What the PE number actually measures
Varivas, one of 27 member companies of JAFTMA (the Japan Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association), explains that the Go (number) size follows the JAFS standard, and that for PE braid the standard specifies only denier, the density of the yarn, not diameter or strength. [1] In the rows Varivas lists, denier is 200 times the PE number: PE 0.8 is 160 denier, PE 1 is 200, PE 2 is 400, PE 3 is 600 and PE 10 is 2,000. [1]
Diameter is therefore approximate. Varivas's chart gives about 0.153 mm for PE 0.8, 0.171 mm for PE 1, 0.242 mm for PE 2 and 0.296 mm for PE 3, and says actual braid diameter may vary. [1] Strength is not part of the standard at all, which is why the pound figure is printed separately by each maker.
PE to pound test: two makers' published charts
The table puts two current Japanese braids side by side, each taken from the maker's own product page on 30 October 2026. Sunline publishes a maximum strength in lb and kg with a standard diameter for Basic PE; Varivas publishes strength in lb with an approximate diameter for Max Power PE X8. [2] [3]
| PE size | Sunline Basic PE max strength [2] | Varivas Max Power PE X8 strength [3] | Sunline standard diameter [2] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 | 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 14.5 lb | 0.132 mm |
| 0.8 | 12 lb (6 kg) | 16.7 lb | 0.153 mm |
| 1 | 16 lb (7.7 kg) | 20.2 lb | 0.171 mm |
| 1.2 | 20 lb (9.2 kg) | 24.1 lb | 0.187 mm |
| 1.5 | 25 lb (11 kg) | 28.6 lb | 0.209 mm |
| 2 | 35 lb (15.5 kg) | 33 lb | 0.242 mm |
| 2.5 | 40 lb (18.5 kg) | Not offered on the page | 0.270 mm |
| 3 | 50 lb (22 kg) | Not offered on the page | 0.296 mm |
Why the same PE number gives different pound ratings
At PE 0.8 the two charts differ by 4.7 lb, about 39 percent of Sunline's figure. At PE 1.5 the gap is 3.6 lb. At PE 2 the order flips: Sunline lists 35 lb and Varivas 33 lb. [2] [3] So a PE number is not a hidden pound rating; it is a thickness class, and each maker's braid construction and testing produce its own figure.
The two charts also handle diameter differently. Sunline's diameters match the JAFS PE chart Varivas publishes at most sizes (0.153 mm at PE 0.8, 0.296 mm at PE 3, though PE 1.2 is 0.187 mm on Sunline's chart and 0.191 mm on Varivas's), while the Varivas Max Power page lists 0.148 mm at PE 0.8 and 0.205 mm at PE 1.5, which are the values on Varivas's nylon and fluorocarbon chart. [2] [3] [1] Compare diameters only when you know which chart a maker used.
US-market labels skip PE entirely. KastKing sells SuperPower ColorShield braid by pound test and yards (8 lb to 80 lb in 150-yard spools), and Shimano's reel tables list braid capacity in pounds of PowerPro. [4] [5] To use a PE braid against a US capacity label, you need a diameter for both lines, and US labels often do not give one.
Worked example: choosing PE braid for a 2500 spinning reel
Shimano's Stradic 2500HG FM lists PowerPro capacity as 10-150, 15-145 and 30-100 (lb, then yards). [5] Say you want braid in the 15 to 20 lb class for bass and trout.
From Sunline's chart, PE 1 (16 lb) and PE 1.2 (20 lb) fit. From Varivas's, PE 0.8 (16.7 lb) fits, and PE 0.6 (14.5 lb) falls just under the range. [2] [3] Ordering 'PE 1' without naming the brand could get you 16 lb or 20.2 lb.
Both makers sell 150 m and 200 m spools. [2] [3] 150 m is 164 yards and 200 m is 219 yards, so a 150 m spool roughly fills the 2500's rated 145 yards of 15 lb PowerPro, assuming similar diameter; with a thinner PE size there will be room left for mono backing.
Checklist for buying PE-labelled braid
Run through these before you order.
- Read the pound or kilogram figure on that exact product's chart, not a generic conversion table. [2] [3]
- Note whether the rating is a maximum strength (Sunline's wording) or an unqualified figure. [2] [3]
- Compare diameters only between charts that use the same standard. [1]
- Convert spool length: 150 m is 164 yards; 200 m is 219 yards.
- Check the reel's capacity table for the pound class you chose, and leave room for backing if the braid is thinner. [5]
- Remember a US label in pounds says nothing about PE size, and vice versa. [4]
Questions before you decide
How many pounds is PE 0.8 braid?
It depends on the maker. Sunline's Basic PE rates PE 0.8 at 12 lb maximum strength, while Varivas's Max Power PE X8 rates PE 0.8 at 16.7 lb. Check the chart for the exact line you buy.
What pound test is PE 1.5?
Sunline's Basic PE lists PE 1.5 at 25 lb (11 kg) with a 0.209 mm standard diameter, and Varivas's Max Power PE X8 lists PE 1.5 at 28.6 lb. The PE number is a size class, not a strength rating.
What pound test is PE 3?
Sunline's Basic PE lists PE 3 at 50 lb maximum strength (22 kg) and 0.296 mm. The Varivas Max Power PE X8 page we read stops at PE 2, so we have no second maker's figure for PE 3.
Is there an official PE to pound conversion?
No. Varivas explains that the JAFS standard for PE braid only specifies denier, the yarn density, so each maker publishes its own strength figure for each PE size.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Varivas: Japanese line size and diameter explained (JAFS charts) Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Sunline Basic PE: size, strength and diameter table Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Varivas Max Power PE X8: size, strength and diameter Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- KastKing SuperPower ColorShield braid 150 yd: sizes and prices Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Shimano Stradic FM: line capacity specifications Accessed 30 Oct 2026
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