How to Calculate Stretch Film Usage and Optimize Costs
Many companies wrap thousands of pallets each month, making stretch film one of the most significant packaging expenses. Understanding and managing this cost is essential. Here's how to calculate your film usage:
18/07/2025
Stretch Film Usage Calculation
Assumed Pallet Load Dimensions:
- Width of pallet load: 40”
- Length of pallet load: 48”
- Height of pallet load: 70”
Stretch Film Specifications:
- 20” width, 80 gauge, 5,000 ft roll
Step 1 – Calculate the amount of film used per revolution:
Calculation:
2 × (40″ + 48″) = 176″
Convert inches to feet:
176″ ÷ 12 = 15 ft per revolution
Step 2 – Determine number of revolutions to cover pallet height:
Height of pallet ÷ film width
70″ ÷ 20″ = 3.5 → round up to 4 revolutions
Step 3 – Calculate total film used per pallet:
15 ft × 4 revolutions = 60 ft of stretched film used per pallet
Optimizing Stretch Film Cost
To reduce film usage and cost, several factors may come into play — one key factor is the stretch percentage of the film.
How To Measure Stretch Percentage:
1. Use a marker to draw two vertical lines on the film, 10 inches apart.
2. Stretch the film and measure the new distance between the lines.
Example:
If the stretched distance is 30 inches:
30” – 10” = 20”
20” ÷ 10” = 2.0
2.0 x 100% = 200% stretch percentage
Vocabulary:
- Revolution: One full wrap around all four sides of the pallet.
- No. of Wrap Layers/Passes: For example, 2 wrap layers means the entire pallet (bottom to top) is wrapped twice for added security.
For more accurate and quick calculations, try our free Stretch Film Cost Calculator:
👉https://nxgenn.com/calculator/
We’re here to help you calculate your true film cost and offer tailored solutions to reduce it in just seconds.