Shrink film
PVC, PET or OPS film priced by weight — driven by your sleeve height, circumference (layflat), micron and the film's density.
Resources · Free tool
Shrink sleeve cost calculator
Estimate the per-sleeve cost of a shrink-sleeve job — film, plates, ink and machine time — in minutes. Enter your job and we'll email you the full breakdown, free.
Open the shrink sleeve cost calculator →Free · indicative estimate
What it estimates
Your per-piece cost, built from the parts a printer actually pays for.
Plates & set-up
One-time origination for the design, spread across the order quantity, plus make-ready waste.
Ink & coverage
Ink cost from the number of colours and their coverage across the sleeve.
Machine time & manpower
Press speed, run length and operator cost that convert your quantity into press hours.
Waste
Set-up and running waste, which weighs more heavily on shorter runs.
Repeat & imposition
How many sleeves fit around the cylinder and across the web — the tool works this out from your dimensions.
What you'll need to enter
- Order quantity (finished sleeves)
- Sleeve height (MD) and circumference (CD), in mm
- Film type, micron and price
- Number of colours and ink coverage
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How is shrink sleeve cost calculated?
A shrink sleeve's cost comes from the film (priced by weight from your sleeve dimensions and micron), plate origination spread over the run, ink by colour and coverage, and the machine time and manpower to print it — divided by the number of sleeves. The calculator does this and returns a per-sleeve cost.
What drives shrink sleeve cost the most?
Film consumption (sleeve size and micron), order quantity, and the number of colours are the biggest levers. Larger sleeves and higher micron use more film; short runs spread plates and set-up over fewer pieces.
Which film should I choose — PVC, PET or OPS?
Each has a different density and shrink behaviour, which changes the film weight and therefore the cost. The calculator lets you enter your film's micron and price so the estimate matches what you actually run.
Is the shrink sleeve cost calculator free?
Yes. Get an indicative per-sleeve cost on screen and the full breakdown by email, at no cost.
How accurate is the estimate?
It's an indicative guide based on your inputs and typical rates. Real cost depends on your film contract and job specifics — send us the details to firm it up.
Can I compare flexo and gravure for sleeves?
Yes. The Flexo vs Gravure comparison prices the same job on both processes with a break-even quantity.
Ready to price your job?
Get your per-piece cost on screen and the full breakdown by email — free. Or send us the details and we'll come back with honest numbers.
Related tools
- Printing cost calculator (hub) →Labels, shrink sleeves and pouches in one tool.
- Pouch cost calculator →Per-pouch cost for flexible-packaging jobs.
- Flexo vs Gravure comparison →Same job, both processes, with break-even.