Laminating Film Thickness Guide

Using a laminator is a super simple way to create high-quality laminated signs, luggage tags, name tags, visual aids, and identification pieces. If using a pouch laminator, all you need to do is insert your paper into the pouch, place it in a carrier (if your machine can handle at least 10mil pouches), and run the project through your laminator. For roll laminators, you can simply run your sheet directly through. This makes creating laminated items very easy. All you need to worry about is choosing the right lamination thickness to get the job done. This article is designed to provide information to help you choose the right laminate thickness for your documents.

Before we discuss different thicknesses, it is important to note a few things. First, laminating film thickness is measured in mils. A mil is the equivalent of 0.001th of an inch, so it’s pretty tiny. Film thicknesses can range from 1.5 to 10 mil; in other words, they go from thin to thick. The thickness of laminate is almost always listed per side. This means a 10mil laminating pouch is 20mil thick (10mil on the front and 10mil on the back). Similarly, since a single roll of lamination film can only cover one side per pass through the laminator, the mil size indicates the thickness of that layer.

It is also important to note that not all laminators will accept all film thicknesses. Reference your laminator’s user manual to determine the maximum it can accept before you select a thickness. For example, if your roll laminator is compatible with 3mil film you can apply lamination up to 3mil on both sides, totaling 6mil.

Now with a brief overview out of the way. Here is a handy laminating film thickness guide to give you an idea of the finish you will achieve and what each thickness could potentially be used for.

From here the world is your oyster. Now that you know what each thickness can do, you can feel empowered to find the right film for you. Check out our current pouch laminate and roll laminate selections and get excited about your next project.