What is the Bubble Wrap Calculator?
Too little bubble wrap risks breakage; too much wastes money and space. The bubble wrap calculator uses each item's surface area, the number of layers and an overlap allowance to estimate the metres of wrap needed and the rolls to buy.
Fragile items such as glass or ceramics usually need two or three layers. Check the box size afterwards with the Box Size Calculator. All calculators accept centimetres, inches or millimetres and kilograms or pounds, so you can use the units on your supplier's spec sheet.
How to use the Bubble Wrap Calculator
- Enter item dimensions and quantity.
- Choose the number of layers.
- Enter the roll width and length.
- Read the metres needed and rolls to buy.
Formula
Area per item = 2(LW + LH + WH) × layers × (1 + overlap)
Example
20 items of 30 × 20 × 15 cm wrapped in 2 layers with 15% overlap need about 8.3 m² of wrap, around 17 m of a 50 cm roll.
Bubble sizes
| Bubble | Use |
|---|---|
| Small (10 mm) | Surface protection, light items |
| Medium | General shipping |
| Large (25 mm) | Heavy and bulky items, void fill |
Related packaging and shipping tools
Packaging decisions are connected: the box size sets the volumetric weight, which sets the courier bill, and the carton size decides how many fit on a pallet or in a container. These related calculators help with the next step:
- Stretch film calculator: machine film per pallet.
- Pallet wrap calculator: hand wrap per pallet.
- Shrink wrap calculator: film size and rolls.
- Packaging tape calculator: tape per box and rolls.
- Packaging material calculator: board, tape and void fill.
Frequently asked questions
How much bubble wrap do I need?
Enter item size and layers; the calculator gives metres and rolls.
How many layers should I use?
One for sturdy items, two or three for fragile items.
Which side should face the product?
Bubbles facing in give better cushioning.
How much overlap should I allow?
About 10–20%.
Is bubble wrap recyclable?
Most LDPE bubble wrap can be recycled where soft plastics are collected.
Is the Bubble Wrap Calculator free to use?
Yes. The Bubble Wrap Calculator on Custom Converter is completely free, with no sign-up, no daily limit and no watermark.
Does the Bubble Wrap Calculator work on mobile phones?
Yes. It is built mobile-first and works on Android phones, iPhones, tablets and computers in any modern browser, with no app to install.