Like BOPP tape, stretch film thickness is measured in microns — and picking the right gauge is about matching the film to your actual load, not defaulting to the thickest option.
15 micron — light hand-wrap
The lightest common gauge, typically paired with pre-stretched film (see the Pre-Stretched Film guide) for light, uniform pallets under roughly 400kg. Reduces operator effort for hand-wrap applications where load containment demands are modest.
17 micron — the standard workhorse
The most common gauge for machine-wrap warehouse applications. Cast film at 17 micron (see Cast vs Blown) offers quiet unwind, good clarity, and reliable containment for standard, uniformly-loaded pallets — the safe default when you're unsure what you need.
20 micron — the upgrade for mixed loads
Recommended when pallets have mixed SKU sizes, slight overhang, or when shipping during monsoon season (see the Monsoon Packaging Guide). Often paired with blown film for the added puncture resistance mixed loads benefit from.
23 micron — heavy and irregular loads
The heavier end of the common range, suited to loads with sharp edges, irregular geometry, or higher overall weight where puncture resistance is the primary concern — see Stretch Film for Irregular Loads.
Quick decision guide
- Light, uniform pallets, hand-wrapped → 15 micron
- Standard warehouse machine-wrap → 17 micron
- Mixed SKUs, slight overhang, or monsoon season → 20 micron
- Heavy, sharp-edged, or highly irregular loads → 23 micron
Tell PackGPT about your typical pallet — SKU mix, weight, shape — for a direct gauge recommendation. Talk to PackGPT.