Without a doubt, paracord is one of the unsung heroes of the DIY handyman’s arsenal. 550 paracord, to be exact — a cord with so many uses it is tough to count them all. This is the original ParaVival list, refreshed: ten quick ways to put it to work, each with the cord it takes. And if any of these spark a bigger idea, our roundup of 25 easy paracord projects for beginners turns the same cord into bracelets, dog gear, lanyards, and more weekend builds.
The 10 things
- Securing anything — The best thing about paracord is its ability to tie down a multitude of cargoes. Use 550 paracord to keep tarps in place over the beds of pickups and log piles in the clutch. A truck bed full of loose gear becomes one tied-down load in two minutes. Cord needed: 10–25 ft per tie-down.
- A great pulley system — 550 paracord is a great way to lift anything. If you need to do some serious work without the benefit of a helping hand, paracord is the way to go: it has the tensile strength to run pulleys and haul loads that would take two people otherwise. A simple 2:1 pulley halves the force you need, and paracord’s low stretch keeps the system honest. Cord needed: 2–3 times the lift height.
- Tow rope in a pinch — Generally speaking, paracord can’t yank an F-150 out of the mud. But it can pull a smaller conveyance from a bad situation — just link it up and pull with a 4×4. Keep the pull straight, keep it slow, and remember the cord is a helper, not a winch. Doubled cord shares the load; a single strand is for light pulls only. Cord needed: 15–25 ft, doubled up.
- A DIY drying system — Popping up some 550 cord between a few trees is the best way to create a DIY drying system for laundry. Two trees, a taut line, and your wet clothes dry in the breeze instead of staying damp in a pack. Hang it high enough that clothes clear the ground, and take it down before the dew settles. Cord needed: 20–25 ft.
- Strapping down windows — Storm windows are great, but they don’t solve every problem. A better way to keep debris from harming your windows is to strap down the shutters — and wrap exterior fixtures — so nothing is left loose to become a projectile. Check the straps before the storm, not during it. Cord needed: 5–10 ft per shutter.
- The best dry line ever — Whether you’re camping or fake roughing it at home, paracord is a great way to dry things out. From fish to wet gear, a taut line in sun and wind does the work — and unlike a wire line, it packs down to nothing when you’re done. Space items along the line so air moves between them; bunched-up gear stays damp. Cord needed: 15–25 ft.
- A good substitute for “real” tethers — Between keeping boats from drifting away and dogs straying, it’s always tough to tether things in the great outdoors. A length of paracord and a solid anchor point do the job — just don’t trust it as a tie-out for a dog left alone, and never for anything that holds a person. A taut tether is a safe tether; slack line is how things drift, tangle, and break free. Cord needed: 6–15 ft.
- Fishing line in a pinch — Out in the wild, paracord comes in real handy. You can undo the individual strands and craft your own fishing line — one strand of twisted yarn, tied to a hook, catches panfish just fine. Gut a short length, pull the strands, and keep the sheath for lashing. Cord needed: a 2–3 ft length gives you 7 strands.
- A good grip when necessary — The best thing about paracord is that it provides a great tactile feel. You can quickly and easily wrap it around knife and axe handles for a grip that works wet, cold, or gloved — and the wrap doubles as spare cord if you ever need it. Start with a clove hitch, wrap tight, and finish with a melted end tucked under the last coils. Cord needed: 6–10 ft per handle.
- A great way to tote goods — Last but not least, 550 paracord can be used to bundle up everything from soccer balls to household furniture. Loop it, cinch it, and carry awkward loads as a single bundle — a moving-day tool that costs pennies. Two loops and a handle turn a pile of loose gear into one carry. Cord needed: 10–20 ft per bundle.
More where that came from
Some would argue that paracord is pretty much the most versatile substance known to man outside of WD-40 and duct tape. Ten uses barely start the list — and every one of them starts with knowing how much cord to cut. Our paracord length calculator works out the cut length for any weave and size, so the next project starts with a number instead of a guess.