The size on our listings is the total length of the pole, not the height it stands once installed. About 500mm goes into the ground, so take half a metre off to get the usable height. This guide covers what that means in practice, how far apart to set your poles, and how much line you actually need.
Total length versus height above ground
| Total pole length | Height above ground | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| 2 metres | 1.5 metres | Small yards, patios, shorter users, or where a low line is easier to reach |
| 2.5 metres | 2 metres | The most popular size. Sheets clear the ground on a normal lawn |
| 3 metres | 2.5 metres | Larger gardens, big loads, drying duvets and long curtains |
| 3.5 metres | 3 metres | Maximum drying height and airflow. Needs a step or a raising line to reach the top |
Most people are happiest at 2.5 or 3 metres total. Below 2 metres above ground, wet sheets touch the grass; much above 2.5 metres and you are reaching.
The shorter posts are not only for small gardens. They are often used where the base is already raised — concreted into an upstand or a low retaining wall, or set into a large plant pot filled with concrete rather than dug into the ground. In both cases the ground level has effectively come up to meet the pole, so a 2 metre post can give you the same line height a 2.5 metre one would in a lawn. Work out the height you want the line at, then measure down from there.
If you are torn between reaching the line and drying height, an adjustable pole solves it — the line drops to load and hoists once it is full.
Stock sizes and made to order
Each listing says which sizes are stocked and which are made to order. Stock items usually leave us within 2 to 3 working days. Made to order poles are typically 2 to 3 weeks, because they are cut, welded, galvanised and coated for you.
Poles are made in single full lengths — one continuous piece of steel, not sections bolted together. That is a large part of why they stay rigid under a loaded line.
How far apart should poles be?
Six metres is our recommended maximum span.
Wet washing is heavy, and the load on a line is not linear — as the span grows, sag and tension climb quickly. Beyond 6 metres you get a line that dips into the lawn when full and posts that are working harder than they should.
- Up to 6 metres — two supports is all you need. That is either one pole and a wall bracket on the house, shed or fence post, or a pair of poles. Those two arrangements cover most gardens.
- 6 to 10 metres — keep the two supports and hold the middle of the run up with a clothes line prop.
- 10 to 12 metres — a prop on its own is working too hard by this point. Add another pole and break the run into shorter spans.
- Over 12 metres — a pole in the middle and props in the two spans either side of it.
A prop is a cheap fix and it does three useful things at once. It lifts the washing clear of the ground, it takes strain off the posts, and on a fixed line with no pulley it is what lets you raise the line once it is loaded and drop it back down to unload. We recommend one on any run near the limit, and plenty of people find one useful on shorter runs too.
How much line will you need?
Measure the span, then add roughly a metre at each end for tying off, plus extra if the line runs through a pulley or down to a cleat. Our 20 metre line covers almost any single-run garden with plenty spare, and it has a 4mm steel core so it will not stretch and sag the way rope does.
If you are running a multi-line pole with three lines, multiply accordingly — three 6 metre runs plus tie-offs is comfortably inside a 20 metre coil per line, so order one per line.
How thick are the poles?
Every pole in the range is over 40mm wide, with a wall thickness between 2 and 4mm depending on the style. They are heavy — deliberately so. It is also why they travel on specialist couriers rather than a standard parcel service.
Other pole types
The same sizing logic applies across the range, with different sweet spots:
- Shade sail poles — 2.5m and 3m are the usual choices, sized to the sail and the fixing points you already have.
- Festoon lighting poles — 2.5m and 3m, high enough to walk under comfortably.
- Bird house poles — 1.5m, 2m and 2.5m, chosen for the height you want the box at rather than for clearance.
Custom sizes
The standard range covers most gardens, but everything is made in our own Sheffield workshops, so unusual sizes are often possible. Email us with what you need and we will tell you whether we can do it and what it costs.
Next steps
Not sure which style suits you? Read how to choose a washing line pole. Ready to fit it? See how to install a washing line pole. Or go straight to the full range of poles.