About this calculator

Approximate original stretch-film consumption from perimeter bands, measured applied film width and overlap. Extra top and bottom turns add to coverage turns, and elongation translates applied travel back to original roll length.

Inputs

How to use this calculator

Loaded pallet group

  1. Outer loaded length (in)Rectangular outer length of the wrapped load.
  2. Outer loaded width (in)Include projections that alter the wrapping perimeter.
  3. Vertical height to cover (in)Actual film coverage height; not necessarily the overall transport height.
  4. Identical palletsWhole non-negative count.

Shared inputs

  1. Effective film width after stretching (in)Measured width on the load after any neck-down; do not assume original roll width.
  2. Overlap between coverage bands (%)From 0 up to but excluding 100% of effective applied width.
  3. Extra full top turnsAdditional turns beyond coverage bands.
  4. Extra full bottom turnsAdditional turns beyond coverage bands.
  5. Engineering elongation (%)100% means applied film is twice its original length; 200% means three times. Enter measured elongation.
  6. Extra original film allowance (%)For your measured tails, transitions and waste; no standard allowance is assumed.
  7. Usable original film length per roll (in)Before stretching. 18,000 in = 1,500 ft; this is an editable example.

Enter the shipment or scenario values, then select Calculate result.

Method

Formula and variables

Advance = effective applied width × (1 − overlap/100). Coverage turns = 1 + ceil(max(0, height − applied width) ÷ advance). Total turns = coverage + extra top + extra bottom. Applied travel per pallet ≈ 2 × (length + width) × turns. Original roll film = applied travel ÷ (1 + elongation/100) × (1 + allowance/100). Sum quantities.

Outer loaded length (in)
Rectangular outer length of the wrapped load.
Outer loaded width (in)
Include projections that alter the wrapping perimeter.
Vertical height to cover (in)
Actual film coverage height; not necessarily the overall transport height.
Identical pallets
Whole non-negative count.
Effective film width after stretching (in)
Measured width on the load after any neck-down; do not assume original roll width.
Overlap between coverage bands (%)
From 0 up to but excluding 100% of effective applied width.
Extra full top turns
Additional turns beyond coverage bands.
Extra full bottom turns
Additional turns beyond coverage bands.
Engineering elongation (%)
100% means applied film is twice its original length; 200% means three times. Enter measured elongation.
Extra original film allowance (%)
For your measured tails, transitions and waste; no standard allowance is assumed.
Usable original film length per roll (in)
Before stretching. 18,000 in = 1,500 ft; this is an editable example.

Interpret the result

Original film is the unstretched material consumed. The band approximation omits spiral travel and containment force; compare planned consumption with measured actual use.

Outputs: Estimated original film length and minimum roll count

Idealized full-perimeter horizontal bands. Ignores diagonal spiral travel, film neck-down beyond the measured width, corner shape, force and containment. Allowance does not validate those effects. This is not a machine program, required wrap count or load-securement specification. Verify actual consumption experimentally. Roll count pools total original length and ignores residual-roll losses.

Worked example

Check the arithmetic

This example uses the starting values shown above. The arithmetic below is calculated independently of the interactive result.

Work through the calculation

  1. Band advance = 20 × (1 − 0.50) = 10 in. Coverage turns = 1 + ceil((54 − 20) ÷ 10) = 5.
  2. Total turns = 5 + 2 + 2 = 9. Applied travel = 2 × (48 + 40) × 9 = 1,584 in/pallet.
  3. Original film = 1,584 ÷ 2 × 1.10 = 871.2 in/pallet. Ten pallets use 8,712 in ÷ 12 = 726 ft.

Compare the displayed result

Expected displayed result: 726 ft original film

FAQs

What does 100% elongation mean?

Applied film is twice its original length at 100% engineering elongation. The model therefore divides applied travel by two before adding the entered original-film allowance.

Example inputs and options

Starting values are examples unless a field identifies a dated rule. Unit selectors convert only fields marked for conversion. Rates and model options keep the units and basis shown in their labels.

Outer loaded length (in)
Example: 48
Outer loaded width (in)
Example: 40
Vertical height to cover (in)
Example: 54
Identical pallets
Example: 10
Effective film width after stretching (in)
Example: 20
Overlap between coverage bands (%)
Example: 50
Extra full top turns
Example: 2
Extra full bottom turns
Example: 2
Engineering elongation (%)
Example: 100
Extra original film allowance (%)
Example: 10
Usable original film length per roll (in)
Example: 18000