Shrink or stretch? Two films that are constantly confused
Shrink film contracts with heat; stretch film clings by tension. How the use, cost and equipment differ, and which one your pallets and cartons need.
Heat shrink film contracts when it passes through a heat tunnel and takes the shape of the product; stretch film is wrapped cold and restrains the load by its own tension. Shrink is for retail and display packing, stretch is for securing pallets in transit and storage.
The two names get used interchangeably and the result is a wrong order. The difference is not only in the material but in the physics: one contracts with heat, the other clings by tension — and that single difference separates the equipment, the cost and the application.
The difference
| Heat shrink | Stretch | |
|---|---|---|
| Working principle | Contracts with heat | Clings cold, by tension |
| Equipment | Heat tunnel or heat gun | By hand or wrapping machine, no heat |
| Usual material | PVC or polyethylene | LLDPE |
| Usual thickness | 30-60 micron | 17-23 micron |
| Finished look | Tight and glossy on the product | Layered around the load, hazier |
| Main use | Retail packs, multipacks, weatherproofing | Pallet stability, transit, storage |
A warning about searching
Search "pallet stretch" and most results are wrapping machines, not film. Search "shrink" and the results sometimes mix in electrical heat-shrink tubing. If you want the film itself, search "stretch film" or "shrink roll".
Heat shrink: when the pack must become one
Shrink film contracts on its own dimensions when heated and takes the exact shape of the product. It is used for multipacks — six bottles, a bundle of cartons — and for goods that must look untouched on the shelf. The result is a tight, glossy surface that keeps moisture and dust out. PVC shrink has higher clarity for display; polyethylene shrink is tougher and better for heavier carton loads.
Stretch: when the load must not move
Stretch film never sees heat. It is pulled and wrapped around the load, and that tension is what bonds the layers and holds the pallet together. Used for storage, road freight and export. Do not judge stretch by thickness — judge it by stretch and cling.
Which one for my job?
- Combining several products into one retail pack: shrink.
- Securing a pallet for transport or export: stretch.
- Keeping a product weatherproof and untouched: shrink.
- You have no heat tunnel: stretch — it needs no heating equipment.
- Food packing on a tray: food-grade stretch (thin cling film).
Both families are produced at Navid Selfon: PVC heat shrink, nylon shrink, pallet stretch and food stretch, in custom widths and thicknesses.
Not sure which suits your packing line? Send the load specification.
Request advice and a sampleWhat is the difference between shrink and stretch film?
Shrink contracts with heat and takes the shape of the product; stretch is wrapped cold and holds the load by tension. Shrink is for retail packing, stretch for securing pallets in transit.
Which one should I use for pallets?
Stretch. The usual thickness is 17 to 23 microns, and quality is judged by stretch and cling rather than raw gauge.