Follow This Old House online:

We may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website. Our team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our editorial team is committed to creating independent and objective content focused on helping our readers make informed decisions. To help support these efforts we receive compensation from companies that advertise with us.

The compensation we receive from these companies may impact how and where products appear on this site. This compensation does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides within our content. We do not include all companies, products or offers that may be available.

5 Best Duct Tapes (2025 )

Written by
Alexis Carthan
Written by
Alexis Carthan
Updated 04/28/2025

Duct tape is thicker and stronger than standard clear tape, making it exceptional at sealing leaky ductwork, patching gear, and handling all sorts of larger repair jobs in a jam. To help you find the best duct tape for your project, our team evaluated today’s top sellers.

Here are the rolls that we recommend.

Top 5 Duct Tapes


Compare Top Duct Tapes

Ad Disclaimer
ProductQuantityRoll SizeColor
Gorilla Duct TapeCheck Price
1 roll1.88 inches by 35 yardsSilver
Lockport Duct TapeCheck Price
5 rolls2 inches by 90 feet per rollSilver
Duck Duct TapeCheck Price
1 roll1.88 inches by 20 yardsBeige
3M Duct TapeCheck Price
1 roll1.88 inches by 25 yardsSilver
Gorilla Crystal Clear Repair Duct Tape Check Price
1 roll1.88 inches by 9 yardsTransparent

Ad Disclaimer

Best Traditional Duct Tape

Gorilla Duct Tape

Courtesy Amazon

This heavy-duty, double-thick duct tape is resistant to various weather conditions, including rain, sunlight, and extreme temperatures. It has a tight weave to maintain its shape on rough, uneven surfaces, including wood, stone, stucco, plaster, and brick. You can use this tape indoors and outdoors.

Courtesy Amazon
$12.49 $17 – At Amazon
Prices taken at time of publishing.

Key Features

  • Comes with one roll
  • Measures 1.88 inches by 35 yards
  • Silver color
  • Available in other quantities

What People Are Saying About The Gorilla Duct Tape

This duct tape received positive reviews on Amazon for its ability to work in various weather conditions. Other customers mentioned its strong adhesive and durability. Unsatisfied customers said it didn’t work well in direct sunlight and had an overbearing smell.

Ad Disclaimer

Largest Pack

Lockport Duct Tape

Courtesy Amazon

This duct tape features a natural adhesive, preventing it from leaving behind a residue when you pull a strip from a surface. Despite its all-natural adhesive, the tape is capable of sealing and waterproofing. You receive 30 yards of tape per roll, allowing you to perform numerous repairs with this five-pack product.

Courtesy Amazon
$27.99 $25.99 At Amazon
Prices taken at time of publishing.

Key Features

  • Comes with five rolls
  • Measures 2 inches by 90 feet per roll
  • Silver color
  • Available in other quantities

What People Are Saying About The Lockport Duct Tape

Customers who gave this duct tape positive reviews on Amazon liked its affordability for the number of rolls. Others liked its durability and ease of removal. However, some negative reviews claimed the tape was thin and prone to tearing.

Ad Disclaimer

Best Color Options

Duck Duct Tape

Courtesy Amazon

This duct tape isn’t heavy-duty. It’s best suited for light repair jobs or artwork, and it works on most of the surfaces you’ll encounter for these projects, including cloth, vinyl, leather, plastic, metal, and laminate. For temporary floor markings, you can leave the tape for up to three weeks and remove it without leaving a mark.

Courtesy Amazon
$6.69 $5.57 – At Amazon
Prices taken at time of publishing.

Key Features

  • Comes with one roll
  • Measures 1.88 inches by 20 yards
  • Beige color
  • Available in other quantities and colors

What People Are Saying About The Duck Duct Tape

Happy users mentioned this tape’s ease of application and color options. However, there were some customer complaints about how difficult it was to remove from a surface.

Ad Disclaimer

Best Tearing

3M Duct Tape

Courtesy Amazon

If you’re working on a project that isn’t near a power outlet, having a reliable cordless sander can be a convenient alternative to hooking up an extension cord. This product also comes with a one-hand locking dust collection bag that makes cleaning up a breeze.

Courtesy Amazon
$12.62 At Amazon
Prices taken at time of publishing.

Key Features

  • Comes with one roll
  • Measures 1.88 inches by 25 yards
  • Silver color
  • Available in other lengths and styles

What People Are Saying About The 3M Duct Tape

This duct tape was popular among Amazon reviewers for its strong adhesion, easy tearing, and versatile application. However, a few reviewers claimed that this tape wasn’t weather-resistant.

Ad Disclaimer

Best Clear Tape

Gorilla Crystal Clear Repair Duct Tape

Courtesy Amazon

This duct tape is ideal for outdoor use, as it’s waterproof and temperature- and UV-resistant. Regardless of what the tape is exposed to, it won’t lose its invisible quality. It has a notched-edge design to help you find the right place to rip a piece off of the roll.

Courtesy Amazon
$12.23 – At Amazon
Prices taken at time of publishing.

Key Features

  • Comes with one roll
  • Measures 1.88 inches by 9 yards
  • Transparent color
  • Available in other quantities

What People Are Saying About The Gorilla Crystal Clear Repair Duct Tape

This duct tape earned numerous positive reviews on Amazon, with customers saying that it worked for indoor and outdoor applications. Those who gave this tape negative reviews claimed that it wasn’t long-lasting.


Duct Tape Buying Guide

In the buying guide below, we break down the components of high-quality duct tape.

Color

Duct tape comes in various colors and patterns. Heavy-duty duct tape has more limited color options. Light-duty duct tape that you can use for arts and crafts offers a wider selection. You can find clear duct tape if you don’t want your repairs to be visible.

Layers

Duct tape has three layers, each of which serves a specific function. The outer layer is resistant to weather, the middle layer is easy to tear, and the bottom layer uses a strong adhesive to stick to surfaces.

Tearing

You should be able to rip a strip of tape off of the roll with your hands. If the tape stretches or you have to use scissors, it probably isn’t high-quality.

Thickness

Duct tape thickness is measured in mils. Thin duct tape is between three and six mils. Medium-duty duct tape is between nine and 12 mils. Heavy-duty duct tape can be up to 17 mils.

Amount

This refers to how many yards of tape a roll has and how many rolls come in a pack. If you use duct tape regularly, opt for a multipack with large rolls. This prevents you from having to make frequent purchases.


Expert Duct Tape Tips and Uses

There are few types of tape more versatile than duct tape. With its strong adhesive and easy tearing, duct tape can help you with both big and small repairs. While there are an endless number of uses for duct tape, here are some ideas for utilizing it around your home:

  • Fix camping tents
  • Hang lights
  • Hem clothes
  • Open stuck lids
  • Patch garden hoses
  • Protect floors
  • Remove clothing lint
  • Remove splinters
  • Remove sticker residue
  • Remove warts or blisters
  • Repair glasses

Duct Tape FAQs

How can I tell if my duct tape is high-quality?

The duct tape’s thickness and ease of ripping are good indicators of its quality. Another indicator of high-quality duct tape is its weight. Heavy-duty duct tape weighs more than masking tape.

What’s the difference between duct tape and Gaffer’s tape?

In terms of appearance, duct tape has a shiny finish, while Gaffer’s tape has a matte finish. Gaffer’s tape is easier to tear from the roll. In general, Gaffer’s tape is best for temporary fixes, while duct tape is better for long-term repairs.

Is duct tape waterproof?

Some duct tape is waterproof. If you’re going to use your duct tape outdoors, choose a waterproof roll that can stand up to rain. 


Our Methodology

To provide our readers with the best product recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.

Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of duct tapes with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.

Expert Insights: Through years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.

Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we pared the list down by comparing each model’s feature-set and selecting the best-in-class options for a variety of buyers, budgets, and scenarios.


Why You Can Trust Us

This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIYers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.

Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products for the home, from doorbell cameras and dining room decor to circular saws and snow blowers.

Once we conclude the research and testing phases, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.