There is no single figure for film per pallet, because it depends on the pallet size, load height, how many wraps you use and how far you stretch the film. But you can measure your own usage in minutes and turn it into a cost per pallet. That number, not the price per roll, is what tells you the true cost of wrapping a load.
Here is how to work out how much film your pallets use, how to turn it into cost, and how to bring the figure down without loads failing.
Why There Is No Fixed Number
A “metres per pallet” figure from someone else rarely matches yours, because four things vary between operations.
Pallet and load size: a taller, wider load has more surface to cover, so it uses more film per wrap. Number of wraps: more passes for heavy or awkward loads means more film. Overlap: more overlap between passes uses more film but gives better coverage. Stretch: how far you stretch the film changes how many metres you use to cover the same load, so more stretch means fewer metres.
Because these vary, the reliable approach is to measure your own usage rather than rely on a general figure.
The Simple Way to Measure It
You do not need to count metres mid-wrap. Use the roll instead.
Note the roll’s total length. Wrap a typical pallet the way you normally would. Keep wrapping typical pallets off that one roll until it runs out, counting how many pallets you get. Then divide the roll length by the number of pallets.
If a 250 metre roll wraps 25 pallets, that is 10 metres of film per pallet. Do it across a few rolls and a few load types to get a realistic average for your operation. This real-world number beats any theoretical calculation, because it captures how your team actually wraps.
Working Out Cost Per Pallet
Once you know pallets per roll, cost per pallet is easy:
Cost per pallet = roll price divided by pallets per roll
If a roll wraps 25 pallets, divide its price by 25. That is your true film cost per pallet.
This is the figure to compare between films and suppliers, not the roll price. A cheaper roll that wraps fewer pallets, because it is shorter, thinner where you needed thicker, or stretches less, can cost more per pallet than a dearer roll that wraps more. Roll price alone hides that.
How to Reduce Film Per Pallet
If you want to bring the number down without loads failing, pull these levers.
Stretch the film more. This is the biggest lever. Film applied with more stretch covers the same load in fewer metres. Wrapping by hand gives less consistent stretch than a dispenser or machine, so a dispenser with a brake, or a machine, helps here.
Do not over-wrap stable loads. Using more passes than a load needs, out of habit, wastes film. Use the passes the load requires, not more.
Match thickness to the load. A film that suits the load holds it in fewer passes than a too-thin film you have to over-wrap to compensate.
Wrap consistently. Trained, even wrapping uses less film than rushed, uneven wrapping that needs extra passes to feel secure.
The limit is that reducing film only helps if loads still arrive intact. Cutting wraps or stretch too far to save film costs far more in damaged stock than it saves. Reduce film until the load is secure with a sensible margin, not beyond it.
Comparing Films Fairly
To compare two films on film per pallet, you need three things for each: price, roll length, and how many pallets it wraps in your operation. A film quoted only on roll price and micron, with no length, cannot be compared on cost per pallet, because you cannot work out pallets per roll without knowing the length. Published length and weight are what let you compare like with like.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many metres of stretch film does one pallet use?
It varies with pallet size, load height, wraps and stretch, so there is no fixed figure. Measure your own by counting how many pallets a roll wraps, then dividing the roll length by that number.
How do I work out my cost per pallet?
Divide the roll price by how many pallets that roll wraps in your operation. That gives the true film cost per pallet, which is the number to compare between films and suppliers.
Why is cost per pallet better than price per roll?
Because a cheaper roll can wrap fewer pallets, making it dearer per pallet. Price per roll ignores how much film is on the roll and how far it goes. Cost per pallet captures both.
How can I use less film per pallet?
Stretch the film more, do not over-wrap stable loads, match thickness to the load, and wrap consistently. The biggest lever is stretch. Just keep loads secure with a sensible margin rather than cutting film to the point loads fail.
Does a thicker film use more film per pallet?
Not necessarily in metres, but it weighs more per metre, so a roll covers a similar number of pallets at a higher material cost. The right thickness can use fewer passes, which offsets some of that on loads that need it.
Conclusion
Film per pallet is not a fixed number, but you can measure yours in minutes by counting pallets per roll and dividing the roll length by that count. Turn it into cost per pallet by dividing roll price by pallets per roll, and use that to compare films and suppliers properly. To use less film, stretch it more and right-size your wrapping, but never past the point where loads stay secure.