8th Jul 2025
When it comes to shipping and packaging, tape is far more than a sticky strip. It’s the final safeguard between your products and the outside world, and the difference between a seamless delivery and a packaging failure. Whether you’re sealing by hand, using high-speed machinery, or prioritizing sustainability, choosing the right tape is essential for secure, efficient, and professional packaging.
In this guide, we’ll break down the most common types of tape used in packaging and shipping, when to use them, and what makes each one unique.
Hand Tape: For Manual Packaging Precision
Hand tape is made for use with handheld dispensers, offering consistent strength and ease of application. It’s a staple at packing stations, retail shipping counters, and small businesses.
Explore clear, hotmelt, or acrylic varieties based on your environment and sealing needs.
Types of Hand Tapes:
Acrylic Hand Tape: Long-Lasting Clarity and Strength
Acrylic hand tape stands out for its UV, moisture, and age resistance. It maintains adhesion and transparency over time, making it great for long-term storage or sunny environments.
Use It When:
- You need a clear, durable seal
- Storing boxes for extended periods
- Working in high or fluctuating temperatures
Perfect for retail packaging, warehousing, and long-distance shipping.
Shop Acrylic Hand Tape
Hotmelt Hand Tape: Speed Meets Strength
When fast bonding and durability are essential, hotmelt hand tape is the answer. It offers a quick stick and strong hold, making it ideal for fast-paced environments.
Best For:
- Rough or textured surfaces like corrugated cardboard
- High-volume fulfillment centers
- Preventing box popping during transit
Its performance shines in e-commerce and manufacturing operations where speed matters.
Shop Hotmelt Hand Tape
Colored Acrylic Tape: Seal and Sort with Ease
Colored acrylic tape is more than just eye-catching. It’s functional. Use it to color-code shipments, distinguish departments, or add a pop of branding to packaging.
Advantages:
- Easy identification of box contents
- Adds visibility and organization
- Offers the same UV- and age-resistant benefits as clear acrylic tape
Available in multiple colors for streamlined warehouse operations.
Shop Colored Acrylic Tape
Filament Tape: Extra Strength for Heavy Loads
Filament tape includes fiberglass strands for added strength, making it the top choice for bundling heavy products, reinforcing packages, or palletizing.
Features:
- High tensile strength
- Great for irregular or bulky loads
- Won’t snap under pressure
Use filament tape when reliability and toughness are non-negotiable.
Shop Filament Tape
Tape Dispensers: The Right Tool for the Job
The right tape isn’t complete without the right dispenser. Whether manual or automatic, dispensers speed up application and improve consistency.
Benefits:
- Faster sealing with less waste
- Precise, clean cuts
- Reduces worker fatigue in high-volume settings
Choose a dispenser compatible with your preferred hand or machine tape for maximum efficiency.
Shop Tape Dispensers
Machine Tape: Designed for Automation
Machine tape is built for high-speed, high-volume sealing with automatic case sealers and packaging machinery.
Ideal for large-scale operations like manufacturing plants, fulfillment centers, and logistics hubs.
Types of Machine Tape:
Acrylic Machine Tape: Clear, Strong, and Reliable
For automated applications needing a clear finish and long-term performance, acrylic machine tape delivers.
Use It For:
- Clean, long-lasting seals
- Resistance to yellowing and UV damage
- Compatibility with all major sealing machines
Perfect for warehouses that value aesthetics and durability.
Shop Acrylic Machine Tape
Hotmelt Machine Tape: Speed and Grip in One
If you’re sealing quickly and need aggressive adhesion, hotmelt machine tape offers quick tack and dependable hold, especially on recycled or textured boxes.
Ideal For:
- Rapid sealing lines
- Rough corrugated surfaces
- High-volume production
Hotmelt adhesive offers strength without sacrificing speed.
Shop Hotmelt Machine Tape
Water Activated Tape: Secure and Sustainable
Water-activated gum tape (WAT) is a kraft paper-based solution that creates a tamper-evident, permanent bond when moistened.
Why Choose Water Activated Tape?
- Made from eco-friendly kraft paper
- Tamper-evident and secure seal
- Reduces material waste and enhances brand perception
Used heavily in e-commerce, food, and pharmaceutical industries, it’s a great choice for businesses focused on sustainability and security.
Shop Water Activated Tape
Choosing the Right Tape for the Job
|
Tape Type |
Best For |
Key Benefits |
|
Acrylic Tape |
Long-term storage, sunny conditions |
UV/moisture resistance, clarity |
|
Hotmelt Tape |
High-speed sealing, rough surfaces |
Quick bonding, heavy-duty hold |
|
Colored Acrylic Tape |
Color coding, branding |
Visibility, UV resistance |
|
Filament Tape |
Heavy loads, bundling |
Reinforced strength |
|
Water Activated Tape |
Eco-conscious packaging, security |
Tamper-evident, recyclable, printable |
Tape is More Than a Seal, It's a Solution
Choosing the right tape isn't just a minor detail. It’s a key part of your packaging strategy. It impacts product safety, operational efficiency, customer experience, and even sustainability. Whether you're sealing a few boxes by hand or running thousands through an automated line, there’s a tape tailored for your needs.
Explore our full range of packing tapes, tape dispensers, and packaging supplies to find the perfect fit for your operation. Not sure which tape is right for your application? Our team is here to help.
Let your packaging do more with tape that works as hard as you do.
Need help choosing the right tape?
Contact us today for expert guidance or to request a sample.