Best duct tape
Duct tape is an amazing material. This sticky, stretchy tape has saved lunar missions and kept armies on the move. It patches up vinyl punching bags and holds plastic lids shut. It’s an indispensable product with an amazing history and a never-ending list of uses.
Walk into a home improvement store, and you’ll find many different types of duct tape for sale by competing manufacturers. That can make you wonder: If duct tape is so widely used, why are there so many varieties? There are good reasons for all the specialization, and knowing some of the most common variations of duct tape will help you choose the best product for the project you have in mind.
What you need to know about duct tape
How duct tape is made
Duct tape consists of three layers:
- Polyethylene: The top layer is water-resistant polyethylene. This material can take on colors, patterned prints, or just remain clear.
- Cotton fabric: The middle layer is a loose weave cotton fabric that adds tensile strength to the tape. It’s thin enough that the tape can still be torn by hand.
- Adhesive glue: The bottom layer is either a polymer-based glue or a rubber glue.
Who invented duct tape?
During World War II, Vesta Stoudt, who worked at a factory making ammunition, came up with the idea for a better tape that would securely seal ammunition boxes and be easy to remove. Ammunition boxes were hard to open in the field because they were sealed with paper tape and dipped in wax to prevent water from getting inside.
Stoudt tried to convince her managers and government inspectors that the tape was a better solution, but she was ignored. Undeterred, she wrote a letter to President Roosevelt with diagrams. And, after a word from him, the War Production Board quickly approved the development of the new tape.
Because manufacturers were cooperating with each other to boost production during the war, Johnson & Johnson was given the task of creating a strong, water-resistant cloth tape. But Stoudt got the credit for its invention due to her persistence.
Why tensile strength matters
The middle layer of duct tape is cotton fabric, which makes the tape stretchy and adds lots of strength. Without this layer, duct tape would just be a fancier, fragile version of masking tape.
The higher the thread count of the cotton fabric, the stronger the duct tape. Thread count is the biggest difference between duct tape that is best used for patching surfaces and duct tape that can hold a car bumper in place while you drive to the auto body shop.
The sticky facts about duct tape adhesive
General-purpose duct tape uses polymer-based glue. This type of glue adheres to a surface evenly and doesn’t cure or become stickier, so it’s easy to remove with little residue left behind.
Certain types of duct tape that are developed for use in more extreme conditions or need to hold more securely use rubber-based glue. It’s stickier and adheres much more strongly, but it is harder to remove and leaves behind more residue.
Cleaning up that adhesive residue can be a chore, even with products available to help loosen it. So check the label so you know what type of adhesive you’re dealing with: polymer or rubber.
How not to use duct tape
Avoid porous surfaces: Porous surfaces can be problematic for duct tape, so avoid using it on brick or concrete.
Cleanliness matters: Surfaces with a lot of dirt, dust, or small debris will defeat duct tape.
Forget cardboard: Anyone who’s watched with frustration as duct tape peels away from a cardboard box knows it’s not the best tape for moving day. (Stick with packing tape). The surface of cardboard has tiny fibers that prevent duct tape from sticking properly.
Staff Tip
Don’t go camping without it: Duct tape can be used in first aid, to patch a leaky tent, to bundle items together, and so much more.
Staff
BestReviews
Duct tape’s best features
Easy tearing
Duct tape is sturdy, but a single-layer strip can easily be torn horizontally or vertically, so you can customize the tape on the fly.
Secure but not permanent
The glue on the underside of duct tape is designed to attach securely to most objects. However, it doesn’t cure or harden like epoxy-based adhesives, so multi-use or general-purpose duct tape can be removed easily.
Water-resistant
Duct tape is designed to adhere and support in the harshest environments. Water is an enemy of most adhesives, so duct tape’s adhesive and top layer work together to repel moisture and maintain adherence for as long as possible.
Multiple colors and designs
Duct tape is available in many colors and designs. Safety-striped duct tape is easy to find, and there are even glow-in-the-dark versions available.
During World War II and for decades after, soldiers called duct tape “100-mile-an-hour tape” because it could be applied fast and hold up under the worst conditions.
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Accessories
Tape dispenser
Handheld tape dispensers sized for packing tape or duct tape keep the tape aligned as it’s applied and make cutting easier with a serrated blade.
Adhesive remover
Quickly get rid of glue residue left behind after peeling away duct tape from an object or wall, by applying an adhesive remover.
Utility knife
For precision cuts, such as splicing duct tape lengthwise, a sharp utility knife does the job quickly.
How much does duct tape cost?
Inexpensive
Multi-use or general-purpose duct tape retails between $3 and $4 per roll.
Mid-range
Look for longer rolls of duct tape, multipacks, and the widest range of colors at the $5 to $7 price point.
Expensive
Specialized duct tape, including rubber-based glue and specialty patterns, costs between $8 and $11 per roll.
Staff Tip
Duct tape residue on your skin? Smooth olive oil over the residue, let it soak for a few minutes and gently wipe with a clean cloth.
Staff
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Tips
- Pick the right type. Choose a duct tape that is designed to adhere to the surface you’ll be using it on. General-purpose tape will peel off of some surfaces, like brick.
- Mark it. Use duct tape to mark sections of the floor or wall.
- Close it off. Duct tape will hold up temporary curtains during home remodeling and painting.
- Time matters. The glue layer of duct tape starts to break down about 12 months after applying it to a surface — sooner in a hot or damp climate.
- Know the limits of the tape. Don’t use duct tape to seal a leaky fuel line. Gasoline quickly dissolves the adhesive.
- Prep first. Make sure the surface you’re taping is clean and completely dry before applying duct tape.
- Find new uses everywhere. Entire books have been written about the uses for duct tape, from useful repairs to arts and crafts. Check out Pinterest and YouTube for new, fun ideas.
FAQ
Q. Is it called “duct tape” or “duck tape?”
A. Officially, this type of tape is “duct” tape, but people use the term “duck” tape interchangeably. And there’s an interesting reason why. Duck tape is an ancestor of the duct tape we know today. The original duck tape was a strip of non-adhesive cotton used to support and strengthen everyday objects, from shoes to the steel cables of the Manhattan Bridge. (“Duck” described the type of cotton weave used.)
Today, there is a brand of duct tape called “Duck Tape” which features a yellow duck on the label. The confusion is understandable, but knowing why can be a big help … and maybe help you win a bet.
Q. Can duct tape be used in place of electrical tape?
A. It’s not recommended. Electrical tape is safer because it’s nonconductive and insulating. It also is easier to remove than duct tape when making a final repair. If you’re absolutely in a pinch and cannot access electrical tape for some reason – like, you’re deep in the Amazon jungle and the ignition wire on your outboard motor jiggles loose and piranhas are hovering below and you’ve just run out of electrical tape – okay, use duct tape. But be aware of its risks and limitations.
Q. Why can’t duct tape be used on air conditioning ducts? That seems counterintuitive.
A. After World War II, silver duct tape was manufactured and marketed as the perfect product to securely connect air ducts. Turns out, for the one use it’s advertised for, it was far from perfect. While duct tape is durable, affordable, and easy to use, its adhesive breaks down over time, especially when constantly exposed to high heat. Since 1990, the use of general-purpose duct tape in HVAC work has been prohibited. HVAC professionals use a different grade of adhesive tape these days, and different methods to safely install and repair ductwork.
Q. Are there other names for duct tape?
A. Besides “duck” tape, you may hear it called “100-mile-an-hour tape” by military veterans or “200-mile-an-hour tape” by race car drivers and mechanics. You may also hear it called “rigger’s tape,” “hurricane tape,” or “gaffer’s tape.”
