Stretch wrap
Also called: stretch film, pallet wrap, shrink wrap (colloquial)
Stretch wrap is a thin, elastic plastic film, usually linear low-density polyethylene, wound tightly around a unit load under tension. It holds the cases together and to the pallet so the load stays stable in handling and transit.
In depth: How to stretch wrap a pallet: film, pattern and containment force
Stretch wrap works by elastic recovery: film stretched during wrapping tries to return to its original length and squeezes the load. The squeeze is called containment force.
Common forms
| Form | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Hand film | Low volumes, applied by walking around the load |
| Machine film | Turntable or rotary-arm wrappers |
| Pre-stretch film | Film stretched by the wrapper's rollers before it reaches the load |
| Cast vs blown film | Cast is clearer and quieter; blown is typically tougher and more puncture resistant |
Film thickness is often given in gauge in the US (100 gauge = 1 mil = 25.4 µm), so 80 gauge is about 20 µm. Powered pre-stretch wrappers commonly stretch film by 200% or more. The film supplier's data sheet is the reference for any specific film.
Why it matters for pallet design
Wrapping the film around the pallet deck (not just the load) locks the load to the pallet. A band of film around the top deck and stringers or blocks helps; it can cover fork openings if applied carelessly. A well-wrapped load also behaves more stiffly, which affects load bridging.
On a spec sheet or RFQ
State the wrapping method, number of revolutions at the base and top, whether the film ties into the pallet, and any top sheet or edge protectors. Retailers often set their own wrapping rules. See the stretch wrapping guide.
Common confusions
Stretch wrap is not shrink wrap. Shrink film is heated after application to tighten; stretch wrap is tensioned during application and needs no heat.
Related
- GuidesHow to stretch wrap a pallet: film, pattern and containment forceAnchor the film to the pallet, not just the load: make three or more turns at the base with the film rolled down over the top deckboards, spiral up with about 50% overlap, finish with two or more turns at the top, and tuck the tail. Set the wrap by containment force, not film thickness or number of turns.
- GlossaryUnit loadA unit load is a group of items, usually cases on a pallet or slip sheet, secured together so it can be stored and moved as a single unit by a forklift or pallet jack. It includes the pallet, the packaging, the stacking pattern and the stabilizers.
- GlossaryStrappingStrapping, also called banding, is a steel or plastic band tensioned and sealed around a load, often through or around the pallet, to hold heavy or rigid items together and to the pallet. The main materials are steel, polyester (PET) and polypropylene (PP).
- GlossaryEdge protectorAn edge protector, or corner board, is an L-shaped strip of laminated paperboard, plastic or other material placed on the vertical or top edges of a unit load. It spreads strapping and stretch wrap pressure, protects case corners, and can add vertical stacking strength.
- GlossaryLoad bridgingLoad bridging is the effect of a stiff unit load spanning across the pallet's weak points, so the packaged product carries part of the load and the pallet deflects and stresses less than it would under a flexible load of the same weight.
More in Handling and storage
- GlossaryAutomated storageAutomated storage, often called AS/RS (automated storage and retrieval system), stores and retrieves pallets with stacker cranes, shuttles and conveyors instead of forklift drivers. It needs pallets with tight dimensional tolerances, low deflection (often 0.5 in, 13 mm, or less) and sound bottom decks.
- GlossaryBlock stackingBlock stacking is storing unit loads directly on top of one another on the warehouse floor, in rows and columns, with no racking. The bottom pallet and the packaging carry the whole stack, so static load and box compression strength limit the height.
- GlossaryConveyorA pallet conveyor moves loaded pallets on driven rollers or chains instead of a forklift. The pallet's bottom deck is the running surface, so the orientation of bottom boards, flatness, deflection and condition decide whether it runs reliably.
- GlossaryDrive-in rackA drive-in rack is high-density racking where the forklift drives into a lane and places pallets many deep on continuous rails along each side. The pallet is supported only along two edges, so its capacity across the unsupported direction governs.
- GlossaryFork tinesFork tines are the two steel arms on a forklift or pallet jack that slide into a pallet's openings to lift it. Their width, thickness, length and spacing set the minimum size of the pallet's openings and affect its dynamic load rating.
- GlossaryPallet dispenserA pallet dispenser is a machine that holds a stack of empty pallets and releases them one at a time, usually onto a conveyor feeding a palletizer. It needs pallets with consistent dimensions, flat decks and sound bottom boards.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 270 words.