Use 17 micron for lighter, stable, uniform loads, and 23 micron for heavier or more demanding pallets. 23µ has about a third more material, so it resists punctures better and holds more tension, at a higher price per roll. If you are genuinely unsure, 23µ is the safer pick because the extra margin costs little per pallet.
Both are hand film, both are cast, both come clear, and both wrap the same way. The only real difference is how much film there is and what that lets it do.
What the Numbers Mean
Micron (µ) measures film thickness. A 17µ film is 0.017mm thick; a 23µ film is 0.023mm thick. That gap looks small on paper but it is roughly a third more material in the 23µ film, and you feel it when the load gets heavier or more awkward.
More material means more resistance to tearing and puncturing, and more capacity to hold tension without failing. It also means more plastic per roll, which is why 23µ costs more than 17µ.
When 17 Micron Is the Right Choice
17µ suits loads that make life easy for the film:
- Standard boxed goods that stack squarely on the pallet
- Light to moderate weight
- Stable loads that do not shift or lean
- No sharp corners or exposed edges poking into the film
For this kind of load, 17µ has enough material to secure it well, and choosing 23µ would mean paying for material the load does not need. Our 17µ roll weighs about 1.87kg on a 400mm by 250m roll.
If most of your pallets are neat, boxed and uniform, 17µ is likely your everyday film.
When 23 Micron Is the Right Choice
23µ is our heaviest hand roll, and it earns its place on loads that ask more of the film:
- Heavier pallets that put more strain on every wrap
- Loads with sharp or hard corners that cut thinner film
- Irregular or uneven loads that are harder to secure
- Loads going a long way or handled roughly, where a failed wrap is costly
The extra material resists punctures and holds tension better, so the load stays tight through more handling. Our 23µ roll weighs about 2.43kg on the same 400mm by 250m roll.
If your pallets are heavy, awkward, or shipped long distances, 23µ is the sensible starting point.
The Cost Question
The instinct is to buy the thinner, cheaper film. Per roll, 17µ costs less, and on the right loads it is the correct choice. But the saving is false if the film is under-specified. A wrap that splits mid-application, or a load that shifts because the film could not hold it, costs far more in wasted film, re-wrapping and damaged stock than the few pence saved per roll.
So the cost question is not “which roll is cheaper” but “which film secures this load at the lowest total cost”. For light, stable loads that is 17µ. For heavier or awkward loads it is 23µ, because the failures it prevents cost more than the material it adds.
How to Compare Fairly
When you compare 17µ and 23µ, or compare either against another supplier, look at three figures together: micron, roll length and roll weight. Micron tells you thickness. Length tells you how many pallets a roll covers. Weight tells you how much material is actually on the roll.
Our rolls are 250m at both thicknesses, so you can compare 17µ and 23µ directly, and the published weights (1.87kg and 2.43kg) confirm the material difference. A film quoted at a micron figure but on a short or light roll is not the bargain it looks.
Still Not Sure? Default to 23µ
If you have read this far and still cannot decide, choose 23µ. Here is the reasoning: the cost difference per pallet is small, but the cost of an under-specified film failing on a load is not. 23µ gives you more margin against heavier and more awkward loads, and it still wraps light loads perfectly well. You lose a little on material cost and gain reliability across a wider range of loads. For a mixed set of pallets, that trade usually makes sense.
If You Only Want to Stock One
Plenty of operations would rather hold a single thickness than manage two lines. If that is you, the question is which one covers your loads with the fewest problems.
If your pallets are almost all light, neat and boxed, stock 17µ and accept that the occasional heavier load gets extra passes to compensate. If your loads are mixed, or lean towards heavy and awkward, stock 23µ. It wraps your light loads perfectly well, and it has the margin for the harder ones without switching rolls. The small extra material cost on light loads buys you one film that copes with everything.
The only case where stocking one thickness costs you is a very high volume of genuinely light, uniform loads, where using 23µ everywhere means paying for material you never need. At that scale, the film saving from running 17µ on those lines is worth managing a second product. Below that, one sensible thickness is simpler and rarely more expensive overall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 23 micron always better than 17 micron?
No. 23µ has more material, but on light, stable loads that material is spare capacity you are paying for. 17µ is the better choice there. Match the thickness to the load.
Can 17 micron handle heavy pallets?
It can struggle. Heavier and more awkward loads put more strain on the film and are more likely to tear or shift 17µ. For those loads, 23µ is the safer choice.
How much more does 23 micron cost?
23µ costs more per roll because it has about a third more material. But on the loads that need it, the failures it prevents make it cheaper per pallet overall.
Do 17µ and 23µ stretch the same amount?
Stretch depends on how the film is made, not just its thickness. The main practical difference between our 17µ and 23µ is the amount of material and the tear resistance and holding it gives you.
Which should I buy if my loads vary?
If your pallets range from light and neat to heavy and awkward, 23µ covers the wider range with more margin. If most are light and uniform, 17µ is the everyday film and you can hold 23µ for the harder loads.
Conclusion
New to buying stretch wrap? The Complete Guide to Stretch Wrap Film covers hand vs machine film, cast vs blown, and how to choose between them.
Choosing between 17µ and 23µ comes down to your loads. 17µ suits lighter, stable, uniform pallets and costs less per roll. 23µ, our heaviest hand roll, suits heavier, sharper or more awkward loads and holds up better through rough handling. Compare micron, length and weight together so you know what you are buying, and when in doubt, 23µ is the safer pick.