Tape is the cheapest part of your packaging and one of the easiest to get wrong. The wrong roll can split on a heavy box, wake the whole house when you unroll it at 11pm, or leave a smart branded parcel looking like it was sealed in a hurry. Here is a practical way to choose the right tape for what you actually send.
Start with what you are sealing
Before you compare rolls, think about the parcel. A light postal box holding a T-shirt needs a very different seal from a boxed set of candles. The things that matter most are the weight of the contents, how much the box will be handled, and how much you want the seal to look like part of your brand.
If you are still deciding on the box itself, our guide to choosing the right box size is a good place to start, because a box that fits properly needs less tape to hold it together.
The main types of packaging tape
Our packaging tape range covers the everyday options most sellers need.
- Clear tape: neat and unobtrusive. It disappears against both brown and white boxes, which makes it a sensible default when your box carries the branding.
- Brown tape: blends in with kraft boxes and mailers, so the parcel looks uniform.
- Low-noise brown tape: designed to unroll more quietly. If you pack at a desk in a shared space or pack for long stretches, you will notice the difference.
There is no single best tape. Match the colour to your box and choose low-noise if volume is a factor.
Warning tape for fragile parcels
We also stock warning tape marked 'Fragile' and 'Handle With Care'. It is a simple, low-cost way to flag a parcel, and it works best alongside proper protection inside the box rather than instead of it. If breakages are your worry, read our advice on shipping fragile items without breakages first. Tape on the outside cannot make up for a box that is too big or contents that can rattle around.
How much tape is enough?
More tape is not always better, but too little is the common mistake. As a general approach, seal the centre seam of the box and extend the tape a good way down both sides. For heavier items, add tape along the edges of the seam as well. Press the tape down firmly along its whole length, as pressure is what makes it grip the card.
A tape dispenser gun, which we also stock, speeds up repeat packing and gives you a cleaner, straighter seam. If you pack more than a handful of parcels a day, it is worth having.
Can you print on tape?
This is where we like to be plain about what we can and cannot do. The only printed tape we offer is water-activated gummed tape. We do not print on self-adhesive, parcel, barrier or warning tape. If you want branded tape, our custom printed tapes are where to look.
It is worth knowing that the branding on your parcel is usually done better on the packaging itself. We print full-colour artwork onto our stock postal cardboard boxes, but only in pre-defined print areas, not across the whole box. The print areas for each product are shown in the artwork tool on the product page. There is also no white ink, so any white in your artwork shows as the colour of the material underneath. A plain, well-chosen tape then lets your printed area do the talking.
Common taping mistakes
A few habits cause most seal failures. Taping over a dusty or damp surface stops the adhesive gripping, so wipe the seam first. Overfilling the box forces the flaps up, and the tape then has to fight the card the whole way to the courier. Using a thin strip across a heavy box puts all the strain on a small area. And leaving loose tape tails creates a snag point where a parcel can catch and start to peel in the sorting process.
Fixing these costs nothing. Pack to the right size, keep the seam clean, press the tape down firmly, and finish with tidy ends. A neat seal also looks more professional when your customer opens the parcel.
A simple way to decide
If you want a quick rule, here it is. Use clear tape on printed boxes where you want the artwork to stay front and centre. Use brown tape on kraft packaging for a consistent look. Choose low-noise if you pack a lot. Add warning tape for parcels that need extra care. Buy a dispenser gun if your volumes justify it.
Whatever you choose, test it on a real packed parcel before you buy in bulk. Ship one to yourself, see how the seal holds up, and adjust. If you have questions about our products or how an order works, our frequently asked questions page covers most of them.
