All three are single-use, tamper-evident seals: once fitted, the only way to open them is to cut or break them, so a missing or damaged seal shows that the closure was opened. The difference is the closure they fit.
What is the difference between a bolt seal, a cable seal and a padlock seal?
- Bolt seal: a rigid steel pin that pushes into a locking body and cannot be withdrawn. It is built for heavy doors with an aligned hasp.
- Cable seal: a braided steel wire rope that passes through the closure and locks in a metal or plastic body. It suits closures where a rigid pin will not fit.
- Padlock seal: a small plastic body with a wire or plastic shackle, shaped like a padlock. It suits light closures that only need a clear tamper indication.
Bolt seal vs cable seal vs padlock seal: comparison table
| Feature | Bolt seal | Cable seal | Padlock seal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical closures | Shipping container doors, truck and trailer doors, tank access points with a standard hasp | Container and truck doors, handles and valves where closure points do not line up; bank and logistics doors | Small hasps, zipper pulls and eyelets: airline trolleys, cash boxes, courier totes, instruments |
| Construction | Galvanized low-carbon steel pin and locking body, coated in ABS | Aeronautic steel wire rope with an aluminum or ABS-coated steel locking body | Polypropylene body with a steel wire shackle, or all-polypropylene |
| Key sizes | 8 mm pin, about 86–87 mm long (MC-BS02, MC-BS04) | 1.0–5.0 mm cable; fixed 230 mm (MC-K) or made-to-order length (MC-CF, MC-NCF) | Compact bodies, e.g. 37 × 21 mm (MC-PL03) or a 31 mm marking flag (MC-PL07) |
| Adjustable? | No – fixed pin | Pull-through models adjust to the loop you need | No – fixed shackle |
| Removal | Bolt cutter | Cable cutter | Cut the shackle, or open by hand on tool-free models such as MC-PL01 |
| Marking | Logo or name and serial number on the ABS-coated parts | Laser marking on aluminum bodies (appears white); logo and numbers on ABS heads | Logo or name, serial number and barcode on the body |
| Catalogue MOQ (examples) | MC-BS02: 500 pcs; MC-BS04: 1,000 pcs | MC-K and MC-CF: 1,000 pcs; MC-NCF: 5,000 pcs | MC-PL07: 1,000 pcs; MC-PL03: 5,000 pcs; MC-PL01: 10,000 pcs |
When should you use a bolt seal?
Choose a bolt seal when the closure is a heavy door with two aligned hasp holes and you want a rigid, compact seal that is quick to fit and hard to open without a bolt cutter.
- Shipping containers, trucks and trailers with a standard door hasp.
- Tank access points and other doors where the hasp holes line up.
- Shipments where the seal number is recorded on transport documents.
Before ordering, check two things: the hasp hole must accept the 8 mm (0.31 in) pin, and there must be space behind the hasp for the locking body (34 × 23 mm on MC-BS02). See our bolt seals or the MC-BS02 container bolt seal.
When is a cable seal the better choice?
Choose a cable seal when a rigid pin will not fit: the closure points are offset, the holes are small or uneven, or you need different loop lengths for different equipment.
- Pull-through cable seals such as MC-NCF (1.5–5.0 mm cable) and MC-CF (1.0–2.5 mm) are adjustable: pull the cable through the body until the loop is as tight as required. Cable length is made to order.
- Fixed-length cable seals such as MC-K use a 1.8 mm cable with a standard 230 mm length (custom lengths available) that locks into a hexagonal head.
- Choose the cable diameter by the smallest hole the cable must pass through, and the length by the distance between the closure points.
Thin 1.0–1.5 mm cables suit cash bags, cabinets, meters and small hasps; 2.0 mm and thicker cables suit truck doors and container handles. Browse all cable seals.
When does a padlock seal make sense?
Choose a padlock seal for small, light closures where the goal is a clear, numbered tamper indication rather than resistance to force.
- Steel wire shackle: MC-PL03 combines a 1 mm wire shackle with a 37 × 21 mm polypropylene body and a large marking area – a good fit for courier totes and van access doors with small hasps.
- All-plastic: MC-PL07 is moulded entirely from recyclable polypropylene with a 31 mm marking flag, used on instruments, cash boxes, airline trolleys and bags.
- Tool-free removal: MC-PL01 opens by hand without a cutter, which speeds up handling where staff remove many seals every day, such as in-flight catering trolleys.
See all padlock seals.
Quick selection guide
- Container, truck or trailer door with an aligned hasp that accepts an 8 mm pin → bolt seal.
- Closure points that do not line up, small or uneven holes, or handles and valves → cable seal.
- Different loop lengths across your equipment → pull-through cable seal.
- Small hasps, zipper pulls or eyelets on trolleys, totes, cash boxes or instruments → padlock seal.
- Staff open many seals by hand every day → tool-free padlock seal such as MC-PL01.
What should you tell your supplier before ordering?
- A photo of the closure and the smallest hole diameter the seal must pass through.
- The distance between closure points (for cable seals).
- Quantity per order and per year.
- Colour, plus your logo, text, serial number format and any barcode.
- Destination, so packing and shipment can be quoted.
For numbering, see our security seal numbering checklist. If you are deciding between plastic and cable formats, read plastic vs cable seals.
Frequently asked questions
Can a bolt seal, cable seal or padlock seal be reused?
No. All three are single-use, tamper-evident seals. Once fitted, they can only be removed by cutting or breaking them, which is how a missing or damaged seal shows that a closure was opened.
Which security seal is best for shipping containers?
A bolt seal is the usual choice for container doors with a standard hasp that accepts an 8 mm pin. If the hasp cannot take the pin, or the closure points do not line up, a cable seal is the practical alternative.
Are cable seals adjustable?
Pull-through cable seals are adjustable: you pull the cable through the body until the loop is tight, and the cable length is made to order (for example 1.0–2.5 mm on MC-CF and 1.5–5.0 mm on MC-NCF). Fixed-length cable seals such as MC-K have a set loop, 230 mm as standard.
How are these seals removed?
Bolt seals are removed with a bolt cutter and cable seals with a cable cutter. Padlock seals are removed by cutting the shackle; tool-free models such as MC-PL01 can be opened by hand.
Can you print our logo and serial numbers on the seals?
Yes. Plastic and ABS surfaces can be laser marked, screen printed, UV printed or hot stamped, and aluminum cable seal bodies are laser marked, which appears white. The marking area and process are confirmed on a production sample against your artwork and serial format.
What is the minimum order quantity?
It depends on the model. Catalogue examples: MC-BS02 bolt seal 500 pieces; MC-BS04 bolt seal, MC-K and MC-CF cable seals 1,000 pieces; MC-NCF cable seal 5,000 pieces; MC-PL07 padlock seal 1,000 pieces; MC-PL03 5,000 pieces; MC-PL01 10,000 pieces.
Do you provide certificates or test reports?
Documentation is model-specific. If your shipment, customer or regulator requires a certificate or a tested rating, tell us the requirement and the model so we can confirm what current documentation is available before you specify it.
Ready to choose?
Send a photo of the closure, the hole size and your quantity through our quote form, and we will recommend a seal type and model and confirm marking options in the quotation.
Compare seal types →