A Complete Guide to Different Types of Tape for Packing and Moving
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When planning a move, it's easy to focus on obvious things like moving boxes, furniture pads, dollies, and rental trucks. Packing tape often ends up as an afterthought. However, many people don’t realize that using the right tape will make your packing and moving experience easier and more secure.
Key Takeaways
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There is a variety of different packing tapes, each designed with unique materials, adhesives, and levels of strength. Choosing the wrong tape can lead to boxes opening during transit, damaged belongings, or the need to spend extra time resealing boxes.
This guide explains everything about the different kinds of packing tape so that you can set yourself up for a successful moving experience.
Why Choosing the Right Tape Matters
Not all tapes are made the same. Different types of tape are made using different backing materials, such as paper, polypropylene plastic, vinyl, cloth, or fiberglass, and each has adhesive designs for a specific purpose. Some tapes are made to stick instantly to cardboard, while others are designed to resist moisture, tolerate extreme temperatures, or secure heavy loads.
When you use the right tape, you make your packing process faster and better protect your belongings throughout the move.
Pro Tip: Spending a little more on quality packing tape is less expensive than replacing belongings damaged by a box that opened during a move.
Paper Packing Tape (Box Tape)
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For DIY movers, paper packing tape is one of the easiest tapes to handle. Also known as box or flatback tape, this paper tape sticks firmly without requiring water activation. Unlike many plastic tapes, it tears cleanly by hand, without needing scissors or a tape dispenser. Another advantage is that paper tape doesn't split or shred as easily as plastic tape. It also lies flat against cardboard and can cover old shipping labels or markings on reused moving boxes. Although paper tape provides a good seal for most household moves, it's not the best choice when boxes may be exposed to significant moisture or wet conditions. |
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Pro tip: Because the backing is made from paper, flatback tape is easier to recycle along with cardboard boxes compared to traditional plastic packing tape. Check local recycling guidelines for more information.
Clear Packing Tape
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When thinking of packing tape, clear packing tape is generally what comes to people’s minds. Clear packing tape is made from durable polypropylene film and is available with either hot melt or acrylic adhesive. It's affordable, easy to find, and versatile enough for everything from moving and shipping to organizing seasonal storage. One of the biggest advantages of clear packing tape is its transparent design. Because the tape is clear, labels and writing remain visible underneath, which makes it ideal for shipping boxes or organizing portable storage containers. Plastic packing tape can't be torn easily by hand like U-Haul paper box tape, so we recommend keeping scissors or a tape dispenser on hand to speed up the packing process. |
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Choosing Your Packing Tape
Using the right tape for the job is step one. Hopefully, the guide above has helped you see what types of tape are out there. But to make things even easier, we’ve created a helpful cheat sheet to make it clear which packing tape offered by U-Haul you should trust when it comes to moving, shipping, and storage, as well as other common applications.
What’s the Difference Between Packing Tape and Packaging Tape?
The terms "packing tape" and "packaging tape" are often used interchangeably. However, what truly distinguies them is the material used in the manufacturing process. Tape can be crafted from various materials such as paper, plastic, fiberglass filaments, and others. While many types of tape can be used for sealing boxes, paper packing tape stands out as the optimal choice for moving purposes. Generally, however, the terms “packing” and “packaging” both refer to any type of tape used for sealing boxes and packages.
'H' Tape Method
Taping a Moving Box
For the strongest seal when moving, we recommend sealing your boxes with a single strip of tape. For storage and shipping, we recommend using the ‘H’ tape method. That means sealing the seams on the top and bottom, so your tape resembles a capital ‘H’ with a small amount of overhang on all sides. This helps keep pests, dust, and debris from getting inside. Learn more about taping a box for moving.
Packing Tape Dispenser: A Must Have
If you plan to use clear packing tape (standard or heavy duty), you’ll want to use a tape dispenser or tape gun as well. That’s because plastic and acrylic tapes don’t tear by hand. Instead of juggling a pair of scissors as you pack your boxes, use a tape dispenser to apply tape and tear it off in one fluid motion.
To load a U-Haul tape dispenser:
- Gently pull the two wheel-shaped pieces on the rear of the dispenser apart
- Place the roll of tape between the two wheel-shaped pieces
- Note: the tape should be loaded so the adhesive faces away from the teeth
- Maneuver the tape so that wheel-shaped pieces are sitting inside the roll
- Push the push the two wheel-shaped pieces back together until the lock secures
When you buy a two-pack of 2” packing tape from U-Haul, you’ll get a FREE tape dispenser to make moving easier!
How NOT to Use Packing Tape
Yes, there is a wrong way to use tape. For the most part, this involves applying tape to wooden furniture and other finished or painted surfaces. This can cause damage and leave behind markings that ruin finishes. When moving, we recommend you only apply packing tape to the outside of moving boxes or to shipping supplies. For example, never use a piece of tape to secure a Furniture Pad to a dresser or a Paper Moving Pad to a picture frame.
Packing Mader Easier
Ready to get packing? Whatever supplies you need to get the job done, U-Haul has you covered. From different varieties of packing tape to moving boxes to packing supplies. Order today and choose from Same-Day Delivery or FREE pickup from a U-Haul store near you.