# Cable tie, zip tie or tie wrap – what's the correct term? *Ask five people what the little plastic strap around a cable bundle is called and you may well get five answers: cable tie, zip tie, tie wrap, wire tie, or – if the person happens to be Dutch – tyrap. All of them describe exactly the same product, and only one of them is a name someone actually registered. This article explains which term is correct in professional English, where the Ty-Rap® brand name comes from, which word belongs in a specification or tender document, and what the product is called elsewhere in Europe. Since 2007, we have been the go-to wholesaler for cable ties, and we see every day how many different names the same enquiry arrives under.* ## The short answer: cable tie **Cable tie** is the correct term in technical and professional English. It is the wording you will find in standards, datasheets and tender documents, and it is unambiguous everywhere in the English-speaking world. **Zip tie** is the common American equivalent – perfectly clear in conversation, but less usual in formal documentation. *Tie wrap* and *tyrap* both trace back to a brand name rather than to the English language itself. ### So why does this shop sometimes say "tyrap"? Because our roots are Dutch, and a large part of our customer base searches for exactly that word. Whichever term you type, you land in the same place: our [cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties) category. ## Where does the name Ty-Rap® come from? ### An invention from 1958 The cable tie was developed by engineer Maurus Logan at the American company Thomas & Betts. Visiting an aircraft plant in 1956, Logan watched fitters tie down kilometres of wiring by hand using waxed cord – slow, laborious and hard on the fingers. His answer was filed for patent in June 1958: a plastic strap with a toothed rack and a locking head that grips itself and cannot run back. The Ty-Rap® trademark now belongs to ABB, and you will find the originals in our [Thomas & Betts cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/thomas-betts-cable-ties) range. [[banner productbanner_75]] ### From brand name to generic term What happened next is the story of Hoover, Biro and Sellotape all over again: the brand name became the product name – but a different brand won in each country. In the Netherlands and Belgium it was Ty-Rap, shortened to *tyrap*. In France it was Rilsan and Colson. English-speaking countries kept the plainly descriptive *cable tie*, with *zip tie* emerging in the United States from the zipper-like ratcheting sound. ## Every name at a glance TermCorrect in professional English?Origin and use**cable tie**YesThe standard technical term; safe for specifications and tenders.zip tieYes, informallyCommon in the United States; named after the sound of the ratchet.tie wrapNoDerived from the brand name; widely used in continental Europe.Ty-Rap®Brand nameCorrect only for the original Thomas & Betts / ABB product.tyrap / tie-wrapNoDutch generic spellings of the brand name.wire tie / bundling strapAcceptableUnderstandable but less precise; may also mean a twist tie.hose tie / tie strapNoOccasional workshop slang; avoid in written documentation.### Which term belongs in a specification or tender? Use **cable tie**, followed by the properties that actually matter: material, width, length and minimum tensile strength. A brand name such as Ty-Rap® in a specification reads as a product mandate, which can cause problems in public procurement. For marketing copy or an internal order list, any of the common terms will do. ### Can you call every cable tie a Ty-Rap®? Strictly speaking, no. Ty-Rap® is a registered trademark covering the original product only. For the product group as a whole, write *cable tie*. Nobody will object on the shop floor, but in printed documentation it is worth keeping the distinction. ## What is a cable tie called elsewhere in Europe? LanguageStandard termAlternativeEnglishcable tiezip tie (US), tie wrapDutchkabelbindertiewrap, tyrapGermanKabelbinderKabelbandFrenchcollier de serrageserre-câble, collier RilsanSpanishbrida de cableabrazadera, cincho (Latin America)Italianfascetta stringicavofascetta per cavi## What actually matters when you order The name makes no difference to how the tie performs; the specifications do. The table below shows the range we carry. PropertyRangeWhat it meansTensile strengthapprox. 8 kg to 230 kgThe load at which the strap fails. Common classes: 8.1 – 18.2 – 22.2 – 54.4 – 79.4 – 114 kg.Width2.5 mm to 13 mmTogether with thickness, determines strength and how firmly you can pull.Lengthfrom a few centimetres to 3,000 mmChoose on the circumference of the bundle, not its diameter.Standard materialpolyamide 6.6 (nylon)Tough and resilient; usable in practice between roughly -40 °C and +85 °C.Colourblack, white and various coloursBlack cable ties contain an additive that makes them UV resistant.### Why does a white cable tie snap outdoors when a black one does not? Because [black cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/black-tyraps) contain an additive that makes them UV resistant, and white and coloured versions do not. Unprotected polyamide becomes brittle under prolonged sunlight: the strap loses its resilience and breaks under the next load it takes, often after a single season. Use [white cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/white-cable-ties) and [cable ties in various colours](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/cable-ties-in-various-colors) indoors, and black or [extra UV resistant cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/extra-uv-resistant-tyraps) outdoors. That single detail prevents most of the complaints we hear about broken ties. [[banner productbanner_76]] ### Which version suits which job? SituationWhat you needIndoors, bundling inside a cabinet[White cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/white-cable-ties) or [flat head cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/flat-head-cable-ties) for a flush finishOutdoors, permanent[Black cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/black-tyraps) or [extra UV resistant cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/extra-uv-resistant-tyraps)Heavy bundles, site fencing, scaffold netting[Heavy duty cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/heavy-duty-tyraps)Temporary bundling, released later[Resealable cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/resealable-cable-ties) or [Velcro® fasteners](en/closure-materials/velcro-fastener)Frost, cold store, freezer warehouse[Cold resistant cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/cold-resistant-tyraps)Engine bay, high temperatures[Heat resistant cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/heat-resistant-cable-ties)Chemical plant, offshore, salt air[Stainless steel cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/stainless-steel-cable-ties) or the [stainless steel ladder variant](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/stainless-steel-cable-tie-ladder-variant)Food industry[Detectable cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/detectable-tyraps), picked up by metal detectionIdentifying cables and pipework[Cable ties with marker label](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/cable-ties-with-marker-label) or [printed cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/printed-cable-ties)Fixing to a wall or panel[Cable ties with attachment eye](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/tyraps-with-attachment-eye) or [cable ties with expansion anchor](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/cable-ties-with-expansion-anchor)Extra strong locking head[Metal tooth cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/metal-tooth-cable-ties) or [ladder ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/ladder-ties)Securing tags and price tickets[Secure attachments](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/secure-attachments) or [injection moulded ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/injection-moulded-ties)A more sustainable option[Recycled cable ties](en/closure-materials/eco-friendly-cable-ties/recycled-tyraps) or [FibreStrap paper cable ties](en/closure-materials/eco-friendly-cable-ties/fibrestrap-cable-ties)### Do you need a tool? Not for occasional use. If you fit dozens a day, yes: a pair of [cable tie pliers](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/cable-ties_pliers) lets you set the tension and cuts the tail off flush. That saves time, but it also removes the sharp stubs fitters cut themselves on and prevents the over-tightening that makes a tie fail later. If you want no tail at all, look at the [cable tie Twist & Cut](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/cable-tie-twist-cut), where you simply twist the end off. ### Can a cable tie be reused? A standard one cannot: the locking head bites irreversibly into the rack, and releasing it means cutting it off. If you need regular access to the bundle, choose [resealable cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties/resealable-cable-ties) with a release tab, [Velcro® One-Wrap® straps](en/closure-materials/velcro-fastener/one-wrap-straps-velcro) or [spiral wrapping band](en/closure-materials/spiral-wrapping-bands). The last two survive hundreds of cycles, which makes them cheaper over time than disposable ties. ### What other options are there? Alongside cable ties we stock [loop wires](en/closure-materials/loop-wires) for closing sacks quickly, [heat shrink tubing](en/closure-materials/heat-shrink-tubing) for insulating and finishing cable ends, and [Velcro® on a roll](en/closure-materials/velcro-fastener/velcro-rolls-velcro-on-a-roll) for bundles you want to cut to length yourself. The full overview sits under [closure materials](en/closure-materials). ## In summary - **Cable tie** is the correct professional term; *zip tie* is fine informally, especially in the United States. - **Ty-Rap®** is a Thomas & Betts trademark, patented in 1958 for aircraft wiring. - **Tyrap** and *tie wrap* are continental European generics derived from that brand. - Searching abroad? Try *Kabelbinder*, *collier de serrage*, *brida* or *fascetta*. - Outdoors, always choose black or UV resistant – there, colour is a technical decision, not a cosmetic one. ## Ordering cable ties from Kortpack Whatever you call them, you will find the full range under [cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties): from slim bundling straps to heavy duty versions and stainless steel. Ordered on working days before 3:30 PM? Then your order will be shipped the same day. Enjoy free delivery on orders over €75 excl. VAT. Do you have questions about which size of [cable ties](en/closure-materials/cable-ties) is best suited to your situation? Please don't hesitate to contact us — by phone on [+31 184 – 614256](tel:+31%20184%20-%20614256), via [info@kortpack.nl](mailto:info@kortpack.nl) or via [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/31184614256). --- Published: 2023-06-13 09:52:00 Source: https://www.kortpack.nl