Steel or Plastic Strapping: Which is Most Affordable?

You have a lot of options when it comes to strapping, including steel, polypropylene (PP) and polyester (PET). Which of these strapping options is the most economical? The cheapest strapping material may not always be the best bet.  The best value in strapping will always be the material that meets your requirements for strength, stability, and performance.

Strapping costs can vary widely depending on the material type. Here are some general cost considerations when choosing the right strapping material. 

Traditional steel strapping is the most expensive. It is also the heaviest, which means you may have extra freight costs to consider. 

Strong, lightweight polyester (PET) strapping is often used as a cost-effective alternative to steel strapping. If it is appropriate for your application, it is better value. 

Polypropylene (PP) is the cheapest strapping material and performs well for many light-to-medium loads. It is not suitable for all applications. 

 Is steel strapping worth the cost? Steel is the most expensive strapping material, but there are applications where the cost is worth it. Steel has high tensile strength and little to no stretch, meaning that it does not loosen after the load is strapped down. It is best for large, heavy loads requiring an extra-firm hold, such as logs or building materials. It also is a better choice when strapping downloads that are sharp or hot and may damage PET strapping. Because of its cost, and the relative difficulty of working with steel strapping, it is best to reserve steel for loads that cannot be safely transported with safer and more economical strapping materials such as PET. 

Is PET strapping cheaper than steel? PET or polyester strapping is always a cheaper alternative to steel, resulting in cost savings that can be as much as 50%. Pound for pound, PET is stronger than steel, so a roll of PET strapping will be lighter than a roll of steel strapping with the same break strength. So, in addition to saving on material costs, you’re likely to save on freight, too. PET has other advantages, too—notably when it comes to cost and safety. PET is easier and safer to work with, reducing the risk of injuries that can result when steel strapping is cut, and tension is suddenly released. For all these reasons, PET is usually better value for securing all but the heaviest of loads. PET should also be avoided if strapping is exposed to sharp edges. For most load types, though, PET will provide significant cost savings with few or no drawbacks. 

Which strapping material is cheapest? Of the three options, polypropylene (PP) is the cheapest option. This highly economical strapping type has many applications in packaging, logistics and industry. Designed for light-to-medium weight loads, PP performs well for most general-purpose strapping needs. It is available in a broad range of colors, widths, and thicknesses. PP is more flexible than PET, making it a great option for securing boxes and awkward loads. It is also the most used option for table-top strapping machines, for example. However, PP is not strong enough for the heavy loads that steel and PET are designed to handle. It also has poor stretch recovery and is more sensitive to environmental conditions. But if PP is suitable for your application, it will be the most economical choice. 

Costs for strapping material are driven by many factors—most notably raw material costs. For this reason, strapping prices may fluctuate in response to the price of steel (for steel strapping), petroleum or resin (for PET or PP strapping). Outside of material cost considerations, the cost of strapping will also depend on other factors such as thickness and break strength. Thicker, stronger strapping will be more expensive. 

How can you reduce strapping material costs? The most important factor in reducing strapping costs is choosing the right material. Choose the cheapest material that will serve your purpose without sacrificing safety and reliability. If polypropylene (PP) works for your application, it will be the cheapest option. 

If you are currently using steel, consider switching to PET. Unless you have a very good reason to stick with steel (such as sharp edges or extreme loads), PET is likely to deliver the same performance with lower costs, less weight and higher safety. 

Not sure which type of strapping is best for your application? Talk to one of our product experts at Quick Pak Inc, call 813 242 6995 or reach out to sales@quickpakinc.com