Here’s a practical, step‑by‑step way to choose the right stretch‑film thickness (gauge). I’ll give the key factors, common thickness ranges (with conversions), and simple examples you can apply immediately.

1. Confirm how the film will be applied

• Hand applied: choose thicker, more forgiving film (hand film is formulated for manual use and tear resistance). Machine/applied (automatic or semi‑automatic): you can use thinner, high‑prestretch film because the wrapper stretches the film before applying it. (xcpfpack.com)

2. Assess the load characteristics (most important)

• Load weight: heavier loads need heavier/thicker film. As a rough rule: light < 1,000 lb → lighter gauge; 1,000–2,000 lb → standard gauge; > 2,000 lb or very heavy → heavy gauge. (hi-techplastics.net)
• Load shape and stability: tall, irregular or loose loads (boxes, bottles, blown goods) need higher gauge or more wraps. Sharp edges or protrusions need heavier film or edge protection. (stretchwrappingfilm.com)

3. Consider transport and storage conditions

• Short local moves / stable storage: medium gauge often fine.
• Long-distance shipping, multi‑modal transport, rough handling, outdoor exposure or UV: choose heavier gauge or film with UV additives. (stretchwrappingfilm.com)

4. Decide on required performance properties

• Cling and holding force: higher cling helps keep wraps tight without extra film.
• Puncture/tear resistance: thicker or higher‑performance LLDPE films resist punctures from corners/strapping better.
• Pre‑stretch capability: machine film with high pre‑stretch can use thinner starting thickness while delivering good hold. (xcpfpack.com)

5. Use these common thickness ranges as a starting point (microns, gauge and mils) (Conversions: 1 mil = 25.4 microns; some vendors still use “gauge” where 1 gauge ≈ 0.254 microns.)

• Light‑duty (light loads, short moves, small bundling): ~12–15 microns (≈ 50–60 gauge, ≈ 0.5–0.6 mil). (zhitengpacking.com)
• Medium‑duty (standard pallets, general use): ~17–23 microns (≈ 67–90 gauge, ≈ 0.67–0.9 mil). Good default for many operations. (zhitengpacking.com)
• Heavy‑duty (heavy, irregular, sharp edges, long transport): ~25–40+ microns (≈ 100–160 gauge, ≈ 1.0–1.6+ mil). Use for rough handling or outdoor exposure. (stretchwrappingfilm.com)

6. Practical examples

• Small retail boxes on a pallet for short local delivery → 12–17 microns (light–medium). (Hanpak.com.vn)
• Standard grocery or consumer goods pallet shipped regionally → 17–23 microns (medium). (zhitengpacking.com)
• Heavy industrial parts with irregular shapes or shipments across long distances → 25–40 microns (heavy). Add edge guards if corners are sharp. (stretchwrappingfilm.com)
• High volume automated wrapping (machine pre‑stretch 200–300%) → you can often use thinner machine film (10–23 microns) because pre‑stretch increases effective strength. (xcpfpack.com)

7. Optimize for cost and waste

• Using a thicker film than necessary increases material cost. Using a thinner film than needed risks load damage and rework. If you have a machine wrapper, test pre‑stretch settings and a slightly thinner machine film — this often lowers film use and cost while maintaining stability. (xcpfpack.com)

8. How to test quickly (recommended)

• Wrap a representative pallet with your candidate film and settings.
• Check vertical and lateral stability, how tight the wrap stays after 24–48 hours, and for any punctures or tears during handling.
• Adjust film thickness, number of wraps, or pre‑stretch until you get required stability with minimal film use.

9. Other considerations

• Width: 500 mm (20”) is common for standard pallets; choose narrower widths for strange shapes. (Hanpak.com.vn)
• Specialty films: anti‑static, colored/printed, biodegradable — select only if you need that feature and verify performance specs from the supplier. (stretchwrappingfilm.com)

Bottom line (quick checklist)

• Hand vs machine? → choose hand‑film thicker; machine film can be thinner with pre‑stretch. (xcpfpack.com)
• Load weight/shape? → heavier/irregular → thicker film. (hi-techplastics.net)
• Transport/storage conditions? → long/rough/outdoor → thicker or specialty film. (stretchwrappingfilm.com)
• Test with real pallets and tune wraps/pre‑stretch to minimize film while ensuring stability. (hi-techplastics.net)

If you want, tell me: typical pallet weight, whether you use hand or machine wrapping, and transport distance — I can recommend a specific micron/gauge and number of wraps for that scenario.