rope with extra UV inhibitors, so it outlasts plain tan polypropylene, which splinters early. It still breaks down in the sun over time. Where the sun is strong all year, choose Twisted Polyester.
Is it fire rated?
No. Promanila is synthetic, so it isn't fire rated or fire retardant, and it won't absorb fire treatments. For indoor installations that need a fire rating, natural Sisal Rope can be treated with fire retardant by a third party.
Building a fence or railing
What size rope for my posts?
Bigger usually looks better, but the hole has to leave enough wood in the post.
- 4x4 posts: 1-1/4 or 1-1/2 in. Never above 1-1/2 in.
- 6x6 posts: 2 or 2-1/2 in. Never above 2-1/2 in.
- Bigger than 6x6: 2-1/2 or 3 in.
- Wrapping 8 to 10 in round posts: 1-1/2 in.
How much rope do I need?
Measure the full run and add sag, about 3 in per section between posts. At a corner, end one rope and start another. Help me choose does the math for a straight run.
What screws hold the rope?
We use Spax Power Lag Screws. They hold well, can be buried under the rope and have an HCR (High Corrosion Resistance) coating. We sell them in 3-1/2, 4 and 6 in.
Do you sell the screws and brackets for a rope fence?
Yes. We sell Spax Power Lag Screws in 3-1/2, 4 and 6 in, and rope brackets for posts you'd rather not drill.
Planning your fence
How do I work out rope for a fence with drilled holes?
Your total depends on the type of post, how you attach the rope, your overall run length and how much sag you want between posts.
This method is for square posts, with the rope running through holes drilled in the posts and its ends finished inside the posts. It uses the least hardware and rope.
- Measure the overall length of the run.
- Add for sag between posts. How much is up to you. In our video we used about 3 in of extra rope per section.
- When turning corners, end one rope and start the new rope at a 90 degree angle.
Video: Determining Rope Length · Rope brackets, if you don't want to drill
How do I work out rope for a fence with rope brackets?
This method is for square posts when you don't want to drill holes. The rope runs through rope brackets attached to the posts, and an End Cap finishes each exposed end.
- Measure the overall length of the run.
- Add for sag between posts. How much is up to you. In our video we used about 3 in of extra rope per section.
- When turning corners, use a Corner Bracket.
Video: Determining Rope Length · Rope brackets · End Cap · Corner Bracket
How do I work out rope for wrapping round posts?
This method is for round posts, with the rope wrapped around each post several times and strung from post to post.
- Find the centerline of the rope: post diameter + rope diameter.
- Find the rope for 1 wrap: centerline x 3.14 = length in inches. Divide by 12 to convert to feet.
- Decide how many wraps you want around each post.
- Find the rope for each post: length of 1 wrap x number of wraps.
- Determine the rope needed for the run and the desired sag.
Is there a video on choosing the rope size?
Yes. The best size for the look depends on the size and style of your posts.
Setting posts, drilling and cutting
How much of the post goes in the ground?
If your posts are 8 ft long, we recommend burying 4 ft underground and leaving 4 ft above ground. That's how we installed the 6x6 square posts in our video.
Where do I drill the holes, and how big?
Use a Forstner bit 1/16 to 1/8 in larger than the rope. For 1-1/2 in Promanila in a square post, that is a 1-9/16 in Forstner bit or a 1-9/16 in hole saw.
For a fence with two layers of rope, like the one in our video, place the top hole here:
- 6x6 posts with 2-1/2 in Promanila: 4 to 5 in below the top of the post.
- 4x4 posts: 3 to 4 in below the top of the post.
What tools can I use to cut rope to length?
Always wrap your rope in electrical tape before cutting, to hold the strands in place as you cut.
- Handheld Hot Cutter: the fastest way if you have a lot of cuts. Its 1-1/2 in blade sears through the rope and melts the ends as you cut.
- Hot knife: another option. Our video shows how.
