Whether you are repairing your pipes and tool handles, creating water-resistant bonds on your inflatables or even doing the simple task of hanging Christmas lights, there is one tool that is versatile enough to handle all this – duct tape. Duct tape has the supernatural ability to fix almost anything, which is perhaps why it is the most common item in every toolbox.
Unlike a gaffer tape, duct tape constitutes thin pressure-sensitive tape, made of polyethylene. Most times, it will come in plain silver or black, although manufacturers now offer more color options, including printed ones. However, being pretty doesn’t mean it will get the job done, does it? For best results, good duct tape should incorporate a combination of prime adhesive and material strength and should have a good ability to stretch.
Like everything else, duct tape comes in different types, sizes, and quality. Each of which can be more suitable for a particular task. To help you make your pick, we have compiled our top choice of the best duct tapes out there, with descriptive reviews to have you set up.
Top 10 Duct Tapes Of 2020 Reviewed
1. XFasten Transparent Filament Duct Tape
Best Transparent Duct Tape
To start us off, let’s look at some great features of this transparent utility-grade duct tape that will have endless uses in your home or office. The tape is made to meet industrial-strength standards yet it spots a minimalist, elegant look. Its transparent design with subtle lines makes it a great repair tool for where appearances do matter. It has a smooth lined construction and be used for almost anything including wrapping, patching or simple fixes.
The back is covered in quality polyethylene while the inside has a thick rubber adhesive that will stick on almost any surface. Whether it’s wood, vinyl, plastic, cardboard, paper, the metal you name it, this tape will bond nicely. With a thickness of two inches and a length of 30 yards, this elegant tape is designed to wrap around many items and hold everything firmly in place.
Pros:
- Adheres to almost any surface
- Beautiful transparent look
- Industrial grade strength
Cons:
- May stick together if rolled out slowly
- May not hold well against heat
- Not ideal for outdoor fixes
2. GatorCrafts Multi Colored Duct Tape
Best Multi-Colored Duct Tape
For your next DIY project, then this multi-colored tape form GatorCrafts is a must have. The fun colors bring out one’s creativity with six rainbow color options available on each set. The colors include blue, light pink, neon green, bright yellow and purple.
The wide variety of colors can make for fun craft projects in a kindergarten where kids can explore their imagination and create beautiful pieces. The multi-color duct tape can also be used when moving to mark different boxes for easy identification. The low residue thin tape comes with strong cinta Americana adhesive that will stick easily on any surface and easily peels away without much damage.
Pros:
- Appropriate for all ages
- Multi-colored for easy identification
- Strong cinta Americana adhesive
Cons:
- Younger kids may find it hard to rip it apart
- Not heavy duty tape
- Some find it too thin
3. Scotch Duct Tape
Scotch as a brand that has made tapes for close to a century is dedicated to making life easier for you with fast and easy to use items. One such product is this duct tape that will fix almost anything in our home or office. Available in a wide range of colors such as pearl white, cherry red, blue and pink, you can pick a color that suits your needs.
The tape easily tears by hand and rolls out easily to carry out your repairs or fixes. With a thickness of 1.88 inches and a length of 20 yards, this tape will offer you a great experience as you wrap your gifts, seal leaks or mend tears.
Pros:
- Available in many colors
- Tears easily and rolls away quickly
- Made to stick
Cons:
- Some find it too shiny
- Color fades fast
- Some complain that it doesn’t stick as it should
4. Duck Brand 283051 Printed Duct Tape
Best Printed Duct Tape
Duck Brand is one of the most recognized brands when it comes to best duct tapes and rightfully so due to its strong adhesive properties. The tape that comes in beautiful prints such as wood grain, desert star, digital camouflage, and even rope will bring life to your projects. For sure, your next fix will stand out with these beautiful prints. Measuring 10 yards with a thickness of 1.88 inches, this tape is strong enough to hold everything firmly in place.
Pros:
- Beautiful prints
- Tears away easily
- High-performance adhesion
Cons:
- Roll is too small
- Too visible for some
- Some find the prints don’t look realistic
5. Gaffer Power Premium Grade Tape
Best Water-Resistant Duct Tape
For a heavy-duty professional duct tape, then this roll of super strong tape from Gaffer Power is a worthy investment. It’s super wide with industrial grade strength for all your taping needs. With a thickness of 4 inches, this tape is strong enough to stick for a long time. The back is non-reflective and blends easily with any background. It’s also water resistant and has a wide variety of uses in our home, office or business.
Pros:
- Professional grade strength
- Non-reflective back
- Water resistant
Cons:
- Some find it too thick
- Doesn’t rip well vertically
- Not easily cut using hands
6. GatorCrafts Colored Duct Tape
Your DIY projects will never be the same again with this set of colored tapes from GatorCrafts. Bring all your projects to life with a wide range of best duct tapes that look good and stick well. The product comes in a set of 12 colorful tapes that can be used in a classroom set up for art and craft that help increase a kid’s imagination. The wide variety of rainbow assortment colors is also perfect for labeling boxes when moving. Each tape is 2 inches in thickness and comes in a 20-yard roll.
Pros:
- Many color options
- Great for labeling items
- Rips out easily
Cons:
- Not waterproof
- Not for heavy-duty use
- Leaves sticky residue on scissors
7. Northland Wholesale 18 Roll Variety Pack of Decorative Duct Style Tape
Best Decorative Duct Style Tape
Are you into the arts and crafts? You definitely need a duct tape that comes in a variety of color designs in order to come up with an impressive piece of work. The Northland Wholesale 18-Roll Variety Pack of Decorative Duct Style Tape comes in three unique styles, each with different sets of colors. You will find it in terms of the colorful camouflage, polka-dot, and chevron designs. Each of these patterns comes with up to six-color schemes.
When you buy this product, you will get a total of 18 rolls in every package. Each of the rolls measures 1.88 inches by 5 yards, which is long enough to use on a large piece of work. It is ideal for use by kids in school or church. In addition to providing you with a variety of designs, this duct tapes are of the highest quality. It is for this and more reasons that it is referred to as the best decorative duct style tape.
Pros:
- Comes in a variety of designs
- The color schemes are different for each design
- The package contains a total of 18 tapes
Cons:
- Not as heavy as you might wish
- Some users found it to be very thin
- Hard for small kids to rip it apart
8. RamPro Chevron & Polka Dot Styles Duct Tape
For a wonderful appearance on your project, add a touch of the RamPro Duct Tape that is made to stick on a wide variety of surfaces. The duct tape color pack comes in a set of 12 colorful rolls each with a thickness of 1.88 inches and a length of 5 yards. Made to meet heavy duty taping needs, the tape has a strong adhesive that holds firmly in place.
There’s no need to use a pair of scissors to cut the tapes since each roll has a series of horizontal rows of indented dots that tear off easily using your hands. Better yet, the tape doesn’t leave any residual once you peel it off. It also makes for color coding when labeling a number of items.
Pros:
- Indented dotted line for tearing
- 12 pack of colorful designs
- Sticks on a range of services
Cons:
- Small roll
- Some of the tapes may not stick for long
- Big project needs many rolls
9. Tape King Gaffers Tape
Stock your duct tape supply with this combo saving 2 pack from Tape King. The black and white roll is made to meet premium grade industrial strength with a thickness of 2 inches and a length of 30 yards for each roll. The tape is fully waterproof which adequately protects all your items.
The duct tape doesn’t leave a messy residue once you peel it off. It’s a multipurpose and useful tape for use in your home or office. The tape is also shrink wrapped to prevent the bottom layer that has the adhesive from building up dirt or dust.
Pros:
- Large 30-yard roll
- Fully waterproof
- Beautiful matte finish
Cons:
- May leave some adhesive residual
- Doesn’t hold well on concrete
- Black layer easily flakes off
10. Duck Tape Colored Duct Tape
This duct tape from Duck Tape will make your next fix stand out with its colorful look. It’s designed for use in imaginative projects, repairs and crafting. The tape is available in an assortment of colors that will meet your needs. Its adhesion is great and sticks well on a wide variety of surfaces including wood, laminates, metal and even plastic. Each roll has a thickness of 1.88 inches and a length of 20 yards.
Pros:
- Great adhesive properties
- Quickly peels out
- Available in a wide range of colors
Cons:
- Leaves a residual
- Won’t stay attached for too long
- Doesn’t stretch much
How to Choose the Best Duct Tapes: The Ultimate Buying Guide
There’s tape then there’s duct tape. Ever since the invention of this simple yet all so crucial item, life has been made much easier especially when carrying out repairs. You can do almost anything using duct tape; seal leaks, mend tears, wrap items, color code boxes, art and craft projects you name it. While most people are out there shopping for tape, they often go for the one that looks cute or colorful but rarely do they consider other factors that make for good duct tape.
Factors to Keep in Mind When Shopping for Duct Tape
- Color – Some people just want a clear tape that will stick yet won’t be visible or draw any attention. However, the market is now filled with so many color and print options when it comes to best duct tapes and you can play around with your imagination here. You will find that heavy duty tapes don’t have a wide variety of color options but the cheaper tapes are great for your craft projects.
- Layers – To get the best quality duct tape out there, go for one with a number of layers on it. The outer layer is often made of polyethylene and may appear glossy or have a non-reflective look. The top layer should be weather and scratch resistant. The following layer should be easy to tear while the bottom layer should have a strong adhesive that holds everything firmly in place.
- Tearing – One of the key things that make for great duct tape is its ability to roll away and tear for you to stick it. Duct tape should be tough enough yet rip away easily using your hands since cutting it with a pair of scissors may spoil it.
- Thickness – One of the benefits of a thick tape is that you won’t need to keep looking for the edge which is not only annoying but may end up destroying your roll of tape.
- Weight – Unlike normal tape, duct tape has some weight on it which helps stick firmly and provide a long-lasting fix.
Tips to Getting the Best Out Of Your Duct Tape
Often, most people stay away from duct tape because they find it messy and tough to tear apart. However, this type of tape is easy to use and provides some great results. Here are a few tips to help you get the best out of your duct tape;
- Fold the end – Ask anyone and they will admit that finding the end of the roll is the most hectic thing when using tape. To save time and energy, ensure that you fold the end once you cut off a piece for this will change the way your experience with best duct tapes.
- Tearing – Often, duct tape can be easily ripped apart using your bare hands but for a better experience have a pair of scissors nearby for easier cutting. However, using scissors to cut may leave the edge a bit rugged.
- Tape Dispenser – If you use duct tape often, then investing in a tape dispenser is necessary since its serrated edge quickly cuts the tape and saves you time when applying tape to a number of items.
- Cutting – Some people prefer cutting duct tape into a number of pieces when using it to save time when applying. However, this technique may be hectic since the tape may fold itself causing a mess. Thus, don’t cut the duct tape from its roll until you actually need to use it.
Conclusion
All said and done, having a roll of duct tape in your home or office is inevitable. Often, you will need to carry out a quick fix, wrap something or prevent a leak and duct tape will help you achieve that quickly and easily. Hopefully, in here you have found the best duct tape to stock up on for that moment when you need that quick remedy.
