A carton is only as strong as its seal. Cheap tape that lifts at the corners or snaps on the dispenser costs more in damaged parcels and wasted time than a good roll costs to buy. Packaging tape comes in different adhesives, widths, thicknesses and colours, and the right choice depends on the board, the temperature and how many boxes you close each day. Tell us what you seal and suppliers near you quote directly, free and with no obligation.
Acrylic, hot melt and solvent adhesives
The adhesive decides how the tape behaves. Acrylic tape is water-based, ages slowly, holds in sunshine and cold storage and is quiet to unwind. It is the right choice for cartons that are stored or shipped for weeks. Hot melt tape grips fast and hard on first contact, which suits high-speed packing and recycled board with a dusty surface, but it can yellow and let go over time. Solvent tape is the premium option for heavy loads and extreme temperatures, and costs the most.
For most shops, acrylic or hot melt in 40 to 48 micron is the sensible starting point.
Widths, lengths and thickness
The standard roll for parcels is 48 mm wide and 50 to 100 m long, usually sold in a carton of 36. Narrower 24 and 36 mm rolls suit light cartons and bundles, and 72 mm tape covers heavy export boxes. Thickness is quoted in micron: 40 micron is economy, 45 to 50 micron is the sweet spot for most cartons, and anything above 55 micron is for heavy duty use. Longer rolls, 100 m and up, save changeover time, but check that your tape gun accepts the roll and core size.
Clear tape disappears on printed or white cartons, while brown tape blends with plain board and hides dirt.
Printed tape, paper tape and dispensers
Printed tape carries a message such as "fragile" or your own logo, which reduces opening by mistake and adds a branded touch to custom printed boxes. It needs a minimum order, often 36 to 144 rolls, and a few weeks. Water-activated paper tape bonds into the board and is difficult to remove without tearing the carton, so it suits valuables and gives a plastic-free seal. Self-adhesive paper tape is a lighter plastic-free choice.
A good tape gun or bench dispenser speeds sealing and keeps the strip straight. A basic hand gun costs under R150, while a bench dispenser pays for itself above about 100 boxes a day.
How to seal a carton properly
Use the H-seal: one strip along the centre seam, extended 50 to 75 mm down each side, then a strip along each edge seam. Heavy boxes get two or three strips. Press the tape down firmly, work in a dry space and keep the board clean of dust. Cold rooms and unheated warehouses in winter can stop cheap adhesive from sticking, so ask the supplier for a cold-grade tape. When you order tape, add it to your next cardboard box request so one supplier can quote both.
What to include in your request
- Carton board and weight being sealed
- Clear, brown, printed or paper tape
- Width, length and micron
- Cold store or hot warehouse use
- Rolls per month and delivery address
Packaging Tape for different businesses
- Online shops and ecommerce: sealing outbound parcels, with printed tape to show the shop name on every box
- Restaurants, takeaways and food producers: closing cartons of dry goods and bakery boxes, with cold-grade tape for fridges
- Shops and retail stores: sealing returns, stock cartons and online order boxes in the back room
- Factories and manufacturers: closing cartons on packing lines, and bundling parts or sealing film edges
- Warehouses, distributors and exporters: high volume rolls for carton sealing and export boxes, plus warning tape
- Households and offices moving: thick rolls for sealing moving boxes, plus a tape gun to speed up packing day
- Farms, packhouses and nurseries: sealing produce cartons in packhouses where damp and cold affect adhesion
- Cosmetics, candles and health products: sealing small shipping cartons for online skincare and candle orders
Frequently asked questions
How much does packaging tape cost?
What size packaging tape should I buy?
Why does my tape not stick in winter?
Can I get packaging tape without plastic?
Packaging Tape by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg