US Packaging & Wrapping is a leading retailer of plastic shrink wrap. Protect bulky items with heavy-duty shrink wrap or use lighter shrink wrap products with consumable items as a food-safe solution. Our shrink wrap rolls are perfect for complete coverage over large items, while our bags and tubing are suited to smaller individual products. Heat shrink plastic maintains integrity under high temperatures to provide reliable protection, waterproof shrink wrap keeps products safe against the elements, and clear shrink wrap maintains clarity after shrinking for use in retail settings. View our large selection of hand and machine pallet shrink wrap for wrapping pallets of goods.

Heat Shrink Wrap Information

Shrink wrap is perfect for various applications, from winterizing boats and massive structures to packaging small retail products. It is available in rolls, bags, and tubing. Understanding basic info about shrink wrap will ensure you purchase the right product. See the shrink wrapping guide below for product comparisons, details, videos, and more!

What is heat shrink wrap?

Often confused with stretch film, heat shrink wrap comprises a wide variety of plastic materials designed to shrink after heat is applied. Conventional plastics used are polyolefin, PVC, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

Heat shrink wrap is a packaging solution worldwide—everything from wrapping frozen pizzas to bundling hardware. The excellent film, material thicknesses, and machines can help make production more efficient and streamlined.

*Heat Shrink Wrap- a generic term that can refer to various products serving multiple industries. Anything from centerfold shrink wrap, shrink tubing, shrink bags, or even marine shrink wrap rolls can be considered heat shrink wrap. Our stretch film products are often called shrink wrap by our customers. A 'pallet shrink wrap' is an entirely different product with different uses and applications.

Stretch film, commonly referred to as 'shrink wrap,' is a stretchable plastic used to secure and unitize loads. It is also used to bundle multiple products together. Stretch film is considered secondary packaging during transportation or storage.

Differences Between Heat Shrink Wrap and Pallet Stretch Wrap

Characteristics Stretch Wrap Shrink Wrap Heat Required No Yes High Stretch Rate Over 100% Yes No Used to Wrap Pallets Yes Rarely Used to Wrap Retail Products Rarely Yes Used to Wrap Industrial Products Yes Occasionally Clarity Good Excellent Safe for Direct Food Contact No Polyolefin Shrink Wrap Most Common Thickness 80 Gauge 75 Gauge Recyclable Yes Yes Waterproof No No Ability to Extend Shelf Life No Yes

For a detailed explanation of the differences, check out our shrink wrap vs. stretch wrap page. 

How Clear is Shrink Wrap?

Clarity is often a concern when using shrink wrap. For retail displays, people typically desire a film with high clarity. The high clarity allows consumers to view the product before making a purchase. The overall clarity of a shrink wrap film is determined by thickness and composition.

The thicker film has more haze than the thinner film. Different types of shrink film have different clarity levels as well. See the film clarity image below to understand shrink wrap clarity better.

*Centerfold Heat Shrink Wrap- an excellent option for large and small output operations. Centerfold rolls come folded in half lengthways. If you were to order a 10" centerfold roll, it would be 20 inches wide when unfolded. The folded roll allows for quick and efficient packaging using fully automatic or manually operated shrink machines.

The fold crease enables users to quickly and easily place products into the crease and use an L-Bar sealer to seal and cut the shrink film in one motion. This makes for a quick and efficient packaging process. Refer to the video below to see how the product slips into the centerfold wrap. When deciding on centerfold shrink wrap, there are two primary options: Polyolefin and PVC shrink wrap.

Centerfold Shrink Wrap Differences

Centerfold Wrap Type & Thickness Characteristics and Uses 75 Gauge PVC Centerfold Shrink Wrap The most common thickness of PVC shrink film is used for various products up to 10-15 lbs. in weight. PVC shrink wrap becomes hard and more brittle after heat is applied. Before heated, PVC shrink film feels like a cellophane film. 100 Gauge PVC Centerfold Shrink Wrap The same feel and physical characteristics as the 75 gauge PVC shrink wrap but is more robust and durable. Many manufacturers choose a 100 gauge PVC shrink wrap for products up to 35 lbs. 60 Gauge Polyolefin Centerfold Shrink Wrap Polyolefin shrink wrap is softer to the touch and offers more puncture resistance than PVC shrink wrap. It is FDA-approved for direct food contact. The 60 gauge polyolefin shrink wrap is used for many lighter products by bakeries and other food producers. 70 Gauge Polyolefin Centerfold Shrink Wrap It offers the same physical characteristics as the 60 gauge polyolefin shrink wrap but is more robust and durable. The 75 gauge centerfold shrink wrap is the most popular centerfold shrink wrap we sell. It is versatile and can wrap products up to 15-20 lbs. 100 Gauge Polyolefin Centerfold Shrink Wrap The 100 gauge polyolefin shrink wrap is the most durable centerfold shrink wrap we stock. It offers better puncture resistance and durability than the 100 gauge PVC shrink wrap. We recommend it for products up to 35 lbs. depending on the edges and corners of the product.

Shrink Temperatures for Centerfold Shrink Film

Shrink Temperatures

For Centerfold Shrink Film

Shrink Rates and Temperatures for Centerfold Shrink with an 8 Second Shrink Tunnel Dwell Time

Centerfold Shrink Film Used Shrink Rate 180 F° Shrink Rate 200 F° Shrink Rate 225 F° Shrink Rate 250 F° Shrink Rate 300 F° Shrink Rate 350 F° PVC 75 Ga Shrink Film Fair Fair Good Good Too Much Too Much Polyoefin (POF) 60 Ga Shink Film Poor Poor Poor Fair Too Much Too Much Polyoefin (POF) 75 Ga Shink Film None None Poor Fair Good Too Much Polyoefin (POF) 100 Ga Shink Film None None Poor Fair Good Too Much Polyoefin (POF) 60 Ga Low Temp Shink Film Poor Fair Good Good Too Much Too Much Polyoefin (POF) 75 Ga Low Temp Shink Film Poor Poor Good Good Too Much Too Much Polyoefin (POF) 45 Ga Crosslinked Shink Film Poor Poor Fair Good Good Too Much Polyoefin (POF) 60 Ga Crosslinked Shink Film Poor Poor Poor Fair Good Too Much Polyoefin (POF) 75 Ga Crosslinked Shink Film None None Poor Fair Good Too Much Polyoefin (POF) 100 Ga Crosslinked Shink Film None None Poor Poor Good Good

*Centerfold PVC Heat Shrink Film- An excellent option for multiple products across multiple industries. PVC shrink film stands for Polyvinyl Chloride. PVC is one of the most used polymers in the world.

Centerfold PVC shrink works great with high-speed and manually operated machines. Available in a variety of widths and lengths. It is an ideal option for cost-effective packaging. It ranges in cost from approximately 2.9 cents per foot to 8 cents per foot, depending on the width of the film you choose. Here is an excellent article on PVC shrink wrap cost per foot. This cost advantage, simplicity of use, and versatility make PVC shrink film perfect for packaging various products.

We recommend proper ventilation when sealing and applying heat to any PVC heat shrink product. The Chloride in the polymer emits a strong odor that can be harmful when continually inhaled in a confined area. PVC heat shrink wrap cannot come into direct contact with food products.

*Centerfold Polyolefin Heat Shrink Film- has become the chosen shrink film in many worldwide industries. Polyolefin offers many advantages over PVC shrink film but costs more per foot. The cost is justified by the performance and versatility of the material.

Polyolefin shrink film can come into direct contact with consumable products and offers better clarity and less residue on sealing wires. Due to the absence of Chloride, polyolefin does not emit the same odor PVC shrink film does.

Newer lower-temperature polyolefin shrink film allows users to wrap heat-sensitive products with less heat exposure. Low-temperature shrink wrap begins to shrink at 250 - 270 degrees Fahrenheit. It is FDA-approved for direct food contact—a perfect option for shrink-wrapping chocolates, fudge, and other heat-sensitive products.

*Shrink Wrap Bags- Flat, domed, and pallet shrink bags are available. The flat bags are chosen for books, magazines, parts, jewelry, cosmetics, and more. They are an efficient means of packaging because of the low temperature required and the ability only to seal one side of the bag.

Our polyolefin shrink bags are FDA-approved and food safe for various consumable and non-consumable packaging applications. Candy makers, bakeries, and gift shops all use polyolefin shrink bags for packaging and protecting products.

The domed or gift basket shrink bags come in larger sizes and are commonly used by florists and craft companies for wrapping gifts and flower baskets.

Pallet shrink bags protect pallet loads from exposure to various external conditions. All pallet shrink bags are made from polyethylene shrink wrap. Large industrial heat guns are often used to apply heat for shrinking.

Popular Shrink Bag Sizes

• 6" x 7" = CD's
• 6" x 9" = DVD's
• 8" x 12" = Books and Magazines
• 12" x 16" = Mailers and Tablets

*Shrink Tubing- is a great option for packaging various products of the same circumference but different in length. A common product that uses heat shrink tubing is candles. We have several customers that are candle makers, who make candles of the same diameter, but different lengths. We also sell several shrink tubing rolls to companies that wrap electrical wires. The heat tubing is great for bundling multiple electrical wires together.

Recycling shrink wrap when possible is essential for any warehouse to consider. Recycling can help produce a new film that can be used repeatedly. Click on the link for a complete list of plastic film recycling drop-off points. Be sure to call any location you find on the list and ask if they recycle the specific shrink film you are using.

Shrink Wrap Videos

The use and application of shrink wrap film can vary depending on the material used. Although different materials can require various forms of application, the basic requirements remain the same. The wrapped product needs to be inserted into the shrink film, open ends to be sealed, and heat is applied to the film. In some instances, open ends do not require a seal. View some videos below to see how to use shrink wrap for packaging food, retail, and industrial products.

Shrink Wrap Terms

Angel Hair- Various issues can cause thin strands of shrink film on the edges next to the seal. Excess heat or too long sealing times are leading causes of angel hairs.

Biaxially Oriented Shrink Film- The shrinking of the film in two directions to produce molecule alignment enhancing physical properties.

Ballooning- Trapped air in a shrink-wrapped package causing the film to expand outward during the shrinking process.

Burn Holes- Small holes often close to sealing seams due to excessive heat applied to the shrink film.

Centerfold Shrink Film- Film that has been folded in half lengthways to make wrapping more comfortable and quicker.

Core- The inner cardboard core of a roll of shrink film. The industry-standard core size is three inches.

Cross-Linked- The cross-linking of polymers reduces the level of crystallization and results in a lowered hardness, better clarity, and higher yield strength.

Crow's Feet- Wrinkles diverging out from a finished package's corners.

Dog Ears- Triangular projections of unshrunk film at the corners of complete packages. Common in packages wrapped with PVC shrink wrap.

Fish Eyes- Round or oval-shaped patterns on a shrink film due to low heat. Increased heat decreases fish eyes and smooths out the film.

Gauge- A measurement used to describe film thickness. One gauge is equal to .254 Microns. View our gauge conversion chart for further clarification.

Haze- Directly relates to a shrink film's clarity. It is often described as a dirty look in the film.

Memory- The ability of a shrink film to maintain final characteristics after sealing and shrinking. Packages will remain tight and not loosen during transport.

Optics- The visual properties of a shrink or stretch film.

Polyethylene- The most common plastic in the world. Found in multiple forms and products around the world. Polyethylene is used for pipelines, trash cans, and flexible plastic products like shrink film and trash bags. Polyethylene shrink film is often a thick film for heavy or sharp objects.

Polyolefin- is a polymer produced from a simple olefin (also called an alkene with the general formula CnH2n) as a monomer. Shrink film made from this is called a POF shrink film.

PVC- Polyvinyl Chloride is a thermoplastic polymer that is the third most-produced plastic in the world. PVC shrink film is a universal shrink wrap used for various applications.

Seal Seam- The mended line of a shrink-wrapped package where two ends are attached.

Shrink Bags- A shrinkable bag with three enclosed sides. A shrink bag lets users easily slide a product into the bag and seal the one open end.

Shrink Tubing- A continuous tube placed on a roll with two enclosed sides. Shrink tubing allows users to wrap and seal longer products.

Shrink Rate- The amount of shrinkage a film can obtain is often measured in percentage.

Single Wound- Flexible film rolled flat onto a core. Single wound shrink film is used with bundling machines for packaging cases of products.

Tear Resistance- The ability of a film to resist tear. A shrink film with a higher tear resistance is important when wrapping heavy products or products with sharp edges.

Vent Holes- Tiny holes placed in shrink film, allowing air to escape from sealed packages to prevent ballooning.