If you need pallet wrap today, the first place that comes to mind is usually a DIY store or trade counter. For a one-off job, one of those can be exactly the right call. But if you wrap pallets every week, where you buy it makes a real difference to what you pay per pallet. Here’s an honest look at the options.

Can you buy pallet wrap at DIY and trade stores?

Most of the big DIY and trade chains carry it, sometimes listed as stretch film, shrink wrap or packing film rather than pallet wrap. You’ll usually find single rolls or small multipacks, often ready to collect the same day. Ranges change from store to store, so check the retailer’s own website for what’s actually in stock near you.

The big advantage is convenience. If you’re moving house this weekend, or you’ve got a handful of pallets to wrap before a collection this afternoon, a trade counter round the corner is hard to beat.

What to check on the label, wherever you buy

Pallet wrap is one of those products where two rolls can look identical on the shelf and be very different in use. Before you compare prices, check four things:

• Thickness (micron or mu). 17 micron suits lighter, stable loads. 23 micron is the heavier-duty choice for bigger or awkward pallets.
• Length. Roll lengths vary a lot, so a cheaper roll may simply have less film on it.
• Width. 400mm and 500mm are the common widths for wrapping by hand.
• Roll weight. This is the one that’s hardest to fudge. If the weight isn’t listed anywhere, it’s hard to know how much film you’re really getting.

Divide the price by the length and you get a cost per metre, which is a far fairer comparison than price per roll. Our guide to checking a roll’s real length and thickness shows how to do it with nothing more than a set of scales.

When buying direct makes more sense

Once pallet wrap becomes a regular purchase rather than an emergency one, buying by the box from a supplier usually works out cheaper and saves the trip. You also get more choice: a proper range of thicknesses, clear or black film, and standard or extended core rolls, rather than whichever one or two lines the store happens to stock that week.

It also means you get the same film every time. That matters more than people expect. Once your team is used to how one film stretches and clings, a different roll from a different shop can change how tightly your pallets end up wrapped, without anyone noticing until a load shifts.

What you get from Hilux Poly

We make and supply hand pallet wrap in the UK, sold by the box of six rolls. Every roll is 400mm x 250m, and we publish the real roll weight next to the price, so you can run the comparison above for yourself.

• 17 micron clear pallet wrap for lighter loads, from £30.99 + VAT a box
• 23 micron clear and black pallet wrap for heavier loads, from £33.99 + VAT a box
• Extended core rolls with built-in handles, for wrapping without a dispenser
• Free delivery on every order to mainland GB, with no minimum spend, and same-day dispatch on orders placed before 2pm, Monday to Friday

That works out at roughly £5.17 to £6.00 a roll before VAT, delivered to your door.

So where should you buy?

For a one-off job or an emergency, the nearest trade counter is fine. Just check the micron, length and weight so you know what you’re paying for. For anything regular, buying by the box direct is usually cheaper per metre, turns up at your door, and gives you the same film every time.

Browse our pallet wrap rolls, or if you’re not sure which one suits your loads, the three-question film quiz will point you to the right roll in under a minute.

Related guides: how much pallet wrap costs in the UK, why the cheapest wrap isn’t always cheapest, is pallet wrap the same as cling film?.