Bubble wrap—the ever-present bubble plastic—protects glasses, dinnerware, and shipments: each bubble is an air chamber that absorbs impact. It's not paper. It's two layers of plastic sealed with air in between; that's why in the warehouse we call it "bubble plastic" and on Google many people search for "bubble wrap."
Placing it inside out or with just one layer leaves the object almost bare. This guide covers the correct side, bubble size, meters needed, and how to wrap glasses. If you already know what you need, rolls are in the bubble plastic catalog. If you're looking for it for windows, that's another article: we don't insulate windows here.
Are "papel burbuja" and "plástico de burbujas" the same thing?
Yes: "papel burbuja" and "plástico de burbujas" refer to the same material. The name changes, not the product.
In Spain, "papel burbuja" is requested just like "celo" (sticky tape): it's common usage, not a technical specification. The roll is polyethylene with air. If you're comparing catalog types and purchase formats, that's in bubble plastic: types, uses, and prices; this post focuses on how to use it and what it's called.
Do the bubbles go in or out?
In: the bubbles must touch the object. The smooth side faces outwards.
Each bubble acts as a shock absorber only if it rests against the item. If you put them facing outwards, the object rests on a flat sheet: it looks nice in the photo but only provides half the protection.
The exception is a sharp corner (a metal frame, a pointy edge). In that case, the smooth side goes against the object, so the bubbles don't burst at the first touch. In all other cases: bubbles against the item, layer by layer, and tape or MiniFilm to prevent it from unraveling when placed in the box.
How much bubble wrap do I need for a move?
For the fragile items in a two-bedroom apartment, about 20 to 30 m²; a large house, 40 to 60 m². This is an estimate for dinnerware, glasses, and items that break, not a laboratory figure or the exact footage for boxes.
- Shipping one item: about 0.5 m².
- House / fragile items for a move: 20–30 m² (two or three rolls of 100 cm × 10 m, which are 10 m² each).
- Small apartment or few fragile items: a roll of 50 cm × 10 m is 5 m²; it works for shipments and getting by, but it will be insufficient for an entire house.
If you shake a closed box and hear movement, there's not enough bubble wrap or not enough void fill: kraft paper and packing peanuts fill the gaps that bubble wrap doesn't.
Small or large bubble?
Small bubbles for glasses, dinnerware, and irregular shapes; large bubbles (2.5 cm diameter American type) for large surfaces and stronger impacts: screens, paintings, appliances.
The small bubble folds around a glass stem or a vase. The large bubble covers more area with a single pass and provides more cushioning. At TeleCajas, the short rolls of 50 and 100 cm × 10 m cover home and shipping use; the 100 cm roll is made with small bubbles. The 2.5 cm large bubble comes in jumbo rolls from the same collection, not in the 10 m format.
If you can only have one size in your workshop, stick with the small one: it wraps everything. The large one is for when the problem is a large flat surface. Paintings and mirrors aren't solved with just a roll: corner protectors and a flat box, step-by-step in how to pack a painting or mirror. Cardboard corner protectors and picture boxes are a complement, not a substitute for bubble wrap.
Bubble wrap or foam?
Neither one exclusively: the combination is what's needed. Bubble wrap cushions impact; foam (polyethylene foam) separates items and doesn't leave marks on the surface.
A tea set, a lacquered tray, two plates traveling stacked: foam between each piece to prevent scratching, bubble wrap around for impact protection. Bubble wrap alone allows them to touch; foam alone won't absorb the impact of a fall. Thickness, uses, and when foam comes first: polyethylene foam (foam).
How to pack glasses and dinnerware?
Each piece wrapped individually, bubbles towards the glass, two or three layers, and the box should not make noise when shaken.
- Glass: wrap the bowl and the base; if the stem is thin, add an extra strip on the stem. Bubbles against the glass.
- Plate or platter: do not stack them bare. Use foam or one layer of bubble wrap between each plate; then wrap the entire bundle with another layer.
- Secure the wrapping (tape or MiniFilm, linked above) so it doesn't open when placed in the box.
- In the box, fill gaps with kraft paper or packing peanuts. If it rattles, there's not enough material, not "that's enough."
Three layers won't save the air left in the box. The rest of the materials and the order for a very fragile item are in how to pack fragile items.
Bubble wrap is polyethylene (LDPE, code 4): if the bubbles are still inflated, it can be reused. Alternatives for void fill, without repeating the experiment: eco-friendly packaging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are "papel burbuja" and "plástico de burbujas" the same thing?
Yes: "papel burbuja" and "plástico de burbujas" are the same material. The name you use to request it changes.
Do the bubbles go in or out?
In: the bubbles must touch the object, and the smooth side faces outwards, except for sharp corners.
How much bubble wrap do I need for a move?
For fragile items in a two-bedroom apartment, about 20 to 30 m²; a large house, 40 to 60 m². A 100 cm × 10 m roll is 10 m².
Small or large bubble?
Small bubbles for glasses, dinnerware, and irregular shapes; large 2.5 cm bubbles for large surfaces (screens, paintings). If there's only one size in the workshop, choose small.
Bubble wrap or foam?
The combo: foam between items to prevent scratching and bubble wrap around for impact protection. It's not one or the other.
How to pack glasses and dinnerware with bubble wrap?
Each piece wrapped individually, bubbles towards the glass, two or three layers, and the box should not move when shaken. Fill gaps with void fill, not air.
The bubble wrap rolls in this guide are in the catalog (link above). For home use, the 50 cm or 100 cm × 10 m rolls; other widths and the large bubble are in the same list.
We are TeleCajas, in Seville. The trick isn't to buy more meters: it's to place the bubbles on the side that cushions.
Hola, gracias por su valoración, si necesita mas grosor y mullido pruebe con nuestra burbuja gorda de 2,5 cm de diametro. La puede encontrar buscando “Gorda” en la lupa del buscador de nuestra web. Saludos!
Lo estoy usando en el sillón de el hospital, para pasar la noche, en un sillón muy duro, es más suave