Bubble wrap, PE foam and single facer all protect products in transit, but they protect against different things. Choose the wrong one and you either pay too much or still get damage. This guide compares the three side by side, including when each one is the wrong choice.
Which is best: bubble wrap, PE foam or single facer?
It depends on what you're protecting against. Bubble wrap is best for shocks and drops on fragile items. PE foam is best for protecting finished surfaces from scratches. Single facer is best for wrapping, light cushioning and void fill at the lowest cost, with no plastic.
| Air bubble wrap | PE foam | Single facer roll | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Plastic film with sealed air pockets | Soft, closed-cell polyethylene foam | Corrugated board with one flat liner |
| Best at | Shock and drop protection | Scratch and surface protection | Wrapping, edge cushioning, void fill |
| Feel | Soft and springy | Smooth and soft | Firm but flexible |
| Material | Plastic | Plastic | Paper, recyclable with cartons |
| Relative cost | Medium (higher for anti-static) | Rises with thickness | Generally lowest per m² |
| Forms | Rolls, sheets, bags, anti-static | Rolls and sheets, 1 mm to 50 mm | Rolls up to 1.2 m wide, or cut sheets |
| Typical use | Glass, ceramics, electronics, e-commerce | Furniture finishes, panels, inserts | Furniture, metal profiles, tiles, parcels |
When should I use bubble wrap?
Use bubble wrap when the main risk is a drop or a hard knock. The air pockets absorb impact better than the other two, which makes it the first choice for glass, ceramics, bottles and electronics. Anti-static grades protect sensitive electronic parts, and ready-made bubble bags speed up packing small items.
When it's the wrong choice: for large flat surfaces like table tops and panels, bubble can leave marks on soft finishes and costs more than single facer for the area covered. It also adds bulk, so oversized parcels can cost more to ship.
See our air bubble wrap range.
When is PE foam the better choice?
Choose PE foam when the finish matters most. It's smooth and non-abrasive, so it's the right first layer against polished, lacquered or painted surfaces. Thin sheets work as a surface layer, and thicker foam works as padding between stacked items or as custom-cut inserts inside cartons.
When it's the wrong choice: thin foam alone won't stop a hard drop on fragile items, so use bubble or thicker foam for those. For simple void fill, it's more than you need to pay for.
See our PE foam sheets and rolls.
When does single facer make the most sense?
Use single facer when you need to wrap, cushion edges or fill gaps at the lowest cost, without plastic. It bends around products, the flutes absorb knocks and strapping pressure, and it's recyclable in the same stream as your cartons. It's the workhorse wrap for furniture, doors and frames, metal and aluminium profiles, and tiles.
When it's the wrong choice: for very fragile items facing drops, bubble wrap protects better. For high-gloss finishes that mark easily, put a layer of PE foam underneath first.
See our single facer rolls and sheets, or read single facer roll explained.
Can I use them together?
Yes, and for valuable or awkward items you usually should. A common setup is PE foam on the finished surface, single facer wrapped around it, and bubble wrap or extra foam only where the item is fragile. Furniture makers use this layered approach. Our guide to protecting furniture in transit walks through it.
Which option is the most eco-friendly?
Single facer, because it's paper-based and goes into the same recycling stream as your cartons. Bubble wrap and PE foam are both plastic. They can be reused many times and recycled where facilities accept them. If sustainability matters to your customers, use single facer wherever it gives enough protection, and keep plastic for the jobs only plastic can do.
How do I choose for my product?
- Fragile and likely to be dropped? Bubble wrap, or thicker PE foam.
- Polished, painted or glossy surface? PE foam as the first layer.
- Large, flat or long items? Single facer to wrap them.
- Gaps in the box? Single facer as void fill.
- Electronics? Anti-static bubble wrap.
- Want less plastic? Single facer wherever it protects enough.
Not sure which suits your product? Tell us what you're packing and how it ships, and we'll recommend the right material, or combination, with a quote. We supply all three on one order from Selangor.