The micron you need depends on your load, not on a single recommended number. As a quick guide: lighter, stable loads suit around 17 microns; general mixed loads sit around 20 microns; and heavier, sharper or more awkward loads suit around 23 microns or more. If you are unsure, size up, because the cost of an under-specified film failing is higher than the small extra cost of a thicker one.
Here is a straightforward way to match your loads to the right micron, so you buy film that holds without paying for material you do not need.
Start With Your Load, Not a Number
Micron is just film thickness. Thicker film has more material, so it resists tearing and holds heavier loads better, at a higher cost. The right thickness is the one that matches how demanding your load is. So the question is not “what micron is best” but “how demanding is my load”, and the answer points you to a thickness.
Judge your load on three things: weight, shape, and how it is handled. Light, square, gently handled loads need less film. Heavy, awkward, roughly handled loads need more.
A Simple Micron Selector
Match your load to the closest description.
Around 17 microns: light and stable. Neat boxed goods that stack squarely, light to moderate weight, no sharp edges, gently handled and not shipped far. This is the everyday choice for uniform, well-behaved loads, and it uses the least material.
Around 20 microns: general purpose. Mixed loads of moderate weight, some variation in shape, normal handling. A middle thickness that covers a range of typical pallets without being over-specified for light loads or under-specified for moderate ones.
Around 23 microns: heavy or demanding. Heavier pallets, sharp or hard corners, irregular shapes, or loads shipped a long way and handled roughly. The extra material resists punctures and holds tension better where a thinner film would struggle.
Above 23 microns: the hardest loads. Very heavy or aggressive loads may need a thicker film still, and sometimes more than film alone, which we come to below.
When to Size Up
If your load sits between two descriptions, or you are genuinely unsure, choose the thicker option. The reasoning is simple: the extra cost per pallet of a thicker film is small, but the cost of a film that tears mid-wrap or lets a load shift, in wasted film, re-wrapping and damaged stock, is not. Sizing up buys margin cheaply.
Size up in particular if your loads have any sharp edges, if they are shipped long distances or handled by multiple carriers, or if they vary a lot and you want one film to cover the range.
When Thickness Is Not the Whole Answer
For very heavy, dense or unstable loads, a thicker film helps but may not be enough on its own. Beyond a certain point, the load needs more than film: edge protectors on sharp corners, strapping alongside the film for rigid or very heavy loads, or a machine-applied wrap for consistent tension. If you keep increasing micron and loads still shift, the answer is usually not yet more film but adding one of these.
Do Not Forget Length and Weight
Micron tells you thickness, not how much film is on the roll. Once you have settled on a micron, compare rolls at that thickness on length and weight too, so you know how many pallets each roll wraps. A roll at the right micron but short or lightly wound is not the value it looks.
A Quick Load Check
If you are still unsure which range your load falls into, run through these questions.
Does the load stack squarely with a flat, even top, or does it lean, overhang or have an uneven top? Square and even points to a thinner film; uneven points to a thicker one.
Are there any hard corners, exposed metal, timber edges or protruding items? Any sharp points push you up a thickness, because thin film cuts on them.
How far does the load travel, and how many times is it handled? A short trip handled once is gentle; a long journey passed between carriers is demanding and wants more film.
Is the load light enough to move easily by hand, or genuinely heavy? Heavier loads strain every wrap and need more material.
Count how many answers point towards the demanding side. If most do, choose the thicker option. If most point to easy, gentle and light, the thinner film will do. This quick check turns a vague “which micron” question into a clear direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What micron pallet wrap is best for general use?
There is no single best. Around 17 microns suits light, stable loads; around 20 microns is a general-purpose middle; around 23 microns suits heavier or awkward loads. Match the thickness to how demanding your load is.
Is higher micron always better?
No. On light, stable loads a higher micron is spare material you are paying for. Higher micron is better only for loads that need the extra strength and holding. Match thickness to the load.
What micron do I need for heavy pallets?
Around 23 microns or more for heavier or demanding loads. Very heavy or aggressive loads may also need edge protectors or strapping alongside the film, not just a thicker micron.
Should I round up if I am between two thicknesses?
Yes. Sizing up buys margin cheaply, because the extra cost per pallet is small while the cost of an under-specified film failing is high. Round up if unsure, especially with any sharp edges or long transit.
Does a higher micron mean fewer wraps?
Often, on loads that need the strength, because a suitable thickness holds in fewer passes than a too-thin film you over-wrap to compensate. On light loads, thickness does not reduce the few wraps they already need.
Conclusion
The micron you need is set by your load: around 17 for light and stable, around 20 for general mixed loads, and around 23 or more for heavy or demanding ones. When in doubt, size up, because margin is cheap and failure is not. And remember that for the very heaviest loads, the answer may be edge protection or strapping alongside the film rather than simply more microns.