What is the Shrink Wrap Calculator?
Shrink film wraps bottles, boxes and multipacks tightly after heating. The shrink wrap calculator works out the film cut length and width for your pack (with overlap and shrink allowance), its weight from thickness and density, and the rolls needed for a production run.
For pallets, use the Stretch Film Calculator; for overall packaging cost per unit, use the Packaging Cost 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 Shrink Wrap Calculator
- Enter pack dimensions and quantity.
- Enter film thickness and type (PE or POF).
- Enter overlap and shrink allowance.
- Read film per pack, weight and rolls.
Formula
Film weight (g) = area (m²) × thickness (µm) × density (g/cm³)
Example
A 6-bottle pack of 25 × 17 × 22 cm with 50 µm PE film (density 0.92) needs about 0.24 m², roughly 11 g of film per pack.
PE vs POF shrink film
PE (polyethylene) is thicker and strong enough for heavy multipacks of bottles and cans. POF (polyolefin) is thinner, clearer and used for retail boxes, books and food packs.
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:
- Bubble wrap calculator: metres and rolls needed.
- Stretch film calculator: machine film per pallet.
- Pallet wrap calculator: hand wrap per pallet.
- Packaging tape calculator: tape per box and rolls.
- Packaging material calculator: board, tape and void fill.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate shrink film size?
Add overlap and shrink allowance to the pack's wrap-around length and width.
What thickness should I use?
15–25 µm POF for retail; 40–80 µm PE for multipacks.
How is film weight calculated?
Area × thickness × density.
What is shrink allowance?
Extra film because it contracts by 10–20% when heated.
Can I use it for pallets?
Pallet shrink hoods exist, but stretch film is more common.
Is the Shrink Wrap Calculator free to use?
Yes. The Shrink Wrap Calculator on Custom Converter is completely free, with no sign-up, no daily limit and no watermark.
Does the Shrink 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.