Quick answer: You can wrap a suitcase at home with stretch wrap, the same kind of heavy duty film used by airport bag-wrapping stands. Wrap round the middle first, then from end to end, keep the film tight, and tuck the last end in firmly. Leave the wheels and one handle free. Check your airline’s rules first, and bear in mind that security can cut the wrap off if they need to search the bag.

People wrap suitcases for a few practical reasons. The wrap keeps zips shut on a full case, protects the shell or fabric from scuffs and dirt on the belts, and keeps rain off while bags wait to be loaded. It also shows straight away if the case has been opened. It won’t stop a determined thief, but a wrapped case is a less tempting target than one with an easy zip.

Most large UK airports have a wrapping stand, usually charging somewhere around £10 to £25 a bag. Wrapping at home costs a fraction of that, and one 250m roll covers several cases.

Why not kitchen cling film?

Kitchen cling film is about 10 micron thick and around 300mm wide. It tears on corners and zip pulls, it goes on loose and wrinkled, and you need a lot of it to cover a case. Loose, thin film is also exactly what check-in staff don’t want to see, because it can snag on baggage belts.

Stretch wrap is 17 to 23 micron thick and comes on 400mm wide rolls. It’s made from LLDPE, a plastic designed to be pulled tight around a load without tearing, so it goes on smooth and firm. It clings to itself, so there’s no tape and nothing sticky left on the case. Our guide on whether pallet wrap is the same as cling film explains the difference in more detail.

Check with your airline first

Most airlines accept wrapped bags, but check-in staff can ask you to remove wrap that is loose, torn or coming away, because it can catch in the baggage system. Rules differ between airlines, so look at your airline’s baggage page before you travel. A tight, neat wrap with no loose ends is far less likely to be questioned.

Security can cut it off. If a checked bag needs searching, the wrap is cut away and won’t be put back.
Leave a handle free. The airline’s bag tag goes on a handle at check-in, and the barcode needs to sit flat and readable.
Make the case easy to spot. Wrap hides the colour, stickers and marks you’d normally recognise on the carousel. Clear film helps, and a bright tag or strap on the free handle helps more.
Don’t wrap hand luggage. It may need opening at security, and you’ll want to get into it on the way.
Put a name and address label inside the case as well as outside.

What you need

A roll of stretch wrap. An extended core roll is easiest, because the core sticks out at each end and you hold it like a rolling pin. There’s no dispenser to buy.
Scissors or a safety cutter.
A luggage tag or bright strap for the handle.

How to wrap a suitcase, step by step

Pack the case, close the zips and push the pull-out handle all the way down. Take off old airline tags so they can’t be scanned by mistake.
Stand the case upright. Press the end of the film against the side and hold it there for the first turn. Once the film has gone all the way round, it grips itself.
Wrap round the middle three or four times, covering the zip line. Pull the film so it stretches a little as it goes on. Firm film holds better, lies flatter and uses less.
Lay the case on its back and wrap from end to end, over the top and under the base. Shift the film along a little with each turn so every side is covered at least twice.
Finish with two more turns round the middle to hold the end-to-end layers in place.
Cut the film and press the end firmly into the layer below, so there’s no loose tail to catch on a belt.
Make small, neat cuts to free the wheels and one carry handle, or wrap round them and leave them clear.

Clear or black wrap?

For flights, clear is the better choice. You can still see the case and its colour, which makes it easier for you and the airline to identify. Black hides the case completely, which some people prefer for storage. Both are the same strength.

Getting the wrap off

Use blunt-ended scissors and start at a corner, cutting away from the case so you don’t nick the fabric or a zip. The wrap is polyethylene film. It shouldn’t go in most household recycling bins, but many larger supermarkets now have collection points for soft plastic film. Our guide on whether stretch wrap is recyclable explains the options.

Other bags and travel uses

Holdalls and sports bags with zips you want kept shut.
Boxes going in the hold or by courier.
Bike boxes and golf bags.
Suitcases going into the loft or a storage unit, to keep the dust off.

The same film is used for furniture on a house move. Our guide to cling film for wrapping furniture covers sofas, mattresses and chairs.

Which roll to buy

Our extended core rolls are the easiest for suitcases, because you hold the core and wrap by hand. They’re 23 micron, in clear or black, with six 400mm x 250m rolls to a box and free delivery to mainland Great Britain. In Derby we deliver the same day within 15 miles, or you can collect from our unit. A box goes a long way, so it’s worth sharing with family or keeping the rest for a house move.

FAQs

Can I wrap my suitcase in cling film?

Kitchen cling film is too thin and narrow to do the job well. It tears, goes on loose and can catch on baggage belts. Stretch wrap is thicker, wider and much stronger, and it’s the kind of film airport wrapping stands use.

Is shrink wrap for luggage the same as stretch wrap?

In everyday use, yes. People often call it shrink wrap. You pull it as you wrap and it grips the suitcase.

Will the airline accept a bag I’ve wrapped at home?

Usually, if the wrap is tight and neat with no loose ends, and a handle is left free for the bag tag. Check-in staff can ask you to remove wrap that is loose or torn. Rules differ, so check your airline’s baggage page before you travel.

Will airport security cut the wrap off?

They can if a checked bag needs searching, and they won’t wrap it again afterwards.

Does wrapping a suitcase stop theft?

Not on its own. It keeps zips and pockets closed and shows straight away if the case has been opened, which makes it a less tempting target.

How much does it cost to wrap a suitcase?

Airport stands usually charge around £10 to £25 a bag. Doing it yourself, a medium case takes roughly 20 to 30 metres of film, which costs under a pound, so one 250m roll wraps several cases.

Cling Film for Suitcases: How to Wrap Your Luggage