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Price Match
We guarantee our prices are extremely competetive and should be the BEST prices you will find on-line, along with delivering the very best service. For this reason, we offer a price match against other on-line sellers. If you find the same product elsewhere on line, give us a call on 0345 224 3691 and we will match or even beat it! Note that the following conditions must be met for the price match to apply:
- The item must be available on a UK website at the advertised price, and readily available to purchase, with a like for like delivery offering.
-The item in question must have the same specifications, quantity and be produced by the same manufacturer - although we will usually price match even if made by a different manufacturer, as long as its a comparable quality.
- Auction sites such as ebay and amazon do not qualify for price match.
- The price match cannot be used in conjunction with any discount codes or promotional items.
- If there are pricing errors on competitors sites that are clear typographical pricing errors, these will not be matched.
- Note that for corrugated lines (boxes/cartons), the item must be of the same specification (fluting and thickness) and be unbranded.
Call us on 0345 224 3691 and we will be more than happy to help!
Best Bubble Wrap for Shipping: Sizes, Types & Prices
Key Takeaways
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Some of the best bubble wrap for shipping includes small, large, biodegradable, and paper types.
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Bubble wrap is lightweight, meaning it adds virtually no extra weight to your packages and won't increase your postage costs.
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Small bubbles (10mm) protect lighter, delicate items, while large bubbles (20mm) cushion heavier goods.
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Standard small bubble wrap rolls come in 100M lengths, making them a highly cost-effective option for businesses shipping at volume.
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Shop all four types of bubble wrap at Globe Packaging in widths up to 1500mm.
Which Bubble Wrap Do You Need?
Bubble wrap is one of those deceptively simple packaging materials that quietly does a massive job. It absorbs shocks, cushions impacts, and keeps fragile items safe through every bump, drop, and jostle during transit. But not all bubble wrap is the same, and picking the right type matters more than most people realise, especially if you're shipping regularly or running a business.
The answer comes down to three things: what you're shipping, how heavy it is, and whether eco-friendliness is a priority for your business or customers.
There are four main types available for shipping use: small bubble wrap, large bubble wrap, biodegradable bubble wrap, and paper bubble wrap. Each has a specific role. Let’s break down each one.
4 Best Bubble Wrap for Shipping
Bubble wrap can help keep your items and packages safe and secure during shipping.
1. Small Bubble Wrap
Small bubble wrap is the industry standard, and for good reason. The bubbles are approximately 10mm in diameter, making them ideal for wrapping smaller, more delicate items where close contact coverage is critical, such as fragile ornaments, glassware, electronics, and any product where surface scratching or impact damage is a real risk.
Because the bubbles are compact, small bubble wrap conforms tightly around irregular shapes, giving you consistent protection across the entire surface of an item. It's also extremely lightweight, so it adds practically nothing to your overall package weight and keeps your postage costs exactly where you want them.
Size
Small bubble wrap rolls are manufactured to a standard length of 100 metres, giving excellent coverage per roll. Width options are generous, with the following available:
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300mm
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500mm
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600mm
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750mm
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1000mm
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1200mm
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1500mm
Price
Small bubble wrap is one of the most cost-effective protective packaging materials available. It ranges from £3.75 to £84.00. With 100M rolls and competitive per-unit pricing, it's particularly well-suited to businesses shipping at volume who need reliable protection without inflating fulfilment costs.
2. Large Bubble Wrap
Large bubble wrap has bigger bubbles that measure 20mm in diameter.
Large bubble wrap steps up the cushioning power significantly. With bubbles measuring 20mm in diameter (double the size of standard small bubble wrap), it provides a much deeper air cushion, making it the right choice for heavier, bulkier, or more robust items that need serious shock absorption rather than just surface protection.
This type is commonly used for shipping furniture components, large ceramics, mirrors, machine parts, and any item where the risk is impact damage rather than surface scratching. The larger air pockets absorb more kinetic energy on impact, which makes a real difference when packages are dropped or stacked during transit.
Size
Large bubble wrap rolls come in a standard length of 50 metres (shorter than small bubble wrap rolls), which reflects the greater material volume per metre due to the larger bubble size. Width options mirror those available for small bubble wrap:
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300mm
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500mm
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600mm
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750mm
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1000mm
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1200mm
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1500mm
The 50M length still provides substantial coverage for most shipping operations, and the wider options (particularly the 1000mm to 1500mm widths) are especially practical for wrapping large, awkward items in a single pass without needing to layer multiple sheets.
Price
Large bubble wrap is competitively priced between £7.49 and £84.00. While the rolls are shorter than small bubble wrap equivalents, the deeper cushioning means you often need fewer layers to achieve the same level of protection, making it a smart investment for businesses regularly shipping heavier goods.
3. Biodegradable Bubble Wrap
Biodegradable bubble wrap naturally breaks down after usage.
Customers actively look for eco-conscious packaging choices, and biodegradable bubble wrap is one of the cleanest answers to that demand. It performs exactly like standard plastic bubble wrap in terms of cushioning and shock absorption, but it breaks down naturally after use rather than sitting in a landfill for decades.
Manufactured in the UK to a high standard, Globe Packaging's biodegradable bubble wrap is made from a biodegradable polymer rather than conventional plastic. This means it retains all the protective properties you'd expect (air-filled bubbles, lightweight structure, flexibility) while dramatically reducing your environmental footprint.
Biodegradable bubble wrap is available in a small bubble format, keeping the same tight 10mm bubble diameter that makes standard small bubble wrap so effective for delicate and fragile items. The key difference is entirely in the material. Once disposed of, it breaks down and composts rather than persisting as plastic waste.
Size
Biodegradable bubble wrap rolls are available in a length of 75 metres, sitting between the 100M small bubble wrap rolls and the 50M large bubble wrap rolls in terms of total coverage. Width options are available in 400mm, 500mm, 750mm, and 1500mm, covering wrapping needs from small parcels through to large items.
While the width range is narrower than standard bubble wrap options, the 400mm and 500mm formats cover the most common wrapping needs for e-commerce businesses and retailers shipping fragile goods in standard-sized boxes.
Price
Biodegradable bubble wrap is a cost-effective eco upgrade. Depending on the size of the roll, the price of biodegradable bubble wrap ranges from £14.95 to £126.00. Especially when weighed against the brand value of offering sustainable packaging to your customers, the price difference against traditional plastic bubble wrap is minimal.
4. Paper Bubble Wrap
Paper bubble wrap consists of 100% recycled paper with unique embossing and padding to cushion items.
Paper bubble wrap takes a completely different approach to protective packaging, replacing plastic entirely with 100% recycled paper that's embossed and padded to replicate the cushioning structure of traditional bubble wrap. It's fully recyclable and compostable, making it the most environmentally responsible option in the range.
The embossed paper structure genuinely cushions items during transit, and because it's made from recycled materials and is itself recyclable, it completes a clean sustainability loop that biodegradable plastic alternatives can't quite match.
Paper bubble wrap is ideal for businesses that want to go completely plastic-free in their packaging. It offers the same functional purpose as traditional bubble wrap (wrapping fragile items, lining boxes, filling voids), but with a material that customers can drop straight into their recycling bin or compost heap without a second thought. It's particularly popular with premium brands, artisan sellers, and eco-focused retailers where the unboxing experience matters as much as the protection itself.
Size
Paper bubble wrap is available in two roll lengths: 10 metres and 70 metres, giving both small-scale sellers and high-volume businesses an appropriate option. Width choices are 500mm and 750mm, covering most standard product sizes comfortably.
The 70M rolls are particularly cost-efficient for businesses packing consistently, while the 10M rolls work well as a starter option or for lower-volume sellers who want to trial paper bubble wrap before committing to larger quantities.
Price
Paper bubble wrap is available at competitive price points (£5.95 to £316.00). The 10M option gives smaller sellers an affordable entry point without over-committing on stock. Either way, the cost is minimal compared to the reputational value of fully plastic-free packaging.
Top 4 Bubble Wraps: Summary Table
Ship Your Items With Globe Packaging’s Bubble Wrap
If you're packing a single parcel or running a high-volume shipping operation, Globe Packaging has the stock to match: all four bubble wrap types, held on-site across a 60,000 sq ft UK depot. Competitive trade-level pricing means protecting your shipments doesn't have to inflate your fulfilment costs.
Same-day dispatch is available on orders placed before 4pm, with next-working-day delivery on orders over £50 (exc. VAT) to UK mainland addresses. Your bubble wrap arrives fast, so your shipping schedule stays on track.
With a 4.7-star rating across thousands of reviews, Globe Packaging is trusted by thousands of UK businesses for high-quality bubble wrap and dependable packaging supplies at competitive prices.
Shop for bubble wrap at Globe Packaging today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What size bubble wrap roll do I need for shipping?
It depends on the size and fragility of what you're shipping. For most small to medium e-commerce products, a 500mm or 600mm wide small bubble wrap roll (100M length) is the most versatile and cost-effective option. For larger items, a wider roll (1000mm to 1500mm) reduces the time spent layering and gives better single-wrap coverage.
Is biodegradable bubble wrap as effective as standard bubble wrap?
Yes. Biodegradable bubble wrap uses the same air-filled bubble structure as conventional plastic bubble wrap and provides an equivalent level of cushioning and shock absorption during transit. The only meaningful difference is the material (a biodegradable polymer rather than standard plastic), which breaks down naturally after disposal.
Can I use paper bubble wrap for fragile items?
Yes, paper bubble wrap is designed specifically to protect fragile items during transit. The paper is embossed and padded to create a cushioning structure that absorbs impact and prevents surface damage. It performs best for lighter, fragile items and is an excellent choice for businesses that want completely plastic-free packaging without sacrificing protection.
Does bubble wrap significantly increase the weight of a package?
No. Bubble wrap is extremely lightweight regardless of type. Because the bubbles are primarily air, adding several layers of bubble wrap to a package adds negligible weight, meaning it has virtually no impact on your postage costs. This makes it one of the most cost-efficient protective packaging materials available, especially for businesses shipping large volumes where every gram of added weight compounds across thousands of orders.
How long does it take for Globe Packaging to deliver orders in the UK?
Globe Packaging offers next-working-day delivery on orders over £50 and same-day dispatch on orders placed by 4pm across the UK mainland.
*Note: Product listings, prices, and delivery times shown are approximate and subject to change. Contact Globe Packaging for the latest information.
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