Parcel tape: BOPP and kraft paper tape

Parcel tape in this category includes BOPP tape 48 mm × 66 m by the box or by the pallet, and kraft paper tape 50 mm × 50 m by the box. The BOPP tape comes by the box of 72 rolls or by the pallet of 3024 rolls. Kraft paper tape comes in boxes of 72 rolls.

Choose between plastic film and paper tape. BOPP tape is brown or transparent, 50 µm thick, and rated for cartons up to 60 kg. It works in temperatures from -20 °C to +60 °C.

Select by material, color, pack size or rating. A table below the products compares all three parcel tape options.

BOPP tape: plastic film tape for cartons up to 60 kg

BOPP tape is a plastic film tape, 48 mm wide and 66 m a roll, with a total thickness of 50 µm. It uses an acrylic adhesive and is available in brown or transparent. The tape is rated for cartons weighing up to 60 kg and can be used in temperatures from -20 °C to +60 °C.

Order BOPP tape by the box of 72 rolls (minimum order 2 boxes, which is 144 rolls) or by the pallet of 3024 rolls, with one color per pallet. Peel adhesion on steel is at least 4.5 N/25 mm, tensile strength is 35 N/cm, and elongation is at least 150 percent. This packing tape is suitable for sealing cartons in warehouses and shipping areas.

BOPP stands for biaxially oriented polypropylene.

If you seal a carton heavier than 60 kg or store cartons in conditions colder or hotter than this range, the tape may not hold.

You can choose brown or transparent BOPP tape. Brown tape matches brown cartons, so the closure blends in. Transparent tape lets you read print or a barcode under the tape, which is useful for labeled cartons or those with printed instructions. When ordering by the pallet, the color is chosen for the whole pallet, so plan ahead if you need both colors for different lines.

A box of BOPP tape holds 72 rolls, which is 4752 meters of tape. The minimum order is 2 boxes, or 144 rolls. A pallet holds 3024 rolls and is for sites that use tape daily and have space to store it. The shelf life is 12 months, so order what you use in a year and use the oldest rolls first to avoid waste. Store boxes off the floor and away from dust to keep the adhesive clean.

The peel adhesion figure of at least 4.5 N per 25 mm is measured on a steel sheet, which is a standard way of comparing one tape with another. However, how the tape holds on your own cartons depends on the surface of the cardboard, any dust or damp, and the carton temperature.

The 12-month shelf life is counted from the date of shipment and holds only for rolls kept in their original packaging.

Kraft paper tape: recyclable and self-adhesive

Kraft paper tape is 50 mm wide and 50 m a roll, supplied in boxes of 72 rolls, which is 3600 m of tape. It is self-adhesive, with a rubber or acrylic adhesive; the product page does not say which. The tape is brown, unprinted, and can be recycled with the cardboard without removing it.

This kraft paper tape holds on recycled cardboard and comes off without leaving a sticky residue. It is water-resistant but not waterproof. It fits carton sealers that take 48-72 mm tape and can also be used from a hand dispenser.

This tape is self-adhesive, so you do not need water or a wetting dispenser, unlike gummed paper tape.

Because the tape and the carton are both paper, a carton closed with kraft paper tape can go straight into cardboard recycling. There is no need to remove a plastic strip first.

Because it comes off without a sticky residue, it suits cartons that are opened and used again. The tape is water-resistant, not waterproof. If cartons are left outside or exposed to rain, the closure may soften, so use a cover or another closure in those cases. Each roll has 50 m, so you change rolls a little more often than with a 66 m BOPP roll in a busy tape head.

The kraft paper tape does not have a temperature range on its product page. It holds through normal warehouse temperatures, but in extreme heat or cold, it can lose grip. Where cartons pass through very hot or cold areas, check the tape on your own cartons first.

Take the rolls out of the box one at a time to keep the unused rolls clean, as the product page advises. Keep the box closed between uses.

Table of parcel tape options

The table below compares the three parcel tape products by material, roll size, pack size, color and carton rating.

To use the table, start by choosing the material: plastic BOPP or kraft paper. Next, select the pack size that matches your usage, either a box of 72 rolls or a pallet of 3024 rolls for BOPP tape. Then pick the color, brown or transparent for BOPP, brown for kraft paper tape. The last column shows the carton weight and temperature range for BOPP tape, which is rated for cartons up to 60 kg and for -20 °C to +60 °C. The kraft paper tape has no rating in this column because its product page does not give a carton weight or temperature range. Where those limits matter, BOPP tape is the one with stated figures.

Parcel tape in a carton sealer or by hand

Both the 48 mm BOPP tape and the 50 mm kraft paper tape fit the carton sealers in the shop. The machines accept tape widths from 48-72 mm or 48-60 mm, so both types fit. A carton sealer tapes the top and bottom of the carton in one pass.

Kraft paper tape can also be used from a hand dispenser.

Three of the carton sealers take tape from 48 to 72 mm, and two take 48 to 60 mm, so both tape types fit.

A carton sealer tapes the top and bottom of each carton in one pass, so it uses two rolls at the same time, one in the upper tape head and one in the lower. Keep spare rolls next to the machine to avoid stopping the line when a roll runs out.

Paper tape is thicker than BOPP tape, so the tape head needs more tension for it. The tape head is set for one width and type at a time, so switching between BOPP and paper tape means setting the head again. One case erector in the shop lists tape widths of 50 or 60 mm, so the 50 mm kraft paper tape fits, but the 48 mm BOPP tape does not. The kraft paper tape also runs from a hand dispenser, which is practical for sealing a few cartons a day or at a packing table without a sealer. The machines require dry, clean corrugated cartons that are not deformed, and plastic-coated cartons cannot be taped.

Choosing parcel tape: plastic or paper

The choice between BOPP and kraft paper parcel tape depends on how you recycle cartons, the carton surface and the environment. Kraft paper tape is recyclable with the cardboard, so the whole closed carton goes into cardboard recycling without removing the tape. It holds on recycled cardboard and comes off without leaving sticky residue. BOPP tape is plastic film tape, so a BOPP closure is plastic on a paper carton.

If your cartons are made from recycled cardboard, note that the kraft paper tape page states that it holds on it. For cartons up to 60 kg, choose BOPP tape; for cold or hot areas, note that BOPP tape is rated for -20 °C to +60 °C. Brown tape matches brown cartons, while transparent BOPP tape lets you read print or a label under it.

Damp is a weak point for kraft paper tape. It is water-resistant, so it handles a small amount of moisture, but it is not waterproof. If a carton is stored outside or is exposed to rain, the paper tape may soften and lose adhesion. In these cases, use a cover or another closure.

If you need to close a carton heavier than 60 kg, this is outside the rating of the BOPP tape, and the kraft paper tape does not have a stated carton weight rating. In these cases, close the carton with tape as usual, but also hold it with strap from the packing materials category.

When cartons pass through a cold store, an unheated truck in winter or a hot container, BOPP tape is the tape with a stated temperature range, -20 °C to +60 °C.

How to apply parcel tape to cartons

To seal a carton, run one strip of parcel tape along the center seam of the top flaps, pressing it down firmly. The tape should extend over each end of the carton to form a tape leg. Repeat the same on the bottom. Pressing the tape down, especially at the folded ends, is key for a secure seal.

Use clean, dry cartons at room temperature. Dust, damp or cold cardboard reduces how well parcel tape sticks. For heavy or full cartons, add a second strip across the first at right angles. Store tape rolls in their box, dry and off the floor, to keep dust off the adhesive.

The two folded ends are where a carton starts to open. In a carton sealer, the rollers in the tape head press the tape down as the carton passes through.

If cartons come from a cold store or an unheated yard, let them warm up to room temperature in the hall before taping.

The cutter blade of a tape head or a hand dispenser is sharp, so always switch the machine off before changing a roll to avoid injury.

When sealing cartons by hand, fold and line up the flaps before applying tape so the tape runs along a closed seam.

In a carton sealer, the tape leg is set on the tape head. On one of the sealers in the shop, you can adjust the leg from 5 to 50 mm. If the leg is too long or too short, adjust the blade support for the front leg and the limit block for the rear leg. When loading a roll, run the tape over the rollers with the adhesive side facing out along the whole path and center the roll on its holder. If the tape runs off the center of the seam, move the tape position on the tape head. The carton itself must run in the middle of the machine with a gap between cartons. A blade set too high scrapes the carton, while a blade set too low does not cut the tape. If the tape does not press down, check for poor tape or a seized or faulty front or one-way roller. A torn tape end can also come from a weak pull spring.

What sets the price of parcel tape

The price of parcel tape depends on whether you choose BOPP or paper tape, the pack size (box or pallet), and the total meters in a pack. A box of BOPP tape holds 4752 m, while a box of kraft paper tape holds 3600 m. The price is on each product card; the parent category packing materials holds the other consumables.

To compare prices, divide the price of a pack by the total meters in it. That is 72 × 66 m in a box of BOPP tape and 72 × 50 m in a box of kraft paper tape. This lets you compare the cost per meter between the two types and pack sizes.

Each product card in the shop has a Get offer button for requesting a quote and an Add to inquiry button that lets you collect several products into one request. For example, you can request tape together with a carton sealer or with other packing materials.

A pallet of BOPP tape holds 3024 rolls, which is 199,584 m of tape. For comparison, the minimum box order is 2 boxes, or 144 rolls, which is 9504 meters of tape.

What to check before ordering parcel tape

Before ordering parcel tape, check the weight of your cartons and the type of cardboard. Consider if the cartons are stored or shipped in damp, cold or hot conditions. If you use recycled cardboard, the kraft paper tape is stated to hold on it.

Check if you use a hand dispenser or a carton sealer and what tape width it takes. If you want the whole carton to be recycled together, kraft paper tape is suitable. Decide on brown or transparent tape and estimate how many meters you use each week.

Calculate how much tape you use per carton: the seam length plus the two tape legs on the top, and the same on the bottom. Divide the roll length, 66 m for BOPP tape or 50 m for kraft paper tape, by the tape per carton to see how many cartons one roll seals.

Multiply the tape per carton by the number of cartons you seal each week to get your weekly tape usage in meters. Compare this figure with the 4752 meters in a box of BOPP tape, the 3600 meters in a box of kraft paper tape, or the 3024 rolls on a pallet. This helps you plan how often to order and how much storage space you need for tape.

Check the heaviest carton you seal against the 60 kg rating of the BOPP tape. Also, check the coldest and warmest places the cartons pass through against its range of -20 °C to +60 °C.

Check the tape width your carton sealer or case erector takes on its product page before you order tape. Plan storage for the tape: a box of rolls fits on a shelf next to the packing table, while a pallet of 3024 rolls needs a pallet place and a pallet truck to move it.

A pallet order pays off only if you use the tape within the 12-month shelf life. With 3024 rolls on a pallet, this is about 58 rolls a week. If your line uses fewer rolls, a box order is more practical to avoid unused tape expiring.

Before ordering a pallet, try the tape from a box order on your own cartons and in your own tape heads.

Questions about parcel tape

Should I use BOPP or kraft paper tape for my cartons?

BOPP tape is a plastic film tape, available in brown or transparent, and rated for cartons up to 60 kg. Kraft paper tape is brown, unprinted, recyclable with the carton, and holds on recycled cardboard.

How heavy a carton can the BOPP tape seal and what is its temperature range?

BOPP tape is rated for cartons weighing up to 60 kg. It can be used in temperatures from -20 °C to +60 °C.

Does the tape fit a carton sealer?

Both BOPP tape 48 mm wide and kraft paper tape 50 mm wide fit carton sealers that take tape widths from 48-72 mm or 48-60 mm. Both tapes are suitable for use in the shop’s carton sealers; a case erector that takes only 50 or 60 mm tape runs the kraft paper tape, not the 48 mm BOPP tape.

How is the tape packed and what is the minimum order?

BOPP tape is packed in boxes of 72 rolls or pallets of 3024 rolls. The minimum order for BOPP tape by the box is 2 boxes, which is 144 rolls. Kraft paper tape is packed in boxes of 72 rolls.