How Much Does It Cost to Wrap a Pallet? | Packaging Innovations

Most stretch film is bought on price per roll. But a roll is only a means to an end: what you really pay for is every pallet that leaves your site safely wrapped. A cheaper roll that puts more film on each pallet, snaps mid-wrap or needs re-wrapping can easily cost you more.

Why price per roll misleads

Two rolls at the same price can wrap very different numbers of pallets. The difference comes down to three things:

• Usable film. A heavy cardboard core is weight you pay for but can’t wrap with, so compare quotes on the price per kilo of usable film.
• Stretch. The further a film stretches without losing strength, the further each kilo goes.
• Film per pallet. How much film each pallet needs depends on the film’s holding force, not just its thickness.

How to work out your cost per pallet

The most reliable way is to measure it. Weigh a roll, wrap a known number of pallets and weigh it again. Divide the film used by the pallets wrapped to get film per pallet, then multiply by your price per kilo of usable film. Finally, add the costs that never appear on the invoice: reel changes, downtime when film breaks, and loads that fail in transit.

How much pallet wrap does a pallet need?

It depends on the film, the machine settings and the load. As a guide, our calculated figures for traditional 250% machine stretch film are around 147g of film per pallet at 17 micron, 173g at 20 micron and 199g at 23 micron, based on 15 rotations of a 4.4 metre perimeter pallet. Nano and fibre-reinforced films can bring that down considerably, which is where the biggest savings come from.

How much does pallet wrap cost?

Prices move with raw material costs and volumes, so a price per roll on its own tells you very little. Compare suppliers on the price per kilo of usable film, then on what each pallet actually costs to wrap.

Where the biggest savings come from

In our benchmarks, the films that most consistently cut the cost per pallet are nano and fibre-reinforced films, because they put less film on every pallet without giving up holding force.

• FiberFilm is reinforced from within. Each pallet uses up to 60% less plastic, holds just as securely, and the film doesn’t break mid-wrap, bringing the cost per pallet down by up to 40%.
• Nanofilm is built from 67 nano-layers, from 10 microns thin, with high holding force, consistent performance at speed and stretch of up to 380%.

Containment and consistency matter too

A cheaper pallet is only a saving if the load arrives intact. Strong containment keeps loads stable in transit, fewer breaks mean fewer reel changes and less downtime, and a film that performs the same on every pallet takes the guesswork out of wrapping, whoever is on shift.

What customers have saved

Measured on their own pallets, our customers have achieved results such as £8,000 a year saved on 1.2-tonne pallets of animal feed, 5.5 hours of extra production a week for a confectionery manufacturer, and 50% lower costs for the UK’s largest food manufacturer.

Compare all our machine stretch film ranges side by side: Nanofilm, FiberFilm and 250%.

Find your real cost per pallet

We’ll measure what every pallet costs to wrap today, on your own line, then trial Nanofilm or FiberFilm against your current film and show you the difference in writing. Book a free benchmark.