Choosing between PVC and PET decorative film is one of the first decisions a cabinet maker faces when specifying a wrapping or membrane-press line. Both are mature, widely available, and produce beautiful doors — but they behave very differently on your shop floor and in your customer's kitchen. Here's the practical breakdown.
The short answer
If your priority is cost efficiency and easy processing across a wide range of profiles, PVC film is the safe, proven workhorse. If you are building a premium, high-gloss or soft-touch range where scratch resistance and long-term gloss retention matter most, PET film earns its higher price. Most factories we supply run both — PVC for volume lines, PET for the hero products.
Side-by-side swatch of PVC matte vs PET high-gloss door panel
Cost & processability
PVC film is generally 20–40% cheaper per square metre than PET at comparable thickness, and it is far more forgiving on membrane presses — lower activation temperature, wider tolerance on vacuum timing, and a longer open time for complex profiles. PET requires tighter temperature control and cleaner tooling, but rewards you with a cleaner edge fold and no plasticizer migration over time.
- PVC: lower material cost, easier to membrane-press, ideal for routed and profiled MDF doors.
- PET: higher material cost, needs precise heat, but delivers a noticeably deeper, more uniform gloss.
Gloss, scratch & daily wear
This is where PET pulls ahead. PET's surface hardness resists micro-scratches from keys, rings and cleaning pads far better than PVC, and its gloss does not haze after years of wiping. PVC high-gloss is stunning on day one but can develop fine "spider-web" scratches in busy kitchens. For matte and soft-touch finishes, the gap narrows — a good PVC matte performs well and remains the value choice.
Heat & chemical resistance
Both films handle normal indoor temperatures. PET has a higher continuous-service temperature and better resistance to common household cleaners, which matters for cabinets near ovens and hobs. PVC softens earlier under sustained heat, so we advise it for upper cabinets and wardrobes rather than directly beside cooking surfaces.
Quick comparison
- Material cost: PVC lower · PET higher
- Ease of processing: PVC easier · PET needs tighter control
- Scratch resistance: PET clearly better
- Gloss retention (5 yrs): PET superior
- Best for: PVC = routed/profiled MDF, wardrobes · PET = flat high-gloss & soft-touch slabs
Comparison table photo or infographic
How BESUN helps you decide
Our export team routinely helps buyers build a two-tier film strategy: a PVC range for everyday volume and a PET range for flagship kitchens. We supply matching primers and glue recommendations per substrate, and we can run a free sample press test on your actual board so you see the result before committing to a full roll.