Pallet Stretch Wrap

Pallet stretch wrap for wrapping pallets, cartons and parcels

Pallet stretch wrap is a plastic film wound around a loaded pallet to hold the contents together in storage and transit. It has elastic recovery, which means it pulls back against the load and keeps its tension, so goods are less likely to shift, lean or fall on the way.

Packaging Express supplies hand rolls, machine rolls, mini rolls and a handheld pallet dispenser, in clear, black and blue, for light through to heavy-duty loads. The same film is also widely used for cartons, parcels and suitcases.

Most of the range is held in stock in bulk and available for next working day delivery. Some items are supplied on a two to three working day lead time.

Types of pallet stretch wrap

Hand pallet wrap

Hand rolls are a durable, strong plastic film applied by hand or with a handheld dispenser. The elastic recovery keeps goods held tight through transit, which is what stops a load sliding about on the pallet.

Available in black, clear and blue, in grades for light through to heavy-duty loads. Most commonly used for pallets, and increasingly for boxes and parcels.

Rolls come with either a standard or an extended core:

• Standard core. Applied with a dispenser or by hand. The usual choice if you already own a dispenser.
• Extended core. Faster and easier for wrapping by hand, with no dispenser needed.

Machine pallet wrap

Machine rolls are a high-performance, high-yielding film for semi-automated and fully automated stretch wrap machines. They keep pallet contents protected from moisture, dirt and harsh weather in storage and transit.

Available as 17mu or 23mu film, 500mm wide, in clear and black.

Machine film is made to be stretched by the machine as it goes on, so it is not a substitute for hand film, and hand film is not a substitute for it.

Mini pallet wrap

Mini rolls are for wrapping and securing smaller goods: parcels, boxes, cartons and individual shipments. They are a practical alternative to tape and strapping when bundling items together.

Made from a strong 17 micron (67 gauge) film, 100mm wide by 150m long, in clear or black.

Pallet wrap dispenser

The handheld dispenser takes 400mm and 500mm wide rolls with 38mm, 50mm and 75mm cores. An adjustable tension controller tightens the film as you go, so every pallet comes out wrapped to a similar tension rather than depending on how hard someone pulls.

It also removes the friction burns that come from holding the roll, and makes the job quicker.

Choosing the right pallet stretch wrap

Four questions usually settle it.

How are you applying it?

By hand means hand rolls. Through a machine means machine film. The wrong type either wastes film or fails to hold the load.

How heavy or awkward is the load?

Light, even, stable loads need less film than heavy, uneven or sharp-cornered ones. A thicker grade costs more per roll but may need fewer turns, so compare cost per pallet rather than cost per roll.

What size is it?

Full pallets take 400mm or 500mm rolls. Parcels, cartons and small bundles are far easier with 100mm mini rolls.

Does the load need to be seen or hidden?

Clear film keeps labels, barcodes and contents visible for picking and checking. Black film conceals what is on the pallet. Blue is often used to colour-code loads.

Wrapping pallets by hand or by machine

Hand wrapping suits lower volumes and mixed load sizes. It needs no equipment beyond the roll, and a dispenser or extended core makes it faster and easier on the hands.

Machine wrapping suits higher volumes where the same kind of load goes out every day. The machine applies the film at a consistent tension, which helps standardise loads and film use.

A few habits help when wrapping pallets by hand:

• Start at the base. Tie the film into the pallet itself, not just the bottom layer of boxes, so the load and the pallet move as one.
• Overlap each layer. Work up the load with each pass overlapping the one below, then add extra turns at the top.
• Keep the tension even. Loose film lets the load shift. Over-tight film can crush corners or snap. A dispenser makes consistent tension far easier.
• Protect the corners. Sharp edges can tear the film. Cardboard edge guards under the wrap spread the pressure and protect both the load and the film.

Pallet wrap compared

Stretch wrap for warehouses and businesses

Stretch film is a staple in most warehouses and e-commerce operations, and the choices you make with it affect three things.

Load stability. Film that keeps its tension is what stops a pallet arriving leaning, and it helps reduce the damage claims that come with that.

Film use. Technique and roll choice often make more difference to how much film you use than thickness alone. Consistent tension usually means less over-wrapping.

Handling. Extended cores and dispensers both reduce the strain of hand wrapping, which matters for anyone doing it all day.

Frequently asked questions

What is pallet stretch wrap used for?

Holding the contents of a loaded pallet together during storage and transit, so items do not shift or fall. It is also used for wrapping cartons, parcels and suitcases.

What is the difference between hand and machine pallet wrap?

Hand film is applied by hand or with a handheld dispenser. Machine film is made for semi-automated and fully automated wrapping machines, which stretch it as it is applied. The two are not interchangeable.

What thickness of stretch film do I need?

Machine film is available in 17mu and 23mu. Thicker film generally resists puncture better and suits heavier or sharper loads, while thinner film is often enough for light, stable, even pallets.

What is the difference between a standard and extended core?

A standard core is used with a dispenser or by hand. An extended core makes wrapping by hand faster and easier, without a dispenser.

What colour stretch film should I use?

Clear where labels, barcodes and contents need to stay visible. Black where the load should be concealed. Blue where you want to colour-code loads.

How many times should I wrap a pallet?

It depends on the weight, shape and stability of the load. Most pallets need several turns at the base, overlapping layers up the load, and extra turns at the top. Heavier or less stable loads need more.

Do I need a pallet wrap dispenser?

Not for occasional use, but it helps if you are wrapping pallets regularly. It applies more consistent tension, protects hands from friction burns and speeds the job up.

Can stretch film be used instead of strapping?

Mini rolls are a practical alternative to tape and strapping for bundling parcels, boxes and cartons. When wrapping pallets with heavy loads, strapping may still be needed as well as wrap.

How quickly can I get it?

Most of the range is held in stock in bulk for next working day delivery. Some items are on a two to three working day lead time.

Buy pallet stretch wrap online

We supply pallet wrap UK wide, from a single dispenser or bundle of rolls through to bulk orders for warehouses wrapping pallets every day. Hand, machine and mini rolls are all available online, with widths, thicknesses, core types and colours listed on each product page.

Still not sure which pallet wrap you need?

Tell us what you are wrapping, roughly how many pallets or parcels you wrap in a typical week, and whether you wrap by hand or by machine. Our team can help you compare film grades, widths, core types and colours, and advise on whether a dispenser is worth adding.

Call the customer helpline on 0345 224 3691, request a call back, or use the Contact Us form.