Should I use stretch wrap or shrink wrap for pallets?

For pallet unitizing, stretch wrap is almost always the right choice. It is faster, needs no heat, uses less energy, and a stretch wrap machine can wrap pallets consistently at low cost per load. Shrink wrap is generally reserved for full pallet covers where a sealed, weatherproof enclosure is required, or for smaller products.

Does shrink wrap require heat and stretch wrap does not?

Yes. Shrink wrap must be heated with a heat gun or heat tunnel so the film shrinks and conforms to the product. Stretch wrap needs no heat at all; it relies on the film being physically stretched around the load and its natural cling to stay in place, which makes it faster and more energy efficient for pallets.

Stretch Wrap vs. Shrink Wrap: Differences & When to Use Each

Q: What is the difference between stretch wrap and shrink wrap?

Stretch wrap is an elastic film stretched tight and wrapped around a load, using its own tension and cling to hold, with no heat. Shrink wrap is a loose film placed over a product that shrinks tightly to its shape when heated with a heat gun or tunnel. Stretch wrap is the standard for unitizing pallets, while shrink wrap is common for sealing and bundling individual products.

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Last updated: August 1, 2026

The short answer

Stretch wrap is an elastic film tensioned around a load and held by its own stretch and cling, with no heat. Shrink wrap is a loose film that shrinks tight to a product when heated. For unitizing pallets, stretch wrap is almost always the answer: it is faster, uses no heat, and costs less per load. Shrink wrap earns its place sealing and bundling individual products or as a full weatherproof pallet cover. Need to unitize pallets? Get the best price in the market on a stretch wrapper.

What is stretch wrap?

Stretch wrap, also called stretch film or pallet wrap, is a highly elastic plastic film. It is pulled taut and wrapped around a load, most often a palletized load, so the film's tension squeezes the items together into one stable unit. The film's natural cling keeps the layers stuck to each other. There is no heat involved at any point. A stretch wrap machine applies the film consistently, controlling how tightly the load is held, which is called containment force.

What is shrink wrap?

Shrink wrap is a different plastic film that behaves the opposite way. It is placed loosely over or around a product, then heat is applied with a heat gun or a heat tunnel. The heat causes the film to shrink and conform tightly to the shape of whatever it covers, creating a sealed, snug enclosure. Because it seals fully, shrink wrap can protect against dust and moisture, which is why it is common for retail packaging, bundling multipacks, and full pallet covers.

Stretch wrap vs. shrink wrap: side by side

Factor	Stretch wrap	Shrink wrap
How it works	Film stretched and tensioned around the load	Loose film shrinks tight when heated
Heat needed	None	Yes, heat gun or heat tunnel
Equipment	Turntable, rotary-arm, or inline wrapper	Heat gun, L-bar sealer, or shrink tunnel
Energy use	Low, mechanical only	Higher, heating the film
Speed for pallets	Fast, seconds per pallet on a machine	Slower, heating step required
Best use	Unitizing and stabilizing pallet loads	Sealing, bundling, weatherproof covers
Relative running cost	Lower per pallet	Higher per pallet (film + energy)

Figures are illustrative. Actual cost and speed depend on your loads, film choice, and equipment. Ask us for a straight comparison for your operation.

When to use stretch wrap

Reach for stretch wrap whenever the goal is to hold a load together for storage or transit, especially palletized freight. It is the workhorse of the warehouse for good reason:

Pallet unitizing, the most common job by far. Boxes, bags, drums, and mixed loads all wrap fast.
High volume, a machine wraps pallets in seconds with consistent tension.
Low cost per load, no heat, less energy, and powered pre-stretch stretches each roll further.
Load stability, containment force keeps loads from leaning or shifting.

Pick the film to match the load, and see our stretch film gauge chart to choose the right thickness.

When to use shrink wrap

Shrink wrap is the better tool when you need a tight, sealed enclosure rather than simple containment:

Retail and multipack bundling, a clean, sealed look around individual products.
Weather protection, full pallet covers that shield from dust and moisture.
Tamper evidence, a sealed film that shows if a package has been opened.
Odd shapes, film conforms tightly to irregular products.

Pallet loads are almost always stretch wrap

If your question is specifically about securing pallets for shipping, the practical answer is stretch wrap in the vast majority of cases. It is faster, cheaper to run, needs no heat source, and a modern wrapper delivers consistent containment pallet after pallet. Shrink wrap enters the pallet conversation mainly when you need a fully sealed, weatherproof cover over the whole load. For everything else on a pallet, stretch wrap wins on speed and cost.

Next steps

Compare stretch wrap machines by type and throughput.
Choose the right film with our stretch film options and gauge chart.
Ready to unitize pallets for less? Get your best price, free, same-day.

Answers

Stretch vs. Shrink FAQs

What is the difference between stretch wrap and shrink wrap?

Stretch wrap is an elastic film stretched tight around a load and held by tension and cling, with no heat. Shrink wrap is a loose film that shrinks tightly to a product's shape when heated. Stretch wrap is the standard for pallets; shrink wrap is common for sealing and bundling individual products.

Which is better for wrapping pallets?

For pallet unitizing, stretch wrap is almost always better. It is faster, needs no heat, uses less energy, and costs less per load. Shrink wrap is generally reserved for full, weatherproof pallet covers or for smaller products.

Does stretch wrap need heat?

No. Stretch wrap relies on the film being physically stretched around the load plus its natural cling. Shrink wrap is the one that needs heat, from a heat gun or heat tunnel, to shrink and conform.

Is stretch wrap cheaper to run than shrink wrap?

Generally yes for pallets. Stretch wrap uses no heat energy and, with powered pre-stretch, stretches each roll of film much further, lowering cost per load. We'll help you compare for your specific operation.

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