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Stretch wrap questions

The questions buyers ask most, answered in a line or two, each with a link to the full guide.

What is the difference between stretch wrap and shrink wrap?
Stretch wrap holds a load by its own elastic tension and is wrapped by hand or machine. Shrink wrap goes on loose and is tightened with a heat gun or tunnel.1 Pallets almost always want stretch wrap. More
What gauge stretch wrap do I need for my pallet?
Go by load weight. A published buying guide gives 63 gauge up to about 2,200 lb, 70 to 80 gauge for 2,200 to 2,400 lb, 90 gauge up to 2,600 lb and 100 to 115 gauge for 3,000 lb and up.2 Go heavier for sharp corners. Gauge chart
Is cast or blown stretch film better?
Neither, in general. Cast is clearer and quieter and suits uniform loads; blown is tougher and clingier and suits irregular loads and sharp corners.3 Cast vs blown
How many times should you wrap a pallet?
Enough turns to hold: usually two or three at the base, an overlapping climb, and two or three at the top. Measure containment force at the top, middle and bottom to know.4 How to wrap a pallet
What does 80 gauge mean in stretch wrap?
Gauge is thickness in hundredths of a mil, so 80 gauge is 0.8 mil, about 20 micron.5 80 gauge
How many feet of stretch wrap does it take to wrap a pallet?
Turns times the distance round the load, divided by the stretch. A worked example for a 48 by 40 inch pallet by hand comes to about 127 feet off the roll. The method
What is pre-stretched film?
Film stretched at the plant before it is rolled, so it goes on with less effort. Compare it on its equivalent gauge.2 Pre-stretched film
What is vented stretch film used for?
Produce, flowers, frozen and damp goods that need air through the load. Never wrap solid film over it.6 Vented film
Can stretch wrap be recycled?
Yes, where clean, dry film is collected: it is LLDPE. Keep labels, tape and other plastics out of it. Recycling film
What is the difference between hand and machine stretch film?
Hand film comes on short, light rolls for wrapping by hand and stretches about 25 to 100 percent; machine film comes on long rolls for wrappers and stretches 150 to 350 percent.7 Hand ยท Machine
Why is some stretch wrap black?
To hide the load. A buying guide lists opaque film for concealment.3 Black and opaque film
What is containment force?
The total squeeze of all the film layers on a load: wrap force times layers. It is what keeps the load on the pallet.4 Containment force
How do quotes work here?
Send the film, width, gauge if known, rolls or cases a month and the delivery ZIP. We quote that film for that dock. How buying works

Sources

  1. Industrial Packaging, "Difference between shrink and stretch film" (reviewed 2026-11-13)
  2. AAA Polymer, "A guide to buying stretch wrap film" (reviewed 2026-11-13)
  3. Uline, stretch wrap guides (reviewed 2026-11-13)
  4. Lantech, "Use the force: containment force is the key to safe pallet loads" (reviewed 2026-11-13)
  5. Lantech, "Blown vs. cast: how is stretch film made?" (reviewed 2026-11-13)
  6. Racklify, "How to choose and apply vented stretch film for cold, frozen and damp products" (reviewed 2026-11-13)
  7. Colony Packaging, "4 differences between stretch film and shrink film" (reviewed 2026-11-13)

Facts on this page last reviewed 2026-11-13.

Ask for a stretch film quote

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  • Step 2 asks the film, the width and the gauge; skip what you don't know