Guide to Packaging Tape Types and Styles

Use the best packing tapes for your products
By Missy Duncan

Deciding what type of packaging tape will serve you best can be difficult. There are numerous sizes, styles and brands of packing tape available. Learning packing tape types and styles will allow you to narrow your search. By discovering the benefits of each type of tape, you will be able to make the best choices in packing tapes.

Packaging tape types and styles are broken down to five categories; hot melt, Teflon, acrylic and paper backed, strapping and custom tape. Each type of tape is available in different sizes and styles. The most commonly used packing tapes are hot melt, acrylic and paper backed. Review the list to discover what type of tape is best for your company.

1. Discover the benefits of hot melt adhesive packaging tape.

2. Locate different types of Teflon packing tape.

3. View options available for acrylic and paper backed colored packing tape.

4. Find the different styles and sizes of strapping tapes.

5. Learn the styles of custom printed packaging tape.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find hot melt adhesive packaging tape Hot melt adhesive tape comes in 1/2-to-three-inch widths. Hot melt adhesive packing tape instantly adheres to boxes, produces tight seals and works in temperatures from 45 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

I recommend: Visit PTIPackaging to find different styles and sizes of hot melt packing tape. The Packaging Tape Depot has a wide selection of hot melt packing tapes available.

View the benefits of Teflon packing tape Teflon packing tape comes in widths of one-to-three inches. This type of packaging tape is highly elastic and water resistant.

I recommend: Packaging Tape allows customers to review and compare clear packing tape made with Teflon. The Tape Depot has colored packing tape and Teflon packing tape in all sizes.

View the various types of acrylic and paper backed colored packing tape Paper and acrylic packing tape is available in two-to-three-inch widths. The paper backed packing tape is activated by water, where the acrylic tape is self adhering.

I recommend: Find paper and acrylic colored packing tape at Fast-Pack. Rand Materials Handling and Packaging Supplies has paper backed and acrylic printed packing tape in all sizes.

Review the types of strapping tapes Strapping tape is highly durable and comes in widths of 1/4-to-one-inch. Strapping tape is reinforced with cloth or other materials to give it unparalleled strength.

I recommend: Compare strapping style packaging tapes at Uline Shipping Supplies. Visit Browncor to compare various styles of packing tape including strapping tape.

Find the types of custom printed packaging tape available Custom packing tapes are available in all types of widths and styles. These tapes are normally hot melt or acrylic tapes. However, the types used are up to the customer.

I recommend: Find custom packing tape that can be printed to your standards at Plus Packaging and Continental Tape Printers. View all types of options available for custom packaging tape at PackagingPrice.

3M Scotch Packaging Tape Dispenser

Item: 3M Scotch Packaging Tape Dispenser
Location:
by Orrymain



As someone who has mailed out a lot of packages, I finally got tired of trying to use my nails to get tape to pull out and then find scissors to cut the tape with. Half the time, the tape would fold down, onto itself. It was very frustrating. So, one day while shopping at Sam’s Club, I decided to give the 3M Scotch Packaging Tape Dispenser a try. It was a little more expensive than I wanted, but my nails demanded I buy it.

The 3M Scotch Packaging Tape Dispenser is a lovely red color with some gray in the cutting area. It’s very sturdy and easily stands up on its own on any desk or work table, even when the dispenser is loaded with a full role of packaging tape. It’s also fits right into your hand for easy usage.

It is a simple process to load the tape. The new role just slides into the holder and then you thread the tape between the dispenser and the base. I will say that sometimes it does take a lot of pressure to push the tape into the holder. Once there, it is secure, but it definitely can take some effort to get it in place.

The dispenser works beautifully, making it a whole lot easier to package up anything you want. I’ve used it on big boxes to little envelopes. I’ve never had the tape slip off and I’ve never been cut by it. It’s well proportioned and does its job, as claimed.

The 3M Scotch Packaging Tape Dispenser is a definite winner!

Tear This Packing Tape By Hand

Believe it or not, sometimes duct tape isn’t the right tape for the job. You can’t see through it and it doesn’t always stick well to cardboard, so for things like shipping and packing you need packing tape. The trouble is that you can’t just rip packing tape — until now.

Nifty gives their Hand Tear Tape serrated edges which allow you to actually tear the tape by hand. They apply a strong acrylic adhesive to a 3.2 mil. polypropylene tape for a product that they claim resists aging, withstands weathering, thwarts UV light, and persists without yellowing.

A 2″ by 55-yard roll will run you $4 to $6.