If you’ve painted walls in your home, you may have used painter’s tape. Typically used to create clean lines, painter’s tape is an easy-to-tear and non-abrasive adhesive specifically designed for painting projects. While the type of painter’s tape you use may vary based on your project, we chose the Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape as our top pick.
We researched and reviewed the best painter’s tape options on Amazon to help you find the right option for your home painting project. Learn more about our top recommendations, which you can generally find at home improvement stores, local home centers, and online retailers.
Top 5 Painter’s Tapes
- Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape: Best Multi-Surface Tape
- FROGTAPE Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape: Best Combo Pack
- Duck Clean Release Blue Painter’s Tape: Best Thick Tape
- Scotch Rough Surface Painter’s Tape: Best For Outdoor Surfaces
- STIKK Blue Painter’s Tape: Best Value
Compare Top Painter’s Tapes
| Product | Quantity | Inches-per-roll | Color | Clean Removal Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s TapeCheck Price | Two rolls | 1.41 inches per 60 yards | Blue | Not listed |
FROGTAPE Multi-Surface Painter’s TapeCheck Price | Four rolls | 1.41 inches per 60 yards | Green | 21 days |
Duck Clean Release Blue Painter’s TapeCheck Price | Three rolls | 1.88 inches per 60 yards | Blue | 14 days |
Scotch Rough Surface Painter’s TapeCheck Price | One roll | 1.41 inches per 60 yards | Green | 5 days |
STIKK Blue Painter’s TapeCheck Price | Three rolls | 1 inch per 60 yards | Blue | 14 days |
Best Multi-Surface Tape
Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
This two-pack of painter’s tape is 1.41 inches wide and covered in a medium adhesive for use on a variety of surfaces, including tile, wood, and drywall. Additionally, the tape is UV-resistant, making it an excellent choice for outdoor projects as well as indoor ones.
Key Features
- Two rolls
- 1.41 inches by 60 yards per roll
- Blue color
- 14-day clean removal period
- Available in other quantities
What People Are Saying About The Scotch Blue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
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
This painter’s tape is constructed with easy-to-use crepe paper that can adhere to carpet, glass, metal, stone, unfinished wood, and other surfaces to create seamless paint lines. It’s available in a long list of quantities and sizes, though this particular pack comes with four 1.41-inch-by-60-yard rolls.
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 People Are Saying About The FROGTAPE Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape
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
Though it’s also available in 0.94- and 1.41-inch widths, this particular three-pack is 1.88 inches wide to help homeowners create crisp, straight lines for their DIY painting projects. The Duck Clean Blue Painter’s Tape removes cleanly from painted walls up to 14 days after application. It’s also safe for many surfaces, including glass and wood.
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 People Are Saying About The Duck Clean Release Blue Painter’s Tape
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
This painter’s tape from Scotch is constructed with a heavy-duty adhesive that’s made to stick to outdoor surfaces, such as brick, stone, and concrete, to deliver precise paint lines. It can be used for short- or long-term projects and comes in an eye-catching neon green color that makes it easy to identify where your paint ends and your tape starts.
Key Features
- One roll
- 1.41 inches by 60 yards
- Green color
- Five-day clean removal period
- Available in other sizes
What People Are Saying About The Scotch Rough Surface Painter’s Tape
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
For the price of one, you get three rolls of painter’s tape that prevent paint bleed-through and create sharp lines on your indoor and outdoor surfaces. It has a vivid blue color for easy visibility while you’re painting.
Key Features
- Three rolls
- One inch by 60 yards per roll
- Blue color
- 14-day clean removal period
- Available in other quantities
What People Are Saying About The STIKK Blue Painter’s Tape
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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