Everything you need to know: Tapes
From fixing things in place to crafting intricate DIY projects, adhesive tape is a household staple that often goes unnoticed—until you need it. In this article, we're peeling back the layers on the different types of adhesive tapes at Bostik, each designed with unique properties to tackle specific tasks with precision and ease.
Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, a home repair pro, or just looking for the right tape to get your creative juices flowing, we’ve got you covered. Discover the best type of tape for you and your project, from the everyday essentials to the specialised solutions that make life a little easier.
Types of tapes
Our range includes different kinds of tape, designed to suit your craft, repair, and DIY needs. From standard sticky tape on a roll, our recyclable sticky discs, our washable, double-sided mounting tape, to our indoor or outdoor duct tapes - there's different tapes for all needs!
- Sticky Tape: A clear, strong tape suitable for everyday use on paper, card, gift wrap and more.
- Tape Discs: Easy-to-peel, pre-cut, recyclable sticky circles for wrapping presents, sealing bags, fixing tags and more - without the need for scissors!
- Miracle Mounting Tape: Double-sided, washable, and reusable, clear mounting tape for a no-nail solution to hanging picture frames, mirrors, lights, and other decorations.
- Universal Repair Tape: A strong, versatile duct tape for indoor use only to bond and repair most materials.
- Max Repair Tape: An ultra strong, waterproof duct tape that is perfect for indoor and outdoor use to bond and repair most materials.
What is the best tape for me?
To understand which Bostik tape is the right one for you, we've broken down our different types of tapes looking at their key features and the types of applications that they're best for, so you can be sure of choosing the best tape for the job…
1. Sticky Tape
Overview
Sticky Tape is a classic choice for a range of everyday tasks. Known for its reliability and ease of use, this standard tape on a roll is a staple in homes and offices.
Features
- Versatile application: Ideal for wrapping presents, sealing envelopes, and adhering lightweight items like paper.
- Transparent finish: The clear tape ensures a neat look without distracting from the appearance of your projects.
- No need for scissors: Easy-to-tear without the need for scissors for a hassle-free application.
Best for
- Gift wrapping: Perfect for sealing up wrapping paper and giving your gifts a perfect finish. It can also discreetly hold ribbons and tags in place.
- Sealing envelopes, parcels, and gift bags: Keeps your important letters and gift bags securely fastened.
- Sticking craft items: Useful for sticking together paper, photos, and other light-weight materials in crafts, art projects, and DIY tasks.
2. Tape Discs
Overview
Tape Discs are a no-mess, easy-to-use solution that require no scissors. These circular adhesive discs are perfect for quick and efficient tasks and, what's more, they're recyclable!
Features
- Mess-free: The easy-peel discs eliminate the need for scissors and minimise waste.
- Recyclable: Discarding old gift wrap just got easier, with no need to remove the Tape Discs before popping into the recycling!
- You can write on them: The surface of the discs can be written on, which is handy for labelling and organising.
Best for
- Sealing bags: Quickly and cleanly seals food or gift bags without fuss.
- Sealing envelopes: Adds an extra layer of security to your letters.
- Crafting and organising: Ideal for labelling items or neatly holding small objects together.
3. Miracle Mounting Tape
Overview
Miracle Mounting Tape is a clear, washable, and reusable tape designed for mounting and securing various items. With a bonding strength of up to 7.5 kg per roll, it’s a versatile tool for both home and office use.
Features
- Washable and reusable: Can be cleaned and reused up to 4 times, making it a cost-effective choice.
- Strong bond: This extra strong mounting tape supports 1kg per 20cm, holding up to 7.5 kg per roll, providing secure adhesion for various applications.
- Clear finish: Offers a discreet hold that doesn’t interfere with the aesthetic of your display.
- Double-sided: Sticky surfaces on both sides, ideal for bonding two surfaces together discreetly, providing a strong, invisible hold.
Best for
- Hanging items: Ideal for mounting artwork, photos, mirrors, shelves, lights and more, without nails or screws - best tape to use on walls for pictures.
- Securing rugs: Keeps rugs and carpets in place, preventing slips and trips.
- Tidying cables: Perfect for organising and securing electrical cables and ports.
4. Universal Repair Tape
Overview
Universal Repair Tape is a versatile duct tape available in black, white, and grey. Designed for indoor use, this reliable tape is UV resistant, temperature resistant, and easy-to-tear.
Features
- Indoor use: Suitable for various repairs and maintenance tasks within the home or office.
- UV and temperature resistance: Performs well under different environmental conditions, including temperatures between 0°C to 50°C.
- Easy to tear: Can be torn by hand for quick application without the need for scissors.
Best for
- Household repairs: Great for fixing or reinforcing items around the home or workplace.
- Protecting and covering: Useful for protecting surfaces or covering damaged areas, such as sealing ripped items.
- Assembling and adhering: Can be used for various assembly tasks to hold items together, as well as securing objects in place like cables, fabrics, and more.
5. Max Repair Tape
Overview
Max Repair Tape is a high-performance duct tape available in black, white, and clear. Unlike our other duct tape, it is waterproof, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and offers maximum strength and durability.
Features
- Waterproof: Ideal for use in both indoor and outdoor environments and can even be used under water!
- Maximum strength: Provides a strong, reliable bond for demanding tasks and is suitable for all materials.
- UV and temperature resistance: Resists environmental factors such as sunlight, humidity, and frost, covering temperature ranges from -15°C to +60°C. It's our best adhesive tape for outdoor use!
- Easy to tear: Black and grey version is easy to tear by hand, allowing for quick application without needing extra tools. The clear version is easily cut with scissors.
Best for
- Outdoor repairs: Perfect for fixing and securing items exposed to the elements - indoor and outdoor.
- Water-related repairs: Use to seal burst pipes or leaking items, or under water on a ripped paddling pool.
- Protecting, covering, and assembling: Useful for covering surfaces or making repairs to damaged items.
- Heavy duty tasks: Ideal for tasks requiring extra strength and durability, both inside and around the home.
Have a specific application?
If you're still unsure on which tape to use, here's our recommended products for some popular questions when it comes to choosing the right tape for you:
- Best duct tape for outdoor use? The best duct tape for outdoor use is Max Repair Tape as it is waterproof.
- Best tape to use on walls? For mounting a picture or hanging mirrors, lights, and similar items on walls, we recommend Miracle Mounting Tape.
- What is the best tape for water leaks? Max Repair Tape is perfect for covering and protecting household items suffering from water leaks, such as a burst hose pipe - it can even be used under water.
- Best tape to stick to fabric? Both Universal Repair Tape and Max Repair Tape are suitable for use on fabrics such as leather, cotton and similar.
- I need a tape that won't damage photos. Tape Discs are perfect for use on photos in scrapbooks, crafts or holding your pictures neatly in a frame - they're acid and lignin-free meaning they won't turn your photos yellow or damage them.
Let's sum up!
Understanding the different types of adhesive tape and their specific applications can significantly enhance your efficiency and effectiveness in both every day and specialised tasks.
Our guide to tapes has outlined the key features and best uses for various types of adhesive tapes, providing you with the knowledge to choose the right product for any project.
So, whether you're tackling a home improvement job, a creative endeavour, or a professional task, selecting the appropriate tape from our extensive lineup ensures reliable performance and superior results.
