Complete Guide to Tape
What is Tape?
Tape is a tool used to bind, seal, or protect items, surfaces, and packages. Tape is an essential item for any warehouse, office, or home.
Which Tape Should I Use?
Selecting the appropriate tape for specific applications is crucial. Using the wrong tape may cause adhesion issues or even critical failures, potentially leading to product or shipment losses and damages. By finding the right tape, you can save valuable time and money, ensuring secure and reliable packaging solutions.
Carton Sealing Tape
Carton Sealing Tape is great for closing packaged boxes and carton materials. Also known as packing tape, these tapes are mostly used to seal and secure boxes for shipment, storage, or a move. Box sealing tape is highly versatile because it generally sticks well to most surfaces and is strong enough for most applications. It is also one of the most common types of tape. Carton sealing tape comes in a variety of subcategories, each with its own strengths.
Acrylic Carton Sealing Tape
Acrylic Carton Sealing Tape unwinds smoothly and clings to most surfaces. This tape is resistant to breakage and performs well in a wide range of temperatures and high-humidity environments. Acrylic tapes tend to be highly resistant to UV light, meaning they will not yellow as fast as other types.
Hot Melt Tape
Hot Melt Tape has a stronger adhesive than acrylic tape. Featuring a synthetic rubber adhesive, this thermoplastic tape forms a robust cling with recycled and uneven surfaces, making it ideal for heavy and important packaging.
Hybrid Acrylic Tape
Hybrid Acrylic Tape is made from a mixture of acrylic and rubber solvents. The hybrid adhesive allows this tape to work well in a wide range of temperatures. This tape is a great alternative to expensive natural rubber tapes.
Natural Rubber Carton Sealing Tape
Natural Rubber Carton Sealing Tape is excellent for sealing heavy cartons. The natural rubber adhesive is some of the strongest available in pressure-sensitive tapes, making it perfect for heavy-duty applications.
PVC Carton Sealing Packaging Tape
PVC Carton Sealing Packaging Tape is a heavyweight packaging tape with strong adhesion qualities. The sealing tape is coated with a high-grade adhesive that forms a strong and instant cling. It requires no solvent, heat, or moisture for application. The adhesive is formulated to offer strong bonding to shipping boxes as well as rough cartons having uneven surfaces.
Recycled Box Tape
Recycled Box Tape is pressure-sensitive hot melt tape that is specifically designed for sealing recycled, corrugated boxes.
Cold Temperature Carton Sealing Tape
Cold Temperature Carton Sealing Tape performs well in refrigerated or frozen environments. This tape is great for packaging meat and dairy products.
Colored Tape
Colored Tape is an acrylic-based tape that is available in a variety of colors. This can help with color coding or identifying specific shipments.
Label Protection Tape
Label Protection Tape is a transparent adhesive that secures and protects labels on various surfaces, including plastic, wood, paper, or metal. It's a high-performance, transparent adhesive that resists abrasions, moisture, and scuffing.
Kraft Tape
Kraft Paper Tape is made with a kraft paper backing. Sometimes called gummed tape, it is made with a water-activated adhesive (except for pressure sensitive flat back tapes). These tapes need a special dispenser to apply water to the tape before application. Kraft tape is strong and tear-resistant. The water-activated adhesive is so strong that it will naturally create a tamper-evident seal.
Shield Reinforced Kraft Paper Tape
Shield Reinforced Kraft Paper Tape guards packages, prevents damage, and eliminates theft. Once your parcel is sealed with this tape, your items are guaranteed to be safe and sound. These qualities also make this tape a great component for storage demands, whether for home, office, or industrial usage.
Non-Reinforced Kraft Paper Tape
Non-Reinforced Kraft Paper Tape does not feature any fiberglass reinforcement, making it more flexible and easier to handle. It is used for inner carton sealing or for lightweight cartons shipped in unitized loads or full pallets.
Flat Back Tape
Flat Back Tape is a pressure sensitive paper tape that resists curling, abrasion, water, and breakage. With impressive tensile strength, this tape is available in a variety of sizes from as small as 1” up to as high as 4”, while each size is equipped with 5.5 mil thickness to ensure high-performance ability.
Central Brand Kraft Tape
Central Brand Kraft Tape effectively seals the deal not only for the products but also the business relationships. Able to withstand all temperature challenges, this popular brand of tape will save money, lessen stress, and solidify customer requests through its strong and secure seal.
Packer's Pride
Packer's Pride gummed tape provides the strength and durability of kraft paper with the terrific hold and protective grip of gummed tape for added measure. Mailrooms and shipping companies have long relied on this kraft tape to keep packages secure and intact. The water-activated adhesive creates a firm grip on packages that won't come undone until it's cut open.
Super Seal Kraft Tape
UseSuper Seal Kraft Tape for a secure seal on mailing and other corrugated packages. This tape features a stronger-than-average water-activated adhesive that adheres to the box with a tight grip. Super seal tape resists breaking even under rough handling and cannot be ripped or removed without noticeable damage.
Filament/Strapping Tape
Filament/Strapping Tape is excellent for medium bundling and strapping applications. This high-quality tape adheres to a multitude of surfaces and secures multiple items for transit. Warehouse employees can use this tape to unitize pallets of product or add a layer of reinforcement around heavier parcels before shipping.
Reinforced Filament Tape
Reinforced Filament Tape is a pressure-sensitive tape that is strengthened with fiberglass strands. This tape is extremely resistant to shearing and excels in binding boxes or products together for shipping.
Strapping Tape
Strapping Tape is great for bundling and palletizing similar materials together. This non-reinforced tape can be used in the place of stretch wrap.
Bag Tape
Colored Bag Tapes are great for sealing food and other perishables inside poly bags. Bag sealing tape comes in various colors for coding and product identification.Bag Tape Dispensers make application extremely simple.
Masking/Painter's Tape
Masking/Painter's Tape is perfect for home makeovers and painting applications. These tapes have high-performance adhesives that stick to most irregular surfaces. Plus, masking/painter's tape does not leave a sticky residue after usage.
Masking/painter's tape is commonly used for protecting hardwood floors and trim while painting.
Masking Tape
Masking Tape can be easily torn and sticks to a variety of surfaces. This tape is best for do-it-yourself projects.
Painter's Tape
Painter's Tape is specifically designed for masking trim during painting projects. This tape can be cleanly removed from surfaces up to 21 days after application.
Duct Tape
Duct Tape is used for general maintenance and repairs. This ubiquitous tape can be easily torn by hand and applied to most surfaces. Waterproof and extremely durable, duct tape is perfect for minor repairs in industrial and residential areas.
Printed Tape
Printed Tape has pre-printed instructions & warnings for recipients. These warnings include “CAUTION”, “FRAGILE: HANDLE WITH CARE”, and a stop sign print. Printed acrylic tape is specifically designed to grab the customer's attention so that products are handled carefully.
Security Tape
Security Tape helps ship valued items to customers safely. This tape is designed to help recipients identify tampered goods. Tamper evident tape has a specific pattern that does not realign after being opened. Security tape has a visual warning for patrons: “CAUTION: IF SEAL IS BROKEN, CHECK CONTENTS”.
Double Sided Tape
Double Sided Tape has adhesive on both sides to mount objects to surfaces. This tape is also perfect for bonding items together. Double sided adhesive tape is an alternative to strapping or glue. Double sided tape resists oils, ultraviolet light, and significant temperature changes.
Machine Length Tape
Machine Length Tape is available in a variety of types. These rolls are 1000 yards long or more and are specially made for automatic box-taping machines. Machine length packaging tape has a standard 3-inch diameter core.
Acrylic Machine Length Tape
Acrylic Machine Length Tape does not compromise on its performance even in extreme temperatures. Moreover, this tape is resistant to breakage and seam splitting, which makes it highly versatile.
Colored Machine Length Tape
Colored Machine Length Tape is available in a variety of bright colors. Its strong adherence properties allow them to stick to multiple surfaces easily.
Hot Melt Machine Length Tape
Hot Melt Machine Length Tape possesses high adherence qualities and tensile strength that together contribute towards premium performance during packing applications. This pressure sensitive hot melt adhesive is resistant to breakage and seam splitting.
Surface Protection Tape
Surface Protection Tape is ideal for protecting carpets and wood floors from construction debris. Carpet protection tape can be used on staircases, hallways, rooms, or countertops. Larger rolls are perfect for contractors working in bigger spaces. Protection tape does not leave a residue upon removal. Available in Carpet Protection Tape or Hard Surface Protection Tape.
What is Mil Thickness?
A mil is one-thousandth of an inch. Also known as a thou or a point, mil is the standard unit for measuring thickness in tape. As a point of reference, an average human hair is roughly 4 mil thick.
Carton sealing tapes are typically available in the 1.6-3.0 mil range, with 2.0 mil being the average. Acrylic tapes tend to be thinner, while hot melt tapes are usually thicker. High performance tapes like filament or kraft can be as thick as 4-6 mil.
As it relates to other measurements of thickness, a mil is 100 gauge and roughly 25.4 microns. For assistance with converting between the different units, please refer to the charts below:
