Quick answer: The price per roll doesn’t tell you how much film you’re getting or how many pallets it will wrap. Compare the price per kilogram instead, and think about the cost per pallet. A 400mm x 250m roll of 23 micron film should weigh about 2.43kg including the core, and a 17 micron roll about 1.87kg. A roll that’s noticeably lighter than that has less film on it, whatever the box says.

Price per roll is the easiest number to compare when you buy pallet wrap. It’s also the easiest one to be caught out by. Two rolls with the same price, the same printed length and the same stated thickness can hold quite different amounts of film. And the cheapest roll can end up costing more once you add in roll changes, re-wrapped pallets and damaged goods.

Why rolls that look the same aren’t always the same

Most people compare rolls on length and thickness. If two suppliers both say 250m and 23 micron, it’s natural to treat them as the same product and pick the cheaper one. But length and thickness are just what’s printed on the box. Some rolls on the market are short on length, thinner than stated, or both.

The one figure that’s hard to fake is weight. Length, width and thickness together decide how much plastic is on the roll, so a short or thin roll weighs less. If you know what a roll should weigh, a set of scales will tell you whether you’re getting it.

A worked example

Here are two made-up rolls, both sold as 400mm x 250m, 23 micron.

Roll A costs £5.00 and weighs 2.00kg.
Roll B costs £5.60 and weighs 2.43kg.

Roll A looks 60p cheaper. Now divide the price by the weight. Roll A works out at £2.50 per kilogram and Roll B at about £2.30. Per kilogram of film, the “cheap” roll is the more expensive one. It’s also likely to run out sooner, because there’s simply less on it.

The gap is actually wider than that, because both weights include a cardboard core of roughly 0.3kg. Take that off and Roll A has about 1.7kg of film against Roll B’s 2.1kg or so. That’s around 20% less film for about 11% less money.

What a light roll costs you on the floor

A roll that’s shorter than it should be runs out more often. That means more roll changes, more half-wrapped pallets waiting while someone fetches a new one, and more boxes to order. None of that shows up on the price list, but it all costs time.

If the shortfall is in thickness, the problem is worse. Thin film doesn’t hold tension as well and tears more easily at corners. Loads that shift in transit can mean damaged stock, returns, and pallets refused at the depot. One damaged pallet can easily cost more than a year’s saving on cheaper wrap.

Other things that hide in a low price

Check whether the price includes VAT and delivery. A low roll price with a delivery charge on top can end up dearer than a slightly higher price with free delivery. Our prices include free delivery to mainland Great Britain.

Check what you’re actually being sold. A single roll and a box of six are easy to mix up when you’re scrolling a price list. So are 17 and 23 micron, or 400mm and 500mm widths.

Where a cheaper choice really does save money

Not every saving is a false one. The best way to spend less is to use the right film for the load, not the cheapest roll. If you’re wrapping even, square boxes under about 500kg that stay indoors, 17 micron film will do the job and costs less per roll than 23 micron. Using 23 micron on light loads is paying for strength you don’t need.

Wrapping technique makes a difference too. Stretching the film properly and putting the turns where they’re needed usually saves more than switching supplier. Our guide to cutting pallet wrap costs safely covers this in more detail.

The comparison worth making

Work out the price per kilogram of film, using the weight printed on the product or the weight you measure yourself. Then think about how many pallets a roll wraps at your usual load size. Our pallet wrap calculator will give you a rough figure. A roll that costs a little more but has the full amount of film on it and holds the load properly is cheaper in every way that matters.

FAQs

How do I work out price per kilogram?

Divide the price of one roll by its weight in kilograms. If you’re buying by the box, divide the box price by the number of rolls first. Make sure you’re comparing prices on the same basis, both with VAT or both without.

What should a 250m roll of pallet wrap weigh?

At 400mm wide, a 23 micron roll should weigh about 2.43kg including the core, and a 17 micron roll about 1.87kg. Our guide on checking a roll’s real length and thickness shows how to test this yourself.

Is thicker film always better value?

No. Thicker film is stronger, but if your loads are light and even, you’re paying for strength you won’t use. Match the film to the load.

Why are some rolls so much cheaper?

There can be honest reasons, such as a thinner film or a narrower roll. But if two rolls claim the same length, width and thickness and one is much cheaper, weigh it. A big price gap with the same spec usually means less film on the roll.

How many pallets will one roll wrap?

It depends on the pallet height, the load and how many turns you use. As a rough guide, try our calculator with your own pallet sizes.

Every roll we sell lists its real weight next to the price on our pallet wrap rolls page, so you can make this comparison properly before you buy.

Why the Cheapest Pallet Wrap Isn’t Always the Cheapest Option