Written by Andrea Layton | Published 8:10 AM, March 31, 2020

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For professional-quality paint jobs, you must focus on the areas you don't want to paint and the areas you want to paint. This is where the paint tape comes in. Paint tape is a special type of tape designed to be easy to remove. It is usually used where two surfaces intersect, for example, where a wall meets a crown molding. Once in place, the tape can prevent the paint from penetrating into other areas, giving the paint surface a clear, uniform and beautiful border edge.

In other words, the painter's tape allows you to work with confidence, reduces the number of painting errors you need to correct, and enables you to work faster than other methods. However, not all artists' tapes are the same. To choose the best painter's tape for your project, be sure to weigh the considerations listed below and don't miss our top pick:

If you know what to look for, then finding the right painter's tape is not complicated. All aspects of the painting project, including indoor and outdoor use, surface type, and how long it takes for the tape to stay in place to determine which is the most appropriate. Remember the following functions of painter tape and which project or projects you plan to use it for.

How long it takes your paint job to complete and cure may affect the type of tape you use. Check the packaging to determine how long the adhesive can stay fresh and peel off easily without damaging the surface or breaking into pieces. Since they have stronger adhesives, the waterproof and external tapes should be removed within 7 days to prevent surface damage.

Even when exposed to direct sunlight, a medium-tack multi-purpose tape should be easily peeled off within 14 days of use. For delicate surface and detail work, low-viscosity painter's tape can be used for up to 60 days, depending on the brand and the degree of exposure to sunlight, high temperature and humidity. The label information will provide you with an estimate of the duration and any environmental factors that may affect the effectiveness of the tape.

Painter's tapes have varying degrees of stickiness and can be safely placed for different periods of time. The following guidelines will help you choose the right bond strength.

To tape the windows, trim and shape them while painting the walls, the ideal widths for this job are 1.41 and 1.88 inches. These popular widths can create perfect edges without covering too much surface to be painted or too little trim to protect. For corner areas and detail/pattern work, a slightly narrower width of 0.94 inches is preferred because it is easier to fit in tight spaces.

When using a smaller brush for detailed work, a narrower tape is also more versatile because it covers a smaller surface area and is easier to create stripes and other geometric patterns. Extra wide paint tape (2 to 3 inches) can be used to glue floors and ceilings. A wider tape will catch more accidental splashes and protect the floor and ceiling from contact with brushes or rollers.

White, green, and blue are the standard color options for painter's tape. Manufacturers tend to associate these shades with certain characteristics, such as bond strength. This is not always the case, so it is important to check product specifications before buying instead of relying on color. Painter's tape comes in many other colors, although they are less common.

From repainting the living room to processing the exterior walls, these characteristic tapes are among the best of their kind in different projects.

The UV-resistant, medium-adhesion ScotchBlue multi-surface paint tape is designed to peel cleanly without leaving surface damage. Although its width ranges from 0.7 to 2.82 inches, 1.88 inches is suitable for a variety of flat surfaces and curved surfaces, including wood, glass, and painted or textured walls and ceilings.

For exterior and anti-stick surfaces such as brick, plaster and concrete, ScotchBlue exterior painter's tape is a good choice. It has a waterproof backing to resist sunlight, wind and rain. Its 1.41 inch width is very versatile, but if you need extra swing space, there is also a 1.88 inch version. Be sure to remove it within 7 days to get a cleaning effect. Do not use it on delicate surfaces, as the adhesive can enhance decorative finishes and wallpaper.

IPG painter's tape uses proprietary technology with specially designed edges to prevent paint from oozing and leaking, especially when applied to wooden surfaces (painted and laminated surfaces). This reasonably priced tape is UV resistant, but should be removed within 14 days for best results. Its slightly narrow width (0.94 inches) makes it ideal for corner and detail painting.

To paste wallpaper, finished wood and fresh paint (as long as it is dry to the touch), consider using FROGTAPE. This low-viscosity tape is embedded with absorbent polymers that can react with latex paint to form a gel barrier and prevent paint from oozing out. The tape can be kept for up to 60 days and is most suitable for indoor use. It has a wide range of uses, especially for trimming, window and detail work. In addition to being easy to remove, FROGTAPE painter's tape helps create clear, beautiful lines.

Not all painter's tape can stick to rough surfaces, but this rough-surface painter's tape should be firmly bonded to concrete, bricks, plaster, rough wood, and other uneven areas. Even if it is actively maintained, it can be unfolded smoothly for ease of use. The tape is 60 yards long and 1.41 inches wide, but other widths are also available. The unique tape is made of crepe paper (similar to masking tape), but has a strong adhesive backing that can last for 5 days without leaving a sticky residue.

As an intermediate multi-purpose tape, ScotchBlue Original is the first choice for most indoor and outdoor painting tasks. Some applications require greater or lesser adhesion. FROGTAPE Delicate Surface tape is more suitable for finished wood, new paint, wallpaper and other less durable surfaces. In order to be effectively used on textured surfaces such as concrete and bricks, Scotch Rough Surface tape has the right adhesive strength.

In order to protect the surface around your painting project, the best painter's tape needs to be glued to the nearby surface and last until the work is completed. We have selected products that can adhere to multiple or specific surfaces, as well as some products that have high-strength adhesion. We also considered the relationship between the width of the tape and its intended use to prevent the tape from melting to the surface under the scorching sun.

Painter's tape is mainly used to protect adjacent surfaces from paint contamination, such as walls and ceilings of different colors, window decorations, glass or skirting boards. The painter's tape can also be used to delimit social distancing.

Green paint tape usually has high adhesive strength and is suitable for rough, textured and uneven surfaces. Blue painter tape is designed for indoor or outdoor use. It has UV resistance and may melt the adhesive when exposed to sunlight.

Companies that make painter's tape usually recommend removing the tape between the coatings. However, if the tape still holds up well and you apply the second coat in a day or so, it is much easier to leave it on. Generally speaking, removing the tape regularly means not to rush it off, but not to leave it for too long.

If you use tape that does not work well on a particular surface, the paint may ooze. For example, when protecting bricks or concrete, use tape made for rough surfaces. Try to place the tape where you want it and pull it about 10 inches from the roll at a time. Excessive stretching of the paint will cause it to pull apart or produce bubbles, which will attract the paint to enter.

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