Pick the best option with this packaging tape guide

Updated January 9, 2025
By Paige Buisman | Global Supplier Compliance Manager

​When it comes to packaging tape, there are two types you can choose from: pressure sensitive or water activated. Before we dive into those though, here’s a counter-intuitive fact for you. Using a wider tape can actually reduce the amount of tape used in the long run. 
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Pressure sensitive
For the pressure-sensitive adhesives, hot melt and acrylic make up most of the market, but there are three types in this field.

• Hot Melt
• Acrylic
• Natural Rubber

 
Hot Melt

• Offers flexibility with the widest range of applications
• Offers strong adhesion, tensile strength, and easy unwind properties
• Economical choice for repetitive, high-volume packaging
• Provides extra elongation for sealing irregular shapes
• Keeps adhesion performance over time
• Commonly called “economy carton sealing tape” or “economy grade”

 
Acrylic

• Provides a secure seal in all temperatures (maintains integrity in widest temperature range)
• Resistance to weathering and aging, preventing yellowing of the tape
• Provides smooth, consistent release and is best for long-term storage when shelf life is important
• Doesn’t hinder barcode scanning
• Offers good moisture resistance
• Commonly called “industrial carton sealing tape”

Natural

• Most aggressive adhesive available
• Is good for applications such as highly recycled corrugated, humid environments, and even extreme temps.
• White natural rubber is the least popular but is still being used quite a bit in the industry
• Made with PVC or polypropylene material

​Water activated
Reinforced Water-Activated Tape

• Most secure way to seal a box
• Made of strong fiberglass yarns strategically bonded between sheets of paper to provide an extra margin of strength
  • The closer the yarn is the better
  • May also use a crisscross pattern
• Tamper proof  
• Excellent flexibility for sealing carton corners and irregular surfaces
• Not affected by extreme hot or cold temperatures
• Needs moisture to stick, typically applied with a paper tape or a “gummed tape” machine

Non-Reinforced Water-Activated Tape

• Water-activated paper tape that does not have filaments
• 100% biodegradable and repulp able
• Ideal for paper splicing
• Recommended for cartons that will be packed in master cartons (inner packages)
• Needs moisture to stick, typically applied with a machine

Mil thickness matters

• The heavier a box is directly affects the grade of tape you will need. This means, you need to increase the mil thickness of the adhesive you use.

Please note: the higher the mil thickness, the better the performance of the tape. The above are just suggestions.

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