Bubble wrap is the cheapest way to stop glass, ceramics and electronics arriving cracked. Prices look similar from shop to shop, but the bubble wrap on offer differs a lot: bubble size, film thickness and roll width all change how well it protects and how far a roll goes. Tell us what you wrap, how much you ship and where you are, and bubble wrap suppliers who deliver to your area quote you directly. The request is free and there is no obligation to buy.
Small bubble or large bubble
Bubble wrap is sold by the diameter of the air cell. Small bubble, about 10 mm across and 4 to 5 mm high, wraps phone accessories, cosmetics, books and small electronics, and it also works as a surface layer around items that scratch. Large bubble, about 25 mm across and 10 mm high, cushions glassware, lamps, ceramics and appliances, because the taller cell absorbs a bigger knock.
Most online shops stock both: small bubble for the first layer against the product and large bubble as the outer cushion. A cheaper roll with thin film loses air quickly and flattens in a warm container, so ask the supplier about film thickness, not only bubble size.
Roll widths, lengths and perforations
The standard roll is 750 mm wide and 100 m long, which wraps a lot of parcels. Other common sizes:
- 300 mm and 500 mm rolls, easier to carry and to dispense from a bench-top stand.
- 1,200 mm rolls for furniture, mattresses and framed art.
- Perforated rolls, torn into 300 mm sheets so staff cut the same size every time and waste drops.
- Pre-cut sheets and bubble bags for items you pack hundreds of times a month.
A heavy roll can weigh 10 kg or more, so check whether the supplier delivers or whether you must collect.
Anti-static, bags and other options
Electronics need anti-static bubble wrap, usually pink or blue, which does not build up the charge that damages circuit boards and hard drives. Standard clear film is fine for everything else. Bubble bags and padded envelopes are quicker than wrapping by hand and suit flat items like tablets and prints, and a lot of them end up as courier bags with a bubble lining.
Bubble wrap is bulky and mostly air, so it takes up a lot of room in a delivery. Ordering by the full roll costs less per metre than buying a few metres at a time.
How much bubble wrap to buy
Allow roughly 1 to 2 m of 750 mm wide wrap for a boxed small item, and 3 to 5 m for a lamp or a set of glasses. A 100 m roll therefore covers 40 to 80 average parcels. Work out your weekly use, then buy a month at a time so you are not paying for storage space. For anything heavier than a few kilograms, combine wrap with a stiff carton and extra protective packaging such as corner boards. Compare roll prices in our packaging price guide before you order.
What to include in your request
- What you wrap and how fragile it is
- Small bubble, large bubble or both
- Roll width and length, or bag sizes
- Anti-static, perforated or recycled film
- Rolls per month and delivery address
Bubble Wrap for different businesses
- Online shops and ecommerce: small bubble and bubble bags for glassware, gadgets and fragile parcels sent by courier
- Restaurants, takeaways and food producers: large bubble around bottles, jars and ceramics in hampers and farm stall boxes
- Shops and retail stores: wrapping breakables at the till and protecting stock delivered to the shop
- Factories and manufacturers: anti-static or large bubble around finished parts and appliances before cartoning
- Warehouses, distributors and exporters: wrapping furniture and fragile pallet items so they survive handling in the warehouse
- Households and offices moving: long rolls for lamps, mirrors, glasses and crockery on a house or office move
- Farms, packhouses and nurseries: protective layer around bottled olive oil, wine and honey sold direct from the farm
- Cosmetics, candles and health products: small bubble around glass jars, droppers and candle vessels in gift orders
Frequently asked questions
How much does a roll of bubble wrap cost?
Which side of bubble wrap faces the product?
Can I buy a few metres instead of a whole roll?
Is bubble wrap recyclable?
Bubble Wrap by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg