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

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

Order BOPP parcel tape by the box of 72 rolls (minimum order 2 boxes, or 144 rolls) or by the pallet of 3024 rolls, with one colour 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 tape is suitable for sealing cartons in warehouses and packing areas.

BOPP stands for biaxially oriented polypropylene.

If you seal cartons heavier than 60 kg or store them in temperatures outside this range, the tape may not hold.

You can select brown or transparent BOPP parcel tape. Brown tape blends with brown cartons for a discreet closure. Transparent tape allows you to read print or barcodes beneath, which is helpful for labelled cartons or those with printed instructions. When ordering by the pallet, the colour is fixed for the entire pallet, so plan accordingly if you require both colours for different packing lines.

A box of BOPP parcel tape contains 72 rolls, totalling 4752 metres of tape. The minimum order is 2 boxes, or 144 rolls. A pallet contains 3024 rolls and is intended for sites with daily tape use and sufficient storage space. The shelf life is 12 months, so order what you expect to use within 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 value of at least 4.5 N per 25 mm is measured on steel, which is a standard method for comparing tapes. However, actual performance on your cartons will depend on the surface of the cardboard, any dust or moisture, and the carton temperature.

The 12-month shelf life applies only to rolls kept in their original packaging.

Kraft paper tape: recyclable, self-adhesive parcel tape

Kraft paper tape is 50 mm wide and 50 m per roll, supplied in boxes of 72 rolls, giving 3600 m of tape per box. It is self-adhesive, using a natural rubber adhesive. The tape is brown, unprinted, and can be recycled with the cardboard without removal.

This kraft paper parcel tape adheres to recycled cardboard and removes cleanly without leaving sticky residue. It is water-resistant but not waterproof. It fits carton sealers that accept 48-72 mm tape and can also be used with a hand dispenser.

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

Because both the tape and carton are paper, cartons sealed with kraft paper tape can be recycled directly with the cardboard. There is no need to remove a plastic strip first.

As it removes without sticky residue, this tape is suitable for cartons that are opened and reused. 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 alternative closure in those cases. Each roll is 50 m, so you will change rolls more frequently than with a 66 m BOPP roll in a busy tape head.

Kraft paper parcel tape does not have a specified temperature range on its product page. It holds in typical warehouse conditions, but may lose grip in extreme heat or cold. Where cartons pass through very hot or cold areas, test the tape on your own cartons first.

Remove rolls from the box one at a time to keep unused rolls clean, as advised on the product page. Keep the box closed between uses.

Comparison table: parcel tape options

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

To use the table, start by selecting the material: plastic BOPP or kraft paper. Next, choose the pack size that matches your needs, either a box of 72 rolls or a pallet of 3024 rolls for BOPP tape. Then select the colour, brown or transparent for BOPP, brown for kraft paper tape. The final column shows the carton weight and temperature range for BOPP tape, rated for cartons up to 60 kg and -20 °C to +60 °C. Kraft paper tape has no rating in this column as its product page does not specify carton weight or temperature range. Where these limits are important, BOPP tape provides stated figures.

Parcel tapes for carton sealers or hand use

Both the 48 mm BOPP parcel tape and the 50 mm kraft paper parcel tape fit the carton sealers available in the shop. The machines accept tape widths from 48-72 mm or 48-60 mm, so both types are suitable. A carton sealer applies tape to the top and bottom of the carton in a single pass.

Kraft paper tape can also be dispensed using a hand dispenser.

Three of the case sealers accept tape widths from 48 to 72 mm, and two accept 48 to 60 mm, so both types of tape are compatible.

A case sealer applies tape to both the top and bottom of each carton in a single pass, using two rolls at once—one in the upper tape head and one in the lower. Keep spare rolls beside the machine to prevent line stoppages when a roll runs out.

Paper tape is thicker than BOPP tape, so the tape head requires higher tension for it. The tape head is set for one width and type at a time, so switching between BOPP and paper tape means resetting the head. 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. Kraft paper tape can also be used with a hand dispenser, which is convenient for sealing a few cartons daily 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 your carton recycling process, the carton surface, and environmental considerations. Kraft paper tape is recyclable with cardboard, so the entire sealed carton can go into cardboard recycling without removing the tape. It adheres to recycled cardboard and can be removed without leaving sticky residue. BOPP tape is a plastic film, so a BOPP closure means plastic on a paper carton.

If your cartons are made from recycled cardboard, note that the kraft paper tape page confirms it adheres to this material. For cartons up to 60 kg, select BOPP tape; for cold or hot environments, BOPP tape is rated for -20 °C to +60 °C. Brown tape matches brown cartons, while transparent BOPP tape allows you to read any print or label beneath it.

Moisture is a limitation for kraft paper tape. It is water-resistant and can handle minor dampness, but it is not waterproof. If a carton is stored outdoors or exposed to rain, the paper tape may soften and lose adhesion. In these situations, use a cover or an alternative closure.

If you need to seal a carton heavier than 60 kg, this exceeds the BOPP tape’s rating, and kraft paper tape does not specify a carton weight limit. In such cases, seal the carton with tape as usual, but also secure it with strap from the packing materials category.

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

How to apply parcel tape to cartons

To seal a carton, apply a single strip of parcel tape along the centre seam of the top flaps, pressing it down firmly. The tape should extend beyond each end of the carton to form a tape leg. Repeat this process on the bottom. Pressing the tape down, especially at the folded ends, is essential for a secure seal.

Use clean, dry cartons at room temperature. Dust, moisture, or cold cardboard reduce how well parcel tape adheres. For heavy or fully packed 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 away from the adhesive.

The two folded ends are where a carton is most likely to open. In a case sealer, the rollers in the tape head press the tape down as the carton moves through.

If cartons come from a cold store or an unheated yard, allow them to reach room temperature in the packing area before taping.

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

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

In a case 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, feed the tape over the rollers with the adhesive side facing out along the entire path and centre the roll on its holder. If the tape does not run along the centre of the seam, adjust its position on the tape head. The carton itself must be centred in the machine with a gap between cartons. A blade set too high will scrape the carton, while a blade set too low will not cut the tape. If the tape does not press down, check for poor tape quality or a seized or faulty front or one-way roller. A torn tape end may also result from a weak pull spring.

What sets the price of parcel tape

The price of parcel tape depends on whether you select BOPP or paper tape, the pack size (box or pallet), and the total metres in a pack. A box of BOPP tape contains 4752 m, while a box of kraft paper tape contains 3600 m. Prices are shown on each product card; the parent category packing materials includes other consumables.

To compare prices, divide the pack price by the total metres it contains. That is 72 × 66 m in a box of BOPP tape and 72 × 50 m in a box of kraft paper tape. This allows you to compare the cost per metre 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 to collect several products in one request. For example, you can request tape together with a case sealer or with other packing materials.

A pallet of BOPP tape contains 3024 rolls, which is 199,584 m of tape. For comparison, the minimum box order is 2 boxes, or 144 rolls, which is 9504 metres 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 whether the cartons are stored or transported in damp, cold, or hot conditions. If you use recycled cardboard, kraft paper tape is stated to adhere to it.

Check whether you use a hand dispenser or a case sealer and what tape width it requires. If you want the entire carton to be recycled together, kraft paper tape is suitable. Decide between brown or transparent tape and estimate your weekly tape usage in metres.

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 used per carton to see how many cartons one roll will seal.

Multiply the tape used per carton by the number of cartons you seal each week to determine your weekly tape usage in metres. Compare this with the 4752 metres in a box of BOPP tape, the 3600 metres 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 environments the cartons pass through against its range of -20 °C to +60 °C.

Check the tape width your case sealer or case erector accepts on its product page before ordering 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 requires a pallet space and a pallet truck for handling.

Ordering a pallet of tape is only worthwhile if you will use it all within its 12-month shelf life. With 3,024 rolls per pallet, this means using about 58 rolls each week. If your operation uses fewer rolls, it is more sensible to order by the box to prevent tape going out of date.

Before committing to a pallet, test the tape from a box order on your own cartons and in your own tape heads.

Parcel tape: frequently asked questions

Should I choose BOPP tape or kraft paper tape for sealing cartons?

BOPP tape is a plastic film tape, available in brown or clear, and suitable for cartons up to 60 kg. Kraft paper tape is brown, unprinted, can be recycled with the carton, and adheres well to recycled cardboard.

What is the maximum carton weight BOPP tape can seal, and what temperatures can it withstand?

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

Is the tape compatible with a case sealer?

Both 48 mm wide BOPP tape and 50 mm wide kraft paper tape are suitable for case sealers that accept tape widths from 48–72 mm or 48–60 mm. Both types can be used in the shop’s case sealers. If your case erector only accepts 50 or 60 mm tape, it will run kraft paper tape, not 48 mm BOPP tape.

How is the tape supplied, and what is the minimum order quantity?

BOPP tape comes in boxes of 72 rolls or on pallets of 3,024 rolls. The minimum order for BOPP tape by the box is 2 boxes, totalling 144 rolls. Kraft paper tape is supplied in boxes of 72 rolls.