Stretch Wrap
Stretch wrap is a highly elastic plastic film used to tightly secure products to pallets for storage and transportation. When applied, the film stretches and creates tension that keeps boxes stable, prevents shifting, and helps protect loads from dust, moisture, and damage during transit. Available in multiple gauges and widths, stretch wrap can be used by hand or machine to improve efficiency and reduce material usage. Choosing the right film strength and proper wrapping technique can significantly improve load stability while helping control packaging costs.
Gauge vs Micron Films
Gauge and micron are both used to describe stretch film thickness, but in many cases they also reflect differences in how the film is manufactured and performs. Films typically referred to by gauge are commonly associated with traditional cast or blown stretch films, while films listed in micron are often higher-performance or engineered films made with advanced resin blends. Although both measure thickness, they are not always directly interchangeable because newer micron films are designed to provide equal or greater strength at a reduced thickness.
Micron films often offer improved puncture resistance, load holding force, and stretch capability, which can allow users to reduce material usage without sacrificing performance. Understanding the distinction helps ensure the right film is selected for proper load stability, cost control, and wrapping efficiency.
Traditional stretch film is standard cast or blown film that stretches as it is applied to a pallet. The operator or machine creates the stretch force during wrapping, which means film usage can vary depending on technique, equipment settings, and consistency. Traditional films are versatile, widely available, and work well across many applications, but they typically require more effort and material to achieve optimal load containment.
Simple way to think about it:
Traditional film: stretches during application
Pre-stretch film: already stretched, strong memory, tight snap-back, often uses less material
The most common pallet stretch film is 18” 80 GA.
5” 80 GA is commonly used for bundling.
20” x 5000’ 80 GA is the most popular for use with stretch wrap machines.
Pre-stretch film is stretched during the manufacturing process before it reaches the user. Because much of the stretch has already been applied, the film requires significantly less force to wrap a load, making it easier on workers and more consistent from roll to roll. A key advantage of pre-stretch film is its strong film memory, which allows the film to maintain tension and “snap back” tightly around the load after it is applied. This controlled elasticity helps keep pallets secure, improves load stability, and often reduces the amount of film required. Pre-stretch film is especially beneficial for operations looking to improve efficiency, reduce fatigue, and achieve more uniform wrapping results.
We stock 3”, 5”, 12”, 15”, 16”, 18” and 20” stretch film in a variety of gauge and micron thicknesses, as well as prestretch films on our floor for next day delivery.