Bubble wrap looks like the simplest product in the warehouse, right up until you have to order it. Suddenly you are choosing between seven roll widths, three roll lengths, two bubble sizes and a wall of pre-made bubble bags, and picking wrong means either paying to ship air or watching a fragile order arrive cracked.
This guide breaks down every bubble wrap size we stock at QIS Packaging, explains the difference between 10mm and 20mm bubbles, and helps you match the right roll (or bag) to the job. All measurements are metric and everything listed here ships Australia-wide from our bubble wrap range.
Bubble wrap sizes at a glance
Bubble wrap is measured three ways: roll width, roll length and bubble diameter.
Roll widths run from 300mm up to 1500mm. Common widths in our range are 300mm, 375mm, 500mm, 750mm, 1000mm, 1200mm and 1500mm. The 1500mm roll is the full manufactured width; the narrower rolls are the same material slit down for convenience.
Roll lengths come in 10m, 50m and 100m. A 10m roll suits a house move or occasional eBay seller. A 50m roll suits a small retail counter. The 100m rolls are the best value per metre and the standard choice for businesses shipping daily.
Bubble diameter is the size of each air pocket. Our rolls come with 10mm bubbles (the standard small bubble) or 20mm bubbles (large bubble). More on that choice below, because it matters more than most people expect.
A quick note on terminology: some suppliers quote bubble height instead of diameter, so a "10mm bubble" from one brand and another may sit slightly differently. If you are matching an existing product, check both figures with your supplier before ordering.
10mm vs 20mm bubbles: which type do you need?
10mm bubbles (small bubble)
Small bubble is the all-rounder. The tighter bubble pattern gives good surface protection and conforms neatly around odd shapes, which is why it is the default for wrapping ceramics, glassware, electronics, homewares and framed prints. It also takes up less storage space per metre of coverage. If you only stock one type, stock this one.
20mm bubbles (large bubble)
Large bubble holds more air per pocket, so it absorbs bigger shocks and works well as a void filler or as the outer layer around heavy or bulky items: furniture, appliances, machinery parts and large artworks. The trade-off is bulk; it fills a carton faster and offers less fine surface protection on delicate finishes. Please note our 20mm rolls are currently a South East Queensland delivery line, so check availability for your area or contact us for a quote on bulk supply elsewhere.
Can you combine them?
Yes, and for very fragile freight you should. A common professional method is an inner wrap of 10mm bubble for surface protection, then a layer of 20mm bubble or void fill to absorb transit knocks. Two layers of small bubble also works well for most retail parcels.
Choosing the right roll width
Match the roll width to what you wrap most often, not to the biggest thing you might ever wrap. Cutting down an oversized sheet wastes material and time on every single parcel.
300mm to 375mm: small parcels and packing benches
Narrow rolls suit jewellery, cosmetics, phone accessories, giftware and anything that ships in a satchel or small carton. They are easy to handle at a packing bench and produce very little offcut. Our perforated 375mm roll tears off in ready-made sheets, which speeds up repetitive packing noticeably.
500mm: the standard eCommerce width
If you are unsure, start at 500mm. It wraps the majority of retail products (homewares, shoes, books, small appliances) in one or two passes and still folds around smaller items without drowning them. The 500mm x 100m roll is our most popular seller for exactly this reason.
750mm to 1000mm: mixed freight and larger cartons
These mid-wide rolls suit warehouses shipping a genuine mix of sizes, plus products like small furniture, lamps, framed art and computer equipment. One pass covers what would take two or three passes of a narrow roll.
1200mm to 1500mm: furniture, removals and industrial use
Full-width rolls are the workhorse for removalists, furniture makers and manufacturers. A 1500mm roll wraps tabletops, mattress bases, whitegoods and pallet-height freight without joins. They are bulky to store, so make sure you have the rack space before ordering.
Bubble wrap bags: sizes and when to use them
If you ship the same product every day, stop cutting sheets and switch to pre-made bubble bags. They come in sizes from 100x203mm (about phone size) up to 360x470mm, in plain open-top style or with a fold-over flap for a snugger closure. Slide the item in, seal, and drop it straight into a mailing bag or carton. For repetitive packing they routinely halve wrapping time and give a more consistent result than hand-cut sheets.
Here are three configurations that cover most businesses:
Specialty bubble wrap types
Beyond the standard rolls there are a few specialty lines worth knowing about.
Perforated bubble wrap has tear lines at set intervals so staff pull off identical sheets without scissors. Small change, big time saving on a busy bench.
Anti-static bubble wrap dissipates static charge and is the safe choice for circuit boards, hard drives, graphics cards and other sensitive electronics. Standard bubble wrap can hold a static charge, so do not use it directly against exposed componentry; use a dedicated anti-static bubble wrap instead.
Double-sided (laminated) bubble wrap sandwiches the bubbles between two flat films. The smooth outer faces resist punctures, slide cleanly against furniture finishes and will not catch on carvings or handles, which is why removalists favour it. A heavy-duty version exists for machinery and export freight. Both are special-order lines, so allow extra lead time.
How much bubble wrap do you actually need?
A rough rule for estimating: measure the girth of your product (all the way around its widest point), add 50 to 100mm of overlap, and multiply by the number of layers. Two layers is the sensible minimum for anything fragile. For example, a vase measuring 400mm around needs roughly 0.9 to 1m of wrap per layer at 500mm width, so a 100m roll yields around 50 double-wrapped vases.
For fragile freight, wrap with the bubbles facing inward toward the product, tape the wrap so it cannot shift, and aim for at least 50mm of total cushioning between the item and the carton wall, using scrunched paper or void fill to take up remaining space. Our guide on shipping products to customers covers carton packing in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes does bubble wrap come in?
Rolls typically come in widths of 300mm, 375mm, 500mm, 750mm, 1000mm, 1200mm and 1500mm, in lengths of 10m, 50m or 100m, with either 10mm or 20mm bubbles. Pre-made bubble bags run from 100x203mm up to 360x470mm.
What is the standard bubble wrap size?
The most common configuration in Australia is a 500mm wide roll with 10mm bubbles. It handles the widest range of everyday parcels, which is why it is the default for most retail and eCommerce businesses.
Do bubbles face in or out when wrapping?
Bubbles face inward, against the product. The bubbles cushion the item directly while the flat side takes the tape and resists snagging. The exception is wrapping a polished or painted surface you are worried about marking; in that case use double-sided bubble wrap, which is smooth on both faces.
Is 10mm or 20mm bubble wrap better for moving house?
Use 10mm bubble for glassware, crockery and ornaments, and 20mm bubble (or double-sided wrap) for furniture edges and appliances. Most moves need far more small bubble than large, so weight your order accordingly.
Can bubble wrap be recycled in Australia?
Standard bubble wrap is LDPE (plastic code 4), which is not accepted in household kerbside recycling. Some councils and store drop-off programs accept clean soft plastics, but access varies by area, so check your local council's current advice. Reusing it for storage or future parcels remains the best option.
How many times can bubble wrap be reused?
As long as most bubbles are still inflated it will keep protecting. For sales stock we recommend fresh wrap for presentation, but for storage and internal transfers, reusing wrap several times is common practice and saves money.
Ready to stock up on bubble wrap?
Dispatched Australia-wide with same-day dispatch before 12pm, backed by our 5% price-beat guarantee.
Shop bubble wrapRequest a bulk quoteNeed help choosing? Call us on 1800 555 343 and talk to a packaging specialist who packs and ships these products every day.
