Stretch Film Gauge Chart
Stretch Film Gauge Chart
Direct answer: use this stretch film gauge chart to match load risk, wrap method, and repeat-buying control before choosing a route. Gauge is useful only after the buyer separates light bundling, standard hand wrap, heavier containment, and machine-wrap workflows.
Stretch Film Gauge Selection Formula
Best gauge route = load profile + edge risk + wrap method + film used per pallet + labor impact + repeat-buying control.
A lower gauge can fit stable loads when the team controls wrap count and overlap. A heavier route can make more sense when it prevents tears, rewraps, load movement, or damage notes.
Stretch Film Gauge Chart
| Gauge route | Best planning fit | Wrap method | Risk check |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 gauge | Light bundling, dust cover, and low-risk grouping work where containment pressure is limited. | Hand or narrow bundling route | Do not start here for sharp cartons, tall pallets, or mixed freight. |
| 70 gauge | Light, regular pallets where a buyer wants to reduce material while keeping a normal wrap path. | Hand wrap for stable lighter loads | Compare 80 gauge if the load moves, stacks high, or has exposed corners. |
| 80 gauge | Common starting point for many stable hand-wrap, bundling, color-coding, and standard pallet routes. | Hand wrap, extended core, bundling, or light machine comparison | Compare heavier routes when rewraps, tears, or load movement appear. |
| 90 gauge | Heavier, less uniform, sharper-edge, or higher-containment loads that need a stronger comparison path. | Hand wrap or machine route review | Validate width, roll length, equipment fit, and substitute rules before recurring buys. |
| 100 gauge | High-risk containment, tougher edges, heavier pallets, or lanes where 80 and 90 gauge keep failing. | Heavier hand wrap or machine comparison | Check whether a different format solves the problem before standardizing only by gauge. |
| 120 gauge | The heaviest or most failure-prone containment scenarios where puncture resistance is the main concern. | Specialty heavy-containment review | Confirm the route with bulk quote when volume, location, or substitute tolerance matters. |
Load and Wrap Cost Model
- Load class: separate light, stable, mixed, tall, sharp-edge, heavy, and machine-wrap lanes before comparing gauges.
- Film use: estimate perimeter, load height, overlap, top wraps, bottom wraps, tails, and operator variation.
- Labor: include wrap minutes, roll changes, setup time, rewraps, and missed dock timing.
- Failure risk: count tears, punctures, shifting, return notes, repack work, and damage exceptions.
- Repeat control: document approved gauge, width, route, substitute rule, owner, destination, monthly usage, and quote timing.
Gauge Decision Matrix
| Buying question | Decision rule | Next path |
|---|---|---|
| Is the load light and uniform? | Start with lower or standard gauge routes and confirm that wrap count stays consistent. | Light-load hand-wrap guide |
| Does the film tear or the load move? | Compare heavier gauges and check whether width, roll length, or wrap method is the true issue. | Heavy-load hand-wrap guide |
| Is the team comparing 80 and 90 gauge? | Use load weight, puncture risk, edge pressure, and route repeatability before standardizing. | 80 vs 90 gauge comparison |
| Does volume justify machine wrap review? | Compare labor minutes, pallet volume, film consistency, and setup complexity. | Hand vs machine break-even |
Packrift Stretch Film Planning Paths
Use these as planning routes, not as live price, stock, or exact-substitute claims. Open the destination route to confirm current details before ordering or quoting.
| Route | Use it when... |
|---|---|
| Stretch film collection | Use when the buyer is ready to inspect hand, machine, colored, bundling, and specialty film routes. |
| Stretch film gauge guide | Use when gauge, width, roll length, and load class need a broader selection path. |
| 80 vs 90 gauge stretch film | Use when the key decision is whether a standard 80 gauge route is enough or 90 gauge should be compared. |
| How much stretch film per pallet | Use when total cost depends on perimeter, height, overlap, wrap count, and film used per pallet. |
| Hand vs machine stretch film break-even | Use when labor time, pallet volume, consistency, and machine setup change the route choice. |
| Bulk stretch film pallet wrap | Use when repeat replenishment, mixed gauges, or multi-location buying needs one planning path. |
| Extended core stretch film | Use when hand-wrap setup speed and built-in handles are part of the decision. |
| Colored stretch film | Use when color coding, privacy, tamper visibility, or lane identification matter. |
| Hand wrap light loads guide | Use when the lane is light, stable, and mainly needs a practical starting gauge. |
| Hand wrap heavy loads guide | Use when load movement, edge pressure, and puncture risk are the deciding signals. |
| Stretch film gauge cost index | Use when route cost, labor, rewraps, damage risk, and repeat-buying control need to be compared together. |
| Reorder by page | Use after approved gauge, width, route, substitute rule, owner, and monthly usage are documented. |
| Bulk quote by page | Use for recurring, mixed-gauge, multi-facility, seasonal, or machine-plus-hand film review. |
Reorder and Bulk Quote Workflow
- Group loads by weight, height, edge profile, stability, pallet volume, and wrap method.
- Estimate film used per pallet and labor time before judging gauge route cost.
- Compare gauge, width, roll format, color, hand or machine workflow, and substitute rules.
- Document approved route, owner, destination, monthly usage, receiving notes, and quote timing.
- Use reorder for known repeat film routes and bulk quote when multiple gauges, facilities, or machine and hand routes need review together.
Related Packrift Paths
- Stretch film collection
- Stretch film gauge guide
- 80 vs 90 gauge stretch film
- How much stretch film per pallet
- Hand vs machine stretch film break-even
- Bulk stretch film pallet wrap
- Extended core stretch film
- Colored stretch film
- Hand wrap light loads guide
- Hand wrap heavy loads guide
- Stretch film gauge cost index
- Reorder by page
- Bulk quote by page
FAQ
What gauge stretch film should I use?
Start with the load profile, not the gauge number. Lighter and stable loads often start in the lower or standard gauge range, while mixed, sharp-edge, tall, or heavier loads need a stronger comparison path.
Is 80 gauge stretch film the default?
It is a common starting point for many standard hand-wrap and bundling jobs, but it is not automatic. Compare load movement, puncture risk, width, roll format, and wrap method before standardizing.
When should I compare 90 gauge stretch film?
Compare 90 gauge when 80 gauge creates tears, rewraps, shifting, edge pressure, or inconsistent containment, or when the route moves toward a heavier hand or machine workflow.
How does gauge affect total stretch film cost?
Gauge affects film route cost, but total cost also includes film used per pallet, labor, roll changes, rewraps, damage risk, substitute rules, and whether purchasing can reorder the same route consistently.
What should I include in a stretch film bulk quote?
Include the route URL, gauge, width, roll length, hand or machine method, monthly usage, destination ZIP, receiving notes, and whether substitute gauges or formats are acceptable.