Masking tape is an easy tear crepe paper tape for painting, decorating, labelling and light packing. It is made to come away cleanly from most surfaces, and you can write on it. It will not seal a parcel, and mixing up those two jobs is the most common buying mistake. Below you will find the grades, the two widths and the jobs each one suits, so you can pick the right roll.
Pack Solution stocks Masking Tape in two widths, 25mm and 50mm, both 50m long. For the jobs where masking tape is the wrong choice, we stock other tapes too, and they all sit in the tapes collection. We do not stock blue masking tape or Q1 masking tape. Both are explained in the grades section further down.
In This Guide
- Quick Picks: Masking Tape and Its Alternatives
- What Is Masking Tape Used For?
- Masking Tape Widths: 25mm or 50mm?
- Grades of Masking Tape: Standard, Blue and Q1
- Masking Tape for Labelling and Light Packing
- Why Masking Tape Is Not a Parcel Sealing Tape
- Masking Tape vs Duct Tape
- How to Mask an Edge for Painting
- Masking Tape Buying Checklist
- Wrap-Up: Pick the Right Tape for the Job
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Picks: Masking Tape and Its Alternatives
Use masking tape for painting, labelling and light holding. Seal boxes with a packing tape or kraft paper tape, and reach for duct tape when you need to repair something.
Best for painting edges, labelling and light holding
Masking Tape
Easy tear crepe paper tape with a write-on surface, sold in 25mm and 50mm widths.
- 25mm x 50m, pack of 9 rolls
- 50mm x 50m, pack of 6 rolls
- Crepe paper, tears by hand
- Designed to come away cleanly if removed promptly
From £10.00 ex VAT (£12.00 inc VAT)
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Best for sealing boxes with a paper tape
Kraft Paper Tape
Brown paper packing tape used as a paper based alternative to plastic tape for sealing cardboard boxes.
- 48mm x 50m with hotmelt adhesive
- 75mm x 50m wide roll
- Packs of 6 rolls
From £14.00 ex VAT (£16.80 inc VAT)
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Best for repairs and jobs needing more grip
Duct Tape 48mm x 50m
Cloth reinforced duct tape that tears by hand, sold per roll in black or silver/grey.
- 48mm x 50m rolls
- Black or silver/grey
- Cloth reinforced
- Sold per roll
From £4.50 ex VAT (£5.40 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productKey Facts
- Our masking tape is crepe paper, tears by hand and has a write-on surface.
- It comes in 25mm x 50m (pack of 9 rolls) and 50mm x 50m (pack of 6 rolls).
- It is designed to come away cleanly from most surfaces if you remove it promptly.
- Edges, labels and light holding are its jobs. Parcel sealing is not.
- Pack Solution does not stock blue masking tape or Q1 masking tape.
- Prices are shown ex VAT, and the price per pack falls as you buy more.
What Is Masking Tape Used For?
Masking tape protects edges while you paint, labels things and holds light items in place for a short time. It tears cleanly by hand, so you do not need a cutter. You can lay a strip, tear it off and carry on with the job without stopping to find scissors.
Most buyers use it for one of these jobs:
- Masking skirting boards, window frames and light switches before painting.
- Decorating jobs of any size, from a single wall to a full room.
- Labelling boxes, files, shelves and stock by writing straight onto the tape.
- Holding and bundling light items together for a short time.
- General use in schools, offices and workshops.
The crepe paper surface takes pen and marker. That is why warehouses and offices keep a roll beside the packing bench for quick labels.
Good to know: take the tape off soon after the job. It is designed to come away cleanly from most surfaces when you do, and the longer it stays on, the less likely a clean removal becomes.
Masking Tape Widths: 25mm or 50mm?
Choose 25mm for edges and detail, and 50mm for wider masking, labelling cartons and bundling. Both widths are 50m long. If your work mixes fine edges with large areas, a pack of each width covers both, and the pack sizes make that easy to plan.
| Size | Contents per pack | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 25mm x 50m | Pack of 9 rolls | Skirting boards, window frames, light switches, neat lines, labelling shelves and files |
| 50mm x 50m | Pack of 6 rolls | Covering larger areas, holding dust sheets, labelling cartons, bundling light items |
25mm: Thin Masking Tape for Detail
The 25mm roll is a thin masking tape for tight lines. Each pack holds 9 rolls, which suits a decorator working through several rooms or an office labelling shelves and files.
50mm: Wide Masking Tape for Coverage
At 50mm you get a wide masking tape, roughly 2 inch masking tape, that covers more in a single pass. Packs hold 6 rolls. Use it to hold dust sheets, cover larger areas and label cartons.
Grades of Masking Tape: Standard, Blue and Q1
Masking tape comes in different grades, and the colour or name usually hints at the intended job. Our range is a single general-purpose crepe paper tape in two widths.
| Grade | What it is | Pack Solution stocks it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard masking tape | Crepe paper tape for painting, decorating, labelling and light packing | Yes, 25mm x 50m and 50mm x 50m |
| Blue masking tape | Usually sold as a painter's tape for clean removal on finished surfaces | No |
| Q1 masking tape | A name used by some suppliers for a particular grade | No |
Blue Masking Tape
Blue masking tape is a coloured painter's tape, usually chosen for painting jobs where clean removal from a finished surface matters. We do not sell it. Our own tape is designed to come away cleanly from most surfaces if you remove it promptly, and it suits general decorating. Check the surface first and take the tape off on time. On delicate or newly painted surfaces, try a small hidden patch before you commit.
Q1 Masking Tape
Q1 masking tape is a grade name used by some suppliers. No single standard sits behind it, so read the supplier's description before you buy. We do not stock Q1 masking tape. Our own sizes and pack contents are listed on the product page.
Masking Tape for Labelling and Light Packing
You can write on masking tape and tear it off the roll by hand, which makes it handy for labelling and short term holds. It saves reaching for a pen and a separate label when you only need a quick note.
A few uses come up again and again on a packing bench:
- Labelling cartons with their contents, a date or a shelf location before they go into storage.
- Marking shelves, files and stock so the right item is easy to find.
- Holding a flap or a loose item still while you prepare the final seal.
- Bundling light items together for a short time, such as a set of cables or paper.
The 25mm roll gives neat shelf labels and file tabs. The 50mm roll leaves more room to write on a carton. Schools, offices and workshops often buy both, so each job has the right width to hand. Anything that has to stay shut in transit needs one of the seal tapes below.
Why Masking Tape Is Not a Parcel Sealing Tape
A paper-based tape made for light holding and clean removal cannot give a parcel the strong seal it needs to stay shut in transit. Boxes need a proper packing tape.
Our Brown Packing Tape comes in packs of 6 rolls and blends in with brown cartons. The standard rolls are acrylic polypropylene, 42mu. If you want a paper option, Kraft Paper Tape seals cardboard boxes with a natural finish.
Best for sealing brown cardboard boxes
Brown Packing Tape
Buff coloured polypropylene tape for sealing cartons, with standard, low noise and wide options.
- Packs of 6 rolls
- 48mm x 66m to 48mm x 150m, plus Proloc 72mm x 66m
- Acrylic adhesive, 42mu on standard rolls
From £4.50 ex VAT (£5.40 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productKraft Paper Tape as the Paper Alternative
Kraft paper tape is brown paper packing tape, used as a paper based alternative to plastic tape. We sell a 48mm x 50m roll with a hotmelt adhesive and a wider 75mm x 50m roll, both in packs of 6 rolls. It suits anyone who wants to take plastic tape off their parcels and keep a natural look.
Keep the masking tape on the bench for labels, notes and short term holds, and use a proper packing tape for the seal. Our kraft paper rolls guide covers the paper side of packing.
Masking Tape vs Duct Tape
Masking tape suits light holding and clean removal. Duct tape suits strength and repairs, so the two sit at opposite ends of the job list.
| Feature | Masking tape | Duct tape |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Crepe paper | Cloth reinforced |
| Tears by hand | Yes | Yes |
| Main use | Painting, decorating, labelling, light packing | Repairs, bundling and heavy duty sealing |
| Write-on surface | Yes | Not described |
| Sizes we sell | 25mm x 50m and 50mm x 50m | 48mm x 50m |
| Colours we sell | One crepe paper tape | Black and silver/grey |
When a job needs grip, such as bundling heavier items or a repair, pick our Duct Tape 48mm x 50m. It tears by hand like masking tape, but it is built for strength and holds on harder than masking tape is meant to. Our guide to duct tape vs gaffer tape goes into the cloth tapes in more detail.
How to Mask an Edge for Painting
Press the tape down firmly along the edge and remove it soon after painting, and you get the sharpest line. Work through these steps.
- Clean and dry the surface so the tape sticks flat.
- Pick 25mm for a thin line or 50mm to cover a wider area.
- Tear a length by hand and lay it along the edge, keeping it straight.
- Press the edge down firmly with your fingers so paint cannot creep under it.
- Paint, then remove the tape promptly, pulling it back at a low angle.
Good to know: a tape gun can save time on packing, but masking tape is usually torn by hand. Our tape dispensers and tape guns guide helps you match a dispenser to the tapes you use.
Masking Tape Buying Checklist
- Use 25mm for edges and detail, and 50mm for wider coverage.
- Remember that 25mm comes in packs of 9 rolls and 50mm in packs of 6.
- Keep masking tape for painting, labelling and light holding.
- Seal parcels with brown or clear packing tape, or kraft paper tape.
- Choose duct tape when the job needs strength and easy removal does not matter.
- Remove masking tape promptly after the job.
- Buy by the pack when you can, since the price per pack drops as quantity rises.
Wrap-Up: Pick the Right Tape for the Job
Pick masking tape for painting, labels and light holding, a packing tape for parcels, and duct tape for repairs. Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same working day, and Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free on every order with no minimum. Unused items can be returned within 30 days of delivery, as set out in our returns policy. Browse the tapes collection to order. If you are unsure which roll you need, read our guide to picking packaging tape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is masking tape used for?
Masking tape masks edges when you paint or decorate, labels boxes and stock, and holds light items together. Ours is crepe paper, tears by hand and has a write-on surface. It is designed to come away cleanly from most surfaces if you remove it promptly.
What sizes of masking tape do you sell?
We sell two sizes, both 50m long. The 25mm x 50m comes in packs of 9 rolls and suits edges and detail. The 50mm x 50m comes in packs of 6 rolls and suits wider masking, labelling cartons and bundling light items.
Do you sell blue masking tape?
No. Blue masking tape is usually a painter's tape chosen for clean removal on finished surfaces, but Pack Solution does not stock it. Ours is a general-purpose crepe paper tape, designed to come away cleanly from most surfaces if you remove it promptly.
What is Q1 masking tape?
Q1 masking tape is a grade name used by some suppliers, with no single standard behind it, so read the supplier's description. Pack Solution does not stock Q1 masking tape. Our range is a crepe paper masking tape in 25mm x 50m and 50mm x 50m.
Can I use masking tape to seal a parcel?
No. Masking tape is made for painting, labelling and light holding, so it cannot give a strong parcel seal. Use brown or clear packing tape, or kraft paper tape if you prefer paper. Keep masking tape on the bench for labels and notes.
Is masking tape the same as duct tape?
No. Masking tape is crepe paper, made for light jobs and clean removal. Duct tape is cloth reinforced, made for repairs, bundling and heavy duty sealing. Both tear by hand. Our duct tape is 48mm x 50m in black or silver/grey, and our masking tape is 25mm or 50mm wide.
