Forever Green sells the machine and film marked as ours, so we've kept to published figures and said clearly where something isn't published. If you spot something out of date, tell us and we'll correct it.
Scope: this compares entry-level air cushion machines with a price shown online. Higher specification machines and paper void fill systems are mostly sold by quote or free loaned. We can also offer this, but we're just covering published prices here.
The machines: each supplier's cheapest published price
In short, from lowest price:
- Forever Green Shadow Boxer Mk2: £295. Up to 12 m/min. 1 year warranty. Runs all 7 films in our range.
- Kite Mini Air Easi: £299. Up to 8 m/min, for under 100 parcels a day per Kite. 1 year parts and labour warranty, return to base.
- Raja AirFirst Void Fill System: £496. 3.5 m/min, rated by Raja for up to 100 packages a day. 12 month return-to-base warranty; on-site parts and labour is a £320 upgrade. Raja recommends installation and training at £248.
- Schott AirBoy Nano4: £595. Up to 10 m/min. Warranty not published.
- Macfarlane Pacplan AirWave 3: £779.43. Speed, film widths and warranty not published.
- Priory Direct AP450 Optimax: £1,136.04. Up to 23 m/min, films up to 800mm wide. 24 month parts and 12 month labour warranty.
What the machine prices show
Published entry-level prices vary by almost four times, from £295 to £1,136.04. The machines aren't identical, so compare service levels, speed (although not as important as it might sound, it can be an indicator to the quality of machine), film options and what's included.
Where our machine and Kite's differ. They are £4 apart (£295 and £299) but the real savings are in the ongoing film costs which are lower with Forever Green. Both have a 1 year warranty. The Shadow Boxer Mk2 is up to 12 m/min against 8 m/min for the Easi, and runs multiple film types like bubble, quilt, cushion and tubes.
Service differs more than warranty. Warranties are broadly similar, usually a year (Priory states 24 months on parts and 12 on labour). What varies is what comes with the machine. We offer free installation and training (optional) to every customer who buys or loans a machine, a free mailer for recycling used film through Return 2 Recycle (you pay only the return stamp) and our free Pack Proof service (Try Before You Buy), where we repack one of your orders and post it back. Of the other suppliers, only Raja states an installation price (£248, recommended but optional); none of the others publish installation, film recycling mailer or trial terms on the product page. “Not published” doesn’t mean it isn’t offered, so ask.
The machine is the smaller cost. It is a one-off purchase. The film is what you keep buying, so the cost per metre needs comparing carefully. If you have found cheaper than ours, challenge us and we can normally better. We can also help ensure the most optimum material is used.
The film: what you keep paying for
Film is where prices differ most. The two measurements that matter most when comparing are the film width and the roll length, so we've compared like for like on those, and shown the price per metre and per cushion.
200mm wide cushion film. Our 200mm x 100mm Cushion and 200mm x 200mm Cushion are both £24 per 500 m roll, about 4.8p per metre. That is 0.48p per 200 x 100mm cushion and 0.96p per 200 x 200mm cushion. Kite's 200 x 100mm film is £26.22 per 450 m roll at its lowest quantity (a box of 4 rolls), about 5.8p per metre and 0.58p per cushion, so our film is roughly 18% cheaper per metre. Priory Direct's 200 x 200mm film is £84.69 for a 700 m roll (18 micron, 30% recycled), about 12.1p per metre and 2.4p per cushion, falling to £60.21 per roll at 100 or more rolls (about 1.7p per cushion).
400mm wide quilt and bubble film. Kite's 400mm quilt film is £37.37 per 280 m roll at its lowest quantity (a box of 2 rolls), about 13.3p per metre. Our 400mm Quilt (4 Row) is £40 per 350 m roll for 1 to 7 rolls, about 11.4p per metre, roughly 14% less per metre than Kite's. Our 400mm Bubble (8 Row), 18 micron and 50% recycled, is £40 per 350 m roll for 1 to 7 rolls, about 11.4p per metre. Antalis NewAir IB at 400 x 320mm is £253.05 per 610 m reel (about 41.5p per metre), or £227.74 per reel for three reels (about 37.3p per metre).
Film prices at higher quantities. Both suppliers cut the price per roll as you buy more, so we compared the published price bands, again per metre.
Across the quantities we compared, our film is cheaper per metre at low, medium and high volumes. On 200mm cushion film the saving is about 15% to 18% throughout. On 400mm quilt film it is about 7% to 18%, rising to about 15% to 18% from 16 rolls up. The one exception is 12 to 15 rolls of 400mm quilt, where Kite's price is about 5% lower per metre. Add a few more rolls, so you reach 16, and our saving returns.
Read this fairly. Roll lengths, cushion sizes, thickness and recycled content differ between suppliers, and we've only compared what each page states. Check the spec of the film you're actually considering, and ask any supplier for their price at your own volume.
Is machine speed the thing to compare?
Less than the headline figure suggests. A single packer rarely packs faster than what a small machine produces, and packers can pre-make material into a hopper or a large box. Speed matters most when one machine supplies several packers, which is when a faster machine such as our Navy Seal (up to 28 m/min) is worth a look. We included the speed metric in the comparison as it can still be a guide to machine quality, and a minimum decent speed is still important.
How to choose
- Under about 100 parcels a day? An entry-level machine is enough. Compare price, warranty, film choice and the price per cushion.
- Hundreds of parcels a day, or several packing stations? Look at faster machines, and ask what's included: accessories such as hoppers or winders, and whether the price is a purchase or a loan.
- Not sure of your volume? Our guide to choosing an air cushion machine walks through it.
Related questions
What is the cheapest air cushion machine in the UK? Of the six suppliers we checked on 19 October 2026, the cheapest published prices were the Forever Green Shadow Boxer Mk2 at £295 and the Kite Mini Air Easi at £299, both ex VAT.
Is the cheapest air cushion machine the best value? Not automatically. The film cost for your ongoing orders matters the most. The number of films it's compatible with also indicates how much value and subsequently savings you'll gain from a single machine. The service and warranty too, both contribute to ongoing savings and costs.
Do I have to buy my film from you? Our machines are designed for our film, as with most air cushion systems, and we support them for as long as you buy your film from us. There is no minimum quantity, contract period or volume target attached to buying a machine. Our online prices are regularly checked to be the most competitive online but we're happy to be challenged if you find cheaper.
What support do I get after I buy a machine? Free install and training is an option. A purchased machine has a 1 year warranty from install date, and parts after that may be chargeable. We support it for as long as you're buying our film. Loaned machines are serviced at no charge for as long as the loan runs.
Do you offer machines on loan? Yes. Get in touch and we'll tell you whether a loan makes sense for your situation. See how our approach differs.
Prices and specifications were taken from each supplier's public website on 19 October 2026 and are ex VAT. Suppliers change their prices and listings, so check the supplier's current page before you buy. Compare our machines on the air cushion page.
