Pallet wrap for secure pallet loads

Pallet wrap keeps loads stable on a pallet by pulling them tightly together. It protects goods from dust and moisture during transport and storage. The film is LLDPE and is recyclable where local collection allows.

This category includes hand film on 3 kg and 5 kg rolls, machine film on 16 kg rolls in Standard A and PRESTRETCH POWER versions, and the HOLD3 dispenser. All pallet wrap film here is 500 mm wide and 23 microns thick, sold by the pallet.

Choose between hand and machine pallet wrap by your wrapping method and roll weight: hand rolls for a few pallets a day, machine rolls for a pallet wrapping machine. A comparison table of all five products is provided below the product grid.

What stretch wrap does on a pallet

Stretch wrap is LLDPE film that is stretched around a palletized load. When applied, it pulls the load together and holds it securely on the pallet. This helps prevent shifting during transport.

Stretch wrap keeps dust and moisture out, protecting goods until they reach their destination.

When you stretch the film around a pallet, the film tries to return to its original length. This pull is what keeps the load tightly together. For a secure load, always start by wrapping the film around both the goods and the pallet itself. This ties the load to the pallet, so a normal load moves as one unit. If you only wrap the goods, the load can slide off the pallet when the forklift brakes or turns, or on the truck.

Extra turns at the bottom and top of the load help resist the forces from braking and cornering in transport. The film sticks to itself, so you finish by pressing the end onto the last layer, and it stays in place without tape. Transparent film, such as the 3 kg hand film here, lets you read labels and count boxes through the wrap without opening it.

Hand stretch film or machine stretch film

Hand stretch film comes on 3 kg and 5 kg rolls for wrapping by hand. The 3 kg rolls come six to a carton and 40 cartons to a pallet; the 5 kg rolls come 120 to a pallet.

Machine stretch film comes in 16 kg rolls and is used with a pallet wrapping machine. Both Standard A and PRESTRETCH POWER versions are available, each with 46 rolls per pallet. All films are 500 mm wide and 23 microns thick.

The 3 kg hand film rolls are lighter to hold and easier to work with for long periods, especially when one person wraps several pallets a day. The 5 kg rolls last longer before a change is needed, but they are heavier to carry around each pallet.

Machine stretch film rolls are 16 kg and made for use in a pallet wrapping machine. These rolls are too heavy to use by hand; they sit in the film carriage of the machine. All films in this category have the same width and thickness, so the choice is about the roll weight and the way you wrap.

Film is sold by the pallet, not by the roll. Keeping the pallet of film near the wrapping area saves time and reduces the chance of damage from moving rolls around. When you move from hand wrapping to a machine, the hand rolls in stock are still useful for single pallets that do not go through the machine, such as mixed or odd-sized loads.

Comparison table of pallet wrap products

The table below compares the five pallet wrap products in this category. It lists the use, the width and thickness, the roll weight, the quantity per pallet, and the film the HOLD3 takes.

To use the comparison table, first decide whether you wrap by hand or with a machine. Then look at the roll weight that fits your process: 3 kg or 5 kg for hand use, 16 kg for machine use. The number of rolls per pallet tells you how much film one order brings and how long it will last. The HOLD3 row shows the film the dispenser takes: 300–500 mm wide, on a 76 mm core, up to 510 mm long. Check the core and length of the rolls you use before you order the dispenser.

How much pallet stretch wrap a load takes

The amount of pallet stretch wrap needed depends on the number of layers, the overlap and how much the film is stretched during wrapping. There is no fixed number of pallets per roll because these factors vary by load and application.

On a machine, the number of layers and the stretch are set once and repeat on every pallet; by hand they depend on the person wrapping.

To find out how much film you use per pallet, weigh a roll before and after wrapping a known number of pallets. Divide the difference by the number of pallets to get the average film use per pallet in your warehouse. This method works for both hand and machine wrapping and helps you plan orders and check whether your wrapping method is consistent.

A tight wrap with good stretch holds the load better than loose layers, so a well-stretched wrap with fewer turns often uses less film than a loose wrap with many. Each turn overlaps the one below it. Decide once how many turns go at the bottom, in the middle and at the top, and give every pallet the same.

Heavy loads need more turns and tighter wrapping than light ones, above all at the base, where the load meets the pallet.

Thickness and width of pallet wrap film

All pallet wrap film in this category is 500 mm wide and 23 microns thick. Sharp edges and corners of a load can tear the film, so corner boards or a few more layers help there. Check the film on the first pallets: if it tears at the corners, add corner boards before you add more film.

Standard pallet wrap film gives limited UV protection. For pallets stored outdoors for long periods, use a UV-stabilized film.

500 mm is the usual width for pallet wrap film; the pallet is wrapped in overlapping turns from bottom to top. 23 microns is a common thickness for general loads: thick enough for a normal palletized load, thin enough for a machine or dispenser to stretch. When each turn overlaps the one below by about half the film width, as the HOLD3 instructions advise, every turn adds about 250 mm to the wrapped height.

Outdoors, a cover on top of the load keeps out rain and dust from above, because the film around the sides does not close the top of the pallet.

Choosing a stretch wrap roll

Hand stretch wrap rolls come in 3 kg and 5 kg sizes, machine rolls in 16 kg; the quantities per pallet are in the table above.

Both the HOLD3 dispenser and the SMARTWRAP X2 pallet wrapping machines take film that is 500 mm wide on a 76 mm core. Check the core diameter your machine or dispenser takes before you order.

Wrapping several pallets a day with 5 kg rolls tires the arms. 3 kg rolls or a dispenser such as the HOLD3 make the work lighter.

A pallet of 5 kg hand film lasts a long time in a warehouse with moderate use, so compare the number of rolls you use in a month with the number on a pallet before you order. Order the next pallet before the last cartons are opened, because the film is sold by the pallet and not by the roll. Film is the running cost of wrapping, so the film use per pallet, measured as described above, is what to compare when you consider a heavier roll or a machine.

Each roll should stay in its carton or box until it is used. The carton protects the edges of the film from bumps and drops. Where people wrap at several packing places, the 3 kg rolls in cartons of six are easy to share out: one carton per place.

Machine pallet wrap for pallet wrapping machines

Machine pallet wrap is made for use in a pallet wrapping machine. It comes in two versions, Standard A and PRESTRETCH POWER, both on 16 kg rolls; the quantities per pallet are in the table above.

Our SMARTWRAP X2 PRE-STRETCH machines pre-stretch the film by 250 % before it goes on the load, so a roll of pre stretch pallet wrap goes further than film pulled by hand from a hand roll.

A pallet wrapping machine sets the number of turns, the overlap and the tension, so every pallet is wrapped the same way. This gives consistent results and helps avoid mistakes that can happen with hand wrapping, such as missing turns at the base or using too little stretch.

On a machine with a powered pre-stretch carriage, such as our SMARTWRAP X2 PRE-STRETCH, the film runs from the 16 kg roll through the pre-stretch rollers and onto the load already stretched, so less film goes on each pallet. A machine without powered pre-stretch, such as the plain SMARTWRAP X2, stretches the film mechanically, with a brake on the roller. Which of the two versions suits your machine depends on its film carriage and how far it pre-stretches; tell us the machine and we confirm it.

Before loading a new roll into the machine, check the edges. A crushed or torn edge tears as soon as the carriage stretches the film, whatever the load, which wastes film and time. Unwind and discard the damaged outer layers before you load such a roll.

Using a stretch wrap roll with a dispenser

The HOLD3 stretch film dispenser is made for hand rolls 300–500 mm wide on a 76 mm core, up to 510 mm long. It allows a stretching rate of 35 %, with film tension set by hand on the brake.

The handle of the HOLD3 pallet wrap dispenser is padded with soft foam, and the holder height is adjustable. The frame is metal with a rust-resistant finish.

With the HOLD3, the roll turns on the holder, so you do not hold the roll itself, which spares your hands the friction burns and cuts that come from holding a roll directly.

The brake controls the film tension. Start with a loose brake and tighten it until the film holds the load firmly without tearing, up to the 35 % stretch that the HOLD3 allows. If the brake is too tight, the film may snap or tear at the corners. Adjust the tension for each type of load, such as lighter for soft boxes and tighter for solid goods.

Walk around the pallet at a steady pace, keep the film level through each turn and raise it for the next turn, so that each turn overlaps the one below. The height of the holder is adjusted to the roll, so the film runs straight off the roll and does not fold at the edge. Reset it when you change to a roll of a different width.

Pallet wrap or strapping for load security

Pallet wrap pulls the load together and protects it from dust and moisture. Strapping holds the load to the pallet with tension. Some heavy or unstable loads use both pallet wrap and strapping for extra security.

Strapping is the choice when a heavy load has to be held down on the pallet, for example heavy boxes or long parts; the wrap then keeps the layers together and the dust out.

Film holds the load by spreading its grip over the entire surface, while straps concentrate force along a few lines. Straps alone leave the sides of the load open, so small boxes can slip out between them; film closes the sides. A light load of boxes that only has to stay together on its way to the next warehouse usually needs film alone.

Boxes that must not be crushed are safer to wrap with film, as strapping can damage corners or deform soft packaging. On the other hand, heavy items such as metal parts or stone are held better by straps, which hold the load down on the pallet. Under the straps, corner boards spread the pressure, so the straps do not cut into the top boxes.

We also sell strapping machines, tools and strap, so both methods can be bought in one place.

Wrapping by hand or with a machine

Wrapping by hand suits a few pallets a day: the person walks around the pallet with a roll or with a dispenser that holds it.

For many pallets a day, a pallet wrapping machine saves time and film: the settings are made once and every pallet gets the same wrap.

When wrapping by hand, the person walks around the pallet several times and bends down for the bottom turns. The result depends on who does the wrapping, as each person may use a different number of turns or stretch the film differently. This can lead to some pallets being wrapped tighter than others, which affects load security during transport.

A pallet wrapping machine wraps the pallet by itself once started, freeing the operator to do other work nearby. It needs a free place with room to walk around it, and a way to bring the pallets to it and take them away with a pallet truck or a forklift. Count the time as well: a few minutes of hand wrapping per pallet add up to hours a week when many pallets go out every day.

A machine with powered pre-stretch stretches the film far more than a hand dispenser, so it gets more wrap out of each roll.

Walking backwards around a pallet with a roll is a trip risk, especially in a busy area. Using a machine removes this risk. When several people wrap pallets every day, switching to a machine can improve safety and save film.

How pre-stretch works

Pre-stretch means the film is stretched before it goes on the load. The film goes further and the wrap holds tighter. Our SMARTWRAP X2 PRE-STRETCH pallet wrapping machines pre-stretch the film by 250 % before application.

With 250 % pre-stretch, one meter of film from the roll becomes up to 3.5 meters on the load. This is done in the film carriage, where the film passes between two rollers that turn at different speeds. The difference in speed stretches the film before it is applied to the pallet.

By hand, the stretch comes from the brake of a dispenser such as the HOLD3, up to 35 %, or from pulling the roll directly. Too much stretch or tension can crush soft boxes or cause the film to tear at the corners. Set the stretch and tension to match the load, especially when wrapping goods with sharp edges or fragile packaging.

Storing and handling film rolls

Store the rolls indoors, dry and away from heat and direct sun, in their cartons. Handle them so the edges are not damaged: a damaged edge tears when the film is stretched.

Keep the pallet of film in the warehouse, away from the loading area where rain and sun can reach it. Use the older rolls first, so that no roll stays in stock too long. A dropped hand roll with a damaged edge can still be used for lighter loads; on a machine roll, unwind the damaged layers before loading it. Stack the cartons only as high as they stand steady, so no roll falls.

Film that comes straight from a cold storage area stretches less and may not hold the load as well. Let the rolls warm up in the packing area before use, especially in winter or when the film is stored in an unheated hall. Bringing the next day’s rolls into the packing area the evening before is enough.

Checklist before ordering pallet wrap

Before you order pallet wrap, check whether you use hand or machine wrapping and what film width and core your machine or dispenser takes. Also consider whether your loads are heavy or light and whether you store pallets outdoors for long periods or send them on long routes.

The comparison table above then shows which film or dispenser fits your way of wrapping.

Count how many pallets are wrapped each day and how much time staff spend on this work. This helps decide whether hand wrapping is enough or a machine is needed. Plan a pallet place for the film, dry and easy to reach. Measure your film use per pallet today, so you can compare it after a change of film or method.

For hand wrapping, consider a dispenser such as the HOLD3 to make the work lighter. Name who is responsible for wrapping and show them the method: how many turns at the bottom, in the middle and at the top, the same on every pallet. Ask the people who wrap today how many turns a pallet gets and whether the film tears; that shows where a change of film or method helps most.

Questions about pallet wrap

What does 23 my mean in pallet wrap?

23 my is the thickness: 23 microns (µm), my standing for the Greek letter µ. All film in this category is 23 microns thick.

How many rolls of pallet wrap come on a pallet?

A pallet holds 40 cartons of 3 kg hand film rolls, 120 rolls of 5 kg hand film, or 46 rolls of 16 kg machine film. Each product listing shows the exact quantity.

Does the machine film fit any pallet wrapping machine?

All machine film here is 500 mm wide. Check the film width and the core diameter your machine takes; our SMARTWRAP X2 machines take 500 mm film on a 76 mm core. Tell us your machine and we confirm whether the roll fits.

Is pallet wrap film recyclable?

The film is recyclable where local collection allows. Check with your local recycling program to confirm whether LLDPE stretch film is accepted.