# Which stretch film do you need? *A roll of stretch film costs a few euros; a pallet that collapses halfway through the trip costs you the entire shipment, the return journey and the phone call from your customer. Even so, stretch film is still bought on the price per roll, while something else entirely decides which film fits: the weight and shape of your load, and the way you wrap it – by hand or by machine. Since 2007, we have been the go-to wholesaler for stretch film, which is exactly why we see where things go wrong on the shop floor. This buying guide covers what actually matters: thickness in microns, pre-stretch, width, core diameter and the right type of film.* ## What are you really choosing on? Every roll in our [stretch film](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film) range is made from LLDPE: a stretchable polyethylene that extends under tension and then wants to spring back. That recovery force – not the thickness – is what holds your load on the pallet. Four properties together decide whether it works. ### What does my (micron) actually mean? My, also written as µm or micron, is the thickness of the film: 1 my equals one thousandth of a millimetre. In practice the range runs from 7 my for the lightest bundling work to 35 my for heavy and sharp-edged loads. Thicker is not automatically better: a thick film you barely stretch holds less than a thinner film applied under proper tension. Thickness mainly determines *puncture resistance* – how well the film survives a protruding corner, a thread end or a wood splinter without tearing. ### Pre-stretch: why 250% film works out cheaper Pre-stretch tells you how far the film can be extended before it fails. Film with 150% stretch becomes roughly two and a half times its original length; Powerstretch film at 250% or 300% reaches three and a half to four times. Every metre you stretch is a metre you do not have to buy. A roll of Powerstretch costs more per unit but covers considerably more pallets – provided your [pallet wrapper](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/palletwrappers) can actually apply that stretch. By hand you will never reach those figures, so for manual wrapping 150% film remains the sensible choice. ### Width and roll length The standard width for pallet work sits between 40 and 75 cm, with 50 cm the width that runs neatly around virtually any Euro pallet. Narrow rolls of 10 to 25 cm are not pallet film but bundling film – more on that below under [mini stretch film](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/mini-stretchfilm). Roll lengths run from around 100 metres to 500 metres and beyond. Long rolls lower your price per metre and the number of roll changes, but make the roll heavier – worth considering if your team wraps by hand all day. ### Core diameter: 38, 50 or 76 mm The core determines which equipment the roll fits. Hand film comes on a 50 mm core as standard, machine film on 76 mm, and most mini rolls on 38 mm. This is the most common ordering mistake: machine film on the wrong core will not fit your [film dispenser](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/foil-dispensers), and the other way round your wrapper jams. [[banner productbanner_3]] ## The specifications at a glance The table below places the common versions side by side, so you can see at once which type suits the way you work. Type of stretch filmThicknessWidthStretchCoreTypical applicationHand stretch film, transparent17 – 23 my40 – 75 cm150%50 mmDaily pallet work, contents stay visibleHand stretch film, extra heavy35 my50 – 75 cm150%50 mmSharp-edged or very heavy loadsMachine stretch film17 – 35 my40 – 75 cm150 / 250 / 300%76 mmPallet wrapper, from a few pallets a dayMini stretch film17 – 23 my10 – 25 cmup to 150%38 mmBundling small goods, cases, furniture partsBlack stretch film12 – 23 my40 – 75 cm150 / 250%50 or 76 mmConcealing contents, theft-sensitive shipmentsColoured stretch film12 – 23 my40 – 75 cm150 / 250%50 or 76 mmColour coding by destination, customer or routeVented film, slotted film and wrapping net9 – 17 my40 – 75 cm–50 or 76 mmPlant trolleys, flowers, goods that need to breatheOne-sided adhesive stretch film9 – 17 my40 – 75 cm–50 or 76 mmDanish and auction trolleys standing against each other while being moved## How many microns do you need? You choose thickness on the load, not on instinct. These rules of thumb follow the same division we use across our own range. Your loadThicknessWhyLight, stable pallets: evenly stacked cartons17 myThe load largely holds itself in place; the film only has to fix itGeneral warehouse and transport work20 myThe most versatile thickness, with margin for varying loadsHeavy pallets, tall stacks, uneven build-up23 myMore puncture resistance where the load protrudesVery heavy or sharp loads: metal, profiles, building materials35 myStops a sharp edge from cutting straight through the filmBundling loose items17 – 23 my on a mini rollNarrow web, many turns, no adhesive residuePlants, flowers and fresh produce9 – 17 my vented filmAir keeps circulating while the trolley still stands tight## By hand or by machine? ### Hand stretch film [Hand wrapping film](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/hand-wrapping-foil) requires no investment and is ready to use straight away. The tension comes entirely from your arm, which means wrap quality varies from one operator to the next. A simple [film dispenser](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/foil-dispensers) with a brake largely solves that: it delivers even tension, spares your wrists and cuts film consumption. Wrapping by hand without a dispenser generally uses more film for a less stable result. [[banner productbanner_48]] ### Machine stretch film [Machine wrapping film](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/machine-wrapping-film) is matched to the pre-stretch unit of a wrapping machine. That unit stretches the film mechanically before it touches the pallet, so every wrap goes on with the same controllable tension. The film sits on a 76 mm core and is available with 150%, 250% or 300% stretch. With Powerstretch film you set the machine higher; if you do not, you are paying for stretch you never use. [[banner productbanner_49]] ### From how many pallets a day is a pallet wrapper worth it? There is no hard threshold, but in practice it tips at around twenty pallets a day. From that volume onwards, the time saved per pallet, the lower film consumption through pre-stretch and the back strain you avoid soon outweigh the cost of a [pallet wrapper](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/palletwrappers). If you are weighing up the step, also take a look at our wider selection of [packaging machines](en/packaging-accessories/packaging-machines). ### Does machine film fit a hand dispenser? No. Apart from the core diameter (76 mm rather than 50 mm), machine film is designed to be pre-stretched mechanically. By hand you will not reach that stretch, so the film sits slack around the pallet and the load can still shift. If you wrap manually, order hand stretch film. ## The specialist versions ### Black and coloured stretch film [Black stretch film](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/black-stretch-film) is opaque and hides the contents of your pallet from view. That is valuable for theft-sensitive goods and for shipments left standing in an open transhipment yard: what nobody sees is rarely taken. [Coloured stretch film](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/colored-wrap-film) serves the opposite purpose – standing out. Assign a fixed colour per route, customer or destination and your warehouse sorts by colour instead of by label, which saves searching time during loading. To take it a step further, there is [printed hand stretch film](en/printed-packaging-materials/printed-hand-stretch-film) and [printed machine film](en/printed-packaging-materials/printed-machine-film) carrying your own logo or a warning message. ### When do you choose black over transparent? Beyond the concealment already mentioned, black film brings two practical advantages. It gives your shipments a calm, uniform appearance: a pallet built from cartons of several suppliers looks like a single unit, and if you deliver under your own name, your supplier's brand does not travel along in plain sight. It also changes nothing in your daily routine, since you label the outer film layer anyway – exactly where the carrier scans. Do bear in mind that a dark-wrapped pallet absorbs more heat in full sun than a transparent one, which is worth weighing for temperature-sensitive products such as cosmetics, adhesives, candles or live plants. [[banner productbanner_50]] ### Mini stretch film [Mini stretch film](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/mini-stretchfilm) is narrow stretch film on a handy roll, often with a small grip or dispenser. Use it to bundle loose profiles, furniture parts, cable looms or cases, and to secure drawers and doors during a move. The big advantage over tape: the film clings only to itself, so it leaves no adhesive residue on lacquered or painted surfaces. To protect furniture during a move, combine mini rolls with [protective films](en/moving-materials/protective-films). [[banner productbanner_51]] ### Vented film, slotted film and wrapping net Plants, flowers and fresh produce breathe and release moisture. Wrap a Danish trolley tightly in solid film and that moisture condenses against the inside, leaving your consignment in a greenhouse within a day. [Vented and special stretch film](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/vented-stretch-wrap-and-special-stretch-film) solves this with holes, slots or an open net structure: air keeps circulating while the film still holds the load tight. Available in transparent, in both hand and machine rolls. [[banner productbanner_52]] ### One-sided adhesive stretch film Standard stretch film clings on both sides. Park two wrapped trolleys against each other in the lorry and they stick together, tearing the film open the moment you pull them apart. [One-sided adhesive stretch film](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/stretch-film-stretch-wrap-one-sided-adhesive) is multi-layer co-extruded, with cling on the inner layer only. The outside is smooth. Trolleys may therefore stand against each other and be moved freely: they slide past one another instead of sticking, and the wrap stays intact. For plant trolleys, auction trolleys and Danish trolleys this is almost always the better choice. [[banner productbanner_53]] ### Sanstrap: reusable stretch band [Sanstrap](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/sanstrap) is not a film but an elastic plastic band on a roll, perforated at fixed intervals so you tear off the same length every time without measuring or cutting. The band is non-slip, leaves no adhesive residue, does not scratch and can be handled with bare hands. Because it can be reused, it replaces both mini rolls and tape in many situations – the manufacturer cites a waste reduction of up to 90%. Worth considering for businesses that steer on [sustainable packaging materials](en/sustainable-packaging-materials). ## The mistakes made most often in practice ### Too few wraps at the bottom Most pallets start moving at the bottom rather than the top: the load shifts on the pallet itself. So start at the bottom and take the lowest edge of the load at least two or three times over the [pallet](en/internal-transportation/wooden-pallets) itself, so load and pallet become one unit. Then work upwards with roughly half a web of overlap, and back down again. ### Why does the film keep tearing at the corners? At a corner, all the tensile force rests on a few millimetres. If the load is hard or sharp there – a carton edge, a timber batten, a metal profile – it cuts through the film at the first jolt in the lorry. Thicker film only helps so far; the real answer is [corner profiles](en/protective-and-filling-materials/corner-profiles). Choose [cardboard corner profiles](en/protective-and-filling-materials/corner-profiles/cardboard-corner-profiles) for one-way shipments and [plastic corner profiles](en/protective-and-filling-materials/corner-profiles/plastic-corner-profiles-for-strapping) where the profiles come back in a returnable system. They spread the tension over the full height of the corner. ### Buying thicker film when the wrapping technique is the problem A pallet that keeps slumping is often answered with a heavier roll. Check the technique first: too few wraps, too little overlap, no anchoring to the pallet, or a dispenser without a brake so tension varies from one operator to the next. Only once the wrap pattern is right and the film still fails is a higher micron value the correct step. If the load itself stays unstable, a layer of [LDPE anti-slip sheets](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/ldpe-anti-slip-sheets-on-a-roll) between the layers helps more than any film. ### Using stretch film where strapping or shrink film belongs Stretch film is excellent at stabilising but poor at absorbing pure tensile force. When heavy, rigid units genuinely need to be clamped – pipe bundles, stone, sheet material – [strapping](en/strapping-materials/strapping-straps) belongs around them. [PP strapping](en/strapping-materials/strapping-straps/pp-strapping) for light to medium bundles, [PET strapping](en/strapping-materials/strapping-straps/pet-strapping) as a steel replacement at high tension, and [steel strapping](en/strapping-materials/strapping-straps/steel-strap) for the heaviest work, with the matching [strapping device](en/strapping-materials/strapping-device). If instead you need a fully closed pack that lies over the load like a skin, look at [shrink film](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/shrink-wrap-shrink-plastic-shrink-film) or, for complete pallets, [shrink hoods](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/shrink-foil-and-shrink-pallet-coverssleeves). Often the best answer is a combination: wrap for stability, strap for tensile force, and [plastic corner protectors](en/strapping-materials/plastic-corner-protectors) under the strap. ### Can stretch film be recycled? Yes. Clean LLDPE stretch film is among the most recyclable packaging materials there is, provided you collect it separately and keep it free of tape, labels and moisture. That is also an argument for not mixing film and [packaging tape](en/tape/packaging-tape) freely on the same pallet. Choosing thinner film with a higher pre-stretch lowers the kilos of plastic per pallet as well – the simplest material saving available in any warehouse. ## What else you will need Stretch film rarely works alone. A good [film dispenser](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film/foil-dispensers) makes manual wrapping faster and more consistent. [Cutting equipment](en/packaging-accessories/cutting-equipment-for-packagingmaterial) lets you trim the film cleanly without touching the load, and [work gloves](en/office-and-hygiene/work-gloves) prevent the cuts that tightly drawn film inevitably causes. For the top of your pallet there are [top sheets](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/top-sheets), for the base [cardboard pallet boards](en/cardboard-boxes/cardboard-pallet-boards), and for fragile items inside the wrap [bubble wrap](en/protective-and-filling-materials/bubble-wrap-air-bubble-wrap). Always stick your [shipping labels](en/labels-and-cash-register-rolls/shipping-labels) on the outermost film layer – never underneath – and use [warning labels](en/labels-and-cash-register-rolls/warning-labels) where the load is fragile or has to stay upright. You will find the full range in our [wrapping film and bags](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets) category. ## In short - **Wrapping by hand?** Hand stretch film on a 50 mm core, 150% stretch, 20 my as a starting point – and buy a dispenser with a brake to go with it. - **Using a machine?** Machine stretch film on a 76 mm core; choose Powerstretch only if your wrapper can actually apply the stretch. - **Thickness:** 17 my for light stable pallets, 20 my as the all-rounder, 23 my for heavy or uneven loads, 35 my for sharp and very heavy. - **Concealed or conspicuous?** Black stretch film to shield, coloured stretch film to code by route or customer. - **Plants and flowers?** Vented film or wrapping net, plus one-sided adhesive film so trolleys do not stick together. - **Bundling small goods?** Mini stretch film or Sanstrap – no adhesive residue, no tools. - **Tearing at the corners?** Corner profiles first, thicker film second. ## Ordering stretch film from Kortpack Ordered on working days before 3:30 PM? Then your order will be shipped the same day. Enjoy free delivery on orders over €75 excl. VAT. Do you have questions about which size of [stretch film](en/wrapping-film-shrink-film-top-sheets-pallets/stretch-film-wrap-film) is best suited to your situation? Please don't hesitate to contact us — by phone on [+31 184 – 614256](tel:+31%20184%20-%20614256), via [info@kortpack.nl](mailto:info@kortpack.nl) or via [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/31184614256). --- Published: 2026-08-12 12:10:00 Source: https://www.kortpack.nl