StopperBeginnerEssential

Figure-eight stopper knot

Get to know Figure-eight stopper: what it does, when to use it, what to check and the mistakes to avoid.

Figure of eight knot

Figure-eight stopper: finished knot diagram

1The knot in plain words

In one sentence…

The figure eight is a stopper knot at the end of a line that keeps it from running out through a block, fairlead or jammer.

What does it do?

It makes a bulky knot at the end of a rope. If the line runs away, the knot stops it at the fitting.

When do I use it?

At the free end of sheets, halyards and other control lines that pass through blocks, fairleads or jammers.

Why not a plain overhand?

The figure eight is bigger and doesn't jam as hard, so it's easier to untie after a load.

When not?

It is not a loop to tie anything to, and it can pull through an opening that is too large.

2Knot ID card

Knot family: Stopper knot
Difficulty: Beginner
Holds a steady load: Yes, against a block or fairlead
Unties after load: Yes, more easily than an overhand
Weak point: Can pass through a large opening
Also called: Figure-of-eight knot

3How to check it

Step-by-step tying is being checked on real rope before we publish it. Until then, use the illustration and the checks below.

You can clearly see the shape of an 8.
The knot is bigger than the block, fairlead or jammer it must stop at.
There is a short tail beyond the knot.
It is pulled snug, with no loose turn.

4Key points

1.
Figure eight = the usual stopper on sheets and halyards.
2.
Loop, around behind the standing part, then down through the loop.
3.
It must be bigger than the opening it stops at.
4.
A stopper, not a loop: never tie anything to it.

5Frequent mistakes

Mistake: Tying it right at the very end, with almost no tail.
Correct: Leave a short tail so the knot can't pull out or roll off.
Mistake: Using it where the opening is bigger than the knot.
Correct: Check it against the real fitting. If it passes through, you need a bulkier stopper.
Mistake: Mixing it up with the figure-eight loop and clipping or tying something to it.
Correct: This is only a stopper. For a loop to take a load, tie a figure-eight loop or a bowline.

6Don't mix it up

7Questions sailors ask

What is a figure eight knot used for on a boat?

As a stopper at the end of sheets and halyards, so the line can't run out through a block, fairlead or jammer.

Figure eight or overhand knot: which stopper is better?

The figure eight. It is bulkier and doesn't jam as hard, so it unties more easily after a load.

Should every sheet have a figure eight at the end?

It's common on many boats, but follow your skipper: some lines are left without a stopper on purpose so they can run free.

Is the figure-eight stopper the same as the figure-eight loop?

No. The stopper is tied in a single strand at the end; the loop is tied in a doubled rope and forms an eye.

8Test yourself

Question 1/3

What is the figure-eight stopper for?

Test all knots in the knots exam →

Screen study teaches what the knot is for and how to check it. It doesn't prove you can tie it: practise with real rope, and never use these knots for climbing, rescue or anything that holds a person.

Sources

Content reviewed on September 21, 2026