There is no single figure, because film per pallet depends on pallet size, load height, how many wraps you use and how far you stretch the film. But you can work out your own number and your cost per pallet with a simple method. Below is how to measure it, a worked example, and the levers that reduce how much film each pallet uses.
Knowing your film per pallet turns “which roll is cheaper” into “which film costs less per pallet”, which is the number that actually matters.
Why There Is No Fixed Number
Every operation wraps differently, so a “metres per pallet” figure from someone else rarely matches yours. Four things drive it:
- Pallet and load size. A taller, wider load has more surface to cover, so it uses more film per wrap.
- Number of wraps. More passes for heavy or awkward loads means more film per pallet.
- Overlap. More overlap between passes uses more film but gives better coverage.
- Stretch. How far you stretch the film changes how many metres you use to cover the same load. More stretch, fewer metres.
Because these vary, the reliable approach is to measure your own usage rather than guess.
The Simple Way to Measure It
You do not need to count metres mid-wrap. Use the roll instead.
- Note the roll’s total length. Ours are 250m.
- Wrap a typical pallet the way you normally would.
- Keep wrapping typical pallets off that one roll until it runs out, counting how many pallets you get.
- Divide the roll length by the number of pallets.
If a 250m roll wraps 25 pallets, that is 10m of film per pallet. Do it across a few rolls and a few load types to get a realistic average for your operation. This real-world number beats any theoretical calculation because it captures how your team actually wraps.
Working Out Cost Per Pallet
Once you know pallets per roll, cost per pallet is easy:
Cost per pallet = roll price ÷ pallets per roll
If a roll costs a given price and wraps 25 pallets, divide the price by 25. That is your true film cost per pallet.
This is the figure to compare between films and suppliers, not the roll price. A cheaper roll that wraps fewer pallets, because it is shorter, thinner where you needed thicker, or stretches less, can cost more per pallet than a dearer roll that wraps more. Roll price alone hides that.
Comparing Films Fairly
To compare two films on cost per pallet, you need three things for each: price, length and how many pallets it wraps in your operation. Our rolls publish length (250m) and weight (about 1.87kg at 17 Micron, 2.43kg at 23 Micron), so you know exactly how much film you are buying before you start.
Watch for films quoted only on roll price and micron, with no length or weight. Without length you cannot work out pallets per roll, and without that you cannot work out cost per pallet. Published length and weight are what let you compare like with like.
How to Reduce Film Per Pallet
If you want to bring the number down without loads failing, pull these levers:
- Stretch the film more. The biggest lever. Film applied with more stretch covers the same load in fewer metres. Wrapping by hand gives less consistent stretch than a dispenser or machine, so a dispenser can help here.
- Right-size the wraps. Do not over-wrap light, stable loads out of habit. Use the passes the load needs, not more.
- Match thickness to the load. A film that suits the load holds it in fewer passes than a too-thin film you have to over-wrap to compensate.
- Wrap consistently. Trained, consistent wrapping uses less film than rushed, uneven wrapping that needs extra passes to feel secure.
The caution: reducing film is only a saving if loads still arrive intact. Cutting wraps or stretch too far to save film costs far more in damaged stock than it saves. Reduce film until the load is secure with a sensible margin, not beyond it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many metres of stretch film does one pallet use?
It varies with pallet size, load height, wraps and stretch, so there is no fixed figure. Measure your own by counting how many pallets a roll wraps, then dividing the roll length by that number.
How do I work out my cost per pallet?
Divide the roll price by how many pallets that roll wraps in your operation. That gives the true film cost per pallet, which is the number to compare between films and suppliers.
Why is cost per pallet better than price per roll?
Because a cheaper roll can wrap fewer pallets, making it dearer per pallet. Price per roll ignores how much film is on the roll and how far it goes. Cost per pallet captures both.
How can I use less film per pallet?
Stretch the film more, do not over-wrap stable loads, match thickness to the load, and wrap consistently. The biggest lever is stretch. Just keep loads secure with a sensible margin rather than cutting film to the point loads fail.
Does a thicker film use more film per pallet?
Not necessarily in metres, but it weighs more per metre, so a roll covers a similar number of pallets at a higher material cost. The right thickness can use fewer passes, which offsets some of that on loads that need it.
Conclusion
For the full breakdown of terminology, thickness, core type and colour in one place, see The Complete Guide to Stretch Wrap Film.
Film per pallet is not a fixed number, but you can measure yours in minutes by counting pallets per roll and dividing the roll length by that count. Turn it into cost per pallet by dividing roll price by pallets per roll, and use that to compare films and suppliers properly. To use less film, stretch it more and right-size your wrapping, but never past the point where loads stay secure. Published roll length and weight are what make these sums possible, which is why they are worth insisting on.