Abstract: A clearance-based method of designing and solving structural parameters of steel wire rope was proposed. Considering twisting direction of strands and wires, producing technique and structure of rope in design process, an approach of stepwise nearness was adopted to optimize the lay of wires, clearances between wires and strands and other structural parameters. The proposed method avoids disadvantage of traditional design method that does not consider the producing technique constraints and, as a result, the design may not accord with practice. An actual design example of a complicated steel wire rope was presented to illustrate the effectiveness of proposed method, and design results accord with practice and can guide production effectively.