Florist Wire Questions

We use florist wire on flowers and foliage for a number of reasons but as a rule, we do not use wire flowers unless they really need it.

• Support weak or broken stems
• Supporting and keeping heavy or large flowers heads upright
• Prevent flower heads from breaking
• Hold flowers and foliage in the desired position
• Replace stems on corsages to make them less bulky
• Straighten and manipulate stems and branches
• Bind, tie and add accessories to corsages and arrangements

• Stub Wires - “Stub” wire is a term used for wires that are cut to predetermined lengths
• Black Stub wire – Black wire is wire that has had no treatment and is usually about 16swg to 22swg
• Green florist wire – Green florist wire is soft annealed wire that is panted green. Florist wires are generally green in colour to prevent rusting and remain camouflaged
• Spool or binding wire – Spool or silver wire tends to be about 26swg to 32swg. Spool wire is a variety of florist wires wound onto a spool. Spools are handy for projects that need more than standard length wires and for projects such as wreaths and garlands. The advantage of a reel of wire is that there is no wastage or tangling.
• Coloured and decorative wire – Coloured and decorative wires usually come on a spool and very in material, thickness, and finish

Florist wires are sold in 1 or 2 kilo (pound) bundles and be bought on spools

• You can find long and short florist wires sold in bundles
• The most common length of florist wire sold in a bundle is 45cm (18 inches) long
• Short green wires are also available and are 22.5cm (9” inches) long

The number of wires per bundle will vary depending on the thickness of the wire.

There are two measuring  systems for measuring the thickness of wires. One system is the American Wire Gauge System (AWG), sometimes called Brown & Sharpe System used for precious metals. The other measuring system is the Standard Wire Gauge (SWG), also called Imperial Wire Gauge or British Standard Gauge.

Florist wires are available in a variety of thicknesses in millimetres or in the imperial numbering system SWG gauge. The higher the wire gauge, the thinner the wire, which means 28 gauge wire is threaded thin, while 18 gauge wire is thicker and harder to bend. Florist wire gauges run from 16 gauge (thickest) to 32 gauge (thinnest). Most popular gauges of florist wire are 20 and 24 gauge.

• 16SWG = 1.63mm
• 18 SWG = 1.22mm
• 20 SWG = 0.91mm
• 22 SWG = 0.71mm
• 24 SWG = 0.56mm
• 26 SWG = 0.46mm
• 28 SWG = 0.38mm
• 30 SWG = 0.32mm
• 32 SWG = 0.27mm
• 34 SWG = 0.23mm