358 vs 868 vs 3D Panel Fencing: Which Welded Mesh Fence Do You Need?

358 vs 868 vs 3D Panel Fencing: Which Welded Mesh Fence Do You Need?

• 16 Oct 2026
• Posted By S K Weldedmesh

Welded mesh fencing in India comes in three main patterns, and tenders often name them by number without explaining the difference. SK Weldedmesh manufactures all three in Kolkata, so this guide compares them plainly: what the numbers mean, how secure each is, what each costs relative to the others, and where each belongs.

What the numbers mean

• 358 is an imperial description: 3 inch × 0.5 inch apertures (76.2 × 12.7 mm) in 8-gauge (4 mm) wire. It is also called prison mesh or anti-climb mesh.
• 868 describes the wires: 8 mm horizontal, 6 mm vertical, 8 mm horizontal. Two horizontal wires sandwich each vertical wire, so it is also called twin wire or double wire fencing. The lighter version is 656.
• 3D panel is a single-wire welded panel (usually 4 or 5 mm) with horizontal V-shaped folds pressed in for stiffness. The folds are the “3D”.

Side-by-side comparison

	358 anti-climb	868 twin wire	3D panel
Aperture	76.2 × 12.7 mm	65 × 200 mm	50 × 200 mm
Wire	4.0 mm (3.0 mm light)	8 / 6 / 8 mm	4.0 mm (5.0 mm heavy)
Panel size	2515 mm wide, 1.8 to 6.0 m high	2015 mm wide, 1.2 to 2.4 m high	2500 mm wide, 1.2 to 2.4 m high
Weight per m²	approx. 7.5 kg	approx. 6.5 kg	approx. 3.5 kg
Anti-climb	Yes: no foothold	No	No
Anti-cut	Yes: bolt cutters cannot grip	Partly: 8 mm wire is hard to cut	No
Rigidity	High (dense mesh)	Very high (twin 8 mm wires)	Good (V-folds)
Relative cost per m	Highest (about 2 to 2.5× 3D)	High (about 1.5 to 2× 3D)	Lowest (baseline)
Typical use	Defence, railways, airports, prisons, data centres	Industrial, highways, sports grounds, campuses	Factories, warehouses, schools, housing, solar parks
Standards	EN 10223-7, BS 1722-14	EN 10223-7, BS 1722-14	EN 10223-7, BS 1722-14

All three are galvanised and polyester powder coated to a minimum of 80 microns as per IS 13871, in RAL 6005 green, RAL 9005 black or any RAL shade.

How to choose

1. Must the fence stop a determined person? If yes, choose 358 anti-climb mesh. Nothing else in this list resists climbing and cutting.
2. Does the specification say double wire, or will the fence take impact? Choose 868 twin wire: flat, very stiff, hard to bend.
3. Is it a boundary that needs to look neat, stay put and cost the least? Choose 3D welded mesh panels.
4. Large site with a secure core? Use 358 on the core and 3D or 868 on the outer boundary, with the same posts, colour and gates.

What stays the same

Whichever pattern you choose, the things that decide service life are the same: galvanising under the powder coat, coating thickness, weld shear strength, post section and foundation depth, and anti-tamper fixings. Ask for mill test certificates and coating-thickness reports with every supply. Send us your specification and we will quote the right pattern, or all three for comparison.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the most secure: 358, 868 or 3D?

358 anti-climb mesh. Its 76.2 × 12.7 mm aperture gives no foothold and defeats bolt cutters; 868 and 3D panels have 200 mm openings that a hand or foot can enter.

Which is the cheapest per metre?

3D welded mesh panel. A single 4 mm wire sheet with V-folds uses the least steel for a rigid 2.4 m fence.

When is 868 twin wire the right choice?

When the specification calls for a flat, heavy panel that resists impact and crowd pressure: sports grounds, highways, industrial campuses, and tenders that name double-wire fencing.

Can the three be mixed on one site?

Yes, and most large sites do: 358 around the critical core, 868 or 3D on the outer boundary, with the same posts, coating and gates for a uniform look.