How many microns? A practical guide to packaging film thickness
Thickness is decided by product weight, sealing method and transit conditions — not by preference. Numbers for cellophane, nylon, shrink and stretch.
The right thickness is set by the weight of the contents, the packing method and the transit route: 20-30 microns for light retail bags, 30-50 for dry food, 60-100 for heavy industrial loads, and 17-23 for pallet stretch film.
"How many microns?" is the question we are asked most often before an order, and it is almost always answered with a guess. Three things decide the real number: the weight and shape of the contents, how the pack is closed, and the journey it makes to the customer. This guide is what our engineers say on the phone.
What a micron actually is
A micron is one thousandth of a millimetre, so 50-micron film is half a tenth of a millimetre thick. The higher the number, the stronger and heavier the film — and the fewer square metres each kilogram covers. That makes thickness both a technical and a commercial decision: every extra 10 microns raises the cost of each pack.
Quick selection table
| Application | Usual thickness | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Light retail bags, folded apparel | 20-30 micron | Clarity matters more than strength |
| Dry food, nuts and dried fruit | 30-50 micron | The seal must survive sharp edges |
| Confectionery and printed packs | 30-40 micron | A flatter surface prints cleaner |
| Industrial goods, hardware | 60-100 micron | Sharp edges need more thickness |
| Household bin liners | 20-30 micron | Stretch matters more than thickness |
| Industrial and clinical waste bags | 50-80 micron | Heavy and wet loads |
| Pallet stretch film | 17-23 micron | Stretch, not gauge, holds the load |
| Heat shrink over cartons and bottles | 30-60 micron | Depends on load height and tunnel |
Three common mistakes
1. Raising the gauge to stop tearing
In most tearing cases the gauge is not the culprit — the seal is, or a sharp corner on the product. Test a sample with the real contents first. If the tear starts at the seam, more microns only raise the cost.
2. Judging stretch film by thickness
What restrains a pallet is the film's stretch and cling, not its raw gauge. A high-stretch 17-micron film usually outperforms a weak 25-micron one, and costs less.
3. Going too thin for print
Very thin film elongates under cylinder pressure and the colours drift out of register. If your pack carries multi-colour print, take at least 30 microns so the artwork edges stay clean.
How to decide without guessing
- 1Write down the real weight and dimensions of the contents — a filled pack, not an estimate.
- 2State how it closes: heat seal, zip, adhesive or shrink tunnel.
- 3Account for the route: warehouse, road freight, export or retail shelf.
- 4Take a sample with your own product and test it before committing to a bulk run.
Navid Selfon produces film up to 120 cm wide in custom thicknesses and sends a sample before the bulk run, so the number on paper matches the number on the line.
Not sure which thickness your order needs? Send the product specification and our engineers will propose one.
Request advice and a sampleWhat thickness is right for food packaging bags?
For dry food, 30 to 50 microns is usually enough. For products with sharp edges such as nuts, take the top of that range and pay attention to seal quality.
Is thicker film always better?
No. More thickness means more cost per pack, and in stretch film it can even reduce performance because stretch falls away. Match the gauge to the contents and the packing method.
Can I order a custom thickness?
Yes. Production runs to custom thickness and width, and a sample is sent before the bulk run.