Most DIY enthusiasts know that getting a high-quality paint finish frequently involves masking some areas so that paint doesn’t splatter or drip onto them. Leaving a crisp, professional-looking paint edge is the goal with tape.
The trouble starts with the phrase ‘masking,’ because it’s natural to assume a roll of masking tape is the correct product for the job. In most painting cases, it isn’t. What’s needed is painter’s tape.
Whether you’re updating the inside or outside of your home, knowing why one tape is better for paint will help make sure you can achieve the best possible finish. Keep reading to learn the differences between masking tape and painter’s tape.
Both masking tape and painter’s tape feature crepe paper backing.
At a glance, it’s easy to see how people get confused about the masking tape vs painter’s tape question. Masking tape and painter’s tape are both made from crepe paper so they look very similar. They also are often close to each other in the store, and frequently on the same page online.
Maybe the painter’s tape is colored blue or yellow whereas masking tape is often cream, but labeling is not always clear so it’s easy to pick one rather than the other. It’s also common to think there’s nothing wrong with using either. After all, if painter’s tape is used for masking, what harm can it do to use masking tape instead?
Masking tape is designed to stick—and stay stuck.
The main difference between masking tape and painter’s tape is the adhesive. The former is much stronger. It can be useful for all kinds of household and workshop tasks like repairing a torn vacuum bag, making quick labels, or marking a line on laminate boards so they don’t split when being sawed. Sticking a piece of masking tape on tile not only allows you to easily mark where to drill but can also help prevent the tile from cracking.
Masking tape’s advantage is the strong adhesive layer that will stick to all kinds of objects and stay stuck. Unfortunately, when used for painting, that extra adhesion can cause a number of problems which we’ll look at in a moment.
masking tape vs painter’s tape
Painter’s tape is designed to be removed easily.
Painter’s tape has a much lower ‘tack’ (adhesive strength). It’s designed to stick where it’s needed—on drywall, wood, and glass, for example—but it also comes off easily. Whether you leave it on for a day or a week, it comes away cleanly, leaving a sharply defined line that is the mark of a well-painted room.
Whereas all masking tape is pretty much the same, there are distinct types of painter’s tape designed for indoor or outdoor use. Exterior versions might have features like UV resistance. The packaging frequently states the amount of time to leave painter’s tape on a surface before it should be safely removed.