Pallet Wrap NZ: How to Choose the Right Stretch Film for Your Warehouse
If you ship pallets every week, stretch film is one of your biggest repeat packaging costs. The right film keeps loads stable on the truck. The wrong one tears, wastes rolls, or leaves a loose pallet that arrives damaged.
This guide explains the three main types of pallet wrap sold in New Zealand, which micron to pick, and how to use less film without losing load security.
1. Hand stretch pallet wrap
Standard hand stretch pallet wrap is the most common choice for small and medium warehouses. You wrap the pallet by hand using a dispenser or the roll core.
Our clear hand wrap comes in 500mm wide rolls from 12 to 23 micron:
Size | Best for |
500mm x 500m x 12mu | Light cartons, short local trips |
500mm x 400m x 15mu | Everyday mixed pallets |
500mm x 400m x 17mu | Heavier pallets, regional freight |
500mm x 330m x 20mu | Heavy or uneven loads |
500mm x 300m x 23mu | Sharp corners, very heavy loads |
The film is quiet to unwind, does not stick pallets together, and stays clear so labels and barcodes can be read through it.
2. Pre-stretch hand film
Pre-stretch hand stretch film is stretched at the factory, so it is much thinner (6 or 9 micron) and lighter to handle. Rolls are 450mm wide and weigh about 1.3 to 1.4kg, compared with around 3kg for standard hand wrap.
Pre-stretch film suits teams that wrap a lot of pallets by hand. It is easier on wrists and shoulders, and you usually use less plastic per pallet because the film does not need to be pulled as hard to get tension.
3. Machine stretch film
If you use a pallet wrapping machine, you need machine stretch film. Our nano cast machine film is 500mm wide and comes in 15kg rolls from 12 micron (2500m) up to 30 micron (1087m).
Nano film is made from many thin layers, a bit like plywood. That gives good strength at a low gauge, quiet unwinding and clear wrap.
How to choose the right micron
Light, even cartons on a local run: 12 to 15 micron.
Mixed loads or inter-island freight: 17 to 20 micron.
Heavy, sharp or uneven loads: 20 to 23 micron, or add corner boards.
High volume by hand: try pre-stretch film before going thicker.
Thicker is not always better. A well-applied 17 micron wrap with good overlap often holds better than a loose 23 micron wrap.
Five tips to use less film
Start with three wraps around the base to lock the load to the pallet.
Overlap each layer by about 50 percent as you move up.
Keep tension steady. Slack film is wasted film.
Use cardboard corner boards on the edges so the film does not tear on sharp corners.
For long storage or dusty sites, put a polyethylene pallet cover on top before wrapping.
For loads that need extra hold, add PP strapping band over the stretch film.
Buy pallet wrap in New Zealand
Packaging Hub stocks pallet wrap in our Auckland warehouse and dispatches orders within 2 business days. Delivery is free on orders over $100 + GST in Auckland, $200 + GST in the rest of the North Island and $500 + GST in the South Island (shipping details).
Buying film every month? Open a trade account for trade pricing, or browse the full packaging range.
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