Does bubble wrap have enough cushion to protect stuff on a house move or product shipment? We’ll let you in on the insiders’ secrets on using bubble wrap to effectively cushion items so keep reading!
Bubble wrap seems to be the most ideal packing solution for both movers and shippers. But know this:
In fact, a few cited they rarely use bubble wrap for moving.
That doesn’t mean this packing material is not effective. Yes, a bubble wrap cushion is effective at protecting items. Those who are in the know, however, recognize that using too much can result in a costly cushion.
Still, bubble wrap is considered an indispensable asset in packing and shipping. Hence, if you want to use bubble cushion wraps for wrapping your gadgets, stemware, china, TV, and other stuff, it’s practically okay. Consider the following things below before buying bubble wrap for your next move or shipment.
Does bubble wrap have enough cushion to protect stuff?
Yes, it does. To preserve their super-sensitive nature, packers and shippers wrap electronic equipment and fragile materials in bubble wrap. All breakables and valuables, including stems of wine glasses and chinaware, mirrors, paintings, and other expensive framed art, as well as glass elements and projecting sections of furniture, will be bubble-wrapped.
In addition, the air-filled plastic bubbles work well as a cushioning element within cardboard boxes.
How does bubble wrap keep things from breaking?
Perfect for packing fragile and breakable items, bubble wraps are made to intensively protect these valuable items. One face of the bubble wrap sheet is flat, while the other face is a layer of round air-filled bubbles. The bubbles are responsible for creating a cushioning that seizes the item from breaking.
Each bubble is packed with air with a thick plastic material enveloping it so that it won’t easily ‘pop’. This plastic won’t easily break and is effective as a package or storage material that cushions the item around. And that’s how the bubble wrap keeps things from breaking.
When should I use bubble wrap?
Bubble wrap rolls are best for the following:
- 1 roll of our bubble wrap – wrapping small to large items for protecting stuff from vibrations, bumps, scratching
- Bubble wraps can also fill voids inside moving boxes and heavy items
- Packing fragile items, covering furniture, and more.
Don’t Use Bubble Wrap for Heavy-weight Items
Avoid using bubble wrap to protect heavy things as it should be reserved for small to medium-weight items like fragile items and paintings. If the bubbles burst or the wrap is damaged, the entire advantage is lost and the wrap is rendered useless.
Instead, Use Bubble Wraps for Cushioning Heavy Items
While bubble wraps are great for small to medium-sized items, you can definitely use them for larger items for preventing impact damage. This includes furniture corners and protruded areas of tables and chairs to avoid them from being damaged during lengthy, bumpy moves.
Bubble Cushion Sizes You Need to Know
Bubble wraps also come in many types, size options, and qualities. When you occasionally enjoy popping bubbles, you might have noticed how some bubbles from one type of bubble wrap are easier to pop than the others.
The reason is that bubble wraps are offered in different sizes, performing various tasks. You wouldn’t want to be spending more on a thick bubble wrap for packing your items only to realize the thinner ones can be suitable already.
Bubble Size Guide
The following are some of the most common bubble wrap sizes and where they’re used to cushion for:
Smallest Bubbles (1/16” thick)
Best for Scratch Protection
- ⅛” diameter for wrapping small and fragile glassware
- Protection mainly from scratches.
Tiny Bubbles (⅛” thick)
Best for Smaller Items
- ideal for protection against scratches and scrapes, but imparts less protection against impacts and shocks
- ideal for packing small items
- Shipment of electronics, smartphone screens, tablets, and other lightweight objects.
Small Bubbles (3/16” thick, ⅜” diameter)
Best for Medium-Weight Items
- This is the standard bubble size
- Suitable for impact protection
- They are suitable for medium-weight items
Medium Bubbles (5/16” thick & 1” thick diameter)
Best Protection Against Drop
- Great for small vibrations and impact
- ideal for filling spaces and voids in moving boxes and where support is needed.
Large Bubbles (1/2-inch thick bubble & 1¼-inch diameter)
Best for Impact and Drop Absorption
- Largest you can usually find;
- Great for cushioning medium-weight items and filling larger spaces
What Kind of Bubble Wrap Provides the Most Protection?
(a) Best for Small Electronic Devices
If you want to ship electronics to customers, anti-static bubble wraps (usually pink in color) are ideally used for this application. These types of bubble sheets and bags are suitable for protecting electronics from static electricity. You can also use small bubble bags and packaging with ⅛” bubbles for protecting small electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets.
(b) Best for Cushioning Glasswares & Fragile Items
For these applications, you’d want to use 3/16” and ½” bubble wraps for cushioning glassware and fragile items in the medium-weight range. The larger bubbles have more air in them allowing greater cushioning. You’d also want to label the items with a FRAGILE sticker on the box or on the bubble wrap surface of the item.
How many layers of bubble wrap do I need to cushion items effectively?
There are no set rules on how many bubble sheet layers should be used to cushion items. But to keep products secure while shipment, movers and shippers usually utilize multiple layers of plastic bubble wrap.
You can use 2 layers of bubble sheets for items that already have a protective outer covering like newsprint paper or an outer box.
For instance, a 1/8-inch bubble may be used to shield a TV screen from scratches. It’s completely OK to cover the TV with a layer of 1/2-inch bubbles to protect it from impact damage. If you need to send something fragile and/or precious, we recommend utilizing multiple layers of bubble sizes.
How to Use Bubble Wrap Effectively Cushion and Protect Your Items
In order to effectively protect your items, it is also important to know how to properly use bubble cushion wraps. There are different ways to use a theme such as the following:
- Gently wrap the product with packing paper first before rolling it with bubble wrap. You should use packing tape to secure the item
- There are two sides to bubble wrap: a flat sheet side and a side with bubbles. When wrapping your stuff, remember to keep the bubble-filled side in contact with the item. The bubbles’ rough surface grabs the things better than the flat side. This prevents your things from moving during transportation. The flat side of the bubbles will be on the outside if wrapped appropriately, protecting them from being ruptured by the box.
- Use quality bubble wrap to prevent damaging your items during the move or shipment.
Here’s how enKo Products’ Bubble Cushion Wrap performs:
Wrapping Up
Bubble cushion wraps are indispensable packing materials in the shipping and moving industry. They are highly effective at protecting and shielding items from scratches, effects of vibrations, breakage, and damage if you use them the right way (or if you use the right type).
Enko Products’ heavy-duty large bubble wrap (36ft roll) comes with 20 Fragile Label Stickers perfect for product shipments and house moves. They are highly durable with high tear resistance and have a thick bubble plastic material for effectively cushioning small to medium-weight items.
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Gene Paul Lim
