What Is Stretch Film? A Practical Guide to Pallet Wrap

Stretch film, also called stretch wrap or pallet wrap, is a flexible plastic film that stretches around cartons and other goods to help hold them together. For a warehouse buyer, the first decision is how it will be applied: by a person using a hand roll or by a pallet wrapping machine.

What does stretch film do?

Its main job is to help contain a load. Film tension and overlapping layers work together to hold the goods as one unit. The right result depends on the whole load: its shape, how cartons are stacked, the film selected and the wrapping process.

A tight-looking pallet is not enough to confirm that a load is ready for transport. Film should suit the application, and the wrapping method should be checked on the actual goods. Stretch film does not replace sound stacking or other protection the shipment requires.

Stretch wrap and shrink wrap are different

Stretch film is applied under tension. Shrink film uses heat to shrink around an item. If you are wrapping warehouse pallets without a heat process, stretch film is usually the category you are looking for. Equipment manufacturer Lantech explains this distinction in its packaging FAQs.

Choose the application first

• Hand stretch wrap: for manual application around a load. Packsys offers 18-inch hand stretch wrap in several gauges and pack sizes.
• Machine stretch film: for a compatible pallet wrapper. Our standard machine film is listed in 20-inch rolls. Check the wrapper's film requirements before ordering.
• Mini banding film: a narrower format for bundling smaller items. Browse banding film when a full-width pallet roll is unnecessary for the task.

For a closer comparison, read Hand Wrap vs. Machine Stretch Film.

Read more than the gauge

Gauge describes thickness; width describes the span of the film, and length tells you how much film is on a roll before stretching. These measurements answer different questions. A thicker roll is not automatically the best value, and rolls with different lengths should not be compared only by their purchase price.

Start with your current specification and the problem you want to solve. Is film tearing? Is the load shifting? Are operators using too much material? Those details are more useful for selecting a film than asking for the thickest option.

Before you order

• Confirm whether the film will be applied by hand or by machine.
• Record the width, gauge and length of the roll you use today.
• Describe the load shape and any sharp or protruding edges.
• Choose the number of rolls, then check the selected variant's current price and availability.

Our hand wrap buying guide explains the current 1-, 4-, 16- and 48-roll choices.