Stretch Wrap Sizes: Standard Pallet Wrap and Stretch Film Roll Sizes for Europe and the US

Stretch wrap sizes are given as width × roll length × thickness. In Europe, the standard hand pallet wrap roll is 500 mm × 250–300 m at 17–23 µm, and the standard machine roll is 500 mm × 1,500 m. In the US, the standard hand roll is 18 in × 1,500 ft at 60–80 gauge, and machine rolls are 20 in × 5,000 or 6,000 ft.

This guide puts the standard sizes in one chart, explains how to read a size label and convert microns to gauge, and shows what each roll weighs with and without its core. It also covers how the rolls are packed for export. Pallet wrap, stretch wrap and stretch film are different names for the same LLDPE film, so the sizes below apply to all three. For film types and how to choose a specification, see the stretch film selection guide.

Stretch wrap size chart

These are the standard hand and machine stretch film sizes produced by Tuosheng Packaging. All of them are wound on a 76 mm (3 in) paper core.

Roll type	Market	Standard size	Converted size	Thickness	Rolls per carton
Hand	Europe / UK	500 mm × 250–300 m	approx. 19.7 in × 820–985 ft	17–23 µm (approx. 67–91 gauge)	4 or 6
Machine	Europe / UK	500 mm × 1,500 m	approx. 19.7 in × 4,920 ft	17–23 µm (approx. 67–91 gauge)	1
Hand	US	18 in × 1,500 ft	457 mm × approx. 457 m	60–80 gauge (approx. 15–20 µm)	4 or 6
Machine	US	20 in × 5,000 ft	500 mm × 1,524 m	60–80 gauge (approx. 15–20 µm)	1
Machine	US	20 in × 6,000 ft	500 mm × 1,829 m	60–80 gauge (approx. 15–20 µm)	1

Other widths, lengths and thicknesses are quoted on request. The full specification ranges are listed on our hand stretch film and machine stretch film product pages.

What is the standard size for hand stretch wrap?

The standard hand stretch wrap size in Europe and the UK is 500 mm wide and 250–300 m long, at 17–23 µm. In the US, the standard hand roll is 18 in (457 mm) wide and 1,500 ft (approx. 457 m) long, at 60–80 gauge. Both are wound on a 76 mm (3 in) paper core.

Hand rolls are kept short and light because the operator carries the roll around the load for every pallet. A lighter roll is easier to hold at steady tension, which helps keep the wrap tight from the base to the top layer.

Parameter	Europe / UK	US
Width	500 mm (approx. 19.7 in)	18 in (457 mm)
Roll length	250–300 m (approx. 820–985 ft)	1,500 ft (approx. 457m)
Thickness	17–23 µm	60–80 gauge (approx. 15–20 µm)
Core	76 mm (3 in) paper core	76 mm (3 in) paper core

If your team has problems with tearing, loose loads or film tails, see our hand stretch film troubleshooting guide.

What is the standard size for machine stretch wrap?

The standard machine stretch wrap size in Europe is 500 mm wide and 1,500 m long, at 17–23 µm. In the US, machine rolls are 20 in wide (made at 500 mm) and 5,000 or 6,000 ft long, at 60–80 gauge. Machine rolls are much longer and heavier than hand rolls because the wrapper, not the operator, carries the roll.

Before you choose a roll length, check two limits in your wrapper’s manual: the largest roll diameter the film carriage accepts, and the heaviest roll it can hold. A longer roll means fewer roll changes per shift, but only if the wrapper can take it.

Parameter	Europe / UK	US
Width	500 mm (approx. 19.7 in)	20 in (made at 500 mm)
Roll length	1,500 m (approx. 4,920 ft)	5,000 ft (1,524 m) or 6,000 ft (1,829 m)
Thickness	17–23 µm	60–80 gauge (approx. 15–20 µm)
Core	76 mm (3 in) paper core	76 mm (3 in) paper core

Tuosheng Packaging makes machine stretch film as cast film. For the difference between cast and blown film, see cast vs blown stretch film. If you are not sure whether you need hand or machine rolls, see machine vs hand stretch film. For specifications beyond roll size, see the machine stretch film guide.

How do you read a stretch wrap size label?

A stretch wrap size is read as width × length × thickness. “500 mm × 300 m × 23 µm” means a roll 500 mm wide, 300 m long and 23 µm thick. A US label such as “18 in × 1,500 ft × 80 ga” means 18 inches wide, 1,500 feet long and 80 gauge thick.

When you compare two suppliers, check these five points on the label or specification sheet:

1. Width, in millimetres or inches.
2. Roll length, in metres or feet.
3. Thickness, in microns or gauge, and whether the gauge is true thickness (see the next section).
4. Core, usually 76 mm (3 in) inner diameter, and its weight.
5. Film weight, and whether it is net (film only) or gross (film plus core).

If two rolls have the same width, length and thickness on the label but different net weights, one of them has less film on it.

How do you convert microns to gauge?

One micron equals about 3.94 gauge, and one gauge equals 0.254 µm. So 20 µm is about 80 gauge, 23 µm is about 90 gauge, and 17 µm is about 67 gauge. European buyers usually specify stretch film in microns, and US buyers in gauge. The table below converts the most common thicknesses.

Microns (µm)	Gauge (approx.)	Mil (approx.)	Typical use
12	47	0.47	Light, even carton loads
15	59	0.59	Light to medium loads
17	67	0.67	General carton loads
18	71	0.71	General carton loads
20	79	0.79	General-purpose hand and machine wrap
23	91	0.91	Heavier or less even loads
25	98	0.98	Heavy loads
30	118	1.18	Heavy loads with sharp edges

The “typical use” column is a starting point. Film formulation matters as much as thickness, so test a sample on your own pallets before you change thickness. Our stretch film thickness guide explains how to choose.

A common labelling mistake is to write 80 gauge as “203 microns”. The correct value is about 20 µm. The “203” comes from 20.3 µm with the decimal point dropped.

What is equivalent gauge?

In the US market, some stretch wrap is labelled with an “equivalent” or “performance” gauge. This means the film is thinner than the number on the label, but the supplier says it performs like film of that thickness. A roll sold as “80 gauge equivalent” may actually measure 63 gauge (16 µm). A true 80 gauge roll is about 20 µm.

The difference shows up in the weight. At the same width and length, a 63 gauge roll carries about 21% less film than a true 80 gauge roll. Tuosheng Packaging labels stretch film by its true thickness, so an 80 gauge roll from us is about 20 µm thick. When you compare quotes, compare net film weight as well as the gauge on the label.

How much does a roll of stretch wrap weigh?

The net film weight of a stretch wrap roll in kg is about width (m) × length (m) × thickness (µm) × 0.92 ÷ 1,000. For example, a 500 mm × 300 m × 23 µm hand roll holds about 3.2 kg of film. For gross weight, add the paper core: about 0.3 kg for a hand roll and 1–1.5 kg for a machine roll.

The 0.92 in the formula is the density of LLDPE film in g/cm³. Calculated weights for the standard sizes:

Size	Thickness	Net film weight	Core weight	Gross weight
Hand, 500 mm × 250 m	17 µm	approx. 2.0 kg (4.3 lb)	approx. 0.3 kg	approx. 2.3 kg (5.0 lb)
Hand, 500 mm × 300 m	23 µm	approx. 3.2 kg (7.0 lb)	approx. 0.3 kg	approx. 3.5 kg (7.7 lb)
Hand, 18 in × 1,500 ft	60 gauge	approx. 2.9 kg (6.5 lb)	approx. 0.3 kg	approx. 3.2 kg (7.1 lb)
Hand, 18 in × 1,500 ft	80 gauge	approx. 3.9 kg (8.6 lb)	approx. 0.3 kg	approx. 4.2 kg (9.3 lb)
Machine, 500 mm × 1,500 m	17 µm	approx. 11.7 kg (25.9 lb)	1–1.5 kg	approx. 12.7–13.2 kg (28–29 lb)
Machine, 500 mm × 1,500 m	23 µm	approx. 15.9 kg (35.0 lb)	1–1.5 kg	approx. 16.9–17.4 kg (37–38 lb)
Machine, 20 in × 5,000 ft	60 gauge	approx. 10.7 kg (23.6 lb)	1–1.5 kg	approx. 11.7–12.2 kg (26–27 lb)
Machine, 20 in × 5,000 ft	80 gauge	approx. 14.3 kg (31.4 lb)	1–1.5 kg	approx. 15.3–15.8 kg (34–35 lb)
Machine, 20 in × 6,000 ft	60 gauge	approx. 12.8 kg (28.3 lb)	1–1.5 kg	approx. 13.8–14.3 kg (30–32 lb)
Machine, 20 in × 6,000 ft	80 gauge	approx. 17.1 kg (37.7 lb)	1–1.5 kg	approx. 18.1–18.6 kg (40–41 lb)

These are calculated values for true-gauge film. Actual weights are confirmed for each order. To calculate the weight of any other size, or to check a roll’s real length by weighing it, use our stretch film roll weight calculator. To work out how many pallets one roll will wrap, use our stretch film usage and cost per pallet calculator.

What core size does stretch wrap use?

Standard hand and machine stretch wrap is wound on a 76 mm (3 in) inner-diameter paper core. Core weight depends on the roll specification. At Tuosheng Packaging, hand roll cores usually weigh 0.3, 0.5 or 0.7 kg, with 0.3 kg the most common. Machine roll cores usually weigh 1 or 1.5 kg.

Roll type	Core inner diameter	Typical core weight
Hand stretch wrap	76 mm (3 in)	0.3 kg (most common), 0.5 kg or 0.7 kg
Machine stretch wrap	76 mm (3 in)	1 kg or 1.5 kg

Core weight matters when a price or a weight is quoted per roll. If one supplier quotes gross weight and another quotes net weight, the gross figure includes the core and will look heavier. Ask for net film weight so you compare the same thing.

How are stretch wrap rolls packed and loaded for export?

At Tuosheng Packaging, hand stretch wrap is packed 4 or 6 rolls per carton and machine stretch wrap 1 roll per carton. Both are palletized at 64 cartons per pallet. A 20 ft container (20GP) holds about 10 pallets of hand rolls or 640 cartons of machine rolls. A 40 ft container (40GP) holds about 20 pallets or 1,440 cartons.

Item	Hand stretch wrap	Machine stretch wrap
Rolls per carton	4 or 6	1
Cartons per pallet	64	64
Rolls per pallet	256 or 384	64
20GP container	approx. 10 pallets	approx. 640 cartons
40GP container	approx. 20 pallets	approx. 1,440 cartons

Final loading is confirmed for each order, because roll size and weight change how much fits. Hand and machine rolls can be mixed in one container. The MOQ for clear hand or machine stretch film in standard sizes is 3 tons.

How should a distributor choose which stretch wrap sizes to stock?

Start with the sizes your customers already use. Warehouses rarely change roll size, because their dispensers, wrappers and work routines are set up around it. In Europe that usually means 500 mm rolls for both hand and machine wrap. In the US it means 18 in hand rolls and 20 in machine rolls. For MOQ, private label and choosing a supplier, see our guide to pallet wrap suppliers.

Then settle the details for each size:

1. Thickness. Decide which thicknesses your customers need for their loads. Compare suppliers on true thickness, not only on the gauge printed on the label.
2. Roll length. For machine rolls, ask customers for their wrapper’s maximum roll diameter and roll weight before you choose between 5,000 ft and 6,000 ft, or confirm that 1,500 m fits.
3. Carton marks. Shipping marks are printed to your requirements. Include at least the width, length, thickness and net film weight, so your customers can compare like with like.
4. Samples. Test a sample of each size on real pallets before the first container.

Our machine stretch film RFQ checklist lists the details to include when you ask for a quote.

How does Tuosheng Packaging confirm roll size and weight?

Tuosheng Packaging has made stretch film in Suzhou, China, since 2012. Net film weight is measured by difference: before production we spot-check the weight of the batch’s paper cores, then spot-check the weight of finished rolls and subtract the core weight. Film thickness and tensile strength are tested with our own in-house instruments.

Samples are free. The customer usually pays the shipping cost up front, and that cost is deducted from the first bulk order. If you send us the size, thickness and net weight of the roll you use now, we can make a sample to the same specification.