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Painter’s tape is designed with easy-to-tear paper and non-abrasive adhesive to help homeowners complete a variety of DIY painting projects. To help you find an adhesive tape that’s right for you, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best painter’s tape on Amazon. Here are our top recommendations.
Top 5 Painter’s Tapes
- Best Multi-Surface Tape: Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
- Best Combo Pack: FROGTAPE Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
- Best Thick Tape: Duck Clean Release Blue Painter’s Tape
- Best For Outdoor Surfaces: Scotch Rough Surface Painter’s Tape
- Best Value: STIKK Blue Painter’s Tape
Compare Top Painter’s Tapes
| Product | Quantity | Inches-per-roll | Color | Clean Removal Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape | Two rolls | 1.41 inches per 60 yards | Blue | Not listed |
| FROGTAPE Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape | Four rolls | 1.41 inches per 60 yards | Green | 21 days |
| Duck Clean Release Blue Painter’s Tape | Three rolls | 1.88 inches per 60 yards | Blue | 14 days |
| Scotch Rough Surface Painter’s Tape | One roll | 1.41 inches per 60 yards | Green | 5 days |
| STIKK Blue Painter’s Tape | Three rolls | 1 inch per 60 yards | Blue | 14 days |
| Product | Quantity | Inches-per-roll | Color | Clean Removal Period |
Best Multi-Surface Tape: Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
- $10.74
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Two rolls
- 1.41 inches by 60 yards per roll
- Blue color
- 14-day clean removal period
- Available in other quantities
What Customers Are Saying
This painter’s tape was praised by Amazon customers for its excellent adhesion and stretch. Many noted that it adhered well but removed quickly. Unfortunately, some customers noted that their paint bled through the tape.
Best Combo Pack: FROGTAPE Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
FROGTAPE Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
- $29.76
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Four rolls
- 1.41 inches by 60 yards per roll
- Green color
- 21-day clean removal period
- Available in other quantities and sizes
What Customers Are Saying
Happy customers noted that this tape created sharp edges and had strong adhesion. May also said that it was good for artistic painting projects. Unhappy reviewers said that the tape had a new formula that made it too sticky.
Best Thick Tape: Duck Clean Release Blue Painter’s Tape
Duck Clean Release Blue Painter’s Tape
- $19.04
- $29.99
- 37% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Three rolls
- 1.88 inches by 60 yards per roll
- Blue color
- 14-day clean removal period
- Available in other quantities and sizes
What Customers Are Saying
Positive product reviews praised this Duck painter’s tape for being easy to apply, remove, and tear. Others said it had the ideal grip for indoor painting projects. On the other hand, negative reviews criticized this painter’s tape for allowing paint to bleed, leaving a sticky residue, and tangling.
Best For Outdoor Surfaces: Scotch Rough Surface Painter’s Tape
Scotch Rough Surface Painter’s Tape
- $7.27
- $8.49
- 14% off
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- One roll
- 1.41 inches by 60 yards
- Green color
- Five-day clean removal period
- Available in other sizes
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers noted that this painter’s tape was easy to remove. They also said that it held up well in direct sunlight, extreme heat, and heavy rain. Negative reviews had mixed opinions on this product’s adhesion, with some saying it was so sticky that it was hard to remove and others saying that it was weak.
Best Value: STIKK Blue Painter’s Tape
STIKK Blue Painter’s Tape
- $8.47
Prices taken at time of publishing.
Key Features
- Three rolls
- One inch by 60 yards per roll
- Blue color
- 14-day clean removal period
- Available in other quantities
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers noted that this pack came with more tape than they needed for their project. They also said that it was flexible enough to move around curves. However, a handful of reviews criticized this tape for being too sticky, as it was hard to pull from the roll and removed paint from their walls.
Buyer’s Guide
Before purchasing painter’s tape for your next DIY project, it’s important to consider how its specifications impact its performance and user experience. Here are three factors to keep in mind.
Dimensions
The dimensions of painter’s tape are determined by the product’s length and width. A common width offered by many models is 1.41 inches, but some models, including the Duck Clean Release Blue Painter’s Tape and the Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape, are offered in larger 1.88-inch widths.
Most painter’s tape comes in 60-yard lengths, which is typically enough to cover an average-sized bedroom or office. For smaller projects, some painter’s tape, such as the FROGTAPE Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape, is available in 45-yard lengths.
Designed Use
Most painter’s tape is designed for indoor and outdoor use, though the specific surfaces each model is compatible with vary. For example, the Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape is made for use on countertops, tile floors, and baseboards, but it’s not recommended for use on finished hardwood floors.
Safe Removal Period
The safe removal period refers to how many days the tape can remain on a surface before needing to be peeled off. If you don’t follow the timeframe that’s recommended by the manufacturer, then the tape may leave residue behind or damage the surface it’s adhered to. For most indoor and outdoor models, the safe removal period is 14 days. For models designed for outdoor use, including the Scotch Rough Surface Painter’s Tape, the safe removal period is shorter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a difference between masking tape and painter’s tape?
While masking tape and painter’s tape are both constructed with an easy-to-rip crepe material, masking tape is more likely to absorb paint and cause it to bleed through.
How long should I wait before removing painter’s tape?
Every painter’s tape will have different guidelines for this. Some say once it’s dry to the touch, while others say a couple of hours after painting. Read the instructions for your tape to ensure that you remove it at the right time, and be particularly cautious if you’re removing tape from a delicate surface.
What’s the best way to remove painter’s tape?
To ensure that your painter’s tape is removed cleanly, score the space between the tape and the coat of paint with a putty knife or razor. Once scored, slowly remove the painter’s tape at a 45-degree angle to produce clean lines.
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We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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