Roll Cradle Size Guide: How to Pick the Right CradlePak for Your Rolls

Tamarack stocks 18 plastic roll cradles that fit roll diameters from 6 inches up to 48 inches. This guide covers the four things that decide which one you need: roll diameter, roll length, weight, and how you stack. Each size links to its product page, so once you know your numbers, you can go straight to the cradle that fits.

How CradlePak Sizes Are Named

Every CradlePak size uses two numbers:

• The length of the cradle in inches
• How many saddles run across it

A 42-6 is 42 inches long with six saddles, so each saddle holds a small-diameter roll. A 48-1 is 48 inches long with one wide saddle for a single large roll. The more saddles a cradle has, the smaller the roll diameter each saddle is shaped to hold.

Our naming conventions also use two suffixes:

• “LP” means the cradle has a raised lip that helps keep smaller rolls from shifting.
• “CSC” is a continuous support cradle, which carries the roll along its full length instead of at set saddle points.

How to Choose the Right Roll Cradle Size

Step 1: Match the Roll Diameter

Measure the outside diameter (OD) across the full wound roll at its widest point, not the inner core, then match it to the cradle’s OD range below. (The core’s inside diameter matters for core plugs, not for cradle sizing.) If your roll falls between two ranges, pick the cradle whose top-of-range sits closest to your roll OD, so the roll seats snug without extra play in the saddle.

CradlePak Size	Configuration	Roll Diameter (OD)	Cradle Length
42-6	6 rolls	6″ – 7″	42″
42-5	5 rolls	7″ – 8.4″	42″
48-5	5 rolls	8″ – 9.5″	48″
42-4	4 rolls	9″ – 10.5″	42″
42-4LP	4 rolls, with lip	9″ – 10.5″	42″
48-4	4 rolls	10″ – 12″	48″
48-4LP	4 rolls, with lip	10″ – 12″	48″
45-4	4 rolls	10.5″ – 11.5″	45″
42-3	3 rolls	12″ – 14″	42″
48-3	3 rolls	14″ – 16″	48″
36-2	2 rolls	16″ – 18″	36″
42-2	2 rolls	18″ – 21″	42″
45-2	2 rolls	21″ – 22.5″	45″
48-2	2 rolls	21″ – 24″	48″
36CSC	Continuous support	28″ – 36″	36″
36-1	1 roll	28″ – 36″	36″
48-1	1 roll	36″ – 48″	48″

Some diameter ranges overlap. When more than one size fits your roll, the cradle length in Step 2, your pallet size, and how many rolls you run at once decide between them. On a 48-inch pallet, a 48-length cradle fits best; on a 42-inch pallet, choose a 42-length.

Shipping small rolls of label stock or film? Look at the 42-6 or 42-5, which seat several narrow rolls side by side. Handling one heavy master roll instead? The single-saddle 36-1 or 48-1 carry rolls up to 36 inches and 48 inches across, respectively.

Step 2: Check the Roll Length

Select a cradle length that closely matches the dimensions of your pallet to ensure both the cradle and the roll are fully supported. When a cradle extends beyond the edge of the pallet, it loses structural support, which can compromise load stability during storage, handling, and transit.

If your roll outside diameter (OD) falls between two standard cradle sizes, prioritize selecting the cradle length that best matches your pallet dimensions. If your application requires a size that is not part of our standard offering, contact our team about a custom-formed cradle designed to meet your exact specifications.

Step 3: Factor in Weight

CradlePak cradles hold up to approximately 6,000 pounds per cradle pair, depending on the roll material and how the load is packed. 

Each product page lists the recommended maximum capacity for each cradle size. If you’re loading near the top of a range, send us the roll weight along with the diameter so we can confirm the configuration before you order.

Step 4: Plan for Stacking and Storage

Empty CradlePaks nest tightly. We package up to 1,200 on a standard pallet, and the pallets double-stack, so you store more in less room and keep aisles clear. The smooth plastic finish lets you pull them apart easily one at a time instead of prying them loose.

In use, CradlePaks ship in perforated pairs. Separate them into singles for the top and bottom layers of a pallet, or fold a pair over to sit between layers when you stack rolls more than one layer high. For smaller-diameter rolls that need a firmer hold, the lip versions, 42-4LP and 48-4LP, add a raised edge that keeps rolls from shifting on the pallet.

Find Your CradlePak Size

Still between sizes, or working with rolls outside these ranges? Send us your roll’s OD and pallet dimensions , and we’ll point you to the right cradle. Tamarack also makes custom thermoformed parts for sizes beyond the standard 18.

Pairing cradles with plastic core plugs protects both the outside and inner core of your rolls. New to plastic cradles? See why converters and mills are switching from pulp.

Request a quote or contact our team to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size roll cradle do I need?

Start with the outside diameter of your roll and match it to the cradle’s OD range, then confirm the cradle length covers fits your pallet’s width. CradlePak sizes fit rolls from 6 to 48 inches in diameter.

How are roll cradle dimensions measured?

Two numbers matter most: the roll’s outside diameter (which determines the saddle size you need) and the pallet’s width or length (which should match the cradle’s length so the roll is supported end to end).

Can I stack rolls on CradlePak cradles?

Yes. CradlePaks come in perforated pairs that separate into singles for the top and bottom layers, and a folded pair sits between layers when you stack rolls.