The film used for laminating varies in size, thickness, and style. Laminating film carries with it a variety of uses dependent upon the purpose it is intended for. Styles of laminating film include; roll, sheet, pouches, and tape. The reason being is that different models of laminators require a certain amount and type of film in order to do their job properly. The size of the item you wish to have sealed will determine the size and type of film that is needed. Each film style has a different purpose. For instance, roll film is used for sealing large projects like posters and maps while laminating sheets will work fine for sealing a marriage certificate and school awards. Laminating pouches on the other hand, can protect letters, Work ID badges, or school assignments.

For the roll type of laminating film there are two variations for purchasing, once more depending upon what model of machine you have. Roll film can be sold as an individual unit, or two to three to a package. There is also a cartridge version of roll film that gets loaded just as if you were replacing the ink or toner cartridge in a copier. Some examples of the models of laminators requiring a cartridge are the 3m Dual Laminating System, the BRT- LCD9 model by Brother, the Xyron EZLaminator, and the Brother TX2511, which is a laminated tape cartridge. Sheet style laminating films are almost always bought as a self-adhesive material and therefore they do not require the use of a machine, making them the easiest of these different types of films to apply to a surface. This film also comes in two common sizes, the 9″x12″ and the 4″x6″ for photographs. The pouches are perfect for enclosing letters, bookmarks, or storing your work ID badge. Pouches can be purchased in either sealed, or retrievable and costs between $2 to $30.