Hoist Hooks, Rigging Hooks, Sling Hooks & Lifting Hooks

Hooks for Lifting & Rigging

When safety and strength matter most, our selection of hoisting hooks - including sling hooks, lifting hooks, and crane hooks  - delivers the reliable performance you need to lift, secure, and move heavy loads. 

Whether you're operating a crane for at a construction site, building a warehouse rigging system, or transporting cargo, US Cargo Control has a hook for the job - from small stainless swivel eye hooks to heavy duty sling hooks with a working load limit of over 8,000 lbs.

To help you find the best hook for the job, we've outlined some of the lifting hook basics below.

What Are Hoisting Hooks?

Hoisting hooks or rigging hooks are hardware components used to safely attach lifting slings, chains, and wire rope to loads during lifting and material handling operations. Their heavy-duty construction can handle extreme weights and designed to maintain control and stability throughout the lift. From overhead cranes to trailer applications, these hooks are engineered for dependable, repeatable performance.

Choosing the Right Hook for Your Application

Every job is different, which is why choosing the correct hoisting hook is essential. There are several important variables to consider, including load weight, connection type, and hook throat style.

Hoisting Hooks Connection Types

When it comes to connecting your crane hook to your sling, chain, wire rope, etc., there are a couple of different attachment options. Clevis or eye hooks offer different benefits based on whether the hook is permanent or detachable, while swivel crane hooks reduce line twisting and improve safety.

Eye Hook

Eye hooks are the most common choice. The circular connection allows for a permanent attachment and greater flexibility compared to a clevis hook. The downside, however, is that if the hook is damaged, the whole sling will have to be retired.

Clevis Hook

Designed with a clevis and bolt or pin at the base, clevis hooks offer a secure way to fasten the hook to a bracket or chain without being permanent. They do have less range of motion than the eye hooks, but can be easily replaced. They are commonly used with chain slings.

Swivel Lifting Hook

Swivel hooks allow you to rotate the hook to simplify the loading process and prevent your chain or other rigging hardware from becoming twisted. Most are only designed to be rotated before you add the load and cannot be swiveled under load.

If you need a hook that can rotate freely with a load, a swivel hook with a bearing is required, such as a Crosby L-3322B or S-3322B.

Types of Rigging Hooks

After you've chosen the attachment type that will work best for you, you'll want to further narrow down your selection by looking at hoist hook styles. There are a ton of options out there, but we'll touch on some of the most popular.

Grab Hook

Grab hooks are designed to "grab" to keep a chain from slipping off the hook. They have a narrow throat that is especially effective at holding chain.

Slip Hook

These generally have a wider throat than grab hooks - ideal for temporary or adjustable connections. Slip hooks occasionally include a latch design to keep an attached object in its place.

Self-Locking Hook

When used within the working load limit guidelines, a self-locking design ensures the hook will not open when under heavy load.

Sorting Hook

Sorting hooks are best-suited to applications involving loads like pipes or flat plates due to their deep straight throat.

Foundry Hook

This style of hook has the widest throat option and doesn't come with a latch.

Applications for Lifting Hooks

• Overhead crane lifting and rigging systems
• Flatbed trailer cargo securement
• Warehouse and logistics operations
• Utility and pole work
• Construction and jobsite hoisting tasks
• Marine and dockyard equipment handling

Important Terminology for Lifting Hooks

There's a lot of jargon associated with rigging hooks - learn more about the most frequently used before you start your search.

Sling Hook Grade

This indication refers to the tensile strength of metal. Grades that are approved for overhead lifting include grades 80, 100, and 120. All are made from an alloy steel and provide different levels of strength. For example, a grade 100 hook will provide an approximately 25% higher working load limit than a grade 80 hook.

Learn more about the different chain grades and their working load limits.

Type 316 Stainless Steel

This "marine grade" metal has better corrosion resistance to salts, chemicals and acids, particularly marine environments that involve immersion or spray of sea water.

Lifting Hook Finishes

The different hook finishes offer different benefits. 

If the lifting hook has a galvanized finish, the metal has a thin coating of zinc to protect against rust and provide resistance to corrosion.

A powder coat finish provides corrosion-resistance as well and is generally ideal for easy identification of the different grades. Our primary selection of grade 80 hooks are all bright yellow, while our primary selection of grade 120 hooks are bright blue.

Hoist Hook Capacities

Hooks are often stamped with numbers to indicate the load information and rating capacity / working load limit (WLL). WLL is the maximum weight that should be applied to the item when in use. 

This number is based on ideal working and environmental conditions, so if you are using the equipment in abnormal conditions (extremely high or low temperatures, chemical vapor or solution contact, immersion over time in salt water, acids, etc.), this limit may not be correct and special precautions should be taken.

*Working load limit should never be exceeded*

Hook Safety & Compliance

All our hoisting hooks are designed and rated to meet or exceed the applicable industry regulations. Proper inspection and use are critical to safety - be sure to check your hooks regularly for signs of wear, throat opening distortion, cracks, or corrosion. If any damage is found, replace the hook immediately.

Questions About Hoist Hooks?

Lifting hooks come in a variety of styles and capacities for a number of uses, and you can count on US Cargo Control to offer just what you need, whether it's a small slip hook or a heavy duty clevis hook.

Don't see the hoisting hook you need or aren't sure what might be the best hook for your use? Contact one of our trained sales specialists - they'll be happy to help answer your questions and even help you place an order. 

Be sure to check our other lifting and rigging supplies, including shackles, snatch blocks, connecting and coupling links, chain slings, turnbuckles, and wire rope.