Also known as: Stretch Wrap, Pallet Wrap, LLDPE Film
Stretch film is a highly stretchable LLDPE plastic film wrapped around palletised loads. Its elastic recovery pulls the load together, holding cartons stable in transit while protecting against dust and moisture. It is specified by micron thickness and stretch percentage.
Stretch film is made from linear low-density polyethylene, which can be stretched far beyond its original length and then tries to return, applying continuous inward force. That containment force is what actually stabilises a pallet.
Film is specified by thickness in microns and by width. Common industrial grades run from 12 to 30 micron; thinner film suits light, stable loads while thicker film is needed for heavy or sharp-edged loads that would otherwise puncture it.
Hand-grade film is designed to be applied with a dispenser and stretches less. Machine-grade film is used on wrapping machines and pre-stretches much further, so the same protection is achieved with less material — which is why machine wrapping is usually cheaper per pallet at volume.
The most frequent mistake is judging film by thickness alone. A thinner, higher-quality film applied with proper pre-stretch often outperforms a thicker film applied loosely, at lower total cost per pallet.
Stretch Film at a glance
| Material | LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene) |
|---|---|
| Common thickness | 12–30 micron |
| Common widths | 250 mm, 500 mm |
| Hand grade stretch | Typically 50–100% |
| Machine grade stretch | Typically 150–300% |
| Functions | Load containment, dust and moisture protection, tamper evidence |
Common questions
What does cling mean in stretch film?
Cling is the tack that makes each wrap of stretch film stick to the previous one so the load stays unitised without heat or adhesive. Cast LLDPE film has single-side cling as standard and double-side on request; blown film has higher cling and tear resistance but is noisier and less clear.
What micron stretch film do I need?
Light, stable, regular loads are usually fine with 12–20 micron. Heavy loads, sharp corners and long journeys need 23–30 micron or an edge-protected wrap. Load weight, shape and transport distance matter more than thickness alone.
Hand grade or machine grade stretch film?
Hand grade suits low pallet volumes and irregular loads. Machine grade is more economical once you wrap enough pallets to justify a wrapping machine, because higher pre-stretch means far less film per pallet.
Need Stretch Wrap Film for your product?
We manufacture stretch wrap film at our Rajkot unit and dispatch across India. Send the product, size or weight and monthly quantity and we specify and quote within one working day.
Or read the full specification: Stretch Wrap Film