A masking tape dispenser holds a roll of masking tape on your bench or desk so you can pull and tear strips with one hand. Masking tape tears by hand anyway, so a dispenser is about speed and tidiness: the roll stays in one place, the end is always easy to find and strips come off straight. Pack Solution sells crepe paper masking tape in 25mm and 50mm widths, plus bench dispensers to hold it.
The width of the roll decides which dispenser fits. In a warehouse or packing room, masking tape is mostly used for labelling, marking and bundling, and packing tape does the sealing.
In This Guide
- Quick Picks: Masking Tape and a Dispenser to Hold It
- Masking Tape Widths: 25mm or 50mm?
- Which Dispenser Fits Which Masking Tape?
- Masking Tape Uses in a Warehouse or Packing Room
- Masking Tape or Packing Tape?
- Can You Use Masking Tape in a Tape Gun?
- Extra Wide Masking Tape
- Masking Tape Dispenser Checklist
- Setting Up Masking Tape on the Bench
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Picks: Masking Tape and a Dispenser to Hold It
These three cover labelling, holding a roll on the bench and sealing the box.
Best for labelling, marking and light bundling
Masking Tape
Easy tear crepe paper tape with a write-on surface, in two widths.
- 25mm x 50m, pack of 9 rolls
- 50mm x 50m, pack of 6 rolls
- Tears cleanly by hand
From £10.00 ex VAT (£12.00 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product
Best for holding a 50mm masking tape roll
Bench Top Tape Dispensers
Keeps the roll on the bench so you pull and tear strips with one hand.
- BD50 and CBD50 Clamp-on take 50mm tape
- B2 takes 24mm, PD351 takes 75mm
- Sold as individual pieces
From £7.50 ex VAT (£9.00 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product
Best for sealing the boxes you label
Clear Packing Tape
Transparent polypropylene tape that seals cardboard boxes and leaves labels readable.
- 24mm x 66m to Proloc 72mm x 66m
- Standard rolls 42 micron acrylic
- Packs of 6 rolls
From £3.50 ex VAT (£4.20 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product- Masking Tape 25mm x 50m comes in packs of 9 rolls.
- Masking Tape 50mm x 50m comes in packs of 6 rolls.
- Both widths are crepe paper, tear by hand and take pen.
- The BD50 and CBD50 Clamp-on bench dispensers take 50mm wide tape.
- The B2 bench dispenser takes 24mm tape; the PD351 takes 75mm tape.
- Clear packing tape comes in 24mm, 48mm and 72mm widths for sealing boxes.
Masking Tape Widths: 25mm or 50mm?
Choose 25mm for neat lines, edges and labels on shelves and files; choose 50mm for labelling cartons, covering larger areas and bundling.
Masking Tape comes in two sizes, both 50m long. The width changes what each masking tape roll is good for.
| Size | Pack | Good for | Dispenser |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25mm x 50m | Pack of 9 rolls | Shelf and file labels, edges, skirting boards, window frames, neat lines | Tear by hand; no exact-width bench model |
| 50mm x 50m | Pack of 6 rolls | Labelling cartons, holding dust sheets, bundling light items | BD50 or CBD50 Clamp-on (50mm) |
The 25mm roll is thin masking tape. It suits detail work and short labels on shelf edges, where a wider strip would look clumsy. The 50mm roll is wide masking tape, roughly 2 inch, which gives you room to write a box number or contents in marker on a carton.
Both are crepe paper, made to come away cleanly from most surfaces if you take them off promptly. That suits decorating jobs and temporary labels alike. The masking tape guide on grades, widths and uses covers decorating in more depth.
Which Dispenser Fits Which Masking Tape?
For the 50mm roll, use a 50mm bench dispenser, the BD50 or the CBD50 Clamp-on. For the 25mm roll, tearing by hand is usually quickest.
The Bench Top Tape Dispensers come in four models, each named for the tape width it takes.
| Dispenser | Tape width | With masking tape |
|---|---|---|
| B2 | 24mm | Made for 24mm tape such as 24mm clear; the 25mm masking roll is 1mm wider than its listed width |
| BD50 | 50mm | Matches the 50mm x 50m masking tape width; stands free |
| CBD50 Clamp-on | 50mm | Matches the 50mm masking tape width; clamps to the bench edge |
| PD351 | 75mm | Wider than either masking roll, so the tape would wander |
The dispenser listing gives tape widths but not a core size or roll diameter. If you want to be certain a roll will sit on the hub, email sales@packsolution.co.uk before ordering.
Good to know: Masking tape with dispenser is not sold as one item. The tape comes in multi-roll packs and the dispensers are sold one at a time, so order a matching width of each.
Loading Masking Tape on a Bench Dispenser
- Set the dispenser at the front of the bench on the side of your free hand, or clamp the CBD50 to the bench edge.
- Place the 50mm roll on the hub so the tape unwinds towards the cutter.
- Bring the end over the front with the sticky side facing down.
- Pull a short strip past the cutter and tear it off to check it runs straight.
- Keep a spare roll beside the dispenser so a change takes seconds.
Crepe paper is softer than packing tape film, so pull at an even pace. A sharp yank can tear the tape before it reaches the cutter, leaving a ragged end that is harder to pick up next time.
The sibling guide to the BD50 and other bench tape dispensers goes through all four models and how to set one up on a packing bench.
Masking Tape Uses in a Warehouse or Packing Room
In a warehouse, masking tape is used to label, mark and hold things for a short time, because it tears by hand and takes pen.
- Labelling shelves and bays with a stock code or product name.
- Marking cartons with contents, a box number or a destination before they are sealed.
- Holding a loose flap or a sheet of paper while you pack.
- Bundling light items, such as a few flat boxes or a bunch of cables.
- Marking a spot on the bench or floor where something should go.
- Labelling files, trays and bins in the office.
On a goods-in desk, a strip of masking tape on each delivery can carry the date it arrived and who checked it. In dispatch, a strip on a part-packed order can note what is still missing. Both jobs need a label that goes on fast and comes off without fuss.
Because it comes away cleanly from most surfaces when removed promptly, it suits temporary labels you will change next week. For permanent shelf labels, a printed label lasts longer.
Labelling Boxes When Moving Stock or House
Masking tape is a quick way to label boxes during a move, whether you are moving a stockroom or a home. Write the room or bay and a short list of contents on a strip of 50mm tape, and stick it on two sides of the box so it can be read however the box is stacked. Seal the box itself with packing tape.
Numbering boxes on masking tape and keeping a matching list makes it easy to check nothing is missing at the other end. When the boxes are unpacked, the tape peels off and the boxes can be reused with fresh labels.
A 50mm dispenser at the end of a packing bench means a strip for marking is always to hand. Many packers keep one dispenser loaded with masking tape and a second, or a tape gun, loaded with packing tape.
Masking Tape or Packing Tape?
Use packing tape to seal boxes for posting. Masking tape suits light packing, bundling and labels, and is not made to hold box flaps shut in transit.
Packing tape is polypropylene film with an acrylic adhesive. Clear Packing Tape has acrylic adhesive on 42 micron film in its standard rolls, made for sealing cardboard boxes. Crepe paper masking tape is designed to tear by hand and peel off cleanly, which is the opposite of what a box seam needs on a trip through a sorting centre.
| Job | Masking tape | Packing tape |
|---|---|---|
| Sealing a shipping box | Not suited | Yes, 48mm or 72mm |
| Writing a label | Yes, takes pen and marker | Clear tape goes over a label |
| Bundling light items | Yes | Yes, but harder to remove |
| Temporary marking | Yes, removes cleanly if taken off promptly | Not suited |
| Tearing by hand | Yes | Needs a dispenser or blade |
Some sellers use masking tape to bundle a small stack of flat boxes or tie a few light items together inside a parcel. That is fine, because the outer box still gets sealed with packing tape. The trouble starts when masking tape is the only thing holding a box shut. Paper tape can lift at the ends in cold or damp conditions, and a parcel that opens in transit is far more costly than a strip of the right tape.
The tape dispensers and tape guns guide explains which dispenser suits packing tape on a busy bench.
One handy habit is to write on a strip of masking tape, stick it on the box, then seal the box with clear tape. The clear tape leaves the label readable.
Can You Use Masking Tape in a Tape Gun?
The 50mm masking roll matches the width of the 50mm guns, but most people find it easier to use masking tape from a bench dispenser or by hand.
The Pistol Grip Tape Gun Dispensers are made for sealing seams with packing tape. The HPG50B Pacplus, PG50B and Big Tape 2in1 Core take 50mm tape and the PG75B takes 75mm. Crepe paper tears more easily than polypropylene film, so if you do load masking tape in a gun, keep the tension light.
For long runs of masking tape, such as marking a floor or holding down dust sheets, a gun can save time. For short labels, a bench dispenser or your fingers will be quicker. The guide on how to load a tape gun covers threading and tension if you want to try it.
Best for sealing cartons fast
Pistol Grip Tape Gun Dispensers
A handheld dispenser with a built-in blade for running packing tape along box seams.
- HPG50B, PG50B and Big Tape 2in1 Core take 50mm tape
- PG75B takes 75mm tape
- Sold individually
From £5.00 ex VAT (£6.00 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productExtra Wide Masking Tape
The widest masking tape we stock is 50mm x 50m; we do not sell extra wide masking tape beyond that.
Wider masking tapes and masking film exist for covering large areas when painting. If you need that kind of coverage, two strips of 50mm tape laid side by side with a small overlap will cover about 100mm. For holding dust sheets, the 50mm roll already does the job.
Keep rolls somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight. Paper tape that has been left in a hot van or a damp corner can be harder to unwind and may not stick or peel as well. Stack rolls flat on their sides rather than on their edges so they keep their shape.
For packing, 50mm is wide enough. It gives a good strip for writing on cartons and holds light bundles well. If you need a wider band to seal a large carton, use 72mm packing tape instead, such as the Proloc 72mm x 66m roll.
Masking Tape Dispenser Checklist
- Choose 25mm masking tape for shelves, files and neat lines.
- Choose 50mm masking tape for labelling cartons and bundling.
- Pair the 50mm roll with a BD50 or CBD50 bench dispenser.
- Tear 25mm tape by hand, or check with us before relying on a dispenser.
- Order tape and dispensers separately.
- Seal shipping boxes with packing tape, not masking tape.
- Take masking tape off promptly for clean removal.
- Write the label first, then seal over it with clear tape.
Setting Up Masking Tape on the Bench
For most packing rooms, a pack of 50mm masking tape on a BD50 or CBD50 handles labels and bundling, while clear or brown packing tape seals the boxes. Add a pack of 25mm rolls for shelves and the office. Both widths and every roll of packing tape are in the tapes collection, and the bench dispensers and guns are in packing equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which masking tape dispenser fits 50mm masking tape?
A 50mm bench dispenser. The BD50 and CBD50 Clamp-on are both made for 50mm wide tape, which matches the width of the 50mm x 50m masking tape roll. The CBD50 clamps to the bench edge, and the BD50 stands free.
Can I buy masking tape with dispenser included?
Not as one item. Masking tape comes in packs of 9 rolls (25mm x 50m) or 6 rolls (50mm x 50m), and bench dispensers are sold separately as individual pieces. Buy the tape and a dispenser of matching width together.
What is the widest masking tape you sell?
The widest is 50mm x 50m, sold in packs of 6 rolls. It is roughly 2 inch masking tape. We do not stock extra wide masking tape beyond 50mm, so for wider coverage lay two strips side by side with a small overlap.
Is masking tape good for sealing parcels?
Only for light packing and bundling light items. To seal shipping boxes, use packing tape such as clear or brown polypropylene tape in 48mm widths, which is made to hold box flaps shut in transit. Masking tape is crepe paper and is designed to peel away.
Do I need a dispenser for masking tape?
Not always. Crepe paper masking tape tears cleanly by hand, so many people use it straight from the roll. A dispenser helps on a packing bench where you pull many strips a day, because the roll stays put, does not roll away and the end is always easy to find.
Can you write on masking tape?
Yes. The crepe paper surface takes pen and marker, so you can label boxes, shelves, files and stock straight onto the tape. The 50mm width gives more room for writing on cartons, and the 25mm width suits shelf edges and files.
