Caravan Awning Clothes Line Buying Guide
A caravan clothes line for your awning is sized by your awning's length in feet, not a small, medium, large scale. Fixed wire lines are made to fit one exact awning size, usually somewhere between 13ft and 19ft. Clamp-on lines are more flexible and fit a wide range, usually 8ft to 25ft or 26ft, using 18m to 25m of cord split into 2 or 3 lines.
Common caravan clothes line sizes at a glance:
- Fixed wire line: made to fit one exact awning size, 13ft to 19ft (about 4m to 5.8m), with a single or double line
- Clamp-on line: fits awnings from 8ft to 26ft (about 2.4m to 8m), using 18m to 25m of cord
- Velcro-strap line: no drilling needed. Stainless steel versions fit 10ft to 19ft awnings and start from around $40. Simple cord versions are about 6.5m long and start from around $30
Getting the size right matters more than you'd think. Buy the wrong clothes line for your caravan and it just won't reach, or a clamp-on line that's too long for a short awning will sag in the middle. Clothes lines for caravans are sold to fit specific awning sizes for exactly this reason.
This guide covers caravan awning clothes line sizes, how they attach to your caravan awning, and what to check before you buy. If you're still sorting out your awning, read our caravan awning sizes and dimensions guide first, so the clothesline you pick actually matches it.
Caravan clothes line types and sizes compared
Here's how the three common styles compare on size, how they attach, and typical price in AUD.
| Type | Awning size range | Attaches with | Household equivalent | Price range (AUD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed wire line | 13ft to 19ft, one exact size per line | Small metal screws called rivets, into brackets on the awning arms | Retractable indoor line | From $68 single line, from $108.50 double line |
| Clamp-on line | 8ft to 25ft or 26ft, one size fits the range | A clamp that squeezes onto the awning arm, 20mm to 35mm thick | Rotary clothesline | From $70 |
| Velcro-strap line | 10ft to 19ft (stainless steel versions); simple cord versions don't list an awning size | Velcro straps wrapped around each awning arm | Simple cord line | From $40 (stainless steel), from $30 (simple cord, 6.5m) |
Type
Awning size range it covers
Fixed wire
Clamp-on
Velcro-strap
0ft13ft26ft
Note: each bar starts at the smallest awning that type fits and ends at the largest, on a shared 0–26ft scale. It shows the range of awning sizes covered, not the length of the clothesline itself. The clamp-on line covers the widest range because it's built as one product to suit almost any awning.
The clamp-on line is the best seller because one product covers almost every awning size, from a small pop-top annexe to a full 8m awning. A fixed wire line has to be ordered to match your exact awning length.
How an awning clothes line is different from a home line
A rotary or retractable line at home stays in one spot for good, so it can be heavier and often sits on a concrete post. An awning clothes line has to either pack down small for travel, or fix onto a structure that gets rolled away every trip.
That's why the cord is lighter, the metal parts are stainless steel instead of plain steel, and it has to attach to a round awning arm instead of a fixed post.
Fixed wire awning lines
Fixed wire lines are held in place by small metal screws called rivets, fixed to a bracket on each awning arm. Once it's fitted, the line is always there when the awning is out, so there's nothing to set up. It's made to fit one exact awning size, usually somewhere between 13ft and 19ft, with a single or double line to choose from.
A single line starts from around $68, no matter what size you need. A double line (a second line added about 60mm below the first, for more hanging space) starts from around $108.50, with the price going up slightly for longer sizes. This style suits anyone who wants washing sorted every time the awning goes out, without digging gear out of storage.
Clamp-on lines
A clamp-on line squeezes onto the awning arm itself with an adjustable clamp. There's no drilling and nothing to screw in. Most clamps fit square arms (commonly 20mm, 25mm or 35mm across) and round arms between 20mm and 35mm thick.
They come with 18m to 25m of cord, which stretches into 2 or 3 lines depending on your awning's length, and fit a wide range from around 8ft up to 25ft or 26ft. Prices start from around $70, and they're often sold cheaper than the full listed price.
Velcro-strap lines
The lightest option straps around each awning arm with Velcro instead of a clamp or screws, so there's nothing to drill and nothing left fitted when you pack up. There are two common versions, and they're not the same product.
Stainless steel versions are made to fit one exact awning size, usually 10ft to 19ft, and start from around $40. Simple cord versions use a lighter cord with a small clip that pulls it tight, usually about 6.5m long, and start from around $30. These simple cord versions aren't made to match one exact awning size. Either way, this style packs away the fastest, since it's just cord and two straps, no frame or reel.
Will it fit your awning
This is the question that matters most. It comes down to how thick your awning arm is, not just how long the clothesline is. Most clamp-on lines are built to fit arms between 20mm and 35mm thick.
Some brands make clothesline brackets that only fit a 90mm-thick arm, and won't fit a thinner arm, like the 70mm arm on some Carefree Altitude awnings. Buying the wrong bracket size is one of the most common mistakes people make with this product.
Before you buy, check three things on your own van:
- How thick your awning arm is, and its shape (square or round), since clamps only fit a certain range
- Your awning's length in feet, measured from the middle of one arm to the middle of the other, since fixed wire lines need this exactly
- Whether your awning brand has any known fit warnings, since some clamp-on brackets don't suit every model
A common mistake is ordering a fixed wire line for a 19ft awning when the real measurement is closer to 16ft. That leaves the line loose and sagging. Measuring in feet, from the middle of one arm to the middle of the other, before you order avoids this.
How to choose the right size
- Measure your awning's length in feet, middle of one arm to the middle of the other, and how thick and what shape your arm is.
- Only pick a fixed wire line if your measurement matches one of the standard sizes, usually 13ft to 19ft.
- Pick a clamp-on line if your awning is outside that range, or if you want one product that works on more than one van.
- Pick a velcro-strap line if you want the lightest, fastest option and don't need it fixed in place all the time.
Quick tip: Dry the line fully before you pack it away, no matter which style you pick. A damp cord or wire left coiled in a bag for weeks is one of the most common causes of mildew smell on caravan trips.
How to measure your awning
| What to measure | Typical range | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Awning length, arm to arm | 13ft to 19ft for most single-van awnings, up to 26ft on bigger setups | Tells you if a fixed wire line will actually reach |
| How thick the awning arm is | 20mm to 35mm on most awnings, some up to 90mm | Sets which clamp will actually grip |
| Awning arm shape | Square or round | Some clamps only fit one shape |
Ready to sort your washing setup?
Browse carac's range of caravan awning clothes lines and find the size and style that fits your rig.
Shop awning clothes linesFrequently asked questions
What size is a caravan awning clothes line?
Fixed wire lines are made to fit one exact awning length, usually 13ft to 19ft. Clamp-on lines fit a much wider range, roughly 8ft to 26ft, using 18m to 25m of cord split into 2 or 3 lines.
Is a caravan clothes line the same as a home clothesline?
No. A clothes line for a caravan is lighter, attaches to a portable awning arm instead of a fixed post, and is sized to match your awning's length instead of your yard.
Will an awning clothes line fit any caravan awning?
Only if the arm thickness matches. Most clamps fit arms between 20mm and 35mm thick, but some awnings use a thinner or thicker arm, so check this before you buy.
How much does a caravan awning clothes line cost?
Fixed wire lines start from around $68 for a single line and around $108.50 for a double line. Clamp-on lines start from around $70. Velcro-strap versions start from around $30 for a simple cord, or from around $40 for a stainless steel version sized to your awning.
Whichever caravan clothes line you pick, the size that actually matters is your awning's length in feet and how thick your awning arm is, not just the number printed on the box. Measure both before you buy.
You might also like
- Caravan Awning Sizes and Dimensions Guide
- Caravan Bed Sizes and Dimensions Guide
- Caravan Cover Sizes and Dimensions Guide
- Caravan Annexe Matting Sizes and Dimensions Guide
Sizes and pricing checked against current Australian retailer listings, 2026.