Can Thinner Stretch Film Be Used for Small Items?

Thinner stretch film, usually in the range of 8 to 12 microns (μm), is perfectly suited for small items like small boxes of stationery, tiny electronic accessories (such as phone chargers), small bundles of clothes, or small gift boxes. These items are light and don’t put much pressure on the film, so you don’t need extra thickness for strength.

Thinner film still has enough “stretch” to wrap tightly around small items. It can hold them together neatly without slipping or tearing—since the load is light, there’s no force pulling the film apart. For example, wrapping a small box of notebooks with 10 μm film works just as well as using a thicker 15 μm film, but with a big difference in cost.

Using thinner film also saves you money. Thinner rolls are cheaper upfront, and because they use less material per meter, one roll can wrap more small items than a thicker roll. You won’t waste money on extra thickness you don’t need—there’s no point in using a heavy-duty film for something light, like you wouldn’t use a hammer to hang a small picture.

The only time you might avoid the thinnest options (like under 8 μm) is if your small item has sharp edges (such as a tiny metal tool) that could poke through extra-thin film. But for most regular small, light items, 8-12 μm thinner stretch film is reliable, cost-effective, and easy to use.