Pallet wrap is not sold at one price, because cost depends on film thickness, roll length and weight, how much you buy, and delivery. More useful than a headline price is your cost per pallet, which is what you actually spend to wrap a load. This guide explains what drives the price and how to work out your real cost, so you can compare suppliers properly instead of being caught by a cheap-looking roll.
The mistake buyers make is comparing roll prices. A cheap roll with less film on it is not cheap per pallet. Here is what to look at instead.
What Drives the Price of Pallet Wrap
Five things move the cost of stretch film.
Thickness (micron). More material costs more. A 23 Micron roll has about a third more film than a 17 Micron roll, so it costs more per roll. That is expected, not a mark-up.
Roll length and weight. A longer, heavier roll holds more film and wraps more pallets, so it costs more per roll but often less per pallet. Length and weight tell you how much film you are actually buying.
Quantity. Buying by the carton or the pallet costs less per roll than buying single rolls. Trade and pallet pricing exist because higher volumes lower the unit cost.
Colour and core. Clear and black film, and standard and extended cores, are commodity options that most suppliers offer. They should not carry a big premium.
Delivery. Carriage can add a meaningful amount to a small order. Free delivery over a threshold, or free mainland delivery, changes the real landed cost.
Why Cost Per Pallet Beats Price Per Roll
Two rolls at the same price can cost very different amounts per pallet. If one is longer, or you stretch it further, it wraps more pallets, so its cost per pallet is lower even at the same roll price. Price per roll hides this completely.
To get your true cost, work out how many pallets a roll wraps in your operation, then divide the roll price by that number:
Cost per pallet = roll price ÷ pallets per roll
Measure pallets per roll by wrapping your normal loads off one roll until it runs out and counting them. Do it across a few rolls for a realistic average. Once you have that, cost per pallet is the figure to compare between films and suppliers. A dearer roll that wraps far more pallets can be cheaper per pallet than a cheap one that runs out fast.
How to Compare Suppliers Fairly
To compare like with like, get the same figures from each supplier:
- Micron for thickness
- Roll length for how many pallets it covers
- Roll weight for how much film is actually on the roll
- Price at your order quantity, not just single-roll price
- Delivery cost to your location
A supplier that publishes length and weight is giving you the numbers to compare. One that only quotes a roll price and a micron figure is leaving out what you need, and a suspiciously cheap roll quoted that way often has less film on it than a dearer, fully specified one. Published figures are how you avoid paying more per pallet for a cheaper-looking roll.
Ways to Lower Your Pallet Wrap Cost
Beyond finding the right price, you can lower what you spend:
- Buy in larger quantities. Carton or pallet quantities at trade pricing lower the unit cost. If you use film steadily, buying in volume usually pays.
- Stretch the film further. Getting more pallets from each roll lowers cost per pallet directly. A dispenser helps apply consistent stretch.
- Right-size the thickness. Do not buy 23 Micron for light, stable loads that 17 Micron secures. Match thickness to the load so you are not paying for material you do not use.
- Reduce carriage. Ordering enough to clear a free-delivery threshold, or buying from a supplier with free mainland delivery, cuts the landed cost of each order.
Where We Sit on Cost
We keep the cost side transparent so you can work out your own figures. 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 compare anything. We hold UK stock in Derby, dispatch same day on orders placed before 2pm Monday to Friday, deliver free to mainland GB, and offer trade and pallet pricing for volume. Those service points affect real cost as much as the roll price does, because film you cannot get quickly, or that arrives with high carriage, costs you more than the sticker suggests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a roll of pallet wrap cost?
There is no single price, because it depends on thickness, roll length and weight, order quantity and delivery. More useful than a roll price is cost per pallet, which is roll price divided by how many pallets that roll wraps.
Why is cost per pallet more useful than price per roll?
Because a cheap roll can hold less film and wrap fewer pallets, making it dearer per pallet. Cost per pallet accounts for how much film is on the roll and how far it goes, which price per roll ignores.
How do I work out my cost per pallet?
Wrap your normal loads off one roll until it runs out, count the pallets, and divide the roll price by that number. Do it across a few rolls for a realistic average.
Is thicker film more expensive?
Per roll, yes, because it has more material. But on loads that need it, thicker film can hold in fewer passes and prevent failures, so it is not always dearer per pallet. On light loads, a thinner film is the cheaper correct choice.
How can I reduce my pallet wrap costs?
Buy in larger quantities at trade pricing, stretch the film further to get more pallets per roll, match thickness to the load, and reduce carriage by clearing free-delivery thresholds. The biggest levers are volume buying and stretch.
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.
Pallet wrap has no single price, because cost depends on thickness, roll length and weight, quantity and delivery. The figure that matters is cost per pallet, which is roll price divided by pallets per roll, and it is the only fair way to compare films and suppliers. Insist on published length and weight, factor in delivery and stock availability, and buy the thickness your loads actually need. Do that and you pay for the film you use, not for a cheap-looking roll that costs more per pallet than it appears.