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If you’ve heard the expression “like water off a duck’s back,” you may be surprised to learn that some people believe the phrase to be the original inspiration for duct tape. This durable cloth-backed tape, originally known as duck tape, was invented during World War II to help soldiers waterproof their ammunition cases. Over time, the Johnson & Johnson company developed a silver-colored version specially designed to seal heating and air ducts—hence, duct tape.
Today, duct tape is the go-to product for quick fixes and sturdy repairs, both inside and outside the home. It can also be used for crafting, organizing, and DIY projects. Since it comes in a range of strengths and color options, it’s easy to wonder which is right for your project—and if there’s really any difference between duct tapes at all. To answer these questions, we tested five top products, assessing their strength, water and weather resistance, ease of use, and versatility. This guide also reviews an additional four products we haven’t tested yet but are looking forward to.
Sometimes, our tests of tools and materials yield pretty straightforward results, but in this case, we went back and forth (and back again) about which of two products deserved the top award. In the end, we chose the Lockport Heavy-Duty Duct Tape as our winner for its unbeatable versatility and remarkable value. Read on to find out which of the other options almost took the title and to see the rest of our test results for the best duct tape.
- BEST OVERALL: Lockport Heavy-Duty Duct Tape
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: 3M Contractor Grade Multi-Use Duct Tape
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR HEAVY-DUTY JOBS: Gorilla Black Gorilla Tape
↓ Jump to Review - MOST FLEXIBLE: Duck Max Strength Duct Tape
↓ Jump to Review - BEST WATERPROOF: Gorilla Permanent All-Weather Gorilla Tape
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR CARS: 3M All-Weather Duct Tape
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR BRICK: T-Rex Ferociously Strong Tape
↓ Jump to Review - BEST CLEAR: Gaffer Power Clear Duct Tape
↓ Jump to Review - BEST PATTERNED: Simply Genius Patterned Colored Duct Tape
↓ Jump to Review
| Testing Stats | |
|---|---|
| Products tested | 5 |
| Time spent testing | 6 days |
| Tests performed | 5 |
| Price range | $5 to $20 per roll |
Our Top Picks
Duct tape must stick to a variety of surfaces, withstand water and weather, and be long lasting. While most manufacturers claim their tape can do all these things, our tests proved they don’t all do them equally well. See the results of our tests and refer to the How We Chose and Tested the Best Duct Tape section below for more information on the tests we mention.
Best Overall
Lockport Heavy-Duty Duct Tape
Our Ratings: Strength 4/5; Durability 5/5; Ease of Use 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Thickness: 7.5 mils
- Compatibility: Plastic, metal, wood, cement, tile, carpet
- Water resistance: Waterproof
What We Like
- Great for both indoor and outdoor applications
- Equally effective on cement as on carpet
- Remarkably strong yet has a user-friendly thickness
What We Don’t Like
- Only available in a multipack option
Lockport’s heavy-duty duct tape performed mightily in our tests to earn its place as the best duct tape on our list. It adhered well to metal, cement, wood, and plastic, and it didn’t leave any residue behind when we removed it. It was also one of the few products that worked to temporarily secure a piece of industrial carpeting over our kitty’s catio door.
At just 7.5 mils, it’s only about 40 percent as thick as our most heavy-duty tape, yet it exhibited almost 60 percent of its strength. We appreciated its thinness in our tear and common-use tests, as it tore consistently and evenly and was very easy to wrap tightly around thin metal fencing. It’s also waterproof, making it suitable for outdoor uses where it may be exposed to water.
When it comes to an all-around duct tape, the only downside of this one from Lockport is that it’s sold as a multipack. If you’re looking to stock up by purchasing 5, 6, 10, 12, or 24 rolls, however, this won’t be an issue at all. In fact, it might be nice to keep some in your kitchen, garage, shed, car, and camping bag so that you’re always ready for a quick fix.
What our tester says: “This no-frills duct tape doesn’t make big claims or come in fancy packaging—it just works. I find myself reaching for it every time I need duct tape I can count on but that won’t leave a sticky mess behind.”—Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Lockport duct tape at Amazon.
Runner Up
3M Contractor Grade Multi-Use Duct Tape
Our Ratings: Strength 4/5; Durability 4/5; Ease of Use 3.5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Thickness: 7.4 mils
- Compatibility: Not fully specified; manufacturer lists metal, wood, and concrete
- Water resistance: Water-resistant
What We Like
- Lightweight and flexible duct tape
- Unexpectedly strong considering how thin it is
- Tears easily both horizontally and vertically
What We Don’t Like
- Water-resistant only if adhesive side remains dry
- May tear horizontally if previous vertical tear isn’t precise
Like our top pick, we’re guessing this silver 3M product is exactly what comes to mind when you picture a roll of duct tape. It’s also just as strong as our best overall, but it’s water-resistant rather than waterproof and, therefore, better for temporary rather than long-lasting repairs. Though it tears quite easily, it did sometimes tear horizontally if our previous vertical rip wasn’t totally even.
This 180-foot roll provides plenty of tape for virtually any indoor task, such as bundling cords, patching holes, reinforcing tears, or packing boxes. Since it can maintain adhesion for up to 30 minutes at temperatures of 200 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s also great for outdoor uses where it won’t be exposed to too much moisture. Still, it held up quite well despite repeated sprays of water from our sprinkler. When we exposed the adhesive side directly to water, however, it started to lose its stick.
Get the 3M Multi-Use duct tape at Amazon.
Best For Heavy-Duty Jobs
Gorilla Black Gorilla Tape
Our Ratings: Strength 5/5; Durability 4.3/5; Ease of Use 5/5; Value 4.8/5
Product Specs
- Thickness: 17 mils
- Compatibility: Most plastic, metal, wood, stone, brick, stucco, vinyl
- Water resistance: Water-resistant
What We Like
- Strongest of all tested duct tapes
- Tore evenly every single time
- Though not waterproof, it stuck well when wet
What We Don’t Like
- Too thick for some applications
- Unnecessarily expensive for light-duty uses
This is it—the product we almost gave our top award to. It didn’t win because it’s unnecessarily thick for certain common uses, and it is water-resistant rather than waterproof. Depending on the task, however, those aspects may be assets rather than liabilities.
Gorilla claims its black Gorilla tape uses three times the adhesive of standard duct tape. At 17 mils, it’s also over two times as thick. Both those things create an incredibly strong product, and though it didn’t leave a residue after being attached to plastic in the hot sun for 6 days, it’s not quite as easy to remove it from fabric.
Gorilla duct tape also sticks easily to rough, uneven surfaces like wood, stone, stucco, plaster, and brick. It’s surprisingly easy to tear for how bulky it is, making it a user-friendly option for a huge variety of heavy-duty repairs.
What our tester says: “Any time I need a fix I know will last, this is the tape I choose. It crushed in my strength tests, so I know I can count on it for heavy-duty tasks.”—Michelle Larson, Product Reviews writer and tester
Get the Gorilla Black duct tape at Amazon (35 yards), Lowe’s (30 yards), Ace Hardware (30 yards), The Home Depot (30 yards), or Walmart (35 yards).
Most Flexible
Duck Max Strength Duct Tape
Our Ratings: Strength 3.5/5; Durability 4/5; Ease of Use 4/5; Value 4.3/5
Product Specs
- Thickness: 11.5 mils
- Compatibility: Not fully specified; manufacturer lists plastic, wood, masonry, and glass
- Water resistance: Not specified; manufacturer says it can be used for waterproofing
What We Like
- Impressive fabric adherence; good for patching down products
- Quite flexible despite its thickness
- Adhesion was strong in our sprinkler test
What We Don’t Like
- Weaker than expected for a “max strength” product
- Left residue on plastic after 6 days
Marketing is powerful, but so is hands-on testing. As our tests revealed, Duck’s Max Strength duct tape isn’t as strong as other options that don’t have such claims embedded in their names. Still, not every project requires strength; some require flexibility, and for those times, this duct tape is ideal.
For its mid-range thickness of 11.5 mils, this product is incredibly flexible and easy to use. We were able to wrap it tightly around thin metal fencing, and it remained fully adhered to an outdoor cushion and grill cover even after we repeatedly bent and folded them.
Though the manufacturer says it’s compatible with wood, we found it rather easy to peel off a weathered board that sat in the hot sun for almost a week. It also isn’t great on brick, and it left residue on our plastic table after extended ultraviolet (UV) exposure. But if you’re looking for a midweight tape for tasks like down jacket repair, a vacuum hose, or a bike seat, we think you’ll be happy as a duck in water with this pick.
What our tester says: “I expected to love this product in different ways than I did. I saw several online guides that gave it great reviews, but it just didn’t live up to its ‘max strength’ name in my tests.”—Michelle Larson, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Duck duct tape at Amazon, Tractor Supply Co., Walmart, or Target.
Best Waterproof
Gorilla Permanent All-Weather Gorilla Tape
Our Ratings: Strength 4.5/5; Durability 5/5; Ease of Use 5/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Thickness: 17 mils
- Compatibility: Most plastic, metal, wood, stone, brick, stucco, vinyl
- Water resistance: Waterproof
What We Like
- Doesn’t budge in hot, cold, or wet conditions
- Second-strongest product we tested
- Adhered to weathered wood better than others
What We Don’t Like
- Perhaps too expensive for non-heavy-duty needs
- Thickness makes it a little hard to tear
When it comes to outdoor fixes, such as patching a leaky hose or fixing vinyl siding, Gorilla’s permanent all-weather tape will be tough to beat. It’s compatible with most surfaces, has a waterproof backing, and is resistant to UV radiation and both high and low temperatures. In fact, it adhered to weathered wood better than all the other tape we tested, and it didn’t let even a drop of water escape in our bucket test.
Like our other Gorilla pick, it’s quite thick at 17 mils. But thanks to this thickness and its permanent butyl rubber adhesive, it’s also strong—second only to the Gorilla Black tape. Since it’s meant for outdoor repairs on plastic, metal, wood, brick, and more, it might be a bit much for lighter-duty applications. For those looking to ensure their repairs last through bad weather, changing seasons, and intense heat, though, it’s worth it. It’s also a good choice for an emergency roadside kit in a car or RV.
Get the Gorilla permanent duct tape at Amazon, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
More Great Options
Though we haven’t done it yet, we’re looking forward to testing more great duct tape options. For now, we’re including the following products for their user-friendly features and positive reviews.
Best For Cars
3M All Weather Duct Tape
Product Specs
- Thickness: 6.5 mils
- Compatibility: Plastic, metal, wood, concrete, cement, tile, brick grout, laminate, glass
- Water resistance: Water-resistant
What We Like
- Highly flexible yet strong enough for lasting repairs
- Withstands heat, UV light, and precipitation
- Powerful adhesive sticks to uneven surfaces
What We Don’t Like
- Some users reported glue peeling off the tape
3M’s all-weather duct tape is designed to withstand fluctuating temperatures, high winds, and rain, making it another great choice for an emergency roadside kit. It has a strong adhesive that can bond to most surfaces, making it handy for repairing cracked seats or steering wheels, reattaching a hanging muffler in a pinch, and temporarily sealing a broken window.
As a heat-, UV-, and moisture-resistant product, it’s also great for repairing outdoor items and reinforcing tools. Its powerful adhesive creates a lasting bond to ensure durability over time. As with many gray duct tapes, it’s also great packing tape for sealing and labeling boxes for storage or a move.
Get the 3M all-weather duct tape at Amazon, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, The Home Depot, or Target.
Best For Bricks
T-Rex Ferociously Strong Tape
Product Specs
- Thickness: 17 mils
- Compatibility: Wood, concrete, brick, shingles, vinyl siding
- Water resistance: Waterproof
What We Like
- Strong thanks to double-thick adhesive and high-tensile construction
- UV-resistant and waterproof for outdoor or indoor use
- Heavy-duty cloth backing is made to last
What We Don’t Like
- Can leave a stubborn sticky residue after removal
If you need to repair brick or other masonry surfaces, you’ll want an especially strong product like this one from T-Rex. In addition to brick and concrete, its double-thick adhesive bonds to most surfaces, including shingles, raw and painted wood, and vinyl siding.
This T-Rex tape is available in white, gray, and black, and each option is made with heavy-duty knit cloth with high-tensile construction for long-lasting repairs. It also features a waterproof backing and is UV-resistant to ensure it holds up under harsh conditions both indoors and out.
Get the T-Rex duct tape at Amazon or Walmart (3-pack).
Best Clear
Gaffer Power Clear Duct Tape
Product Specs
- Thickness: 6 mils
- Compatibility: Plastic, metal, wood, vinyl, glass, rubber
- Water resistance: Water-resistant
What We Like
- Less obvious repair solution than all other options
- Won’t yellow with UV exposure
- Works on the usual surfaces and rubber, glass
What We Don’t Like
- Like other specialty duct tapes, a bit pricey
- Not great on fabric
With its clear backing and transparent adhesive, the Gaffer Power duct tape is useful for making quick and easy repairs without being obvious about it. It also has high tensile strength, allowing users to stretch it to create a strong seal between the adhesive and the surface being repaired.
This military-grade duct tape uses an impressive glue compatible with a variety of materials, including glass, plastic, wood, stucco, rubber, metal, and vinyl. As a water- and UV-resistant tape, it’s great for indoor and outdoor fixes on everything from vinyl siding to rubber hoses. Since it won’t yellow in the sun, it’s also an ideal option for reinforcing a cracked window while you wait for a replacement.
Get the Gaffer Power duct tape at Amazon, Walmart, or Gaffer Power.
Best Patterned
Simply Genius Patterned Colored Duct Tape
Product Specs
- Thickness: Not specified
- Compatibility: Not fully specified; retailers list plastic, metal, wood, paper, leather, and cloth
- Water resistance: Not specified
What We Like
- Adds an aesthetic appeal to small repairs
- Great for personalization and crafting
- Huge variety of colors and patterns offered
What We Don’t Like
- Not suitable for heavy-duty uses
This Simply Genius patterned duct tape comes in solid colors and decorative designs to suit a host of interesting projects. Since the manufacturer doesn’t disclose its thickness, it’s reasonable to assume it’s not as rugged as all-weather duct tape. Still, it’s compatible with plastic, metal, leather, and some fabrics for use as a light-duty adhesive or crafting tool.
Whether you’re decorating school supplies and game systems, making tape wallets and jewelry, or adding a little pizzazz to home repairs, this decorative duct tape from Simply Genius will likely have an option perfectly paired to your project. Not only does it come in solids like light green and purple, but the brand also offers fun, colorful duct tape patterns such as peacock feathers, cosmic unicorns, and neon stars.
Get the Simply Genius duct tape at Amazon (single roll), Walmart (single roll), Target (single roll), or Michaels (12-pack).
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose and Tested the Best Duct Tape
There’s no shortage of duct tape in stores or online, so we considered dozens of options when putting together our guide. When it came to testing, however, we narrowed our selection down to five, aiming for variety regarding brand, thickness, and intended use. Since we wanted to rank them based on strength, durability, ease of use, and value, we didn’t worry much about colors or patterns when choosing what to test, though we did include clear and colored options in the untested portion of our guide.
For our first test, we wrapped one end of tape around a cement block and the other around the hook of a crane scale connected to a hand winch. We stepped on the block and cranked the winch to stretch the tape until it broke, measuring the force it could withstand. We evaluated water resistance by drilling holes in a plastic bucket, using tape to cover each hole, and filling the bucket with water to see how long it took for the tape to lose adhesion (if it did so at all).
For weather resistance, we attached the tapes to plastic and wood exposed to direct sun (the plastic reached over 140 degrees Fahrenheit one hot afternoon), cold overnight temps (just above freezing), and a few rounds of water sprayed from our sprinklers. We removed the tape after 6 days, noting how well it had remained adhered and whether it left any residue behind. We also attached each tape to a metal animal barrier, outdoor furniture fabric, and a grill cover to see how it held up to common household uses.
Finally, we ripped each duct tape both vertically and horizontally 10 times to see how easy it was to tear and if it tore in a straight line. The products lost points if they tore in strips rather than all the way across.
What to Consider When Choosing Duct Tape
All duct tape is made of three layers; this design results in a flexible, strong, and often waterproof tape. The top layer is polyethylene plastic, the middle layer is cotton fabric, and the bottom layer is rubber- or polymer-based glue. All duct tape must also meet a series of standard tests designed by ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials.
Duct tape is classified into different grades: military, industrial, premium, and commercial. This guide focuses on commercial and premium duct tapes, which are most useful for home and outdoor repair and maintenance, crafting, and DIY. When choosing a general-purpose tape, keep the following factors and features in mind.
Adhesive and Tensile Strength
The two properties that make duct tape so unique and useful are its stickiness (adhesive strength) and stretchiness (tensile strength). Adhesive strength depends on the type of glue used. Duct tape adhesive is either rubber-based (for strong bonds) or polymer-based (which is less binding). This contrasts with painter’s tape, which typically uses less robust solvent-based rubber or acrylic adhesives.
Tensile strength depends on the weave and thread count of the cotton mesh cloth layer, which forms the flexible middle portion of the tape and gives it its distinctive stretchiness. A higher thread count results in a stronger tensile strength and a greater ability to bear weight and withstand stress.
We recommend you base your choice of duct tape on the level of tensile and adhesive strength best suited to your project. For home repairs, you’ll want a tape that will not leak, peel off, or tear. This often requires a higher thread count and the use of strong, rubber-based glue. For craft projects, lower-strength tape—with a polymer-based adhesive and thinner cotton layer—may be best, as it can be ripped, removed, and manipulated as needed.
To determine what strength of duct tape to buy, read the label. For heavy-duty tape, look for phrases like “double-thick adhesive” and “reinforced backing.” Some product descriptions state the type of glue used, such as “synthetic rubber adhesive,” which will bind to a wide range of surfaces. Also check for descriptions of the kinds of projects and surfaces each tape is designed for and whether it is suitable for outdoor as well as indoor use.
Water Resistance
Most duct tapes feature some degree of weather resistance, which can be especially helpful for repairs that require a tight yet flexible bond to repel water. All commercial-grade tapes have a clear plastic coat over the fabric layer that’s often waterproof or weather-resistant, but make sure the label states this outright.
Be aware that some waterproof duct tape can still fail in certain situations. Extreme temperatures and excess humidity can affect both the adhesive bond and its water-repelling ability, possibly causing the duct tape to peel prematurely or melt onto the surface.
Ease of Use
Duct tape’s stickiness and stretchiness are its greatest strengths. The trick is finding a product with just the right blend of those qualities to suit your needs and projects. Their adhesive should stick firmly to whatever surface is being taped but not stick to itself as you peel it off the roll. Even heavy-duty duct tape should peel and rip easily and cleanly off the roll.
Though many duct tapes will lift and remove cleanly after they are placed and pressed down, time, heat, and other surface factors can cause the adhesive to melt, making it harder and messier to remove the duct tape residue.
Most duct tapes will rip both vertically and horizontally for maximum ease and range of use. Many options are around 2 inches wide, so it may be easier to seek out extra-wide duct tape if you need to make a particularly large repair.
Color Options
Due to its military origins, duct (or duck) tape was originally green. The most common colors now are silver, black, white, and clear. Silver duct tape is intended to match the metal sheeting of air ducts, but it can be used for many other residential and industrial purposes. Silver duct tape is different from aluminum duct tape, which combines aluminum foil with an adhesive backing to serve as a high-heat duct tape. It’s also not the same as reflective duct tape, which reflects light to mark dangerous areas or call attention to road signs.
Black, white, and clear duct tape are designed to blend in with the project at hand, whether a torn bicycle seat or a leaky garden hose. But duct tape isn’t limited to repair and maintenance. This fabric tape is great for crafting, kids’ school projects, and DIY home design and organization. It’s available in a large spectrum of colors and a wide array of patterns suitable for all the weird ways to use duct tape.
The Advantages of Owning Duct Tape
Duct tape is popular due to its high durability, tensile strength, adhesive strength, and water resistance. It can stretch while being applied to form a strong seal and, once in place, resists shifting, sagging, cracking, and breaking. Its strong adhesive helps to bond the durable backing to almost any surface, including brick, stone, metal, wood, plastic, cardboard, and more. Generally, it is highly weather-resistant and sometimes waterproof, making it great for outdoor repairs.
- The durability and high tensile strength of duct tape resist cracking, stretching, and breaking.
- High adhesive strength helps to ensure that duct tape can stick to most surfaces without issue.
- Duct tape can be used for outdoor repairs due to the water-resistant backing and adhesive.
FAQs
Read on to find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the best duct tapes and how to use them in maintenance and repair projects.
There are several leading brands of duct tape, including Gorilla tape, 3M, Duck, and T-Rex duct tape.
The product with one of the greatest adhesive strengths is the T-Rex duct tape, which has a thick glue suitable for repair work indoors and out on a host of challenging surfaces. We also had great results with the stickiness of the Gorilla Permanent All-Weather duct tape in our tests.
Gorilla tape, 3M, and several other manufacturers make individual products that are waterproof, but not all duct tape is waterproof. Our pick for best overall, the Lockport duct tape, is a waterproof duct tape.
Duct tape is resistant to fire, but high temperatures can melt the adhesive, drying out the tape
and eventually leaving it susceptible to flame.
Unfortunately, duct tape is not recyclable. After it is removed, it should be thrown in the garbage.
It’s hard to say exactly how long duct tape will last after application due to the vast number of variables regarding the type of tape, what it’s applied to, and what conditions it’s under. Most manufacturers claim it will last up to 12 months in storage without losing its stickiness. In our experience, it can last much longer.
Yes, for more information on this, see the Adhesive and Tensile Strength section above. In our tests, the Gorilla Black duct tape was the strongest.
As a generally inexpensive and effective product for a variety of sometimes-surprising uses, duct tape has more advantages than disadvantages, in our opinion. However, two of its main disadvantages are that it can sometimes have difficulty adhering to certain surfaces (such as those that are uneven, dirty, wet, painted, or excessively hot/cold), and it may leave a residue behind after removal.
Meet the Tester
Michelle Larson has been a writer and editor for more than 10 years in the fields of health, business, and the home. After growing up in houses that were constantly getting DIY’d and going camping basically every summer, she considers herself pretty well versed in using and abusing duct tape.
Additional research provided by Timothy Dale and Andreana Lefton.
