Quick answer: LDPE and LLDPE are both types of polyethylene, but their molecules are built differently. LDPE has long, tangled branches, which makes it soft and easy to process but not very strong when stretched. LLDPE has a straighter backbone with short, regular branches, so it stretches much further, holds tension better and resists punctures. That’s why pallet wrap is made from LLDPE, and LDPE is used more for things like carrier bags and shrink film.
The names look almost the same, and both plastics are used in packaging. But they behave differently enough that one is the standard choice for stretch film and the other mostly isn’t. Here’s the difference in plain terms, and why it matters when you’re buying pallet wrap.
What the letters mean
LDPE stands for low-density polyethylene. It has been made since the 1930s. Its molecules are long chains with lots of long side branches, a bit like a tangled hedge. Those branches stop the chains packing tightly together, which makes the plastic soft, flexible and easy to melt and shape.
LLDPE stands for linear low-density polyethylene. It’s made differently, by joining ethylene with small amounts of another building block such as butene, hexene or octene. The result is a straighter main chain with short, evenly spaced side branches. It has a similar density to LDPE, which is why the names are so alike, but the more orderly structure changes how it behaves under load.
Why LLDPE stretches better
When you stretch LLDPE, its straighter chains slide and line up rather than pulling apart. That means it can be pulled a long way before it breaks, which is why good pallet wrap can stretch several times its own length. Once stretched, it also tries to pull back. That pull-back is what squeezes a stack of cartons into one solid unit on the pallet.
LDPE doesn’t stretch as far before it starts to thin out and tear, and it recovers less. Wrap a pallet with it and you’d get a looser, weaker hold for the same amount of film.
Puncture and tear resistance
LLDPE is also tougher against punctures and tears. That matters on real pallets, where you’ll meet carton corners, strapping, pallet edges and uneven stacking. When film punctures, the hole tends to run as the film is under tension, and the wrap loses its grip around that point. A tougher film keeps holding on the awkward loads where you need it most.
A side-by-side comparison
| LDPE | LLDPE | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Long, tangled branches | Straight chain, short regular branches |
| Stretch before breaking | Lower | Much higher |
| Pull-back after stretching | Weak | Strong |
| Puncture and tear resistance | Lower | Higher |
| Ease of processing | Very easy | Harder |
| Typical uses | Carrier bags, shrink film, liners, squeeze bottles | Stretch film, heavy-duty sacks, agricultural film |
Where LDPE still has its place
LDPE isn’t a worse plastic in general. It’s just suited to different jobs. It’s easy to process and seals well, which is why it’s common in bags and liners. It also shrinks neatly when heated, which is why it’s used in shrink film. Shrink wrap holds a load by tightening with heat, not by stretching, so LDPE’s lower stretch doesn’t matter there. Our guide on stretch wrap vs shrink wrap explains that difference.
Some film makers also blend a little LDPE into LLDPE to make the film easier to run on their lines. In stretch film, though, LLDPE does the real work.
Are they recycled the same way?
Yes, broadly. Both are polyethylene and both carry the recycling code 4, usually marked LDPE. Clean, used stretch film is one of the more valuable plastic films to recycle because it’s close to pure polyethylene. Our guide on whether stretch wrap is recyclable explains how to keep it clean and where it can go.
What this means when you’re buying
Almost all proper stretch film is based on LLDPE. What changes from one supplier to the next is the grade of resin, how the layers are put together, and how well the film is made. So rather than asking only “is it LLDPE?”, also check the things you can measure:
- the real weight of the roll against its stated length and thickness
- how far it stretches before it necks in or tears
- whether it holds the load firmly an hour after wrapping
All our film is made from LLDPE, with at least 30% post-consumer recycled polyethylene blended in. It stretches up to 500%, and we publish the weight of every roll.
FAQs
Is pallet wrap LDPE or LLDPE?
Pallet wrap is made mainly from LLDPE. It may be marked with recycling code 4 (LDPE), because both plastics share that code.
Is LLDPE stronger than LDPE?
In the ways that matter for pallet wrap, yes. It stretches further before breaking and resists punctures and tears better.
Why is shrink wrap made from LDPE?
Because shrink wrap holds loads by shrinking when heated, not by stretching. LDPE shrinks well with heat and is easy to process.
Can LLDPE film be recycled?
Yes. Clean stretch film is widely recycled through commercial waste services, though most household collections won’t take it.
Does recycled content change how LLDPE film behaves?
It can, if it isn’t handled well, because recycled plastic varies more than new resin. Our guide to PCR and PIR explains what to look for.
See the full stretch film range, with the weight and recycled content of every roll.
Related guides: how stretch film is made, cast vs blown stretch film, what ‘up to 500% stretch’ means.