Polycab vs Havells vs Finolex: which house wire should you buy in Gurgaon?

A dealer's comparison of the three house-wire brands most Gurgaon electricians ask for: conductor quality, FR vs FRLS vs HFFR grades, price positioning, how to spot fake wire in the NCR market and which to choose for a flat, a builder floor or a project.

By JP Pro Supply · Published 2026-10-19 · 5 min read · Gurgaon & NCR

Ask three electricians in Gurgaon which wire to buy and you will hear Polycab, Havells and Finolex, usually in that order and usually with strong opinions. All three are ISI-marked, all three make genuinely good wire, and the honest answer is that the grade you choose (FR, FRLS or HFFR) and whether the coil is genuine matter more than which of the three names is on it. Here is how we see them as a dealer who sells all three.

The three brands in one table

Prices move with copper and are quoted per coil at the time of order, which is why we do not print numbers here. The gap between the three on a 3BHK list is usually a few percent, smaller than the gap between FR and FRLS within one brand.

What actually differs

Conductor and insulation. All three use electrolytic-grade copper and PVC insulation to IS 694. Resistance per kilometre, the number that determines heating, is set by the standard, so a genuine 2.5 sq mm coil from any of the three carries the same current. Where you feel a difference is in flexibility (how easily the electrician pulls it through conduit) and insulation consistency, and here all three are good.

Grades. This is where to spend your attention.

• FR (flame retardant): the insulation resists catching fire and self-extinguishes. The minimum you should buy.
• FRLS (flame retardant low smoke): adds low-smoke, low-halogen properties. In a fire it produces far less of the dense, acidic smoke that makes a stairwell impassable. The sensible choice for any high-rise flat in Gurgaon.
• HFFR / LSZH (halogen-free flame retardant, low smoke zero halogen): no halogens at all, so no corrosive gas. Specified in hospitals, data rooms and premium projects, increasingly in high-end residences. Each brand has its own name for it: Polycab Green Wire, Havells Life Guard, Finolex HFFR.

Warranty and after-sales. All three offer long warranties on house wire, but a warranty claim needs an invoice from an authorised channel. Buying a coil from a roadside counter with a cash memo effectively voids it.

The real problem: fake wire

Polycab is the most counterfeited electrical brand in India, and Havells and Finolex are not far behind. Fake coils look identical and are sold at prices that seem like a good deal. The copper is undersized or alloyed, the insulation is recycled PVC, and the wire runs hot under load. Most "wire fire" stories from Gurgaon societies trace back to this.

Checks you can do on delivery:

1. Weight. A genuine 90 m coil of 2.5 sq mm wire weighs noticeably more than a fake; ask your dealer for the brand's published coil weight and put it on a kitchen scale.
2. Printing. Brand, size, grade, ISI mark and licence number should be printed along the wire at regular intervals, crisp, not smudged.
3. Packaging and hologram. All three use holograms and QR or SMS verification on the pack. Scan it.
4. Strand count and colour. Cut a short length: strands should be bright copper, not dull or reddish-brown, and the count should match the brand's specification.
5. Invoice. A GST invoice from an authorised dealer naming the brand is your warranty document and your evidence.

The simplest protection is to buy from a dealer who sources through the brand's authorised distribution and will put the brand name on the invoice. That is the whole reason authorised sourcing is on our list of promises.

Which one to choose

• Flat owner, high-rise, renovating or finishing: any of the three in FRLS. If you have a brand preference, follow it; the price difference is small. If not, Polycab or Finolex FRLS is the value pick.
• Builder floor or independent house: FR is acceptable, FRLS is better. Polycab's size range helps when you need 6 and 10 sq mm submains.
• Project or multi-tower: the consultant usually specifies two or three approved makes. Polycab is almost always one of them, and the widest availability makes top-ups easiest.
• Premium residence or anywhere with a sensitive occupant: HFFR from whichever brand your dealer can supply consistently across sizes.

Sizes to buy

Covered in detail in our 3BHK electrical material list: 1.0 and 1.5 sq mm for lighting, 2.5 sq mm for 16A sockets and kitchen, 4 sq mm for ACs, 6 sq mm for the submain. Buy the same brand and grade across sizes so the colours and insulation behave consistently.

Getting a quote

Send your wire list with brand and grade, or ask for all three brands quoted side by side. We stock Polycab, Havells and Finolex in FR and FRLS across standard sizes and deliver across Gurgaon and NCR. See the electrical material supply page.

Frequently asked questions

Is Polycab better than Havells for house wiring?

Neither is better in a way that matters for a flat. Both meet IS 694, both use electrolytic copper, and both are widely accepted by consultants. Havells is priced higher and markets to consumers; Polycab is the contractor default with the widest range. Buy the grade you need (FRLS for high-rise) from a genuine source and either will serve for decades.

What is the difference between FR and FRLS wire?

FR wire resists catching fire and self-extinguishes. FRLS does the same and also emits much less smoke and halogen gas when it does burn. In a multi-storey building smoke is what kills, so FRLS is the sensible choice for flats. It costs a little more per coil.

How do I check if Polycab wire is genuine?

Weigh the coil against the published weight, check the continuous printing along the wire for brand, size, ISI mark and licence number, scan the hologram or QR on the pack, and insist on a GST invoice from an authorised dealer with the brand named. Avoid coils priced well below the market.

Which wire brand do builders in Gurgaon use?

Most project specifications in Gurgaon list Polycab, Havells, Finolex, KEI and RR Kabel as approved makes, and the contractor buys whichever is available at the best rate within that list. Polycab is the most common because of range and availability.