Understanding PE Film Technical Specifications

PE film (Polyethylene) is a commonly used material in packaging and goods transportation, especially in warehouses, factories, and the logistics industry. However, for newcomers to the market, reading and understanding PE film technical specifications—such as thickness, elongation, cling strength, or film width—is often not simple. Each specification directly affects wrapping stability, material consumption, and overall usage cost.

In this article, Hoa Phong Pack helps you clearly understand the key technical specifications of PE film, making it easier to select the right product for your actual needs and avoid common mistakes when purchasing.

1. What Is PE Stretch Film?

PE stretch film is a thin plastic film made from polyethylene resin, featuring flexibility, toughness, and good self-adhesive properties. It is mainly used to wrap cartons, packages, or pallets to secure goods and reduce movement, dust, and moisture during storage and transportation.

The key characteristic of PE stretch film lies in its elongation and self-cling ability, allowing the film to tightly wrap around goods without the need for tape or straps. When stretched properly, the film creates stable holding force, keeping pallets secure while minimizing material usage.

For beginners, understanding what PE stretch film is makes it easier to see why technical specifications such as thickness, elongation, cling strength, and film width play such an important role. Each specification affects not only wrapping performance but also cost efficiency and suitability for different applications.

2. PE Film Thickness

Thickness is one of the most important technical specifications of PE film and is usually measured in microns (µm). Beginners often assume that “the thicker, the better,” but in reality, thickness should be selected based on the intended application to avoid unnecessary material waste and cost.

Different thickness levels provide different tensile strength, durability, and material consumption. Thinner films are easier to stretch and are suitable for light loads or low pallets. Thicker films offer higher strength and better resistance to tearing when wrapping heavy loads, tall pallets, or goods that require frequent handling.

One point that beginners often overlook is that thickness alone does not determine film quality. Films with the same thickness can have very different strength and durability depending on raw materials and production processes. Therefore, buyers should not rely solely on the micron value but should also consider other specifications such as elongation and tensile strength.

Understanding film thickness correctly helps beginners choose the right PE film for their actual needs, ensuring secure wrapping while optimizing usage costs.

3. PE Film Width – Choosing the Right Size for Efficient Wrapping

PE film width refers to the width of the film roll, usually measured in millimeters (mm) or centimeters (cm). This specification directly affects wrapping speed, surface coverage, and material consumption, yet it is often overlooked by new buyers.

If the film width is too narrow compared to the package size, more wrapping turns are required, increasing time and film usage. On the other hand, if the film width is too wide, handling becomes difficult—especially for hand wrapping—causing wrinkles or uneven wrapping.

In practice, 50 cm (500 mm) is the most commonly used film width on the market today, suitable for most standard pallets and packages. This width offers a good balance between coverage and ease of handling, making it a safe and popular choice for beginners.

Additionally, different wrapping methods require different film widths. For hand wrapping, a moderate width allows better grip and control of stretching force. For machine wrapping, wider films enable faster and more uniform pallet coverage. Therefore, when selecting PE film width, beginners should consider pallet size, wrapping method, and usage frequency to achieve optimal efficiency.

Understanding film width not only improves handling convenience but also helps optimize packaging time and overall cost.

4. PE Film Roll Length and Weight – Why the Same Weight Does Not Mean the Same Usage

When purchasing PE film, many beginners compare products based only on roll weight (kg). However, in reality, rolls with the same weight can have very different usable lengths, leading to the impression that some films “run out quickly” or provide fewer meters than expected.

This difference comes from the relationship between film thickness, roll length, and core weight. For the same roll weight, thicker film results in a shorter length, while thinner film provides more meters. In addition, the paper core inside the roll also contributes significantly to the total weight. A heavier core means less actual film and shorter usage time.

An important detail beginners should be aware of is that some suppliers quote roll weight including the paper core. If buyers only ask “how many kilograms per roll” without confirming core weight and actual film length, it becomes very easy to make inaccurate comparisons between products.

To purchase correctly and use film efficiently, beginners should pay attention to:

• Estimated film length (in meters)

• Paper core weight

• Film thickness corresponding to each roll weight

Understanding the relationship between roll length and weight helps beginners accurately evaluate product value and avoid choosing films that seem cheaper but are consumed faster in real use.

5. Stretchability & Tensile Strength of PE Film – Key Factors for Load Stability During Transportation

Stretchability and tensile strength are technical specifications that reflect the load-bearing capacity and wrapping performance of PE stretch film during pallet wrapping. These are extremely important factors, yet often difficult for newcomers to fully understand when only looking at numbers.

Stretchability indicates how much the PE film can be elongated, in percentage, compared to its original length before breaking. The higher the stretch ratio, the better the film can tightly wrap products, create strong containment force, and reduce material consumption during wrapping.

In practice, stretchability and tensile strength of PE film are typically measured in two directions:

• Machine direction (longitudinal): higher stretch ratio, usually around 200% – 300%

• Transverse direction (crosswise): lower stretch ratio, typically 130% – 200%

This difference comes from the manufacturing structure of PE film, where the machine direction is designed to bear the main pulling force during pallet wrapping. When applied correctly, the film stretches evenly, tightly secures the load, and minimizes the risk of tearing or slack wrapping.

For beginners, it can be understood simply:
Good stretchability means a more stable pallet with fewer wrapping layers.
On the other hand, films with low stretchability are more prone to tearing or require additional layers, leading to higher material usage and increased costs.

Therefore, when choosing PE film, buyers should not focus solely on thickness or roll weight, but also consider stretchability and tensile strength to ensure real-world efficiency.

6. Cling Properties of PE Film – Why Does It “Stick to Itself” but Not to the Products?

Cling is one of the most important technical characteristics of pallet wrapping PE film, yet it is often misunderstood, especially by first-time buyers.

In reality, PE stretch film is designed with two-sided cling properties, where:

• The inner side has higher cling

• The outer side has lower or minimal cling

This design allows the film to cling tightly to itself during wrapping, forming a solid and secure unit, while preventing adhesion to product surfaces such as cartons, printed packaging, or finished goods. As a result, products remain well-secured and are easy to unpack without leaving residue or damaging packaging.

For beginners, it can be simplified as follows:

• Good cling → stable pallets during transportation

• Controlled cling → no damage to products or packaging

If the cling level is too low, the film may loosen or unravel during transport. Conversely, excessive or uncontrolled cling can make unloading difficult and negatively affect inner packaging.

Cling also directly affects the number of wrapping layers required. Films with stable cling properties reduce the number of wraps needed, saving both material and labor time.

When selecting PE film, buyers should clearly discuss the following with suppliers:

• Inner-side cling level

• Self-adhering performance during wrapping

• Suitability for hand wrapping or machine wrapping

Understanding cling properties correctly helps beginners choose the right PE film, ensuring cargo safety throughout storage and transportation.

7. PE Film Color – What’s the Difference Between Transparent and Black Film?

Color is the most visually noticeable specification of PE film, yet it has a direct impact on usage purpose, cargo protection, and overall cost. Currently, the most common pallet wrapping films are transparent (clear) PE film and black PE film.

Transparent (Clear) PE Film

Transparent PE film allows clear visibility of the products inside the pallet, making it convenient for:

• Checking product codes and quantities

• Warehouse management

• Sorting inbound and outbound shipments

This type of film is widely used in internal warehouses, factories, distribution centers, or situations where cargo visibility is required. Its high clarity makes it easy to detect packaging errors, misaligned pallets, or shifted goods during wrapping.

For beginners, transparent PE film is the safest and easiest option, especially when learning proper pallet wrapping techniques.

Black PE Film

Black PE film provides full coverage and concealment of goods, helping to:

• Protect product information

• Reduce light exposure

• Minimize theft or information leakage during transportation

It is commonly used for outbound shipments, long-distance transportation, or goods that require protection from sunlight and dust. Additionally, black PE film gives pallets a more uniform, tidy, and professional appearance in certain logistics operations.

8. Hand Wrap vs. Machine Wrap PE Film – Which One Should You Choose?

Pallet wrapping PE film is generally divided into two main types: hand wrap film and machine wrap film. Although they may look similar, they are designed differently to match specific wrapping methods and working intensity.

Hand Wrap PE Film

Hand wrap film is applied manually, where the operator holds the roll and wraps it around the pallet. This type typically features:

• Moderate stretchability for better force control

• Easy handling without the need for equipment

• Suitable for small warehouses, medium-scale workshops, or low wrapping frequency

Hand wrap film is especially suitable for beginners, as it is easy to control tension and reduces the risk of film breakage during use. Common widths such as 50 cm allow quick and even pallet coverage.

Machine Wrap PE Film

Machine wrap film is designed for automatic or semi-automatic pallet wrapping machines. It requires:

• High and consistent stretchability

• Strong tensile strength for continuous stretching

• Uniform roll quality to prevent machine jamming

With high stretch ratios (especially in the machine direction), machine wrap film significantly reduces material consumption, labor costs, and packaging time. It is ideal for factories, large logistics centers, or operations with high daily shipping volumes.

Which One Should Beginners Choose?

For newcomers, the choice can be simplified as follows:

• Low volume, no machine → Hand wrap film

• High volume, with machine → Machine wrap film

Using the correct film type ensures optimal performance, minimizes waste and tearing, and guarantees pallet stability during transportation.

9. Common Mistakes Beginners Make When Buying PE Film

Newcomers often lack familiarity with technical specifications and tend to choose PE film based on intuition or price alone. Below are common mistakes frequently encountered:

Comparing price by kilogram only
Many buyers focus solely on “price per kg” without considering thickness, stretchability, or core weight. As a result, the film appears cheaper but runs out quickly, requires more wraps, and costs more in the long run.

Ignoring stretchability and tensile strength
Low-stretch film tears easily or fails to secure pallets properly, forcing users to apply extra layers and increasing actual usage costs.

Confusing hand wrap and machine wrap film
Using machine film for hand wrapping—or vice versa—leads to poor handling, frequent breakage, and inefficient wrapping.

Overlooking cling properties
Poor cling causes film layers to loosen during transport, while excessive cling makes unloading difficult.

Choosing the wrong film color
Transparent and black films serve different purposes. Incorrect color selection can complicate warehouse management or expose cargo information during transport.

Not clearly communicating needs with suppliers
Failing to explain usage conditions, product type, and wrapping frequency often results in unsuitable recommendations.

Avoiding these mistakes helps beginners reduce costs, improve efficiency, and confidently work with suppliers.

10. How to Ask Suppliers the Right Questions When Buying PE Film (Beginner Checklist)

After understanding basic technical specifications, the next crucial step is knowing how to ask the right questions. Asking correctly helps avoid buying unsuitable products.

Define Your Usage Needs

Before requesting quotations, clarify:

• Hand wrapping or machine wrapping?

• Light or heavy loads?

• High or low pallets?

• Internal storage or long-distance transportation?

This allows suppliers to provide accurate recommendations.

Essential Questions to Ask Suppliers

Beginners can use this checklist:

• What is the film thickness (micron)?

• What are the stretch ratios and tensile strength in machine and transverse directions?

• Does the film have two-sided cling? What is the inner-side cling level?

• What is the film width? Is it 50 cm?

• Does the roll weight include the paper core?

• What is the core weight?

• What is the approximate film length per roll?

• Is it suitable for hand wrap or machine wrap?

Answering these questions enables accurate comparison between suppliers.

Don’t Just Ask for Price – Ask About Performance

Instead of only asking “How much per roll?”, consider asking:

• How many pallets can one roll wrap?

• Is it suitable for my type of goods?

• How many wraps are recommended for secure loading?

These questions reveal real usage costs rather than just initial price.

Final Note for Beginners

PE film may seem simple at first glance, but small differences in thickness, stretchability, or width can significantly affect wrapping efficiency and total cost.

Understanding key specifications such as thickness (micron), stretchability, tensile strength, cling, common width (50 cm), roll length, and core weight helps buyers:

• Choose the right PE film for actual needs

• Avoid thin, tear-prone, or wasteful products

• Compare suppliers based on quality, not just price

• Optimize long-term packaging costs

For beginners, asking the right questions is just as important as understanding the specifications. Once you clearly know what type of PE film you need, purchasing becomes more proactive, quality is easier to control, and packaging risks are minimized throughout storage and transportation.