Which tape to use? Clear, brown, masking and double-sided tape

Every office, school and warehouse in Qatar uses tape every day. But the wrong tape can peel off a box, leave marks on a wall or tear a poster. Here is a quick guide to the main types of tape, and what each one is best for.

Clear tape

Clear tape is the everyday office tape. Narrow rolls, such as 12 mm or 18 mm, are for fixing papers, closing envelopes and small repairs. Wide rolls, around 2 inches, are for sealing boxes and parcels. Keep a narrow roll in a tape dispenser on every desk so it is easy to cut. Coloured clear tape is useful to mark boxes by department or by product.

Brown tape

Brown packing tape is the standard choice for cartons. It is strong, wide and blends in with brown boxes. Shops, online sellers and warehouses use it for shipping and storage. Seal the bottom of a heavy box with two or three strips, and use a 2-inch tape dispenser if you pack many boxes a day.

Masking tape

Masking tape is a paper tape that tears easily by hand and is easy to remove. Painters use it to protect edges, and offices use it to label boxes, files and shelves, because you can write on it with a pen or marker. Schools use it to hold drawings for a short time. Take it off within a few days, because in hot rooms it can stick harder over time.

Double-sided tape

Double-sided tape is sticky on both sides, so it hides behind what you stick. Thin rolls are great for crafts, school projects, photo albums, gift wrapping and fixing paper to card. Tissue double-sided tape is thin and easy to use for paper work.

Mounting tape

Mounting tape is a thick foam tape for sticking light items to walls, glass and boards, such as small signs, name plates, hooks and cable holders. Each mounting tape is made for a certain weight and surface, so read the pack before you use it, and clean the surface first so it sticks well.

Special tapes

• Duct tape: very strong cloth tape for quick repairs and heavy-duty jobs.
• Insulation tape: plastic tape for electrical and cable work, in several colours.
• Warning and caution tape: bright tape to mark danger areas, wet floors and work sites.
• Floor tape: coloured tape for marking lanes and areas in warehouses and shops.

Quick buying tips

1. Keep tape in a cool, dry cupboard. Tape left in a hot car or store room can lose its stick.
2. Buy narrow tape for desks and wide tape for boxes.
3. Keep one roll of each main type in the office, so the right tape is always at hand.
4. For labels that look neat and last, a label printer is better than tape and pen. See our labels guide.

How to order tape

Browse clear tape, brown tape, masking tape, double-sided tape and mounting tape, or see all tapes. For bulk orders for your office or warehouse, message us on WhatsApp.

Raifa Centre is in Doha, with branches in Barwa Village and Matar Qadeem. We deliver across Qatar and accept cash on delivery.

Cover photo: Two Rolls of Masking Tape by HireAHelper, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.