What Does Shrink Ratio (2:1, 3:1, Etc..) Mean?
The shrink ratio is the approximate maximum amount that heatshrink tubing will shrink relative to the unshrunk diameter. For example, a piece of 3/4" heatshrink tubing with a 3:1 shrink ratio will shrink down to a maximum diameter of approximately 1/4" when fully shrunk. All heatshrink tubing on our site is specified in it's UNSHRUNK diameter, so consider the shrink ratio and the unshrunk diameter when ordering heatshrink tubing. Heatshrink tubing with a larger shrink ratio will be more forgiving when fitting the tubing over plugs or connectors, but will have a bit thicker wall thickness and slightly less flexibility when shrunk then a lower ratio product.