Shrink wrap vs stretch wrap, the short answer: Shrink wrap is a heat-activated plastic shrink wrap film (LDPE, PVC, or polyolefin) that molds tightly around a single item or pallet load when heat is applied. Stretch wrap is a cast or blown polyethylene film that's stretched, not heated, around a pallet to hold multiple items together. Use heat shrink wrap for full weatherproof, tamper-evident coverage; use stretch wrap for fast, everyday pallet securing.
The difference between shrink wrap and stretch wrap is often confused, but in simple terms, one film is designed to shrink and the other to stretch. Both are used to protect and secure a load during storage or transport, but they're built from different materials, applied with different methods, and suited to different jobs. Getting the choice wrong can mean wasted film, poor load protection, or paying for equipment you don't actually need, so it's worth understanding exactly where each one fits.
What is shrink wrap?
Shrink wrap is produced in LDPE, PVC, and polyolefin type shrink films. This heat-activated plastic shrink wrap is used to contain and protect products of many shapes and sizes. Pallet shrink film is a heat-activated LDPE plastic that molds itself around the load once heat is applied, usually with a gas heat gun. This shrink wrap packaging is commonly sold in 50, 100, and 200µm thicknesses to suit different applications, and can also be custom-made to different sizes and grades.
Heat shrink wrap is also available as a continuous film on a roll, cut to length for different pallet heights, or made into pallet-size heat shrink bags to allow flexibility across pallet sizes without wastage.
What is stretch wrap?
In comparison to heat-activated shrink wrap, stretch wrap is a much thinner plastic film that stretches around a load to secure and contain it, no heat required. It can be applied with a hand dispenser or a pallet wrapping machine, and comes in an extensive range of types, thicknesses, colours, and strengths. Ventilated pallet wrap, for example, has vent holes built into the film to allow air to circulate through the load during storage or transit.
Cast vs blown stretch wrap: what's the difference?
Cast stretch wrap is manufactured through a fast-cooling extrusion process, giving it high clarity, quiet unwind, and strong cling, ideal for hand wrapping irregular loads. Blown stretch wrap is produced through a slower, air-cooled process that builds greater tear resistance and load-holding force, better suited to sharp-edged or heavy machine-wrapped pallets. Both are different from shrink wrap packaging, which relies on heat rather than tension to secure a load. Compare thicknesses and film types in our hand pallet wrap range.
LDPE vs PVC vs polyolefin: which shrink film should you use?
LDPE shrink wrap is the most common option for pallet-size shrink wrap packaging, offering good clarity and puncture resistance at a lower cost. PVC shrink wrap shrinks at a lower temperature and gives a tighter, glossier finish, but is less common in bulk pallet applications. Polyolefin is the toughest and most puncture-resistant of the three, making it the preferred plastic shrink wrap for export and long-transit loads. All three are heat shrink wrap types. See the full range and thicknesses on our shrink wrap page.
Shrink wrap vs stretch wrap: which one do you need?
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Choose shrink wrap when you need a fully enclosed, weatherproof, tamper-evident seal around a load, common for outdoor storage, export, or irregular-shaped items that need full containment.
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Choose stretch wrap when you need to quickly and affordably secure multiple boxes or items to a pallet for everyday warehouse and transport use.
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Use both where a load needs stretch wrap for pallet stability during transit and shrink wrap for weatherproofing during outdoor storage. The two aren't mutually exclusive.
Frequently asked questions
Is heat shrink wrap the same as plastic shrink wrap? Yes. Heat shrink wrap and plastic shrink wrap refer to the same family of films (LDPE, PVC, polyolefin) that shrink tightly around a load when heat is applied.
Can stretch wrap be used instead of shrink wrap? Not for every application. Stretch wrap secures loads through tension and cling, while shrink wrap forms a fully sealed barrier through heat. Where full weatherproofing or tamper evidence is required, shrink wrap is the better choice.
What thickness of shrink wrap do I need? Shrink wrap packaging is commonly available in 50µm, 100µm, and 200µm. Lighter gauges suit smaller or lighter loads, while heavier gauges suit larger or irregular pallet loads.
