Packing Tape

Types of Packing Tape: Clear, Brown & Heavy Duty

Clear Packing Tape for Everyday Sealing

When you’re needing to seal up a box or bit of paper packaging (such as gift wrap), clear packing tape is the easy go-to. Most clear packing tape tends to be best-suited to lighter weight bundles and may be more ideal when you want to ensure the tape doesn’t obscure branding or important designs on the box or wrap.

Brown Packing Tape for Cardboard Boxes

Brown packing tape tends to be stronger than general clear packing tape, making it a good choice for securing boxes that will hold medium-weight items. The brown face of the tape purposely matches the colouring of most standard cardboard packaging boxes and is a good option if you need to cover up any previous markings along the seams of a box.

Heavy Duty Packing Tape for Tough Jobs

When you need to secure heavier items and ensure a packaging box won’t break open, you should always go with a heavy duty packing tape. These are typically made with very strong, durable materials that make it hard for the tape to break or snap without the use of a box cutter or sharp scissors. They also sport strong adhesion and will keep any packing materials in place. Heavy duty packing tape is also often used on larger pallets to help keep multiple items secured during transit.

Fragile Packing Tape with Printed Messages

When dealing with fragile items, it’s best to make it abundantly clear. Along with placing Fragile stickers on the packaging, you can consider using fragile packing tape around the packaging so it makes it unambiguously obvious that the items need to be handled with care. Keep in mind that not all fragile packing tape may be the strongest on its own, so it’s a good idea to use it in conjunction with other strong/heavy-duty packing tape to secure items.

Packing Tape Dispenser Options for Faster Sealing

Along with the selection of packing tapes sold at Office Choice, you’ll also find several packing tape dispensers that allow you to significantly speed up the taping process so that you can get more done. All of these are handheld dispensers, with most graded to handle tapes measuring 50mm wide.

Benefits of Packing Tape for Shipping and Storage

Secure Sealing for Parcel Shipping

Whether you’re shipping off a small mailer or a larger parcel, packing tape ensures the contents will remain secured with an effective seal.

Protect Boxes During Transit

Packing tape isn’t just purely for sealing boxes so that items don’t fall out - the use of packing tape also helps better protect the box as a whole. It allows it to maintain its form, better handle any potential movement or bumps, and keeps its structure intact. Securing packing tape to the corners of boxes can add some extra padding, as well.

Clean, Professional Look for Packages

For branded packages, you can use clear tape to ensure all your branding is visible and catches the eye of recipients. For general, unbranded cardboard boxes, you can use a brown packing tap for aesthetic consistency. 

Increase Packing Efficiency with Dispensers

To help make packing more efficient (from sealing gift wrap to packaging boxes and mailers), a dispenser greatly cuts down on time and allows you to get more done in a shorter amount of time.

How to Choose the Best Packing Tape for Your Needs

Consider Tape Width & Thickness

Be mindful of what you have to seal and how strong you need your tape to be (e.g. are you securing lightweight items or heavier items such as appliances or furniture?). Wider tape can offer greater security and padding for different packages, while the thickness of the tape will make it more resistant to damage or wear with heavier packages or longer distance shipments.

Choose Clear vs Brown Tape Based on Use

As noted earlier, clear and brown tape have their own benefits. Generally, clear tapes tend to be best suited for everyday sealing - especially for smaller parcels or where you don't want to obscure branding. Brown tape, on the other hand, is usually intended for securing boxes and packages that will have multiple items or anything that is more medium-weight. It’s also well-suited to boxes as it aesthetically matches the brown of most cardboard boxes.

Heavy Duty Tape for Long Distance Shipping

Heavy duty tape is typically graded to help secure thicker packaging and heavier items, but it’s also worth investing in for long-distance shipping. This doesn’t just mean shipping from one part of Australia to another, but particularly for international shipments via plane or ship.

Matching Tape Dispensers for Efficiency

Different tape dispensers can cater to varying widths and length of tape, so make sure you’re using those best suited to the array of packing tapes you use. Improperly matched tape dispensers will only slow down your work.

Secure Every Parcel with Our Packing Tape & Heavy-Duty Dispensers