When it comes to pulling cable through conduit — whether on a municipal fiber installation, an underground power distribution project, or a telecommunications buildout — the pulling medium you choose affects how efficiently the job gets done and whether the cable arrives undamaged.
This guide explains what pull tape and mule tape are, how they differ, and how to choose between them for your specific application. Utility Pipe Supply stocks both products for contractors and utilities nationwide.
What Is a Pull Tape?
Pull tape, sometimes called polyester pull tape or flat tape, is a flat, woven polyester strap used to pull wire and cable through conduit. It is pre-installed in conduit by the manufacturer or pulled through separately before the cable run, then attached to the cable for the pull.
Pull tape is available in a wide range of tensile strengths, from lightweight 500-pound tape used for low-voltage communication cables to heavy-duty 2,000-pound tape for larger electrical or fiber optic cable pulls. Most pull tape is printed with footage markings at regular intervals, allowing crews to track how much conduit has been filled during a pull.
What Is a Mule Tape?
Mule tape is a trademarked product name that has become a generic industry term for heavy-duty flat polyester pulling tape designed for high-tension underground conduit pulls and directional drilling applications. The term originated from the product being strong enough to pull like a mule — a reflection of its significantly higher tensile strength compared to standard pull tape.
Like pull tape, mule tape is printed with footage markings. Its heavy-duty construction makes it the standard choice for directional drilling projects, large-scale fiber installations, and any pull where loads are expected to exceed what standard pull tape can handle.
Key Differences Between Pull Tape and Mule Tape
Tensile Strength
The primary functional difference is tensile strength. Standard pull tape products are typically rated from 500 to 2,000 pounds. Mule tape products commonly range from 1,500 to 6,600 pounds or more, with some high-capacity versions rated for 10,000+ pound pulls.
For projects involving long directional bore pulls, deeply buried conduit with multiple bends, or large-diameter cable bundles, mule tape provides the capacity margin that standard pull tape cannot.
Width and Fill Ratio
Mule tape is generally available in wider profiles compared to standard pull tape. Width matters when calculating the conduit fill ratio — the percentage of the conduit inner diameter occupied by the tape and the cable being pulled. Wider tape can reduce the usable interior space in smaller conduit sizes.
Abrasion Resistance
Because mule tape is designed for directional drilling and long underground pulls, it typically incorporates higher-abrasion-resistance weave constructions. Standard pull tape is adequate for most conventional trenched conduit runs but may degrade faster under the friction loads of a long directional bore.
Cost
Pull tape is generally less expensive per foot than mule tape. For projects where the pull loads are modest and the conduit run is short to medium length, standard pull tape provides the better cost-per-foot value. For high-load applications, the cost difference is justified by the higher tensile capacity.
When to Use Pull Tape
Pull tape is the right choice for short to medium conduit runs with few bends, in applications where pull tension will not approach the tape tensile limit, for pre-pulled conduit in standard trenched construction, and for low-voltage communications cable where pull forces are modest.
When to Use Mule Tape
Mule tape is the right choice for directional drilling projects where the tape must survive the friction of a bore pull, for long runs exceeding several hundred feet with multiple sweeps, for heavy cable bundles or large-diameter fiber cable, and for any project where pulling tension calculations indicate loads above 1,500 pounds.
Selecting the Right Pulling Solution: A Practical Checklist
Before ordering your pulling solution, confirm the following:
- Pull tension estimate: Calculate the expected pulling tension based on conduit length, number of bends, cable weight, and coefficient of friction. Compare this to the tape tensile rating with an appropriate safety factor.
- Conduit inner diameter: Verify that the tape width and cable diameter do not exceed the conduit fill limit (typically 40 percent of interior cross-sectional area for a single cable with tape).
- Conduit material and condition: Smooth PVC conduit creates less friction than HDPE corrugated conduit or conduit with debris. Factor conduit condition into your tension estimate.
- Run length and footage markings: Verify the marking intervals match your project needs if precise footage tracking is required.
Utility Pipe Supply stocks pull tape and mule tape in a variety of tensile ratings and spool lengths. Contact our team to confirm the right specification for your job.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can pull tape and mule tape be used together on the same project?
Yes — a common practice is to pull a lighter pull tape first to pre-string the conduit run, then use that tape to pull a heavier mule tape in preparation for a high-tension cable pull. This is common in directional drilling projects where the pre-pull tape keeps the conduit clear and acts as a guide.
How do footage markings on pull tape work?
Pull tape and mule tape are printed with footage numbers at regular intervals — commonly every 2 feet or every 5 feet, depending on the product. As the cable pull progresses, crews can read the markings at the conduit entry to track how much tape remains in the conduit, helping verify that the correct footage of conduit has been strung or that no tape remains kinked inside.
What is the minimum bend radius for pull tape in conduit?
Pull tape is flexible and can navigate the same bend radii that the conduit is designed for. Most polyester pull tape can handle 90-degree sweeps and standard conduit bends without losing structural integrity. The cable being pulled, not the tape, typically determines the minimum allowable bend radius.
How do I know what tensile strength I need for my pull?
Estimate the pulling tension using the conduit length, the number and degree of bends, the cable weight per foot, and a friction coefficient for your conduit material (typically 0.35 to 0.50 for conduit pulls). Multiply the result by a safety factor of 1.5 to 2 to determine your minimum tape tensile rating.
Can mule tape be reused after a pull?
Mule tape can sometimes be left in the conduit after a cable pull, serving as a pulling aid for future cable additions. If removed, inspect it for abrasion damage or cuts before reusing. Heavily abraded tape from a directional bore pull should be replaced rather than reused.
Is pull tape rated for outdoor and underground use?
Yes — polyester pull tape and mule tape are rated for direct burial and underground conduit use. Polyester does not absorb water and is resistant to the soil chemistry and moisture conditions typical in buried conduit applications.
About Utility Pipe Supply
Utility Pipe Supply stocks pull tape and mule tape in a variety of tensile ratings and spool lengths for contractors and utilities across the country. Whether you need pre-pulled conduit tape for a standard trench project or heavy-duty mule tape for a directional drilling job, we have the inventory to ship quickly. Contact us at (815) 337-8845, or email sales@utilitypipe.net.